DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis (i.e., changing from AIA to pre-AIA ) for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
The factual inquiries for establishing a background for determining obviousness under 35 U.S.C. 103 are summarized as follows:
1. Determining the scope and contents of the prior art.
2. Ascertaining the differences between the prior art and the claims at issue.
3. Resolving the level of ordinary skill in the pertinent art.
4. Considering objective evidence present in the application indicating obviousness or nonobviousness.
This application currently names joint inventors. In considering patentability of the claims the examiner presumes that the subject matter of the various claims was commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the claimed invention(s) absent any evidence to the contrary. Applicant is advised of the obligation under 37 CFR 1.56 to point out the inventor and effective filing dates of each claim that was not commonly owned as of the effective filing date of the later invention in order for the examiner to consider the applicability of 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(2)(C) for any potential 35 U.S.C. 102(a)(2) prior art against the later invention.
Claims 2, 3, 6-12, 15-17 and 20 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (CN 104282774A, see English machine translation previously provided for mapping).
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Regarding claim 2, Lin discloses a photovoltaic string in Annotated Figure 6 above, comprising:
a first solar cell and a second solar cell ([69]-[70], see top and bottom solar cell in Annotated Figure 6 above);
a first plurality of contact fingers and a second plurality of contact fingers over the first solar cell along a first direction, the first plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the second plurality of contact fingers along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above, see contact fingers connected to first and third busbars);
a third plurality of contact fingers and a fourth plurality of contact fingers over the second solar cell along the first direction, the third plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the fourth plurality of contact fingers along the second direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above, see contact fingers connected to second and third busbars);
a first busbar connected to the first plurality of contact fingers, and a second busbar connected to the third plurality of contact fingers, the first busbar and the second busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the first busbar and the second busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above), wherein the first busbar is an outermost busbar for the first solar cell (As shown in Annotated Figure 6 above, the first busbar is the outermost right busbar for the first solar cell), and the second busbar is an outermost busbar for the second solar cell (As shown in Annotated Figure 6 above, the second busbar is an outermost right busbar for the second solar cell);
a third busbar connected to the second plurality of contact fingers and to the fourth plurality of contact fingers, the third busbar continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the third bus bar and the first busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the third busbar and the second busbar ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
a fourth bus bar over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the third busbar such that the third busbar is laterally between the fourth busbar and the first busbar, and a fifth busbar over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the third busbar such that the third busbar is laterally between the fifth busbar and the second busbar, the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the fourth bus bar and the third busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the fifth busbar and the third busbar ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
a sixth busbar over the first solar cell and the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar such that the fourth busbar is laterally between the sixth busbar and the third busbar, and the fifth busbar is laterally between the sixth busbar and the third busbar, the sixth busbar continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the sixth bus bar and the fourth busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the sixth busbar and the fifth busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above); and
a seventh bus bar over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the sixth busbar such that the sixth busbar is laterally between the seventh busbar and the fourth busbar, and an eighth busbar over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the sixth busbar such that the sixth busbar is laterally between the eighth busbar and the fifth busbar, the seventh busbar and the eighth busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the seventh busbar and the eighth busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein the eighth busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction, and wherein there are no busbars laterally between the seventh bus bar and the sixth busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the eighth busbar and the sixth busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above).
In the embodiment of Figure 6, Lin does not disclose that the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction. However, in the embodiment of Figure 5 Lin discloses a first and second outermost busbars (rightmost outer busbars in Figure 5) corresponding to the first and second outermost busbars of the embodiment of Figure 6 wherein the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction (Figure 5 and [67]-[68]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the embodiment of Figure 6 of Lin such that the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction in the manner disclosed in Figure 5 of Lin, since such a modification would merely require a rearrangement of parts of the invention, specifically a rearrangement of the locations of the extending bus ribbons. It has been held that rearrangement of parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Regarding claim 3, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the third busbar is parallel with the first busbar and the second busbar along the second direction (See Annotated Figure 6 above, the first, second and third busbars are all parallel with each other and extend in the second direction).
Regarding claims 6 and 7, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the first busbar extends beyond an edge of the first solar cell opposite the second solar cell and the second busbar extends beyond an edge of the second solar cell opposite the first solar cell (Modified Lin, Figure 5).
