| First Solar, Inc. Patent applications |
| Patent application number | Title | Published |
|---|
| 20120125395 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FACILITATING ELECTRICAL INTERCONNECTION OF A PLURALITY OF SOLAR MODULES - A method and apparatus to facilitate electrical interconnection of solar modules by using a wiring assembly having a plurality of conductors, each having one end connector and a plurality of spaced connection structures, each spaced structure for facilitating an electrical connection of at least one of the conductors with a respective solar module. The wiring assembly is mounted adjacent a plurality of solar modules such that the plurality of spaced connection structures are associated with respective electrical connections on a solar module to facilitate connection of the solar modules to the wiring assembly. | 05-24-2012 |
| 20120067422 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE WITH A METAL SULFIDE OXIDE WINDOW LAYER - Methods and devices are described for a photovoltaic device and substrate structure. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and a MS | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120067421 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE WITH A ZINC MAGNESIUM OXIDE WINDOW LAYER - Methods and devices are described for a photovoltaic device and substrate structure. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and a CdTe absorber layer, the substrate structure including a Zn | 03-22-2012 |
| 20120038385 | IN-PROCESS MEASUREMENT APPARATUS - An in-process measurement apparatus can be used to determine characteristics of a photovoltaic module. Capacitance measurements of the photovoltaic module are conducted before, during, or after execution of a high-potential leakage test, a performance test, or other tests of the module. The capacitance measurements are used to determine the characteristics of the photovoltaic module, including information regarding depletion width, doping density, film layer thickness, trap concentrations and absorber thickness. The apparatus can also be used to ensure that photovoltaic modules conform to product specifications. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120018122 | Furnace and a Method for Cooling a Furnace - A furnace for conducting a high temperature process under oxidising conditions comprises an outer shell made from a metal, one or more cooling channels formed on or joined to the outer shell and a furnace lining. The furnace lining comprises a backing lining comprising a relatively high thermal conductivity layer positioned adjacent to an inner wall of the outer shell and a working lining positioned inwardly of the layer of relatively high thermal conductivity. The backing lining can comprise a graphite lining or a graphite-containing lining. The rate of heat transfer through the backing lining is sufficiently high to form a protective freeze on the backing lining in the event that the working lining wears away. | 01-26-2012 |
| 20110237021 | PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE MANUFACTURE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module including a laminating step. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110223710 | Deposition Chamber Cleaning System and Method - An in-situ method of cleaning a vacuum deposition chamber can include flowing at least one reactive gas into the chamber. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110214725 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE WITH GRADED BUFFER LAYER - A photovoltaic device can include a graded bandgap buffer layer. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110212256 | DEPOSITION RATE CONTROL - An vapor deposition control system includes a multi-level control scheme. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110204909 | SOLAR MODULE TEST CONTROL - A method for conditioning a photovoltaic module for testing includes setting an effective irradiance of a continuous light source at a target plane, configuring a test photovoltaic module to operate at a substantially maximum power point configuration, positioning the test photovoltaic module adjacent to the target plane, and configuring the test photovoltaic module for testing by removing the light source, cooling the test module to a testing temperature, and reversing the substantially maximum power point configuration. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110203655 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE PROTECTION LAYER - A photovoltaic structure can include a protective cap, which can include sodium. | 08-25-2011 |
| 20110165315 | Flux Monitor - A flux monitor system includes a light source and a sensor. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110162715 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOVING COATING FROM AN EDGE OF A SUBSTRATE - A coating-removal apparatus may include a source positioned on a mounting plate, and operable to emit a laser beam at a first path, where the mounting plate is configured to receive an edge of a photovoltaic module in a designated region substantially proximate to the mounting plate, such that the first path intersects the designated region, and where the mounting plate is further configured to reposition the source to create an additional path that intersects with the designated region, where the additional path is distinct from the first path. | 07-07-2011 |
