Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
438061000 | Continuous processing | 55 |
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 |
20100087026 | METHOD FOR MAKING SOLAR SUB-CELLS FROM A SOLAR CELL - The invention pertains to a method for making a solar cell module comprising solar cells connected in series, comprising the steps of: a) making in a system composed of a substrate-overlaid by a first electrode layer, itself overlaid by an active layer, a first, interruption, groove providing an interrupt in the front electrode and the active layer and a second, interconnection, groove through the active layer, the first and second grooves being positioned close to each other; b) inserting an insulating compound into the interruption groove; c) applying a lift-off compound onto the active layer at a position adjacent to the interconnection groove on the other side of the interconnection groove than the insulation groove; d) applying the second electrode; e) removing the lift-off compound and the overlaying second electrode at that position to obtain a groove in the second electrode. | 04-08-2010 |
20100087027 | Large Scale Chemical Bath System and Method for Cadmium Sulfide Processing of Thin Film Photovoltaic Materials - A method for forming a thin film photovoltaic material. The method includes providing a plurality of substrates. Each of the substrates has a surface region, an overlying first electrode material, an absorber material including at least a copper species, an indium species, and a selenium species. The method immerses the plurality of substrates in an aqueous solution including an ammonia species, a cadmium species, and a organosulfur (for example, thiourea) species in a bath to form a cadmium sulfide window material having a thickness of less than about 200 Angstroms overlying the absorber material. The aqueous solution is maintained at a temperature ranging from about 50 to about 60 Degrees Celsius. The plurality of substrates having at least the absorber material and the window layer are removed from the aqueous solution. The aqueous solution is further subjected to a filter process to substantially remove one or more particles greater than about 5 microns. | 04-08-2010 |
20100087028 | ADVANCED PLATFORM FOR PROCESSING CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELLS - The present invention generally provides a batch substrate processing system, or cluster tool, for in-situ processing of a film stack used to form regions of a solar cell device. In one configuration, the film stack formed on each of the substrates in the batch contains one or more silicon-containing layers and one or more metal layers that are deposited and further processed within the various chambers contained in the substrate processing system. The processing chambers may be, for example, physical vapor deposition (PVD) or sputtering chambers, plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) chambers, low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) chambers, hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) chambers, plasma nitridation (DPN) chambers, ion implant/doping chambers, atomic layer deposition (ALD) chambers, plasma etching chambers, annealing chambers, rapid thermal oxidation (RTO) chambers, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) chambers, substrate reorientation chambers, laser annealing chambers, and/or plasma cleaning stations. In one embodiment, a batch of solar cell substrates is simultaneously transferred in a vacuum or inert environment to prevent contamination from affecting the solar cell formation process. | 04-08-2010 |
20100129953 | STACKED-LAYERED THIN FILM SOLAR CELL AND MANUFACTURING METHOD THEREOF - A stacked-layered thin film solar cell and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The stacked-layered thin film solar cell includes a front electrode layer, a stacked-layered light-absorbing structure, and a back electrode layer. The stacked-layered light-absorbing structure has a p-i-n-type layered structure and consists essentially of I-III-VI compounds, wherein the group III elements at least include indium (In) and aluminum (Al). The p-type layer of the stacked-layered light-absorbing structure is near the front electrode layer while the n-type layer is near the back electrode layer. The Al/In concentration ratio in the p-type layer is higher than that in the n-type layer. | 05-27-2010 |
20100210060 | DOUBLE ANNEAL PROCESS FOR AN IMPROVED RAPID THERMAL OXIDE PASSIVATED SOLAR CELL - Embodiments of the invention generally contemplate methods for treating a semiconductor solar cell substrate to reduce the number of undesirable material defects or interface state traps on the surface or within the substrate. These defects can adversely affect the efficiency of the solar cell because electron-hole pairs tend to recombine with the defects and are essentially lost without generating any useful electrical current. In one aspect, a method of forming a solar cell on a semiconductor substrate is provided, comprising doping a front surface of the substrate, applying a passivating layer to the front surface and/or a back surface of the substrate, and annealing the substrate to reduce the interface state trap density (D | 08-19-2010 |
