PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE HAVING PRINTED PV CELLS CONNECTED IN SERIES BY PRINTED CONDUCTORS

A solar cell structure comprising: a monolayer of microscopic diode spheres (26), the diode spheres (26) having a top surface portion of a first conductivity type and having a bottom surface portion of a second conductivity type; a first conductor layer (22) electrically contacting the bottom surface portion; a second conductor layer (44) electrically contacting the top surface portion; first gaps separating areas of the diode layer, the first conductor layer, and the second conductor layer to form a plurality of cells (52, 53); second gaps within each of the cells segmenting a portion of each of the cells to electrically isolate a remaining portion of the associated cell from its segmented cell portion; a third conductor and a fourth conductor causing the segmented cell portion of each cell to be a bypass diode for its associated cell, wherein the bypass diode and its associated remaining portion are connected in a reverse-parallel relationship; and a fifth conductor interconnecting at least some of the cells in series by electrically connecting the first conductor layer of one cell to the second conductor layer of an adjacent cell.