| CPC H01L 31/046 (2014.12) [H01L 31/049 (2014.12); H01L 31/0504 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |

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1. A roof system, comprising:
a plurality of solar modules, each solar module comprising:
a back-sheet;
a plurality of solar cells arranged on the back-sheet, including at least two rows of solar cells, the at least two rows of solar cells spaced apart along the back-sheet and extending substantially parallel to each other in a first direction across the back-sheet; and
a protective covering overlying the solar cells;
wherein the solar cells of each row of solar cells are electrically interconnected in series along the back-sheet to define a current flow path configured to aggregate electrical energy produced by the solar cells;
wherein the solar cells are arranged to form groups of solar cells positioned along the back-sheet;
wherein each row includes at least two groups of solar cells;
wherein each group of solar cells includes a plurality of full size solar cells, cell segments, or combinations thereof;
wherein the groups of solar cells are arranged on the back-sheet in a non-aligned pattern comprising a staggered arrangement of the groups of solar cells in a second direction along the back-sheet; and
wherein each of the groups of solar cells are spaced from other groups of solar cells at a spacing greater than a spacing between the solar cells within each group of solar cells.
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