Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080226270 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 09-18-2008 |
20080247737 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 10-09-2008 |
20080247738 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 10-09-2008 |
20090255467 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
20090255469 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
20090255565 | THIN FILM SOLAR CELL STRING - Thin film PV cells and strings of such cells that may be electrically joined with conductive tabs or ribbons. A semi-flexible, electrically conductive adhesive is applied to join the tabs to the front and back of a cell, providing a conductive pathway between the tab and solar cell, with good adhesion to both. The tabs may be constructed of one or more materials having a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches that of the substrate material of the cells, so that when the string or module is subsequently heated, mechanical stress between the tab and solar cell is minimized. The semi-flexible nature of the ECA also acts to relieve stress between the tab and the solar cell, decreasing the possibility of adhesion failure at critical locations. One or more dielectric materials may be applied to the PV cells and/or the tabs in regions where a tab crosses the edge of a cell, to avoid electrical shorting between the negative and positive electrodes of the cell. | 10-15-2009 |
20090258444 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
20090258457 | BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION FOR THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the buffer layer or layers may be dispensed separately to the substrate web, rather than being mixed prior to their application. The web and/or the dispensed solutions may be heated by a plurality of heating elements. | 10-15-2009 |
20090258476 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
20100086673 | HEATING FOR BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web through the chemical combination of a metal and chalcogen in solution form. The web and/or the solutions may be heated by one or a plurality of heating elements that may be disposed out of physical contact with the web, allowing enhanced control over the reaction speed through fine temperature control. One or more properties of the chalcogenide layer may be measured, and the temperature of the system may be adjusted in response. | 04-08-2010 |
20100086699 | SOLUTION CONTAINMENT DURING BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the chalcogenide layer may be contained substantially to the front surface of the web, controlling the boundaries of the reaction and avoiding undesired deposition of chalcogenide upon the back side of the web. | 04-08-2010 |
20100087015 | FEEDBACK FOR BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a feedback control system may be employed to measure one or more properties of the web and/or the chalcogenide layer, and to adjust one or more parameters of the system or buffer layer deposition method in response to the measurement. | 04-08-2010 |
20100087016 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 04-08-2010 |
20100147356 | Thin film solar cell string - Thin film photovoltaic cells and strings of cells that may be electrically joined in series by a conductive carrier web that underlies the positive polarity side (bottom side) of the cells. Electrical contact between the positive polarity side of a cell and the carrier web may be made through electrically conductive material such as conductive adhesive disposed between the carrier web and one or more portions of the bottom surface of each cell. Electrical contact between the negative polarity (top side) of a cell and the carrier web may be made through one or more apertures formed in the cell. An electrically conductive material may be disposed in the apertures for this purpose, in conjunction with a dielectric to line the aperture and avoid an electrical short between the opposite polarities of a given cell. | 06-17-2010 |
20110177622 | APPARATUS AND METHODS OF MIXING AND DEPOSITING THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC COMPOSITIONS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. At least one layer is deposited from a mixed gallium indium source. | 07-21-2011 |
20120000502 | INTEGRATED THIN FILM SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION - Photovoltaic modules may include multiple flexible thin film photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series, and laminated to a substantially transparent top sheet having a conductive grid pattern facing the cells. Methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules including integrated multi-cell interconnections are provided. Methods may include steps of coordinating, integrating, and registering multiple rolls of substrates in continuous processes. | 01-05-2012 |
20120000510 | LAMINATED SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM - Thin film photovoltaic cells and strings of cells may be electrically joined in series. More specifically, electrical contacts between photovoltaic cells may be formed by positioning the cells between a pair of interconnection substrates, each of which includes a conductive grid. By positioning the cells appropriately between the substrates, an electrical connection is formed between one polarity of a given cell and the opposite polarity of an adjacent cell. | 01-05-2012 |