20100240166 | MANUFACTURE METHOD FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE - The invention permits a plurality of strips of resin adhesive film having a desired width and unwound from a single feeding reel to be simultaneously pasted on a solar cell. For this purpose, the invention comprises the steps of: unwinding a resin adhesive film sheet from a reel on which the resin adhesive film sheet is wound; splitting the unwound resin adhesive film into two or more film strips in correspondence to lengths of wiring material to bond; pasting the strips of resin adhesive film on an electrode of the solar cell; and placing the individual lengths of wiring material on the electrode of the solar cell having the plural strips of resin adhesive film pasted thereon and thermally setting the resin adhesive film by heating so as to fix together the electrode of the solar cell and the wiring material. | 09-23-2010 |
20110020972 | System And Method For Making A Photovoltaic Unit - A process of making a photovoltaic unit includes steps of simultaneously forming a first layer of n-type material and a second layer of p-type material using a continuous casting process, and continuously bonding the first and second layers to form a p-n junction. The process may be performed using a twin-roll type continuous casting system having a continuous casting mold that includes a first mold compartment for receiving molten n-type material and a second mold compartment for receiving molten p-type material. The molten n-type material and the molten p-type material are gradually solidified into semi-solid shells and are pressed together by opposed casting rolls, creating a metallurgical bond between the n-type material and the p-type material that forms an effective p-n junction. The process permits the large scale efficient manufacturing of photovoltaic units. | 01-27-2011 |
20110020973 | Method of Manufacturing a Photovoltaic Device - A photovoltaic device including a current collection element and a method of making same. The photovoltaic device includes a substrate, a conductive layer, an active photovoltaic material, a transparent electrode and a current collection element. The current collection element includes a transparent support and one or more conductive wires integrated therewith. The conductive wires are in electrical communication with the transparent electrode. Current generated by the active photovoltaic material passes to the transparent electrode. The current collection element facilitates delivery of current passing through the transparent electrode to leads that deliver the current to an external load. The method includes placing a pre-fabricated current collection element in direct contact with the transparent electrode of the photovoltaic device. The time and expense of assembling the conductive wires during fabrication of the photovoltaic device is thereby avoided and higher manufacturing speeds are achieved. | 01-27-2011 |
20110143481 | MODULAR SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS DEPOSITION OF A THIN FILM LAYER ON A SUBSTRATE - A system and associated process for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. A conveyor system is operably disposed within the vacuum chamber and is configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus within the vacuum chamber at a controlled constant linear speed. A post-heat section is disposed within the vacuum chamber immediately downstream of the vapor deposition apparatus in the conveyance direction of the substrates. The post-heat section is configured to maintain the substrates conveyed from the vapor deposition apparatus in a desired heated temperature profile until the entire substrate has exited the vapor deposition apparatus. | 06-16-2011 |
20110263064 | ZINC OXIDE FILM METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR CIGS CELL - A method for fabricating a thin film photovoltaic device. The method includes providing a substrate comprising an absorber layer and an overlying window layer. The substrate is loaded into a chamber and subjected to a vacuum environment. The vacuum environment is at a pressure ranging from 0.1 Torr to about 0.02 Torr. In a specific embodiment, a mixture of reactant species derived from diethylzinc species, water species and a carrier gas is introduced into the chamber. The method further introduces a diborane species using a selected flow rate into the mixture of reactant species. A zinc oxide film is formed overlying the window layer to define a transparent conductive oxide using the selected flow rate to provide a resistivity of about 2.5 milliohm-cm and less and an average grain size of about 3000 to 5000 Angstroms | 10-27-2011 |
20110263065 | MODULAR SYSTEM FOR HIGH-RATE DEPOSITION OF THIN FILM LAYERS ON PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE SUBSTRATES - A system and related method for deposition of multiple thin film layers on photovoltaic (PV) module substrates includes a first processing side wherein the substrates are conveyed in a first direction for deposition of a first thin film layer on the substrates. A second processing side is operably disposed relative to the first processing side such that substrates exiting the first processing side are subsequently conveyed in a second direction through the second processing side for deposition of a second thin film layer on the first thin film layer. A first transfer station is operably disposed between the first processing side and the second processing side to receive the substrates from an exit of the first processing side and to introduce the substrates into an entry of the second processing side such that the substrates are continuously moved through the first and second processing sides for deposition of multiple thin film layers thereon. | 10-27-2011 |
