SEALING MEMBER AND SOLAR CELL INCLUDING THE SAME
BACKGROUND
1 .Field
[OOOI] The present invention relates to a sealing member.
2.Description of the Related Art
[0002] A solar cell may be defined as an element converting light energy into
electrical energy by using a photovoltaic effect in which an electron is generated if light
is irradiated to a p-n junction diode. Based on the material used for the junction diode,
solar cells may be divided into silicon solar cells, compound semiconductor solar cells
using a I-Ill-VI group compound or a Ill-V group compound, dye response solar cells,
and organic material solar cells.
[0003] Further, an organic light emitting diode display is a self-emitting type of
display device having an organic light emitting diode and displaying an image.
[0004] This solar cell and this organic light emitting display device include a material
that is vulnerable to moisture and oxygen such that cycle-life and reliability of the solar
cell and the organic light emitting display device are reduced when they are exposed to
moisture and oxygen
[0005] Accordingly, to remove the moisture, in some cases a moisture absorbent
material having one of various shapes is added before the sealing. However, typically
the moisture is not completely prevented and the moisture penetrates inside the solar
cell.
[0006] The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for
enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may
contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country
to a person of ordinary skill in the art.
SUMMARY
[0007] Accordingly, the present invention provides a sealing member that
substantially prevents penetration of moisture transmitting from the outside and a solar
cell including the same.
[0008] A sealing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present
invention includes a first plate having a plate shape, and a second plate with a plate
shape connected to both ends of the first plate, wherein the first plate and the second
plate have the same plate shape and form a closed line.
[0009] A sealing member according to another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention, to seal between a first substrate and a second substrate facing each
other, wherein the sealing member includes a first sealing member bent at least once
and contacting the first substrate and the second substrate with a plate shape, and a
second sealing member surrounding the first sealing member and combining the first
substrate and the second substrate.
[OOIO] In one embodiment, a solar cell includes a first substrate and a second
substrate spaced from each other; a cell assembly comprising a first electrode on the
first substrate: a first sealing member between the first and second substrates, and
comprising a first portion contacting one of the first and second substrates and a
second portion extending from the first portion such that first sealing member elastically
supports the first and second substrates; and a second sealing member encompassing
the first sealing member.
[001 I ] In an embodiment, the first sealing member further includes a third portion
contacting another of the first and second substrates and the third portion may extend
at an angle from the second portion and wherein the angles at which each of the first
portion and the third portion extends from the second portion are identical to each
other.
[0012] In various embodiments, each of the first and third portions extends
substantially parallel to the first and second substrates, the first sealing member
5 extends continuously around a periphery of the first and second substrates, and the
second portion extends at an angle from the first portion, wherein the angle at which
each of the second portion extends from the first portion is less than 90 degrees.
Further, the first sealing member may be made from a waterproof material.
[0013] According to various embodiments, an end portion of the first portion may be
10 curved away from the second portion, wherein a lateral cross-section of the second
portion may be wave-shaped, at least one of the first portion may be arc-shaped, and
the first sealing member may be generally S-shaped, generally Y-shaped, generally Cshaped,
generally V-shaped, or generally M-shaped.
[0014] Additionally, the second portion may have a zig-zag shape, and the first
15 sealing member may further include an assistance sealing member between the first
portion and the first or second substrate. The assistance sealing member may be
made of a butyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a silicone-based resin, an
adhesive, or double-sided tape.
[0015] In one embodiment, the second sealing member contacts both the first and
2 0 second substrate and adheres the first substrate to the second substrate and a width
of the first sealing member is less than a width of the second sealing member. Further.
the first portion of the first sealing member may directly contact the first or second
substrate and the compressibility of the first sealing member is less than an adhering
force of the second sealing member to the first or second substrate.
25 [0016] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the
sealing member is formed as described above, the penetration of the moisture
transmitted from the outside is prevented such that a solar cell with improved reliability
may be provided.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealing member according to an exemplary
5 embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion A of FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a sealing member according to another
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
10 [0021] FIG. 5 to FIG. 16 are cross-sectional views of a sealing member according to
other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 17 is a schematic top plan view of a solar cell according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XVI-XVI of FIG. 17.
