Configurable solar cells

Abstract

A photovoltaic cell may include a substrate configured as a single light absorption region. The photovoltaic cell may include a plurality of first semiconductor regions arranged on or in the substrate and physically separated from one another. Each first semiconductor region may form one of a plurality of collecting junctions with the single light absorbing region. The photovoltaic cell may include a plurality of second semiconductor regions arranged on or in the substrate and physically separated from one another. Each second semiconductor region forming one of a plurality of high-low junctions with the single light absorbing region. Each of the first semiconductor regions may form at least one separate cell partition with at least one of the second semiconductor regions, thereby forming a plurality of cell partitions on or in the substrate.

1 . A photovoltaic cell comprising:
 a substrate configured as a single light absorption region;   a plurality of first semiconductor regions arranged on or in the substrate and physically separated from one another, each first semiconductor region forming one of a plurality of collecting junctions with the single light absorbing region; and   a plurality of second semiconductor regions arranged on or in the substrate and physically separated from one another and from each of the plurality of first semiconductor regions, each second semiconductor region forming one of a plurality of high-low junctions with the single light absorbing region,   wherein each of the first semiconductor regions forms at least one separate cell partition with at least one of the second semiconductor regions, thereby forming a plurality of cell partitions on or in the substrate.   
     
     
         2 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one interconnect electrically coupling the first semiconductor region of at least one of the cell partitions to the second semiconductor region of at least one separate one of the cell partitions. 
     
     
         3 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one interconnect electrically couples at least two of the cell partitions to one another in series. 
     
     
         4 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 2 , wherein a total voltage output of the photovoltaic cell is determined by an arrangement of the at least one interconnect. 
     
     
         5 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one interconnect electrically coupling at least two of the cell partitions to one another in parallel. 
     
     
         6 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one first interconnect electrically coupling at least two of the cell partitions to one another in series; and   at least one second interconnect electrically coupling at least two of the cell partitions to one another in parallel.   
     
     
         7 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first semiconductor regions and plurality of second semiconductor regions is a doped region of the substrate. 
     
     
         8 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of first semiconductor regions and plurality of second semiconductor regions is an epitaxial layer on the substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one first conductive contact arranged on the substrate and configured to facilitate electrical connection with at least one of the plurality of first semiconductor regions. 
     
     
         10 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one second conductive contact arranged on the substrate and configured to facilitate electrical connection with at least one of the plurality of second semiconductor regions. 
     
     
         11 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate comprises a p type material;   each of the plurality of first semiconductor regions comprises an n+ type material; and   each of the plurality of second semiconductor regions comprises a p+ type material.   
     
     
         12 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one coating covering at least a portion of the plurality of first semiconductor regions. 
     
     
         13 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one coating includes an anti-reflective coating. 
     
     
         14 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one coating includes an insulator material. 
     
     
         15 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one contact covering at least a portion of the plurality of second semiconductor regions. 
     
     
         16 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one contact includes aluminum. 
     
     
         17 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one contact is in electrical contact with a plurality of the second semiconductor regions. 
     
     
         18 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate includes a front side and a back side;   the plurality of first semiconductor regions are arranged on or in the front side of the substrate; and   the plurality of second semiconductor regions arranged on or in the back side of the substrate.   
     
     
         19 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the substrate includes a front side and a back side;   the plurality of first semiconductor regions are arranged on or in the back side of the substrate; and   the plurality of second semiconductor regions arranged on or in the back side of the substrate.   
     
     
         20 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of first semiconductor regions are physically separated from one another. 
     
     
         21 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of second semiconductor regions are physically separated from one another. 
     
     
         22 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a surface area greater than 36 square inches. 
     
     
         23 . The photovoltaic cell of  claim 1 , wherein the substrate has a surface that is not square-shaped.