20110269256 | VAPOR DEPOSITION APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS INDIRECT DEPOSITION OF A THIN FILM LAYER ON A SUBSTRATE - An apparatus and related process are provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate. A deposition head is configured for sublimating a source material supplied thereto. The sublimated source material condenses onto a transport conveyor disposed below the deposition head. A substrate conveyor is disposed below the transport conveyor and conveys substrates in a conveyance path through the apparatus such that an upper surface of the substrates is opposite from and spaced below a lower leg of the transport conveyor. A heat source is configured adjacent the lower leg of the transport conveyor. The source material plated onto the transport conveyor is sublimated along the lower leg and condenses onto to the upper surface of substrates conveyed by the substrate conveyor. | 11-03-2011 |
20110306160 | Diffusion Furnaces Employing Ultra Low Mass Transport Systems and Methods of Wafer Rapid Diffusion Processing - Multi-zone, solar cell diffusion furnaces having a plurality of radiant element (SiC) or/and high intensity IR lamp heated process zones, including baffle, ramp-up, firing, soaking and cooling zone(s). The transport of solar cell wafers, e.g., silicon, selenium, germanium or gallium-based solar cell wafers, through the furnace is implemented by use of an ultra low-mass, wafer transport system comprising laterally spaced shielded metal bands or chains carrying non-rotating alumina tubes suspended on wires between them. The wafers rest on raised circumferential standoffs spaced laterally along the alumina tubes, which reduces contamination. The bands or chains are driven synchronously at ultra-low tension by a pin drive roller or sprocket at either the inlet or outlet end of the furnace, with appropriate tensioning systems disposed in the return path. The high intensity IR flux rapidly photo-radiation conditions the wafers so that diffusion occurs >3× faster than conventional high-mass thermal furnaces. | 12-15-2011 |
20120003772 | APPARATUS AND METHODS OF FORMING A CONDUCTIVE TRANSPARENT OXIDE FILM LAYER FOR USE IN A CADMIUM TELLURIDE BASED THIN FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - Methods for forming a TCO layer on a substrate are generally provided and include sputtering a TCO layer on a substrate from a target including cadmium stannate. A cap material (e.g., including cadmium) is deposited onto an outer surface of an indirect anneal system, and the TCO layer can be annealed at an anneal temperature while in contact with or within about 10 cm of the cap material. | 01-05-2012 |
20120009715 | POLYMER ELECTROLYTES FOR DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MODULES OF DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS USING THE SAME - This disclosure provides polymer electrolytes for dye-sensitized solar cells that can not only prevent electrolytes from leaking, but also exhibit a higher solar conversion efficiency when compared with conventional polymer electrolytes, whereby the polymer electrolytes are applicable to a process for manufacturing dye-sensitized solar cells with a large surface area or flexible dye-sensitized solar cells, and methods for manufacturing modules of dye-sensitized solar cells using the same. | 01-12-2012 |
20120028395 | VAPOR DEPOSITION PROCESS FOR CONTINUOUS DEPOSITION AND TREATMENT OF A THIN FILM LAYER ON A SUBSTRATE - An integrated apparatus is provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic module substrate and subsequent vapor treatment. The apparatus can include a load vacuum chamber, a first vapor deposition chamber; and a second vapor deposition chamber that are integrally connected such that substrates being transported through the apparatus are kept at a system pressure less than about 760 Torr. A conveyor system can be operably disposed within the apparatus and configured for transporting substrates in a serial arrangement into and through load vacuum chamber, into and through the first vapor deposition chamber, and into and through the second vapor deposition chamber at a controlled speed. Processes are also provided for manufacturing a thin film cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic device. | 02-02-2012 |
20120064657 | DYNAMIC SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE HEATING OR COOLING OF LINEARLY CONVEYED SUBSTRATES - A system is provided for heating or cooling discrete, linearly conveyed substrates having a gap between a trailing edge of a first substrate and a leading edge of a following substrate in a conveyance direction. The system includes a chamber, and a conveyor operably configured within the chamber to move the substrates through at a conveyance rate. A plurality of individually controlled temperature control units, for example heating or cooling units, are disposed linearly within the chamber along the conveyance direction. A controller is in communication with the temperature control units and is configured to cycle output of the temperature control units from a steady-state temperature output as a function of the spatial position of the conveyed substrates within the chamber relative to the temperature control units so as to decrease temperature variances in the substrates caused by movement of the substrates through the chamber. | 03-15-2012 |