15 [0024] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a manufacturing method of a solar cell according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a solar cell according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
2 0 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the attached drawings such that the present
invention can be easily put into practice by those skilled in the art. As those skilled in
the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different
25 ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
[0027] In the drawings, the thickness of layers, films, panels, regions, etc., are
exaggerated for clarity. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout
the specification. It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film,
region, or substrate is referred to as being "on" another element, it can be directly on
the other element or intervening elements may also be present. In contrast, when an
element is referred to as being "directly on" another element, there are no intervening
5 elements present.
[0028] Now, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described
with reference to accompanying drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a sealing member according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the
10 line 11-11 of FIG. I , FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion A of FIG. I, and FIG. 4 is a
top plan view of a sealing member according to another exemplary embodiment of the
present invention.
[0030] The sealing member 300 may have a flat shape that is bent at least once.
The sealing member 300 may be formed of any material having a waterproof function
15 and elasticity (i.e. the material can be folded into a shape having elastic properties as
described in more detail below), for example, stainless steel, corrosion resistance
copper alloys, corrosion resistance aluminum alloys, and corrosion resistance nickel
alloys.
[0031] The sealing member 300 includes a first plate 32 having a plate shape, and
20 second plates 34 connected to respective ends of the first plate 32 and having a plate
shape. Each second plate 34 is connected with an angle 0 less than 90 degrees with
respect to the first plate 32. The second plates 34 positioned at respective sides with
respect to the first plate 32 may be parallel to each other.
[0032] As shown in FIG. I, the sealing member 300 may form an integrally closed
25 shape (i.e., the sealing member may be entirely continuous) and may be formed by
forming a pair of transverse portions and a pair of longitudinal portions and then
connecting both ends thereof by welding.
COO331 As shown in FIG. 4, a plurality of sealing members 300 may be formed and
disposed at or proximate to an edge of the substrate. When forming a plurality of
sealing members 300 like this, moisture may penetrate a region enclosed by the
sealing members through spaces between the sealing members such that a liquefied
5 sealing member filling between the sealing members 300 may be necessary.
[0034] If the sealing member 300 is formed as in the present invention, when
applying a force to the second plate 34 in a Y-axis direction, the sealing member 300
contracts like a spring and then tends to rebound to an original state by elastic force. If
, the second plate 34 and the first plate 32 are connected at a 90 angle, when an
10 external force is applied to the second plate 34, it is more dificult for the first plate 32 to
be bent in any direction such that the elastic force is not generated.
[0035] In the present invention, when forming the sealing member 300 of the plate
shape while having the elastic force, moisture penetration from the outside may be
easily prevented. In other words, if the sealing member 300 is positioned between two
15 substrates, the sealing member 300 and the two substrates come into close contact
with each other by the elastic force such that the external moisture does not pass
between the second plate and the substrate and does not pass through the first plate
32 so it does not penetrate inside. The inside is therefore completely surrounded by
the sealing member.
2 0 [0036] The sealing member according to the present invention may be formed with
various shapes as shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 16.
[0037] FIG. 5 to FIG. 16 are cross-sectional views of sealing members according to
other exemplary embodiments of the present invention.
[0038] The sealing members of FIG. 5 to FIG. 16 are sealing members of FIG. 1 to
25 4 such that the cross-sectional of the sealing member is focused on hereafter.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 5, the sealing member 30 may be inclined with respect to
the X-axis or the Y-axis. In this embodiment, the angle at which the second plate 34 is
inclined with respect to the X-axis may be smaller than the angle at which the second
plate 34 is inclined with respect to the Y-axis.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the second plates 34 of the sealing member 300 are
parallel to each other and may be bent in the Y-axis direction.
[0041] The sealing member 300 may be bent such that the first plate 32 may form a
smooth curved line as shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment, the second plates 34 are
parallel to each other and parallel to the X-axis. Of course, the second plate 34 of the
sealing member 300 of FIG. 6 may also be inclined with respect to the X-axis as shown
in FIG. 5 and FIG 6, and may be bent in the Y-axis direction.
