US 11,862,745 B2
One-dimensional metallization for solar cells
Richard Hamilton Sewell, Los Altos, CA (US); David Fredric Joel Kavulak, Fremont, CA (US); Lewis Abra, San Francisco, CA (US); Thomas P. Pass, San Jose, CA (US); Taeseok Kim, Pleasanton, CA (US); Matthieu Moors, Braine-le-Chateau (BE); Benjamin Ian Hsia, Fremont, CA (US); and Gabriel Harley, Mountain View, CA (US)
Assigned to Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed by Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd., Singapore (SG)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/741,591.
Application 16/741,591 is a continuation of application No. 14/750,821, filed on Jun. 25, 2015, granted, now 10,535,790.
Prior Publication US 2020/0152813 A1, May 14, 2020
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H01L 31/05 (2014.01); H01L 31/0224 (2006.01); H01L 31/068 (2012.01)
CPC H01L 31/0516 (2013.01) [H01L 31/022441 (2013.01); H01L 31/022458 (2013.01); H01L 31/05 (2013.01); H01L 31/0504 (2013.01); H01L 31/0508 (2013.01); H01L 31/0682 (2013.01); Y02E 10/50 (2013.01); Y02E 10/546 (2013.01); Y02E 10/547 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A solar cell, comprising:
a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above a substrate, the substrate comprising a first end and a second end;
a conductive contact structure comprising a first plurality of metal lines and a second plurality of metal lines disposed on the plurality of semiconductor regions, wherein the first plurality of metal lines and the second plurality of metal lines terminate in a staggered fashion at the first and second ends of the substrate, and wherein the staggered fashion comprises alternating long terminations of the first plurality of metal lines along a first direction relative to short terminations of the second plurality of metal lines along the first direction for neighboring ones of the first and second pluralities of metal lines, and wherein the metal lines of the first plurality of metal lines that have long terminations are discontinuous from one another, and the metal lines of the second plurality of metal lines that have short terminations are discontinuous from one another, and wherein the staggered fashion conforms to angled corners of the substrate including alternating long terminations of the first plurality of metal lines along the first direction relative to short terminations of the second plurality of metal lines along the first direction for neighboring ones of the first and second pluralities of metal lines along the angled corners;
an interconnect structure located over the second end of the substrate, the interconnect structure disposed over and electrically contacting portions of the first plurality of metal lines but not disposed over the second plurality of metal lines, wherein the interconnect structure extends along the second end for a full width of the solar cell and comprises an extension portion comprising two edges parallel to one of the angled corners of the substrate, and wherein the interconnect structure has one or more cuts there through; and
bond points disposed between the portions of the first plurality of metal lines and the interconnect structure.