20120208312 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING ORGANIC PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A method of manufacturing an organic photovoltaic device of a pre-defined shape and size is provided. The method includes providing a first substrate with said pre-defined shape and size, the size being less than 900 square centimeters and depositing an organic photoactive layer on said first substrate followed by depositing an electrically conducting layer on said organic photoactive layer. Thereafter, said electrically conducting layer and said organic photoactive layer are scribed from said first substrate forming zones on first substrates, whereby forming an active substrate. Further, providing a second substrate with said pre-defined shape and size and depositing a gas-absorbent layer on said second substrate whereby forming an inactive substrate. Finally, encapsulating said active substrate with said inactive substrate to form said organic photovoltaic device with said pre-defined shape and size, whereby not involving cutting of said first substrate after deposition of said organic photoactive layer. | 08-16-2012 |
20130045559 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SOLAR CELL USING SILICON POWDER - To provide a method for manufacturing a solar cell, whereby solar cells can be mass-produced by a simple process at low cost. A first conductivity-type silicon powder ( | 02-21-2013 |
20130084669 | IN-LINE DEPOSITION SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR DEPOSITION OF A THIN FILM LAYER - An apparatus for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a substrate is provided. The apparatus includes a receptacle configured to hold a source material and a distribution plate positioned above the receptacle. The distribution plate defines a pattern of passages therethrough. The apparatus also includes a conveyor configured to travel in a continuous loop such that its transfer surface passes above the distribution plate in a first direction to receive thereon sublimated source material passing through the passages of the distribution plate. The conveyor is also configured to travel in a second direction while carrying a substrate on its raised edges. A heating system heats the conveyor while it travels in the second direction to transfer the source material from the transfer surface to the substrate. A process is provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material to form thin film. | 04-04-2013 |
20130102103 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR THE CLOSED-LOOP FEEDBACK CONTROL OF THE PRINTING OF A MULTILAYER PATTERN - Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and methods for closed-loop control utilized in printing a multilayer pattern on a substrate. In one embodiment, a solar cell formation process is provided. The process comprises positioning a substrate on a substrate receiving surface of a printing station, printing a first patterned layer on a region of the substrate, acquiring a first optical image of the first patterned layer and storing the first optical image in a buffer, printing a second patterned layer over the region of the substrate, wherein the second patterned layer is aligned over the region of the substrate using information received from the acquired first optical image. | 04-25-2013 |
20130122630 | Vapor Deposition Apparatus and Process for Continuous Indirect Deposition of a Thin Film Layer on a Substrate - An apparatus and related process are provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate. A deposition head is configured for sublimating a source material supplied thereto. The sublimated source material condenses onto a transport conveyor disposed below the deposition head. A substrate conveyor is disposed below the transport conveyor and conveys substrates in a conveyance path through the apparatus such that an upper surface of the substrates is opposite from and spaced below a lower leg of the transport conveyor. A heat source is configured adjacent the lower leg of the transport conveyor. The source material plated onto the transport conveyor is sublimated along the lower leg and condenses onto to the upper surface of substrates conveyed by the substrate conveyor. | 05-16-2013 |
20130122631 | Process for Continuous Deposition of a Sublimated Source Material to Form a Thin Film Layer on a Substrate - A method for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material, such as CdTe, onto substrates in a continuous, non-stop manner through the apparatus is provided. The sublimated source material moves through a distribution plate and deposits onto the upper surface of the substrates as they are conveyed through the deposition area. The substrates move into and out of the deposition area through entry and exit slots that are defined by transversely extending entrance and exit seals. The seals are disposed at a gap distance above the upper surface of the substrates that is less than the distance or spacing between the upper surface of the substrates and the distribution plate. The seals have a ratio of longitudinal length (in the direction of conveyance of the substrates) to gap distance of from about 10:1 to about 100:1. | 05-16-2013 |
