Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090077804 | PRODUCTION LINE MODULE FOR FORMING MULTIPLE SIZED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - The present invention generally relates to a sectioning module positioned within an automated solar cell device fabrication system. The solar cell device fabrication system is adapted to receive a single large substrate and form multiple silicon thin film solar cell devices from the single large substrate. | 03-26-2009 |
20090077805 | PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTION LINE - The present invention generally relates to a system that can be used to form a photovoltaic device, or solar cell, using processing modules that are adapted to perform one or more steps in the solar cell formation process. The automated solar cell fab is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. The automated solar fab will thus generally comprise a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate, one or more absorbing layer deposition cluster tools having at least one processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate, one or more back contact deposition chambers, one or more material removal chambers, a solar cell encapsulation device, an autoclave module, an automated junction box attaching module, and one or more quality assurance modules that are adapted to test and qualify the completely formed solar cell device. | 03-26-2009 |
20090188102 | AUTOMATED SOLAR CELL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS - The present invention generally relates to an automated solar cell electrical connection device that is positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication system. The automated solar cell electrical connection device includes a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The automated solar cell electrical connection module may include a composite solar cell structure conveyor for positioning the composite solar cell structure, an adhesive dispense module for applying adhesive to the junction box, a flux dispenser for applying flux to electrical connection tabs in the junction box, a vision system for locating features on the composite solar cell structure, a robot for positioning the junction box onto the composite solar cell structure, a heating element to make electrical connections between the junction box and the solar cell device, a potting material dispensing assembly for dispensing potting material into the junction box, and a system controller for controlling the functions of the module. | 07-30-2009 |
20090205703 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF MOUNTING AND SUPPORTING A SOLAR PANEL - The present invention generally relates to a simple and cost effective device and method for mounting and supporting solar panels. A solar panel according to the present invention is supported from the backside via a plurality of elongated support members. The elongated support members may have open V-shaped or W-shaped arrangements and may be adhered to the solar panels through strong, flexible glue or double-sided tape that withstands significant environmental loads, such as wind uploading, yet remain flexible enough to minimize stress concentrations in the solar panels. The support members may be attached to a solar panel by a support member attachment module incorporated into an automated solar panel production line. A plurality of solar panels may be field mounted to a solar panel support structure having one or more piles or the like with at least a lower and upper transverse support rails spanning the plurality of solar panels. | 08-20-2009 |
20090211071 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON A SOLAR CELL - Embodiments of the present invention provide a module and process for forming electrical connections on a solar cell substrate in a solar cell production line. The module generally provides a substrate handling system, a substrate positioning system, a cross-buss attachment assembly, and a side-buss attachment assembly. The module may provide adaptations for automatically adjusting the module to receive and process various sizes of solar cell substrates. | 08-27-2009 |
20090221217 | SOLAR PANEL EDGE DELETION MODULE - The present invention generally relates to an edge deletion module positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line. The edge deletion module may include a grinding wheel device for removing material from edge regions of a solar cell device and cleaning the edge regions of the solar cell device after removing the material. The edge deletion module may also include an abrasive element, a portion of which is ground as it is periodically, laterally advanced toward the grinding wheel device. A controller is provided for controlling the operation and function of various facets of the module. | 09-03-2009 |
20100044594 | Apparatus for aligning a particle-beam-generated pattern to a pattern on a pre-patterned substrate - The apparatus includes a particle beam, having an axis which functions as a primary optical axis, which particle beam is used to generate a pattern on a substrate. The apparatus also includes an optical reader, having an axis which functions as a secondary optical axis. A position fiducial is located at a stationary position relative to the substrate. Registration of a pre-existing pattern and the particle beam axis to the position fiducial periodically during production of a particle-beam-generated pattern continually provides an improvement in the overall alignment of the pattern being created with the pre-existing pattern on the substrate. | 02-25-2010 |
20100047954 | PHOTOVOLTAIC PRODUCTION LINE - The present invention generally relates to a system that can be used to form a photovoltaic device, or solar cell, using processing modules that are adapted to perform one or more steps in the solar cell formation process. The automated solar cell fab is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. The automated solar fab will thus generally comprise a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate, one or more absorbing layer deposition cluster tools having at least one processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate, one or more back contact deposition chambers, one or more material removal chambers, a solar cell encapsulation device, an autoclave module, an automated junction box attaching module, and one or more quality assurance modules that are adapted to test and qualify the completely formed solar cell device. | 02-25-2010 |
20110012635 | WET HIGH POTENTIAL QUALIFICATION TOOL FOR SOLAR CELL FABRICATION - Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and an apparatus for processing and qualifying a formed photovoltaic device to assure that the formed photovoltaic device meets desired quality and industry electrical standards. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a photovoltaic device, or solar cell device, production line that is adapted to form a thin film solar cell device by accepting an unprocessed substrate and performing multiple deposition, material removal, cleaning, bonding, and testing steps to form a complete functional and tested solar cell device. The solar cell device production line, or system, is generally an arrangement of processing modules and automation equipment used to form solar cell devices that are interconnected by automated material handling system. In one embodiment, the system is a fully automated solar cell production line that is designed to reduce and/or remove the need for human interaction and/or labor intensive processing steps to improve the device reliability, process repeatability, and the solar cell formation process cost of ownership (CoO). | 01-20-2011 |