| 20110155182 | HIGH PRESSURE CLEANER - A method for cleaning a semiconductor material from a photovoltaic module manufacturing component can include enclosing the component and directing a liquid stream at the component. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110147579 | PARTICULATE MONITORING - A method for monitoring a quantity of a particle in a sample of air may include heating a particle to form a vapor; detecting the particle; measuring a change in quantity of the particle; and indicating the change in quantity. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110147230 | Film Removal - A method of removing coating from a substrate may include contacting a portion of coating on a surface of a substrate to an acid. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146786 | PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE INTERLAYER - A photovoltaic module may include a substrate including a coating; and an interlayer placed in contact with the substrate, where the interlayer includes an acid-modified polyethylene. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146785 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE INCLUDING DOPED LAYER - A photovoltaic cell with a doped buffer layer includes a metal oxide and a dopant. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110146784 | Photovoltaic device back contact - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device may include depositing a semiconductor absorber layer on a substrate, depositing a molybdenum in the presence of a nitrogen to form a molybdenum nitride in contact with the semiconductor absorber layer, and doping the molybdenum nitride with a copper dopant. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110140528 | CABLE BUS - A photovoltaic array cable bus system can include a cable bus and at least one electrical connector. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110139240 | PHOTOVOLTAIC WINDOW LAYER - A discontinuous or reduced thickness window layer can improve the efficiency of CdTe-based or other kinds of solar cells. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110136294 | Plasma-Treated Photovoltaic Devices - A method of manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic device includes depositing a first compound semiconductor layer on a substrate and exposing the device to plasma, the plasma treating the layer. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132450 | Back Contact Deposition Using Water-Doped Gas Mixtures - A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic module may include depositing a semiconductor material adjacent to a substrate; and depositing a back contact material adjacent to the semiconductor material, where depositing the back contact material may include directing a feed gas including hydrogen toward the substrate. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132263 | System and Method for Depositing a Material on a Substrate - A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132262 | System and Method for Depositing a Material on a Substrate - A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110132261 | System and Method for Depositing a Material on a Substrate - A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a material and a carrier gas into a heated chamber. The material may be a semiconductor material, such as a cadmium chalcogenide. A resulting mixture of vapor and carrier gas containing no unvaporized material is provided. The mixture of vapor and carrier gas are remixed to achieve a uniform vapor/carrier gas composition, which is directed toward a surface of a substrate, such as a glass substrate, where the vapor is deposited as a uniform film. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20110108394 | Transport Device, Especially for Transporting Flat Substrates Through a Coating Installation - The transport device especially for transporting flat substrates through a coating installation comprises a plurality of transporting rolls, which are arranged transversely in relation to the transporting direction, and supporting rolls are also provided. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110095004 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING AND REMOVING COATING FROM AN EDGE OF A SUBSTRATE - A method for removing coating from a substrate may include: locating an edge of a substrate; directing a laser beam along a first path to a first position on a surface of the substrate proximate to an edge of the substrate at an angle of incidence suitable to redirect the laser beam along a second path, through the substrate, to a second position on a second surface of the substrate corresponding to the located edge of the substrate, where the second surface can include a coating; and ablating at least a portion of coating at the second position on the second surface of the substrate. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110088768 | METHOD OF ANNEALING CADMIUM TELLURIDE PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device may include forming a cadmium zinc sulfide layer on a substrate; depositing a cadmium telluride layer on the cadmium zinc sulfide layer; contacting a cadmium chloride to the cadmium telluride layer; and annealing one or more layers, where the one or more layers includes at least the cadmium telluride layer. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110088742 | PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A photovoltaic module may include a transparent conductive layer on a substrate a first submodule including a first plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series and a second submodule including a second plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series. | 04-21-2011 |
| 20110083972 | ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING COATING FROM A SUBSTRATE - A method of removing coating from a substrate may include contacting at least a portion of a surface of a substrate to an electrolytic substance, where at least a portion of the surface includes cadmium; connecting a power source to the substrate and to an anode material; applying a current and a voltage; and removing at least a portion of coating from the substrate. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110083734 | MODULE MOISTURE BARRIER - A photovoltaic module may include a substrate; a semiconductor layer adjacent to the substrate; a lead foil adjacent to the semiconductor layer; a cover glass adjacent to the lead foil, where the cover glass includes a top surface, a bottom surface, and an opening, where the opening penetrates the top and bottom surfaces of the cover glass, and the opening includes an opening lateral dimension; and a barrier layer between the cover glass and the semiconductor layer, where the barrier layer includes a barrier lateral dimension, where the barrier lateral dimension is greater than the opening lateral dimension. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110079283 | SELF-REMEDIATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module may include forming a photovoltaic device including a constituent material; forming a hydrophilic material adjacent to the constituent material, where the hydrophilic material includes an acrylate-based polymer; and depositing a remediation agent adjacent to the hydrophilic material, such that the remediation agent is proximate to, but not contacting the constituent material. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110079282 | SELF-REMEDIATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module may include forming a photovoltaic device including a constituent material; forming a hydrophilic material adjacent to the constituent material, where the hydrophilic material includes a polyvinyl acetate or alcohol; and depositing a remediation agent adjacent to the hydrophilic material, such that the remediation agent is proximate to, but not contacting the constituent material. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110079280 | SELF-REMEDIATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module may include forming a photovoltaic device including a constituent material; forming a hydrophilic material adjacent to the constituent material, where the hydrophilic material includes polyethylene; and depositing a remediation agent adjacent to the hydrophilic material, such that the remediation agent is proximate to, but not contacting the constituent material. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110079279 | SELF-REMEDIATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module may include forming a photovoltaic device including a constituent material; forming a hydrophilic material adjacent to the constituent material, where the hydrophilic material includes cellulose; and depositing a remediation agent adjacent to the hydrophilic material, such that the remediation agent is proximate to, but not contacting the constituent material. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20110061736 | PHOTOVOLTAIC BACK CONTACT - A method to preparing Cadmium telluride surface before forming metal back contact is disclosed. The method can include removing carbon from Cadmium telluride surface. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110061712 | CORD PLATE - A photovoltaic module cord plate is disclosed. The cord plate has a base and channel. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110060475 | Cloud Tracking - A cloud tracking system for photovoltaic power plant is disclosed. The cloud tracking system for photovoltaic power plant can include plurality of cloud shadow sensors positioned on the perimeter of the photovoltaic power plant. | 03-10-2011 |
| 20110053306 | Photovoltaic Lead Manufacture - An improved lead foil operation procedure for photovoltaic module manufacture is disclosed. The procedure includes lift, cut, and fold lead foil. | 03-03-2011 |
| 20110046916 | Pyrometer - A position sensitive pyrometer includes a sensor. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110041917 | Doped Transparent Conductive Oxide - A solar cell with a doped transparent conductive oxide layer is disclosed. The doped transparent conductive oxide layer can improve the efficiency of CdTe-based or other kinds of solar cells. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110039401 | Apparatus and Method for Depositing a Material on a Substrate - Apparatus and a method for depositing a material on a substrate utilizes a distributor including a permeable member through which a carrier gas and a material are passed to provide a vapor that is deposited on a conveyed substrate. A secondary gas can be provided to promote uniform distribution of the material on the substrate. | 02-17-2011 |
| 20110030891 | Lamination process improvement - A method of laminating a photovoltaic module may include placing an interlayer in contact with a substrate, heating the interlayer with a source of infrared radiation and pressing the interlayer and the substrate together in a vacuum laminator. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110005594 | Photovoltaic Devices Including Zinc - A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic cell may include depositing a cadmium sulfide layer on a transparent conductive oxide stack; depositing a zinc-containing layer on the cadmium sulfide layer; and depositing a cadmium telluride layer on the zinc-containing layer. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110005591 | Solar Cell Front Contact Doping - A method of doping solar cell front contact can improve the efficiency of CdTe-based or other kinds of solar cells. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20100326491 | DOPANT-CONTAINING CONTACT MATERIAL - A photovoltaic device can include a doped contact layer adjacent to a semiconductor absorber layer, where the doped contact layer includes a metal base material and a dopant. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100319775 | Method and Apparatus for Annealing a Deposited Cadmium Stannate Layer - A method for manufacturing a multi-layered structure can include annealing a stack, where the annealing can include heating the stack in the presence of an inert gas, and where the stack includes a layer including cadmium and tin. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100307991 | PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE GROUND MOUNT - A photovoltaic module ground mounting system can include a collapsible photovoltaic module mounting assembly framework. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100307568 | METAL BARRIER-DOPED METAL CONTACT LAYER - A photovoltaic device can include an intrinsic metal layer adjacent to a semiconductor absorber layer; and a doped metal contact layer adjacent to the intrinsic metal layer, where the doped metal contact layer includes a metal base material and a dopant. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100307561 | DOPED METAL CONTACT - A photovoltaic device can include a second metal layer adjacent to a first layer, where the first layer is positioned adjacent to a substrate, and where the second metal layer includes a dopant; and a copper-indium-gallium diselenide (CIGS) layer adjacent to the second metal layer. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100307560 | SELF-REMEDIATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module can include depositing a heavy metal-immobilizing agent proximate to one or more components of a photovoltaic module. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100304010 | Powder feed rate sensor - A powder feed rate sensor includes a surface or diaphragm configured to detect powder feed rate. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100288355 | SILICON NITRIDE DIFFUSION BARRIER LAYER FOR CADMIUM STANNATE TCO - A photovoltaic device can include a transparent conductive oxide layer adjacent to a substrate and a barrier layer, which can include a silicon-containing material. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100288354 | CADMIUM STANNATE TCO STRUCTURE WITH DIFFUSION BARRIER LAYER AND SEPARATION LAYER - A photovoltaic device can include a transparent conductive oxide layer adjacent to a substrate and one or more barrier layers, which can include a silicon oxide or a silicon nitride. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100282320 | Photovoltaic Devices Including an Interfacial Layer - A photovoltaic cell can include an interfacial layer in contact with a semiconductor layer. | 11-11-2010 |
| 20100231045 | Photovoltaic Power Plant Output - A photovoltaic power system can include a photovoltaic array, an inverter, and a battery. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100218803 | Non-planar photocell - A photovoltaic cell having a substrate with at least one curved surface reduces the number of processing steps necessary to manufacture a completed cell. Such a photovoltaic cell can have semiconductor material on the outer surface of a curved substrate or on the inner surface of a curved substrate. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100212731 | Photovoltaic Devices Including Controlled Copper Uptake - A photovoltaic cell can include a substrate having a copper-doped semiconductor layer. The doping can be mediated with a salt. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100212730 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING BACK METAL CONTACTS - A photovoltaic cell can include a substrate having a transparent conductive oxide layer, a CdS/CdTe layer, and a back metal contact. The back metal contact can be deposited by sputtering or by chemical vapor deposition. | 08-26-2010 |
| 20100210059 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TOP-DOWN MATERIAL DEPOSITION - A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes introducing a vaporizable material from a source positioned above a substrate. The vaporizable material is vaporized and directed as an vapor feed stream from the source, away from the substrate. The vapor feed stream is redirected as a plume from a redirector, towards the substrate and deposited as a film on the substrate. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100193012 | Non-Corrosive Photovoltaic Panel Mounting Bracket - A system and method of mounting photovoltaic panels includes a mounting bracket. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100186815 | Photovoltaic Device With Improved Crystal Orientation - A photovoltaic device can include a semiconductor absorber layer with improved cadmium telluride orientation. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100186812 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SELENIDE - A copper indium gallium selenide photovoltaic cell can include a substrate having a transparent conductive oxide layer. The copper indium gallium selenide can be deposited using sputtering and vapor transport deposition. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100116337 | Tandem Module Photovoltaic Devices Including An Organic Module - A tandem module photovoltaic cell can include an organic module in parallel with a semiconductor module. | 05-13-2010 |
| 20100059115 | Coated Substrates and Semiconductor Devices Including the Substrates - A photovoltaic cell can include a substrate having a transparent conductive oxide layer and an antireflective layer. The layers can be deposited by sputtering or by chemical vapor deposition. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100059112 | Photovoltaic Devices Including Mg-Doped Semiconductor Films - A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20090272437 | Transparent Conductive Materials Including Cadmium Stannate - A photovoltaic cell can include a transparent conductive layer including cadmium stannate. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090260671 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PARALLEL INTERCONNECTION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES - A photovoltaic system includes a first submodule and a second submodule connected in parallel. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090255578 | Plasma-treated photovoltaic devices - A method of manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic device includes depositing a first compound semiconductor layer on a substrate and exposing the device to plasma, the plasma treating the layer. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090246940 | System and method for depositing a material on a substrate - A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes a plasma source positioned proximate to a distributor configured to provide a semiconductor coating on a substrate. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090211637 | Photovoltaic devices including heterojunctions - A photovoltaic cell can include a heterojunction between semiconductor layers. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090194166 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING DOPED SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS - A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer. | 08-06-2009 |
| 20090078318 | Photovoltaic Devices Including An Interfacial Layer - A photovoltaic cell can include an interfacial layer in contact with a semiconductor layer. | 03-26-2009 |