20130157401 | METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SELECTIVE DOPING STRUCTURE IN A SEMICONDUCTOR SUBSTRATE IN ORDER TO PRODUCE A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CELL - A method for producing a selective doping structure in a semiconductor substrate in order produce a photovoltaic solar cell. The method includes the following steps: A) applying a doping layer ( | 06-20-2013 |
20130217167 | MOISTURE BARRIER FOR POTOVOLTAIC CELLS - A process for sealing a multilayer article against environmental degradation. The article comprises a photoactive layer disposed on a length of flexible substrate and is sealed by applying a sol-gel layer to the outermost layer of the article and curing the sol-gel layer into a flexible, glass protective-coating. The multilayer article can be a photovoltaic device. | 08-22-2013 |
20140193939 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR FORMING ABSORBER LAYER ON METAL COATED GLASS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - An apparatus for forming a solar cell includes a housing defining a vacuum chamber, a rotatable substrate support, at least one inner heater and at least one outer heater. The substrate support is inside the vacuum chamber configured to hold a substrate. The at least one inner heater is between a center of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a back surface of a substrate on the substrate support. The at least one outer heater is between an outer surface of the vacuum chamber and the substrate support, and is configured to heat a front surface of a substrate on the substrate support. | 07-10-2014 |
20150072461 | ION IMPLANT SYSTEM HAVING GRID ASSEMBLY - An ion implantation system having a grid assembly. The system includes a plasma source configured to provide plasma in a plasma region; a first grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow ions from the plasma region to pass therethrough, wherein the first grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; a second grid plate having a plurality of apertures configured to allow the ions to pass therethrough subsequent to the ions passing through the first grid plate, wherein the second grid plate is configured to be biased by a power supply; and a substrate holder configured to support a substrate in a position where the substrate is implanted with the ions subsequent to the ions passing through the second grid plate. | 03-12-2015 |
20150079719 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR FLIPPING SEMICONDUCTOR BODIES DURING A MANUFACTURING PROCESS - In one embodiment, a method (e.g., a method for forming one or more semiconductor layers on a device) includes modifying a first side of a first semiconductor body inside of a processing system to at least partially manufacture one or more photovoltaic modules; flipping the first semiconductor body over inside the processing system; and modifying an opposite, second side of the first semiconductor body inside of the processing system to continue fabrication of the one or more photovoltaic cells, wherein modifying at least one of the first side or second side of the first semiconductor body is performed in at least one of a reduced pressure or increased temperature environment of the processing system and flipping the first semiconductor body is performed without removing the first semiconductor body from the processing system. | 03-19-2015 |
20150295124 | MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHODS - A multi-chamber PV furnace and method for continuously processing the wafers is described. A preferred embodiment includes three main chambers that allow pre-heating, heating, and cooling of the target material in a streamlined process designed for continuous operation in a mass production environment. The three-chamber design shortens the processing time and permits continuous processing of batches of substrate material in an in-line fashion. Each of the three chambers or zones allows for independent control and management of processing temperature, pressure, and atmosphere by means of inlet gate and outlet gate valve mechanisms. | 10-15-2015 |
20160111586 | Method and Apparatus For Reduction of Solar Cell LID - Reduction of solar wafer LID by exposure to continuous or intermittent High-Intensity full-spectrum Light Radiation, HILR, by an Enhanced Light Source, ELS, producing 3-10 Sols, optionally in the presence of forming gas or/and heating to within the range of from 100° C.-300° C. HILR is provided by ELS modules for stand-alone bulk/continuous processing, or integrated in wafer processing lines in a High-Intensity Light Zone, HILZ, downstream of a wafer firing furnace. A finger drive wafer transport provides continuous shadowless processing speeds of 200-400 inches/minute in the integrated furnace/HILZ. Wafer dwell time in the peak-firing zone is 1-2 seconds. Wafers are immediately cooled from peak firing temperature of 850° C.-1050° C. in a quench zone ahead of the HILZ-ELS modules. Dwell in the HILZ is from about 10 sec to 5 minutes, preferably 10-180 seconds. Intermittent HILR exposure is produced by electronic control, a mask, rotating slotted plate or moving belt. | 04-21-2016 |
20160181465 | ION IMPLANT SYSTEM HAVING GRID ASSEMBLY | 06-23-2016 |