20120034726 | BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION FOR THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the buffer layer or layers may be dispensed separately to the substrate web, rather than being mixed prior to their application. The web and/or the dispensed solutions may be heated by a plurality of heating elements. | 02-09-2012 |
20120118356 | MULTI-LAYER SOLAR MODULE BACKSHEET - Thin film photovoltaic modules that include strings of thin film cells laminated between a transparent flexible barrier layer and a multi-layer backsheet configured to stabilize the module and to reduce or control thermo-mechanical stresses leading to undesirable effects such as warping and ribbon buckling, among others. In some cases, the backsheet has an effective TEC that relatively closely matches the TEC of the cells, resulting in improved module stability. Alternatively or in addition, the backsheet may include one or more relatively thick flexible layers, again resulting in improved stability. Various materials may be used with TECs that are chosen to minimize a particular thermo-mechanical stress, and/or to provide a module with a predetermined amount of curvature. | 05-17-2012 |
20120222725 | FLEXIBLE BUILDING-INTEGRATED PHOTOVOLTAIC STRUCTURE - Improved BIPV materials configured to meet various long-term requirements including, among others, a high degree of water resistance, physical durability, electrical durability, and an ability to withstand variations in temperature and other environmental conditions. In some embodiments, the disclosed BIPV materials include modules wherein two or more layers of the module are configured to be joined together during lamination to protect edge portions of the top sheet and/or back sheet of the module, such as in the vicinity of any multi-layer vapor barrier structure(s) of the module. | 09-06-2012 |
20130037074 | THIN FILM SOLAR CELL STRING - Thin film PV cells and strings of such cells that may be electrically joined with conductive tabs or ribbons. A semi-flexible, electrically conductive adhesive is applied to join the tabs to the front and back of a cell, providing a conductive pathway between the tab and solar cell, with good adhesion to both. The tabs may be constructed of one or more materials having a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches that of the substrate material of the cells, so that when the string or module is subsequently heated, mechanical stress between the tab and solar cell is minimized. The semi-flexible nature of the ECA also acts to relieve stress between the tab and the solar cell, decreasing the possibility of adhesion failure at critical locations. One or more dielectric materials may be applied to the PV cells and/or the tabs in regions where a tab crosses the edge of a cell, to avoid electrical shorting between the negative and positive electrodes of the cell. | 02-14-2013 |
20130269748 | INTEGRATED THIN FILM SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION - Photovoltaic modules may include multiple flexible thin film photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series, and laminated to a substantially transparent top sheet having a conductive grid pattern facing the cells. Methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules including integrated multi-cell interconnections are provided. Methods may include steps of coordinating, integrating, and registering multiple rolls of substrates in continuous processes. | 10-17-2013 |
20140099750 | SOLUTION CONTAINMENT DURING BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the chalcogenide layer may be contained substantially to the front surface of the web, controlling the boundaries of the reaction and avoiding undesired deposition of chalcogenide upon the back side of the web. | 04-10-2014 |
20140137928 | LAMINATED SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION SYSTEM - Thin film photovoltaic cells and strings of cells may be electrically joined in series. More specifically, electrical contacts between photovoltaic cells may be formed by positioning the cells between a pair of interconnection substrates, each of which includes a conductive grid. By positioning the cells appropriately between the substrates, an electrical connection is formed between one polarity of a given cell and the opposite polarity of an adjacent cell. | 05-22-2014 |
20140170798 | INTEGRATED THIN FILM SOLAR CELL INTERCONNECTION - Photovoltaic modules may include multiple flexible thin film photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series, and laminated to a substantially transparent top sheet having a conductive grid pattern facing the cells. Methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules including integrated multi-cell interconnections are provided. Methods may include steps of coordinating, integrating, and registering multiple rolls of substrates in continuous processes. | 06-19-2014 |
20140174349 | APPARATUS AND METHODS OF MIXING AND DEPOSITING THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC COMPOSITIONS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. At least one layer is deposited from a mixed gallium indium source. | 06-26-2014 |
20140213013 | PHOTOVOLTAIC INTERCONNECT SYSTEMS, DEVICES, AND METHODS - Photovoltaic modules may include multiple flexible thin film photovoltaic cells electrically connected in series by a substantially transparent top sheet having an embedded conductive wire grid pattern. Methods of manufacturing photovoltaic modules including integrated multi-cell interconnections are provided. | 07-31-2014 |