[0042] As shown in FIG. 8, the sealing member 300 is bent such that the second
plate 34 forms a smooth curved line thereby protruding in the Y-axis direction.
[0043] Also, the sealing member 300 may be formed such that the first plate 32 and
the second plate 34 are curved, as shown in FIG. 9. In the exemplary embodiment of
FIG 8 and 9, the second plates 34 are formed to protrude in opposite directions,
however, as shown in FIG. 10, the protruded portions may be formed to face each
other.
[0044] As shown in FIG. I I and FIG. 12, the sealing member 300 includes the first
plate 32 and a pair of the second plates 34 divided from one end of the first plate 32
and extending in the Y-axis and the -Y-axis directions. As shown in FIG. 12, the
second plates 34 may be bent in a curved configuration.
[0045] The sealing member 300 of FIG. I I and FIG. 12 may be formed by bending
or curving one plate to form a pair of second plates and by connecting a first plate to a
bent portion of the second plates
[0046] Also, two plates may be provided, and may be bent or curved to have the
first and the second plates and the first plates may be connected to each other to form
the sealing member 300
[0047] As shown in FIG. 13, the sealing member may be made of one plate and
may be bent one time as shown FIG. 14 to have a V formation.
[0048] As shown in FIG. 15, the first plate 32 is bent such that the sealing member
300 may have a zigzag shape or a sideways M shape. In FIG. 15, the first plate 32 is
bent once, however it may be bent multiple times. As shown in FIG. 15, if it is formed
with the zigzag shape, the number of bent portions is increased such that the elastic
force is increased.
[0049] As shown in FIG. 16, in the sealing member 300, an assistance sealing
member 36 may be formed at an end of the second plate 34. The assistance sealing
member 36 may include a material having elasticity and an excellent contacting force,
for example, a butyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, or a silicon-based resin. Also,
the assistance sealing member 36 may be formed of a material having an
adhesiveness.
[0050] Accordingly, when the sealing member 300 is positioned between two
substrates and the end of the second plate contacts the surface of the substrate for
sealing the two substrates, the contact area between the second plate and the surface
of the substrate is increased such that a sealing force may be increased. In other
words, if the second plate is formed parallel to the X-axis, the second plate and the
substrate surface are surface-contacted, however if the second plate is inclined with
respect to the X-axis, the end of the second plate contacts the substrate surface such
that the contact area is reduced. Accordingly, if the assistance sealing member is
formed, the contact area of the substrate surface of the sealing member is increased
such that the sealing force may be improved.
[0051] The assistance sealing member of FIG. 16 is formed at the sealing member
of FIG. 11, however it may be formed at one end of all sealing members of FIG. 1 to
FIG. 15.
[0052] In the above exemplary embodiment, the first plate 32 and the second plate
34 are divided, however the first plate 32 and the second plate 34 may be formed of
one plate to be bent at least once. Of course, an additional plate may be connected by
welding.
5 [0053] Next. as shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 16, the solar cell including the sealing
member according to the present invention and a manufacturing method thereof will be
described.
[0054] FIG. 17 is a schematic top plan view of a solar cell according to an
exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view
10 taken along the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 17.
[0055] As shown in FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, the solar cell 1000 according to the
present invention includes a first substrate 100 and a second substrate 200 facing
each other, a first sealing member 400 and a second sealing member 500 sealing
between the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200, and a solar cell
15 positioned between the two sealed substrates and formed on the first substrate 100.
[0056] The substrate 100 has an insulating characteristic and may be made of a
transparent material such as a soda lime glass. The substrate 100 may include a large
amount of sodium (Na).
[0057] As shown in FIG. 18, the solar cell includes a first electrode 120 formed on
20 the substrate 100, a photoactive layer 140 formed on the first electrode 120, a buffer
layer 150 formed on the photoactive layer, a second electrode 160 formed on the
buffer layer 150, and an encapsulation layer 180 formed on the second electrode 160.