438062000 | Using running length substrate | 23 |
20100075455 | FILM FORMATION APPARATUS, METHOD FOR FORMING FILM, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING PHOTOELECTRIC CONVERSION DEVICE - The present invention relates to a film formation apparatus including a first transfer chamber having a roller for sending a substrate, a film formation chamber having a discharging electrode, a buffer chamber provided between the transfer chamber and the film formation chamber or between the film formation chambers, a slit provided in a portion where the substrate comes in and out in the buffer chamber, and a second transfer chamber having a roller for rewinding the substrate. The slit is provided with at least one touch roller, and the touch roller is in contact with a film formation surface of the substrate. In addition, the present invention also relates to a method for forming a film and a method for manufacturing a photoelectric conversion device that are performed by using such a film formation apparatus. | 03-25-2010 |
20100291727 | ROLL-TO-ROLL PROCESSING METHOD AND TOOLS FOR ELECTROLESS DEPOSITION OF THIN LAYERS - A deposition method and a system are provided to deposit a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a flexible workpiece from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited from the deposition solution while the flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by a series of shaping rollers to retain the process solution on the solar cell absorber layer and while the flexible workpiece is heated by contacting to a heated liquid that the shaping rollers are fully or partially immersed. The flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by pulling a back surface of the flexible workpiece into surface cavity of the shaping rollers using magnetic force. | 11-18-2010 |
20110039366 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITION OF GRADED OR MULTI-LAYER TRANSPARENT FILMS - In one embodiment, a continuous electroless deposition method and a system to form a solar cell buffer layer with a varying composition through its thickness are provided. The composition of the buffer layer is varied by varying the composition of a chemical bath deposition solution applied onto an absorber surface on which the buffer layer with varying composition is formed. In one example, the buffer layer with varying composition includes a first section containing CdS, a second section containing CdZnS formed on top of the already deposited CdS, and a third section containing ZnS is formed on the second section All the process steps are applied in a roll-to-roll fashion. In another embodiment, a transparent conductive layer including a first transparent conductive film such as aluminum doped zinc oxide and a second transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide is deposited over the buffer layer with the varying composition. | 02-17-2011 |
20110065224 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR PROCESSING A PRECURSOR LAYER IN A GROUP VIA ENVIRONMENT - Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in a VIA environment. | 03-17-2011 |
20110092010 | HIGH-THROUGHPUT PRINTING OF NANOSTRUCTURED SEMICONDUCTOR PRECURSOR LAYER - Materials and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of nanostructured semiconductor precursor layer. In one embodiment, a material is provided that comprises of a plurality of microflakes having a material composition containing at least one element from Groups IB, IIIA, and/or VIA. The microflakes may be created by milling precursor particles characterized by a precursor composition that provides sufficient malleability to form a planar shape from a non-planar starting shape when milled, and wherein overall amounts of elements from Groups IB, IIIA and/or VIA contained in the precursor particles combined are at a desired stoichiometric ratio of the elements. It should also be understood that other flakes such as but not limited to nanoflakes may also be used to form the precursor material. | 04-21-2011 |
20110124145 | TEMPLATE FOR THREE-DIMENSIONAL THIN-FILM SOLAR CELL MANUFACTURING AND METHODS OF USE - A template | 05-26-2011 |
20110159628 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING FLEXIBLE DYE-SENSITIZED SOLAR CELLS BY A ROLL-TO-ROLL PRINTING PROCESS - A system and a method for mass production of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells at low cost via a continuous roll-to-roll process. While a flexible conductive substrate is constantly in transit on a conveyor, a titanium dioxide (TiO | 06-30-2011 |
20110177645 | ROLL-TO-ROLL EVAPORATION SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MANUFACTURE GROUP IBIIIAVIA PHOTOVOLTAICS - The present inventions provide method and apparatus that employ constituents vaporized from one or more constituent supply source or sources to form one or more films of a precursor layer formed on a surface of a continuous flexible workpiece. Of particular significance is the implementation of vapor deposition systems that operate upon a horizontally disposed portion of a continuous flexible workpiece and a vertically disposed portion of a continuous flexible workpiece, preferably in conjunction with a short free-span zone of the portion of a continuous flexible workpiece. | 07-21-2011 |
