Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090145746 | Manufacturing apparatus and method for large-scale production of thin-film solar cells - A method of manufacturing improved thin-film solar cells entirely by sputtering includes a high efficiency back contact/reflecting multi-layer containing at least one barrier layer consisting of a transition metal nitride. A copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In | 06-11-2009 |
20100276282 | Manufacturing Apparatus and Method for Large-Scale Production of Thin-Film Solar Cells - A method of manufacturing improved thin-film solar cells entirely by sputtering includes a high efficiency back contact/reflecting multi-layer containing at least one barrier layer consisting of a transition metal nitride. A copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In | 11-04-2010 |
20100278683 | Manufacturing Apparatus and Method for Large-Scale Production of Thin-Film Solar Cells - A method of manufacturing improved thin-film solar cells entirely by sputtering includes a high efficiency back contact/reflecting multi-layer containing at least one barrier layer consisting of a transition metal nitride. A copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In | 11-04-2010 |
20110240468 | TARGET UTILIZATION IMPROVEMENT FOR ROTATABLE MAGNETRONS - Rotatable magnetron sputtering apparatuses are described for depositing material from a target while reducing premature burn through issues. The rotatable magnetron sputtering apparatus includes electric coils wound on pole pieces to modulate the magnetic fields at the ends of the magnetron magnetic assembly. Changing the direction of electric current moves the sputtering region alternately around its normal central position to decrease the rate of erosion depth at the ends of the target material. | 10-06-2011 |
20110259418 | Manufacturing Apparatus and Method for Large-Scale Production of Thin-Film Solar Cells - A method of manufacturing improved thin-film solar cells entirely by sputtering includes a high efficiency back contact/reflecting multi-layer containing at least one barrier layer consisting of a transition metal nitride. A copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In | 10-27-2011 |
20110300661 | SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION METHOD USING A FLAT METALLIC MESH - An improved method for interconnecting thin film solar cells to form solar cell modules is provided, the method comprising using a flat metallic mesh formed from a thin metallic strip to provide a current collection grid over a thin film solar cell. The method is particularly useful for forming interconnections between thin film solar cells deposited on flexible substrates. The rectangular cross sectional shape of the mesh elements provides an increased area of electrical contact to the solar cell compared to the small tangential area provided by elements of circular cross section. Mesh elements can be made higher rather than wider to improve conductivity without proportionally increasing shading loss. Various coatings can be applied to the mesh to improve its performance, provide corrosion resistance, and improve its cosmetic appearance. | 12-08-2011 |
20120174967 | PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES AND MOUNTING SYSTEMS - A photovoltaic module includes a support member for securing a photovoltaic cell. The support member includes a plurality of holes extending through at least a portion of the support member. A mounting system includes a buss bar for coupling the photovoltaic module to a power transmission system. | 07-12-2012 |
20130213805 | TARGET UTILIZATION IMPROVEMENT FOR ROTATABLE MAGNETRONS - Rotatable magnetron sputtering apparatuses are described for depositing material from a target while reducing premature burn through issues. The rotatable magnetron sputtering apparatus includes electric coils wound on pole pieces to modulate the magnetic fields at the ends of the magnetron magnetic assembly. Changing the direction of electric current moves the sputtering region alternately around its normal central position to decrease the rate of erosion depth at the ends of the target material. | 08-22-2013 |
20140060648 | INORGANIC MULTILAYER STACK AND METHODS AND COMPOSITIONS RELATING THERETO - A multilayer stack is described. The multilayer stack includes: (i) one or more inorganic barrier layers for reducing transport of gas or vapor molecules therethrough; (ii) an inorganic reactive layer disposed adjacent to one or more of the inorganic barrier layers, and the reactive layer capable of reacting with the gas or the vapor molecules; and (iii) wherein, in an operational state of the multilayer stack, the vapor or the gas molecules that diffuse through one or more of the inorganic barrier layers react with the inorganic reactive layer, and thereby allow said multilayer stack to be substantially impervious to the gas or the vapor molecules. | 03-06-2014 |
20140102891 | Manufacturing Apparatus and Method for Large-Scale Production of Thin-Film Solar Cells - A method of manufacturing improved thin-film solar cells entirely by sputtering includes a high efficiency back contact/reflecting multi-layer containing at least one barrier layer consisting of a transition metal nitride. A copper indium gallium diselenide (Cu(In | 04-17-2014 |
20140150843 | SHINGLE-LIKE PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES - A photovoltaic system comprises one or more shingle-like photovoltaic (PV) modules, each having a layer of optically transparent material adjacent to a layer of photoactive material configured to generate electricity upon exposure to light from the layer of optically transparent material. In some cases the layer of optically transparent material of each of the one or more shingle-like PV modules has a pattern of depressions in a shingle-like configuration. | 06-05-2014 |
20140360563 | SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION METHOD USING A FLAT METALLIC MESH - An improved method for interconnecting thin film solar cells to form solar cell modules is provided, the method comprising using a flat metallic mesh formed from a thin metallic strip to provide a current collection grid over a thin film solar cell. The method is particularly useful for forming interconnections between thin film solar cells deposited on flexible substrates. The rectangular cross sectional shape of the mesh elements provides an increased area of electrical contact to the solar cell compared to the small tangential area provided by elements of circular cross section. Mesh elements can be made higher rather than wider to improve conductivity without proportionally increasing shading loss. Various coatings can be applied to the mesh to improve its performance, provide corrosion resistance, and improve its cosmetic appearance. | 12-11-2014 |
20140367250 | SYSTEMS FOR FORMING PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS ON FLEXIBLE SUBSTRATES - A deposition system for depositing a thin film photovoltaic cell on a flexible substrate comprises an enclosure that is fluidically isolated from an environment external to the enclosure, and a plurality of deposition chambers in the enclosure. At least one deposition chamber of the plurality of deposition chambers comprises a magnetron sputtering apparatus that directs a material flux of one or more target materials towards a portion of the flexible substrate that is disposed in the at least one deposition chamber of the plurality of deposition chambers. A substrate payout roller in the enclosure provides a flexible substrate that is directed through each of the plurality of deposition chambers to a substrate take-up roller in the enclosure. At least one guide roller in the enclosure is configured to direct the flexible substrate to or from a given deposition chamber among the plurality of deposition chambers. | 12-18-2014 |
20150047698 | PROTECTIVE COATINGS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A photovoltaic cell comprises a protective layer, a substrate adjacent to the protective layer, and a barrier layer adjacent to the substrate. The protective layer can comprise niobium, or a metal carbide, metal boride, metal nitride, or metal silicide. The barrier layer can comprise an electrically conductive material. The photovoltaic cell further comprises an absorber layer adjacent to the barrier layer. The absorber layer in some cases comprises copper indium gallium di-selenide (CIGS). The photovoltaic cell further comprises an optically transparent window layer adjacent to the absorber layer, and an electrically non-conductive aluminum zinc oxide (AZO) layer adjacent to the window layer. A transparent oxide layer is disposed adjacent to the AZO layer. | 02-19-2015 |
20150060262 | SPUTTERING SYSTEMS FOR LIQUID TARGET MATERIALS - A sputtering system comprises a magnetron assembly for depositing liquid metal films on a substrate. The magnetron assembly comprises a horizontal planar magnetron with a liquid metal target, a cylindrical rotatable magnetron with a metal target and a set of one or more shields forming a chamber between the planar and the rotatable magnetron. | 03-05-2015 |