[0058] In one embodiment, the solar cell is formed of a plurality of unit cells that
may be coupled in series or in parallel.
25 [0059] The first electrode 120 may be formed of a metal having a heat-resistant
characteristic, an excellent electrical contact characteristic with the material forming the
photoactive layer, excellent electrical conductivity, and excellent interface cohesion
with the substrate 100. for example, molybdenum (Mo).
[0060] The photoactive layer 140 as a P type CIS-based semiconductor may
include selenium (Se) or sulfur (S). For example, the photoactive layer 140 as a 1-111-
VI-based semiconductor compound may be C U ( I ~ ~ . ~ , G ~ ~ ) ( aSn~d ~m.a~y ,bSe ~a ) ,
compound semiconductor having a composition wherein OSxll. The photoactive layer
140 may have a single phase in which the composition of the compound
semiconductor is substantially uniform. For example, it may be CulnSe2, CulnS2,
Cu(ln,Ga)Se2, (Ag,Cu)(ln,Ga)Se2, (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)(Se,S)n, Cu(ln,Ga)(Se,S)2, or
Cu(ln,Ga)S2. Also, the photoactive layer 140 may include sodium (Na) diffused from
the substrate 100.
[0061] The buffer layer 150 smoothes an energy gap difference between the
photoactive layer 140 and the second electrode 150. The buffer layer 150 may be
formed of an n-type semiconductor material having high light transmittance, for
example, CdS. ZnS, or Ins
[0062] The second electrode 160 may be formed of a material having high light
transmittance and excellent electrical conductivity, for example, ZnO, and the light
transmittance may be more than about 80 %. Also, the ZnO layer is doped with
aluminum (Al) or boron (B) thereby having low resistance.
[0063] Also, an IT0 layer having excellent electrical and light transmittance
characteristics may be deposited on the ZnO layer, and the second electrode 160 may
be formed of the IT0 single layer. Also, an n-type ZnO layer having low resistance
may be formed on an i-type ZnO layer that is not doped.
[0064] The second electrode 160 as the n-type semiconductor forms a pn junction
along with the photoactive layer as the p-type semiconductor.
[0065] The encapsulation layer 180 may be formed of a material preventing the
moisture and oxygen penetrating, for example, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate).
[0066] The first sealing member 400 may be one among the sealing members of
the plate shape having the elastic force shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 16, and an example of
the sealing member of FIG. 2 is described in FIG. 18.
[0067] The second plate 34 of the first sealing member 400 is parallel to the first
substrate surface and the second substrate surface, and one surface of the second
plate 34 and the first substrate surface or the second substrate surface contact each
other. When using the sealing member of FIG. 4 to FIG. 14 as the first sealing
member, the second plates 34 also contact the first substrate surface and the second
substrate surface.
[0068] The second sealing member 500 is linearly formed according to the edge of
the substrate 100 thereby forming an enclosed curved line. The second sealing
member 500 has adherence and contacts the first substrate 100 and the second
substrate 200 thereby combining the two substrates. The second sealing member 500
may include a material to be sealed by using visible rays or heat, for example, a butylbased
resin, an epoxy-based resin, or a silicon-based resin.
[0069] The plane shapes of the first sealing member 400 and the second sealing
member 500 are the same, and the first sealing member 400 is positioned within the
boundary of the second sealing member 500. In other words, the first sealing member
400 is narrower than the second sealing member 500, and the second sealing member
500 fills the space between the first plate 32 and the second plate 34 of the first sealing
member 400 and encloses the first sealing member 400.
[0070] The first sealing member 400 has elastic force without the adherence such
that it does not combine the two substrates, such that the width of the second sealing
member 500 is larger than the width of the first sealing member 400 to contact the two
substrates for the combination.
[0071] In one embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16, if the assistance sealing member
36 is included and the first sealing member 400 including the assistance sealing
member 36 formed of the material having an adhesiveness is formed, a width of the
second sealing member 500 may be reduced or the second sealing member 500 may
be omitted.
[0072] The second substrate 200 to protect the solar cell from physical impacts and
foreign materials from the outside may be a tempered glass.