20110189806 | Isolation chamber and method of using the isolation chamber to make solar cell material - Apparatuses and methods are provided for the continuous formation of solar cell material including an isolation chamber that reduces cross contamination between adjacent formation zones that are at different pressures. | 08-04-2011 |
20110256656 | Chemical Bath Deposition Apparatus for Fabrication of Semiconductor Films through Roll-to-Roll Processes - A chemical bath deposition method and a system are presented to prepare different thin films on continuous flexible substrates in roll-to-roll processes. In particular, they are useful to deposit CdS or ZnS buffer layers in manufacture of thin film solar cells. This method and the deposition system deposit thin films onto vertically travelling continuous flexible workpieces delivered by a roll-to-roll system. The thin films are deposited with continuously spraying the reaction solutions from their freshly mixed styles to gradually aged forms until the designed thickness is obtained. The substrates and the solutions are heated to a reaction temperature. During the deposition processes, the front surfaces of the flexible substrates are totally covered with the sprayed solutions but the substrate backsides are remained dry. The reaction ambience inside the reactor can be isolated from the outside atmosphere. The apparatus is designed to generate a minimum amount of waste solutions for chemical treatments. | 10-20-2011 |
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 |
20120045864 | MULTILAYER FILM FORMATION METHOD AND FILM DEPOSITION APPARATUS USED WITH THE METHOD - A multilayer film formation method and film deposition apparatus that suppress fluctuations in thickness, stabilize product quality, and reduce costs. The method employs gas-phase chemical reaction to form a multilayer film having at least three layers using raw material gases of differing compositions. A film formation apparatus is provided having at least first and second film deposition portions along a transfer path of the substrate, and having a supply/recovery portion for the substrate at either end of the transfer path; continuously transferring the substrate along the transfer path at a first speed during a first transfer and film deposition to form a plurality of stacked layers including first and second layers; and continuously transferring the substrate along the transfer path at a second speed during a second transfer and film deposition to form a third layer having the third composition that differs from those of the first and second layers. | 02-23-2012 |
20120064658 | Entrance and Exit Roll Seal Configuration for a Vapor Deposition System - An apparatus is provided for vapor deposition of a sublimated source material as a thin film on discrete photovoltaic (PV) module substrates conveyed in a continuous non-stop manner through said apparatus. The apparatus includes a vapor deposition head configured for receipt and sublimation of a source material, and for distributing the sublimated source material onto an upper surface of substrates conveyed through a deposition area. A roll seal configuration is provided at each of an entry slot and an exit slot for the substrates conveyed through the apparatus. The roll seal configuration further includes a cylinder rotatably supported at a defined gap height above a conveyance plane of the substrates such that the cylinder is not in continuous rolling contact with the substrates within the window of finished active semiconductor material. The cylinder is floatable in a vertical direction relative to the conveyance plane of the substrates such that the cylinder rolls up and over surface variations in the substrates that exceed the gap height as the substrates are conveyed under the cylinder. | 03-15-2012 |
20120070932 | LASER PATTERNING APPARATUS AND LASER PATTERNING METHOD - Aspects of the invention are directed to laser patterning apparatus capable of performing laser patterning on a thin film formed on a flexible substrate with a good yield and a laser patterning method thereof. The thin film formed on the flexible substrate can be patterned by laser using a laser patterning apparatus that can include a processing stage that has a reference processing surface on which the flexible substrate having the thin film formed thereon is disposed, a wrinkle removing device that is configured as a mechanism for stretching an outer periphery of a processing region of the flexible substrate so that tension is applied outward in the width direction and forward and backward in the transporting direction, and a laser scanner that scans a predetermined line of the thin film formed on the flexible substrate while emitting a laser beam thereto. | 03-22-2012 |
20120322194 | Substrate and collector grid structures for integrated series connected photovoltaic arrays and process of manufacture of such arrays - The invention teaches novel structure and methods for producing electrical current collectors and electrical interconnection structure. Such articles find particular use in facile production of modular arrays of photovoltaic cells. The current collector and interconnecting structures may be initially produced separately from the photovoltaic cells thereby allowing the use of unique materials and manufacture. Subsequent combination of the structures with photovoltaic cells allows facile and efficient completion of modular arrays. Methods for combining the collector and interconnection structures with cells and final interconnecting into modular arrays are taught. | 12-20-2012 |