20110089145 | SOLDER BONDING METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present invention generally relates to an automated solar cell electrical connection module that is positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line and is configured to ensure a robust and reliable bond is formed during the electrical connection process. The electrical connection module generally provides a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The electrical connection module further provides a thermode assembly including heating elements for forming a soldered connection between the junction box and the composite solar cell structure and a temperature sensing device in thermal communication with the heating elements for detecting a temperature profile during the connection process. The heating elements and temperature sensing device are linked to a controller configured to monitor and compare the energy input into the heating elements with the temperature near the tip of the heating elements throughout the connection process. The controller is further configured to compare the actual energy versus temperature profile to an expected profile throughout the connection process and verify whether a quality bond is achieved. | 04-21-2011 |
20110140726 | Apparatus and Methods for Measuring Solar Cell Module Performance - Methods and apparatus for moving and evaluating the performance of solar cell modules are described. Specifically, embodiments of the invention are directed to apparatus and methods including a transparent plate having a plurality of fluid conduits therethrough, where the fluid conduits are configured to direct a fluid with sufficient force to elevate/support a solar cell module during measurement of the solar cell performance. | 06-16-2011 |
20110230008 | Method and Apparatus for Silicon Film Deposition - Embodiments of the present invention are directed to apparatus and methods for depositing amorphous and microcrystalline silicon films during the formation of solar cells. Specifically, embodiments of the invention provide for a pre-heated hydrogen-containing gas to be introduced into a processing chamber separately from the silicon-containing gas. A plasma, struck from the heated hydrogen-containing gas, reacts with the silicon-containing gas to produce a silicon film on a substrate. | 09-22-2011 |
20110272061 | THIN FILM SOLAR JUNCTION BOX POTTANT VACUUM FILL PROCESS - A method for vacuum filling a junction box and a junction box attachment module are provided. According to one embodiment of the invention, a junction box attachment module includes a dispense nozzle, an enclosure and a vacuum source. The enclosure is disposed around and extended from the dispense nozzle, wherein the enclosure has a sealing portion located at its open end. The vacuum source is connected to the enclosure, wherein the vacuum source is configured to establish a vacuum within the enclosure enclosing an open region of a junction box attached to a solar cell device, thereby facilitating injecting a potting material into the open region of the junction box via the dispense nozzle. | 11-10-2011 |
20110272420 | ENCLOSED VERTICAL RACK FOR STORING AND TRANSPORTING LARGE SUBSTRATES - An enclosed vertical rack is provided for storing and transporting large substrates. The enclosed vertical rack comprises a movable base, an enclosure on the movable base for accommodating substrates, an alignment facility in the enclosure for receiving substrates, and a sealable door for enclose the enclosure. The enclosure has a gas inlet, and the enclosure or the door has a gas outlet. | 11-10-2011 |
20110274836 | REMOVAL OF TRAPPED SILICON WITH A CLEANING GAS - Embodiments of the present invention relate to apparatus and methods of preventing build-up of explosive material in vacuum forelines of deposition systems. A cleaning gas such as nitrogen trifluoride (NF | 11-10-2011 |
20110285840 | SOLDER BONDING AND INSPECTION METHOD AND APPARATUS - The present invention relates to an automated electrical connection module for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure. The electrical connection module includes a thermode assembly having heating elements for forming a soldered connection between the junction box and the composite solar cell structure and a temperature sensing device in thermal communication with the heating elements for detecting a temperature profile during the connection process. The heating elements and temperature sensing device are linked to a controller configured to monitor and compare the energy input into the heating elements with the temperature near the tip of the heating elements throughout the connection process. The electrical connection module further provides a vision system configured to capture images of the soldered connection between the junction box and the composite solar cell structure. The vision system is linked to the controller configured to analyze and compare the captured images to those of properly formed bonds to verify whether a quality bond is achieved. | 11-24-2011 |
20110314672 | AUTOMATED SOLAR CELL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS - The present invention generally relates to an automated solar cell electrical connection device that is positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication system. The automated solar cell electrical connection device includes a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The automated solar cell electrical connection module may include a composite solar cell structure conveyor for positioning the composite solar cell structure, an adhesive dispense module for applying adhesive to the junction box, a flux dispenser for applying flux to electrical connection tabs in the junction box, a vision system for locating features on the composite solar cell structure, a robot for positioning the junction box onto the composite solar cell structure, a heating element to make electrical connections between the junction box and the solar cell device, a potting material dispensing assembly for dispensing potting material into the junction box, and a system controller for controlling the functions of the module. | 12-29-2011 |
20120060919 | JUNCTION BOX FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL - A junction box for a solar panel comprises a housing, a lid, a first connector and a second connector. The housing comprises sidewalls and a top wall defining an interior space. The first coupling comprises a first contact element and the second coupling comprises a second contact element. Said contact elements penetrate at least one of the sidewalls, so that the contact elements provide an electrical contact from external contact elements to internal contact elements, such as solder tails. Internal contact elements are arranged at least partially in said interior space. The top wall comprises an opening extending only partially in said top wall. Said opening is located such in the top wall that access to said solder tails in a substantially perpendicular direction to the surface of a solar panel for connecting the solder tail to the solar panel is provided. | 03-15-2012 |
20130276856 | JUNCTION BOX FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL - A junction box for a solar panel comprises a housing, a lid, a first connector and a second connector. The housing comprises sidewalls and a top wall defining an interior space. The first coupling comprises a first contact element and the second coupling comprises a second contact element. Said contact elements penetrate at least one of the sidewalls, so that the contact elements provide an electrical contact from external contact elements to internal contact elements, such as solder tails. Internal contact elements are arranged at least partially in said interior space. The top wall comprises an opening extending only partially in said top wall. Said opening is located such in the top wall that access to said solder tails in a substantially perpendicular direction to the surface of a solar panel for connecting the solder tail to the solar panel is provided. | 10-24-2013 |