[0073] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when forming the first
sealing member 400 and the second sealing member 500, the penetration of external
moisture to the solar cell positioned between the two substrates may be prevented. In
other words, by the elastic force of the first sealing member 400, the second plates of
the first sealing member closely contact the first substrate surface and the second
substrate surface. Accordingly, a moisture moving path is eliminated between the first
sealing member and the substrate so the external moisture may not move to the inside
where the solar cell is positioned.
[0074] In one embodiment, the second sealing member 500 has strong adherence
such that the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 are not separated.
Accordingly, the elastic force of the first sealing member 400 must be smaller than the
adherence of the second sealing member 500 such.that the first substrate 100 and the
second substrate 200 may be not separated by the elastic force of the first sealing
member 400.
[0075] The adherence of the second sealing member 500 may be reduced, for
example, to 111 0 compared with initial adherence such that the elastic force of the first
sealing member 400 with respect to that of the second sealing member 500 is
preferably less than 1/10 of the adherence by considering the reduced adherence.
[0076] Next. a method of forming the solar cell of FIG. 17 and FIG. 18 will be
described with reference to FIG. 19 as well as FIG. 18.
[0077] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a manufacturing method of a solar cell according to
an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0078] As shown in FIG. 19, the method includes providing the first substrate and
forming a solar cell on the first substrate (SIOO), forming an encapsulation layer on the
solar cell (S102), forming a sealing member on the first substrate (S104), and aligning
and combining the second substrate (S106).
[0079] In the forming of the solar cell on the first substrate (SIOO), the solar cell
shown in FIG. 18 may be manufactured by any well-known general method, and a
deposition structure thereof is not limited thereto.
[0080] In the forming of the encapsulation layer on the solar cell (S102), the
encapsulation layer covers the entire solar cell and may be made of the EVA.
[0081] In the forming of the sealing member on the first substrate (S104), the
second sealing member in a solution state is coated according to the edge of the first
substrate to enclose the solar cell on the first substrate 100.
[0082] The first sealing member 400 is also located on the second sealing member
500. The first sealing member 400 may one among the sealing members shown in
FIG. 1 to FIG. 14.
[0083] In one embodiment, the second sealing member 500 may be formed by only
one coating to sufficiently enclose the first sealing member 400, but it may also be
coated twice. After forming the second sealing member 500 by coating once, if the first
sealing member 400 is provided, a pressing process is required to completely insert
the second sealing member 500 inside the first sealing member 400.
[0084] However, if the second sealing member 500 is coated twice, the pressing
process to insert the first sealing member 400 may be omitted.
[0085] In other words, if a portion of the entire required amount of the second
sealing member 500 is coated and then the first sealing member 400 is disposed, a
thickness of the second sealing member 500 is not high such that the first sealing
member 400 may be inserted to the second sealing member500. Also, even if the first
sealing member 400 is not inserted, the rest of the second sealing member 500 is
coated on the first sealing member 400 such that the second sealing member 500 may
be formed to completely enclose the first sealing member 400.
5 [0086] Although the second sealing member 500 is coated on the first sealing
member 400, the second sealing member 500 positioned between the substrate
surface and the second plate is pushed out by the later pressing process such that the
second plate of the first sealing member 400 and the substrate surface may fully
contact.
10 [0087] In the aligning and combining of the second substrate 200 (S106), the
second substrate 200 is disposed and aligned on the sealing member 400 and 500 to
face the first substrate.
[0088] Next, the second substrate 200 is pressed to contact the first sealing
member 400 with the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200, and then the
15 first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 are completely sealed by hardening
the first sealing member 400 thereby completing the solar cell.
[0089] FIG. 20 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a solar cell according to
another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
[0090] Most of the interlayer configuration is equivalent to that described with
20 reference to FIG. 17 and FIG. 18, so no repeated description will be provided.
[0091] A solar cell 1002 of FIG. 20 includes the first substrate 100 and the second
substrate 200 facing to each other, the sealing member 300 sealing the space between
the first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200, and cells positioned between the
first substrate 100 and the second substrate 200 and formed on the first substrate 100.
