| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080302418 | Elongated Photovoltaic Devices in Casings - A solar cell unit comprising a solar cell and an at least partially transparent casing that encases the solar cell. The solar cell includes a nonplanar substrate defining a length of the solar cell, wherein a length of the nonplanar substrate is at least three times longer than a width of the nonplanar substrate. A back-electrode is disposed around all or a portion of the nonplanar substrate, and extends along all or a portion of the length of the nonplanar substrate. A semiconductor junction is disposed on the back-electrode, and has first and second layers, each of which has an inorganic semiconductor. An at least partially transparent conductive layer is disposed on the semiconductor junction. Optionally, filler material is disposed on the transparent conductive layer, which can for example be a liquid or gel. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20090014055 | Photovoltaic Modules Having a Filling Material - A photovoltaic module comprising an elongated substrate in which at least a portion of the elongated substrate is rigid is provided. One or more solar cells are disposed on the elongated substrate and each comprise: (i) a back-electrode disposed on the elongated substrate, (ii) a semiconductor junction layer disposed on all or a portion of a surface of the back-electrode, and (iii) a transparent conductive layer, having a first refractive index, is disposed on all or a portion of a surface of the semiconductor junction. The photovoltaic module further comprises a filler material, having a second refractive index that is smaller or equal in value to the first refractive index, disposed on the transparent conductive layer of the one or more solar cells. The photovoltaic module further comprises a transparent casing disposed on the filler material thereby sealing the photovoltaic module. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090084425 | Scribing Methods for Photovoltaic Modules Including a Mechanical Scribe - Methods for forming photovoltaic modules, and the photovoltaic modules produced by such methods are provided. A back-electrode layer is disposed on an elongated substrate. A first patterning is performed on the back-electrode layer using a laser scriber or a mechanical scriber. A semiconductor junction layer is disposed on top of the back-electrode layer. A second patterning is performed on the semiconductor junction layer using a mechanical scriber. A transparent conductor layer is disposed on top of the semiconductor junction layer. A third patterning is performed on the transparent conductor layer using a mechanical scriber thereby forming at least a first solar cell and a second solar cell, where the first solar cell and the second solar cell each comprise an isolated portion of the back-electrode layer, the semiconductor junction layer, and the transparent conductor layer. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090094844 | CONSTANT FORCE MECHANICAL SCRIBERS AND METHODS FOR USING SAME IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS - A scribing system comprising a mounting mechanism, stylus, and force generating mechanism is provided. The mounting mechanism is configured to rotate an elongated object in such a manner that the object is subjected to a bow effect wherein a middle portion of the object bends relative to the end portions of the object. The stylus is for scribing the object at a position x along the long dimension of the object while the mounting mechanism rotates the object. The force generating mechanism is connected to the stylus so that the stylus applies the same constant force to the elongated object regardless of the position x along the long dimension of the object that the stylus is positioned, while the mounting mechanism rotates the object and thereby subjects the object to the bow effect, thereby scribing the object. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090095280 | Support system for solar energy generator panels - A support system for a solar panel comprises a plurality of legs configured to receive multiple solar panels. The legs each comprise a base, a plurality of shafts, and a support precipice. The support precipice is divided into two sides by a t-bar. The first side comprises a guiding wing to effectuate modular assembly of the support system. The second side comprises a beveled edge to effectuate secure coupling of a solar panel. The system is able to be assembled and disassembled without the use of tools or implements. The system is also movable. | 04-16-2009 |
| 20090272437 | Transparent Conductive Materials Including Cadmium Stannate - A photovoltaic cell can include a transparent conductive layer including cadmium stannate. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20100012167 | ELONGATED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND SYSTEMS FOR MAKING SAME - Under one aspect, a nonplanar photovoltaic module having a length includes: (a) an elongated nonplanar substrate; and (b) a plurality of solar cells disposed on the elongated nonplanar substrate, wherein each solar cell in the plurality of solar cells is defined by (i) a plurality of grooves around the nonplanar photovoltaic module and (ii) a groove along the length of the photovoltaic module. In some embodiments, each groove of the plurality of grooves about the photovoltaic module, independently, has a repeating pattern, a non-repeating pattern, or is helical. In some embodiments, the module further includes a patterned conductor providing serial electrical communication between adjacent solar cells. In some embodiments, portions of the patterned conductor providing serial electrical communication between adjacent solar cells are within a groove of the plurality of grooves about the photovoltaic module. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100012353 | ELONGATED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES, METHODS OF MAKING SAME, AND SYSTEMS FOR MAKING SAME - A patterned conductive layer is disposed around a nonplanar substrate, where a boundary of the conductive layer is defined by a single groove that traverses a perimeter of the substrate a plurality of times. A patterned conductive layer is disposed around a nonplanar substrate, where the patterned conductive layer is divided into a plurality of conductive islands by a groove that extends through a thickness of the conductive layer and traverses a perimeter of the substrate a plurality of times, and a groove extends through the thickness of the conductive layer and traverses a length of the substrate. A method of patterning a conductive layer disposed around a nonplanar substrate includes scribing the conductive layer thereby forming a continuous groove that traverses a perimeter of the conductive layer a plurality of times. | 01-21-2010 |
| 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 |
| 20100132765 | HERMETICALLY SEALED SOLAR CELLS - An elongated solar cell unit comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) one or more solar cells disposed on the substrate, (iii) a transparent casing disposed onto the one or more solar cells, the transparent nonplanar casing having a first end and a second end; and (iv) a first sealant cap that is hermetically sealed to the first end of the transparent nonplanar casing is provided. A solar cell unit comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) one or more bifacial or omnifacial solar cells disposed on the substrate, (iii) a transparent casing disposed onto the one or more bifacial or omnifacial solar cells, the transparent nonplanar casing having a first end and a second end and (iv) a first sealant cap that is hermetically sealed to the first end of the transparent nonplanar casing is provided. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100193012 | Non-Corrosive Photovoltaic Panel Mounting Bracket - A system and method of mounting photovoltaic panels includes a mounting bracket. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100193029 | Solar Module with Encapsulated Edge - A solar module including a front support, back support and absorber layer are disclosed. The solar module is framed by an encapsulation frame. | 08-05-2010 |
| 20100252090 | SCRIBING METHODS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES INCLUDING A MECHANICAL SCRIBE - Methods for forming photovoltaic modules, and the photovoltaic modules produced by such methods are provided. A back-electrode layer is disposed on an elongated substrate. A first patterning is performed on the back-electrode layer using a laser scriber or a mechanical scriber. A semiconductor junction layer is disposed on top of the back-electrode layer. A second patterning is performed on the semiconductor junction layer using a mechanical scriber. A transparent conductor layer is disposed on top of the semiconductor junction layer. A third patterning is performed on the transparent conductor layer using a mechanical scriber thereby forming at least a first solar cell and a second solar cell, where the first solar cell and the second solar cell each comprise an isolated portion of the back-electrode layer, the semiconductor junction layer, and the transparent conductor layer. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100300532 | HERMETICALLY SEALED NONPLANAR SOLAR CELLS - A nonplanar solar cell having a water vapor transmission rate of 10 | 12-02-2010 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20110030776 | Photovoltaic device back contact - A photovoltaic device back contact is disclosed. The back contact can include an indium nitride. | 02-10-2011 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 20110146785 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE INCLUDING DOPED LAYER - A photovoltaic cell with a doped buffer layer includes a metal oxide and a dopant. | 06-23-2011 |