Regarding claim 8, Lin discloses a photovoltaic string in Annotated Figure 6 above, comprising:
a first solar cell and a second solar cell ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above, see top and bottom solar cells);
a first plurality of contact fingers and a second plurality of contact fingers over the first solar cell along a first direction, the first plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the second plurality of contact fingers along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above, see fingers attached to first and third busbars);
a third plurality of contact fingers and a fourth plurality of contact fingers over the second solar cell along the first direction, the third plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the fourth plurality of contact fingers along the second direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above, see fingers attached to second and third busbars);
a first conductive structure (first and second busbars form first conductive structure) connected to the first plurality of contact fingers and to the third plurality of contact fingers, the first conductive structure discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell (first and second busbars are discontinuous between the first and second solar cell, [69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above), wherein the first conductive structure is an outermost conductive structure for the first solar cell and the second solar cell (As shown in Annotated Figure 6 above, the first and second busbars are the outermost busbars for the first and second solar cells); and
a second conductive structure (third busbar shown in Annotated Figure 6 above) connected to the second plurality of contact fingers and to the fourth plurality of contact fingers, the second conductive structure continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no conductive structures laterally between the second conductive structure and the first conductive structure ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
a third conductive structure (fourth busbar) over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the second conductive structure such that the second conductive structure is laterally between the third conductive structure and the first conductive structure, and a fourth conductive structure (fifth busbar) over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the second conductive structure such that the second conductive structure is laterally between the fourth conductive structure and the first conductive structure, the third conductive structure and the fourth conductive structure in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the third conductive structure and the fourth conductive structure discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no conductive structures laterally between the third conductive structure and the second conductive structure, and there are no conductive structures laterally between the fourth conductive structure and the second conductive structure (See Annotated Figure 6 above);
a fifth conductive structure (sixth busbar) over the first solar cell and the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the third conductive structure and the fourth conductive structure (fourth and fifth busbars) such that the third conductive structure is laterally between the fifth conductive structure and the second conductive structure, and the fourth conductive structure is laterally between the fifth conductive structure and the second conductive structure (See Annotated Figure 6 above), the fifth conductive structure (sixth busbar) continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the fifth conductive structure and the third conductive structure, and there are no busbars laterally between the fifth conductive structure and the fourth conductive structure (See Annotated Figure 6 above); and
a sixth conductive structure (seventh busbar) over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the fifth conductive structure (see Annotated Figure 6 above) such that the fifth conductive structure is laterally between the sixth conductive structure and the third conductive structure (See Annotated Figure 6 above), and a seventh conductive structure (eight busbar) over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the fifth conductive structure (sixth busbar) such that the fifth conductive structure is laterally between the seventh conductive structure and the fourth conductive structure (see Annotated Figure 6 above), the sixth conductive structure and the seventh conductive structure in alignment with one another along the second direction (seventh and eight busbar are aligned as shown in Annotated Figure 6 above), and the sixth conductive structure and the seventh conductive structure discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell (seventh and eight busbars are separated as shown in Annotated Figure 6 above) and wherein the seventh conductive structure (eight busbar) extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction (See Annotated Figure 6 above, the eighth busbar extends beyond the second solar cell) and wherein there are no busbars laterally between the sixth conductive structure and the fifth conductive structure, and there are no busbars laterally between the seventh conductive structure and the fifth conductive structure (See Annotated Figure 6 above).
In the embodiment of Figure 6, Lin does not disclose that the first conductive structure (includes first and second busbars in Annotated Figure 6) extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction. However, in the embodiment of Figure 5 Lin discloses a first and second outermost busbars (rightmost outer busbars in Figure 5) corresponding to the first and second outermost busbars of the embodiment of Figure 6 wherein the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction (Figure 5 and [67]-[68]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the embodiment of Figure 6 of Lin such that the first conductive structure including the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction in the manner disclosed in Figure 5 of Lin, since such a modification would merely require a rearrangement of parts of the invention, specifically a rearrangement of the locations of the extending bus ribbons. It has been held that rearrangement of parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Regarding claims 9-12, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the first conductive structure and the second conductive structure are parallel with one another along the second direction (See Annotated Figure 6 above), wherein the first conductive structure comprises a first busbar over the first solar cell, and a second busbar over the second solar cell (See Annotated Figure 6 above) and wherein the second conductive structure is a third conductive busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above).
Regarding claim 15, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the first conductive structure (first and second busbar) extends beyond an edge of the second solar cell opposite the first solar cell (modified Lin, Figure 5).