2 5 [0092] In the solar cell of FIG. 20, the encapsulation layer 180 extends to a
peripheral area (or an edge of the substrate of the solar cell) as well as an area where
the cells are positioned, and the second substrate 200 is contacted with the
encapsulation layer 180. Accordingly, if the encapsulation layer 180 extends to the
peripheral area, the second sealing member may be omitted differently from FIG. 18.
In other words, the encapsulation layer 180 of the solar cell extends to the peripheral
area of the cells, and one sealing member among FIG. 1 to FIG. 16 is disposed, the
5 second substrate 200 is aligned and thermo-compressed, and then the sealing
member is hardened for sealing.
[0093] In the above exemplary embodiment, the solar cell is described as an
example, however any organic light emitting display device including the organic lightemitting
device may be sealed by using the sealing member like an exemplary
10 embodiment of the present invention. That is, the organic light emitting display device
includes the organic light-emitting device positioned on the substrate and forming a
matrix, a plurality of signal lines connected to the organic light emitting light-emitting
device, and thin film transistors. The sealing member is formed on the substrate and
protects the organic light emitting light-emitting device along with an opposing
15 substrate from external moisture.
[0094] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently
considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended
to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit
2 0 and scope of the appended claims.
Description of Symbols
32: first plate 34: second plate
36: assistance sealing member 100: first substrate
120: first electrode 140: photoactive
25 150: buffer layer 160: second electrode
180: encapsulation layer 200: second substrate
300. sealing member 400: first sealing member
500: second sealing member 1000: solar cell
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A solar cell comprising
a first substrate and a second substrate spaced from each other;
a cell assembly comprising a first electrode on the first substrate;
a first sealing member between the first and second substrates, and
comprising a first portion contacting one of the first and second substrates and a
second portion extending from the first portion such that first sealing member elastically
supports the first and second substrates; and
a second sealing member encompassing the first sealing member.
2. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member further
comprises a third portion contacting another of the first and second substrates.
3. The solar cell of claim 2, wherein the third portion extends at an angle
from the second portion and wherein the angles at which each of the first portion and
the third portion extends from the second portion are identical to each other.
4. The solar cell of claim 2, wherein each of the first and third portions
extends substantially parallel to the first and second substrates.
5. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member extends
continuously around a periphery of the first and second substrates.
6 The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the second portion extends at an angle
from the first portion, and wherein the angle at which each of the second portion
extends from the first portion is less than 90 degrees.
7 The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member comprises a
waterproof material.
8. The solar cell of claim 1, where~n the first sealing member is made from
the group of stamless steel, a corrosion resistant copper alloy, a corrosion resistant
aluminum alloy, or a corrosion resistant nickel alloy or combination thereof.
9. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the first portion is
curved away from the second portion.
10. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein a lateral cross-section of the second
5
portion is wave-shaped.
11. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first portion is arcshaped.
12 The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member is generally Sshaped,
generally Y-shaped, generally C-shaped, generally V-shaped, or generally Mshaped.
13. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the second portion has a zig-zag shape.
14. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first sealing member further
comprises an assistance sealing member between the first portion and the first or
second substrate.
15
15. The solar cell of claim 14, wherein the assistance sealing member
comprises a butyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, a silicone-based resin, an
adhesive. or double-sided tape.
16. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the second sealing member contacts
both the first and second substrate and adheres the first substrate to the second
substrate.
2 0
17. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein a width of the first sealing member is
less than a width of the second sealing member
18. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the second sealing member comprises
a butyl-based resin, an epoxy-based resin, or a silicone-based resin.
2 5 19. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the first portion of the first sealing
member directly contacts the first or second substrate.
20. The solar cell of claim 1, wherein the compressibility of the first sealing
member is less than an adhering force of the second
second substrate.
ANUPA-IVI~I
[latcd el~ls 9"' day of June, 20 13 OF'K&S IJAR'I'NIiRS
A'ITORNEY FOR 'I'IIH APPI,ICAN'I'(s)
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