20120329195 | Formation of CIGS Absorber Layers on Foil Substrates - An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 2 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced. | 12-27-2012 |
20130059410 | Solution-Based Fabrication of Photovoltaic Cell - An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H | 03-07-2013 |
20130309799 | Chemical Bath Deposition Method for Fabrication of Semiconductor Films through Roll-to-Roll Processes - A chemical bath deposition method based on a new CBD reactor is presented to prepare different thin films on continuous flexible substrates in roll-to-roll processes. In particular, they are useful to deposit CdS or ZnS buffer layers in manufacture of thin film solar cells. This method deposits thin films onto vertically travelling continuous flexible workpieces delivered by a roll-to-roll system. The thin films are deposited with continuously spraying the reaction solutions from their freshly mixed styles to gradually aged forms until the designed thickness is obtained. The substrates and the solutions are heated to a reaction temperature. During the deposition processes, the front surfaces of the flexible substrates are totally covered with the sprayed solutions but the substrate backsides are remained dry. The reaction ambience inside the reactor can be isolated from the outside atmosphere. The apparatus is designed to generate a minimum amount of waste solutions for chemical treatments. | 11-21-2013 |
20130316486 | Collector grid and interconnect structures for photovoltaic arrays and modules - An interconnected arrangement of photovoltaic cells is achieved using laminating current collector electrodes. The electrodes comprise a pattern of conductive material extending over a first surface of sheetlike substrate material. The first surface comprises material having adhesive affinity for a selected conductive surface. Application of the electrode to the selected conductive surface brings the first surface of the sheetlike substrate into adhesive contact with the conductive surface and simultaneously brings the conductive surface into firm contact with the conductive material extending over first surface of the sheetlike substrate. Use of the laminating current collector electrodes allows facile and continuous production of expansive area interconnected photovoltaic arrays. | 11-28-2013 |
20140335642 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING ORGANIC SOLAR CELL - A method of manufacturing an organic solar cell is provided. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, a laminate section can be easily removed from a substrate by causing a cleaning unit to move up and down above the substrate or to move forward and backward in a reciprocating manner in the width direction of the substrate. Furthermore, when a contact member is detachably connected to the cleaning unit, the contact member that has been contaminated with a laminate material can be separated from the cleaning unit and easily washed. Also, the laminate section can be removed by spraying a solvent through a discharging unit to dissolve the laminate section, and suctioning the laminate section through a suctioning unit. In this case, the laminate section can be easily removed from the substrate by dissolving the laminate section with the solvent. | 11-13-2014 |
20150056735 | METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING MEMBRANE LAYERS OF ORGANIC SOLAR CELLS BY ROLL TO ROLL COATING - A method for manufacturing membrane layers of organic solar cells by roll to roll coating utilizes a roll to roll process for manufacturing an electron transferring layer and an active layer of the organic solar cells is disclosed. The roll to roll process adopted by the method cooperates with a particular solvent and accompanies a parameter control such as temperature and processing time during the sintering and baking steps. The method utilizes a slot-die coating technique in the interim, whereby a membrane layer of the solar cells can be manufactured with a large area for reducing the cost, and the formed membrane layers can have a good efficiency. | 02-26-2015 |
20160049334 | TAPE-BASED EPITAXIAL LIFT OFF APPARATUSES AND METHODS - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to apparatuses and methods for producing epitaxial thin films and devices by epitaxial lift off (ELO) processes. In one embodiment, a method for forming thin film devices during an ELO process is provided which includes coupling a plurality of substrates to an elongated support tape, wherein each substrate contains an epitaxial film disposed over a sacrificial layer disposed over a wafer, exposing the substrates to an etchant during an etching process while moving the elongated support tape, and etching the sacrificial layers and peeling the epitaxial films from the wafers while moving the elongated support tape. Embodiments also include several apparatuses, continuous-type as well as a batch-type apparatuses, for forming the epitaxial thin films and devices, including an apparatus for removing the support tape and epitaxial films from the wafers on which the epitaxial films were grown. | 02-18-2016 |
20160155887 | Apparatus and Method for Mounting Contact Wires on Solar Cell Wafers | 06-02-2016 |