Regarding claim 16, Lin discloses a method of fabricating a photovoltaic string ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above), the method comprising:
providing a first solar cell and a second solar cell ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
forming a first plurality of contact fingers and a second plurality of contact fingers over the first solar cell along a first direction, the first plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the second plurality of contact fingers along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
forming a third plurality of contact fingers and a fourth plurality of contact fingers over the second solar cell along the first direction, the third plurality of contact fingers alternating with and overlapping with the fourth plurality of contact fingers along the second direction ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
forming a first busbar connected to the first plurality of contact fingers, and a second busbar connected to the third plurality of contact fingers, the first busbar and the second busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the first busbar and the second busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above), wherein the first busbar is an outermost busbar for the first solar cell (As shown in Annotated Figure 6 above, the first busbar is the outermost right busbar for the first solar cell), and the second busbar is an outermost busbar for the second solar cell (As shown in Annotated Figure 6 above, the second busbar is an outermost right busbar for the second solar cell); and
forming a third busbar connected to the second plurality of contact fingers and to the fourth plurality of contact fingers, the third busbar continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the third bus bar and the first busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the third busbar and the second busbar ([69]-[70] and Annotated Figure 6 above);
forming a fourth bus bar over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the third busbar such that the third busbar is laterally between the fourth busbar and the first busbar, and a fifth busbar over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the third busbar such that the third busbar is laterally between the fifth busbar and the second busbar, the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the fourth bus bar and the third busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the fifth busbar and the third busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above);
forming a sixth busbar over the first solar cell and the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the fourth busbar and the fifth busbar such that the fourth busbar is laterally between the sixth busbar and the third busbar, and the fifth busbar is laterally between the sixth busbar and the third busbar, the sixth busbar continuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein there are no busbars laterally between the sixth bus bar and the fourth busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the sixth busbar and the fifth busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above); and
forming a seventh bus bar over the first solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the sixth busbar such that the sixth busbar is laterally between the seventh busbar and the fourth busbar, and an eighth busbar over the second solar cell and laterally spaced apart from the sixth busbar such that the sixth busbar is laterally between the eighth busbar and the fifth busbar, the seventh busbar and the eighth busbar in alignment with one another along the second direction, and the seventh busbar and the eighth busbar discontinuous between the first solar cell and the second solar cell, wherein the eighth busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction, and wherein there are no busbars laterally between the seventh bus bar and the sixth busbar, and there are no busbars laterally between the eighth busbar and the sixth busbar (See Annotated Figure 6 above).
In the embodiment of Figure 6, Lin does not disclose that the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction. However, in the embodiment of Figure 5 Lin discloses a first and second outermost busbars (rightmost outer busbars in Figure 5) corresponding to the first and second outermost busbars of the embodiment of Figure 6 wherein the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction (Figure 5 and [67]-[68]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the embodiment of Figure 6 of Lin such that the second busbar extends beyond the second solar cell along the second direction in the manner disclosed in Figure 5 of Lin, since such a modification would merely require a rearrangement of parts of the invention, specifically a rearrangement of the locations of the extending bus ribbons. It has been held that rearrangement of parts of an invention involves only routine skill in the art, In re Japikse, 86 USPQ 70.
Regarding claim 17, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the third busbar is parallel with the first busbar and the second busbar along the second direction (See Annotated Figure 6 above, the first, second and third busbars are all parallel with each other).
Regarding claim 20, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin additionally discloses that the first busbar extends beyond an edge of the first solar cell opposite the second solar cell and the second busbar extends beyond an edge of the second solar cell opposite the first solar cell (modified Lin, Figure 5).
Claims 4, 5, 13, 14, 18 and 19 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable over Lin et al. (CN 104282774A, see English machine translation previously provided for mapping), as applied to claims 2, 8 and 16 above, in view of Rim et al. (US 2015/0280018).
Regarding claims 4, 5, 13, 14, 18 and 19, modified Lin discloses all of the claim limitations as set forth above. Lin does not explicitly discloses that the first and second pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions in a substrate of the first solar cell, and wherein the third and fourth pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions in a substrate of the second solar cell or the first and second pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions above a substrate of the first solar cell, and wherein the third and fourth pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions above a substrate of the second solar cell.
Rim discloses a back contact solar cell comprising first and second pluralities of contact fingers (158, 160) that are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions (150, 152) in a substrate (100) of the solar cell (Figure 4 and [49]-[51]) or the first and second pluralities of contact fingers (128, 130) are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions (120, 122) above a substrate (100) of the solar cell (Figure 3 and [45]-[48]).
It would have been obvious to one having ordinary skill in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the device and method of modified Lin such that the first and second pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions in a substrate of the first solar cell, and wherein the third and fourth pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions in a substrate of the second solar cell or the first and second pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions above a substrate of the first solar cell, and wherein the third and fourth pluralities of contact fingers are coupled to corresponding semiconductor regions above a substrate of the second solar cell, as taught by Rim, because it would amount to nothing more than the combination of prior art elements according to known methods to yield predictable results.
Response to Arguments
Applicant's arguments filed 3/12/2026 have been fully considered but they are not persuasive.
Applicant argues that modified Figure 6 of Lin does not disclose the newly added limitations of claims 2, 8 and 16.
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Examiner respectfully disagrees. A new interpretation of the embodiment of Figure 6 of Lin has been used as shown in Annotated Figure 6 above. The new interpretation of Figure 6 of Lin satisfies all the newly added claim limitations. The modification of the embodiment of Figure 6 of Lin with the teachings of the embodiment of Figure 5 of Lin renders obvious all of the limitations of claims 2, 8 and 16.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to LINDSEY A BUCK whose telephone number is (571)270-1234. The examiner can normally be reached Monday-Friday 9am-5:30pm.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Matthew Martin can be reached at (571)270-7871. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/LINDSEY A BUCK/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 1728