NOVELTY - An apparatus for fabricating photovoltaic-cell (410, 420, 430) modules, comprises: a chamber configured to house a substrate (405) having lower electrode layer (411, 421, 431) and second lower electrode layer separated from first layer; a shadow mask (440) over substrate; a source unit to deposit semiconductor materials through first opening to form first pn junction structure on the first layer and through second opening to form second pn junction structure on the second layer; and a transport mechanism to produce first translation between shadow mask and substrate.    USE - As an apparatus for fabricating photovoltaic-cell modules (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The apparatus provides simpler, cleaner, and more reliable processes for manufacturing solar-cell modules or photovoltaic cells comparing to some conventional manufacturing systems; does not produce debris as in the patterning process; eliminates the cleaning steps for removing the debris; does not involve cutting thin film layers; avoids current leakage and electrical shorting in photovoltaic cells or modules; does not include the roughness associated with cutting or etching on the surface after patterning; thus reduces improved and manufacturing costs of the solar-cell modules; and fabricates multiple layers in photovoltaic cells in continuous processing.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An apparatus for fabricating photovoltaic-cell (410, 420, 430) modules, comprises: a chamber configured to house a substrate (405) having lower electrode layer (411, 421, 431) and a second lower electrode layer separated from the first lower electrode layer, where both electrode layers comprise a conductive material; a shadow mask (440) over the substrate, where the shadow mask comprises an opening over the first lower electrode layer and a second opening over the second electrode layer; a source unit configured to deposit at least one semiconductor material through the first opening to form a first pn junction structure on the first lower electrode layer and through the second opening to form a second pn junction structure on the second lower electrode layer; and a transport mechanism configured to produce a first translation between the shadow mask and the substrate, where the source unit is configured to deposit a second conductive material through the first opening and the second opening to form a first upper electrode layer on the first pn junction structure and partially on the second lower electrode layer, and to form a second upper electrode layer on the second pn junction structure. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for fabricating photovoltaic-cell modules, involving positioning a shadow mask over the substrate; depositing at least one semiconductor material, by a source unit, through the first opening to form a first pn junction structure on the first lower electrode layer and through the second opening to form a second pn junction structure on the second lower electrode layer; producing, by a translation mechanism, a first translation between the shadow mask and the substrate; and depositing a second conductive material through the first opening and the second opening to form a first upper electrode layer on the first pn junction structure and partially on the second lower electrode layer, and to form a second upper electrode layer on the second pn junction structure.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a cross-sectional view showing the deposition of upper electrodes on the pn junctions, the lower electrodes, and the substrate using the shadow mask.    Substrate (405)    Photovoltaic cells (410, 420, 430)    Lower electrode layers (411, 421, 431)    pn junction layers (412, 422, 432)    Upper electrode layers (413, 423, 433)    Surface (424)    Shadow mask (440)    Rigid frame (445)    Crossbars (455)