US 12,283,640 B2
Bypass diode assemblies for a solar cell array
Charles Hyunsang Suh, La Palma, CA (US); and Dante Michael Caruso, El Segundo, CA (US)
Assigned to THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by THE BOEING COMPANY, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed on Apr. 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/297,517.
Prior Publication US 2024/0339549 A1, Oct. 10, 2024
Int. Cl. H01L 31/044 (2014.01); H01L 31/05 (2014.01); H01L 31/18 (2006.01)
CPC H01L 31/044 (2014.12) [H01L 31/0504 (2013.01); H01L 31/188 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a plurality of solar cells electrically coupled in series as a solar cell string by a plurality of series interconnects, wherein a series interconnect of the plurality of series interconnects is electrically connected directly to a back of a solar cell of the solar cell string and a front of an adjacent solar cell of the solar cell string; and
a bypass diode assembly electrically coupled in parallel to backs of the solar cells of the solar cell string, the bypass diode assembly comprising:
a plurality of diodes; and
a plurality of interconnects coupled to the plurality of diodes, wherein each interconnect includes a first end, a second end, and two relief features between the first end and the second end, and wherein:
a first terminal of a first diode of the plurality of diodes is physically and electrically coupled directly to the first end of a first interconnect of the plurality of interconnects;
a second terminal of a second diode of the plurality of diodes is physically and electrically coupled directly to the second end of the first interconnect;
the first end of a second interconnect of the plurality of interconnects is physically and electrically coupled directly to a first terminal of the second diode; and
each interconnect of the plurality of interconnects is physically and electrically coupled directly to a back of a single solar cell of the solar cell string at one or more positions along a length of the interconnect that connects the first end to the second end.