| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080196833 | RETAINING RING WITH SHAPED SURFACE - A retaining ring can be shaped by machining or lapping the bottom surface of the ring to form a shaped profile in the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can include flat, sloped and curved portions. The lapping can be performed using a machine that dedicated for use in lapping the bottom surface of retaining rings. During the lapping the ring can be permitted to rotate freely about an axis of the ring. The bottom surface of the retaining ring can have curved or flat portions. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20090077804 | PRODUCTION LINE MODULE FOR FORMING MULTIPLE SIZED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - The present invention generally relates to a sectioning module positioned within an automated solar cell device fabrication system. The solar cell device fabrication system is adapted to receive a single large substrate and form multiple silicon thin film solar cell devices from the single large substrate. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090077805 | 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. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090188102 | AUTOMATED SOLAR CELL ELECTRICAL CONNECTION APPARATUS - The present invention generally relates to an automated solar cell electrical connection device that is positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication system. The automated solar cell electrical connection device includes a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The automated solar cell electrical connection module may include a composite solar cell structure conveyor for positioning the composite solar cell structure, an adhesive dispense module for applying adhesive to the junction box, a flux dispenser for applying flux to electrical connection tabs in the junction box, a vision system for locating features on the composite solar cell structure, a robot for positioning the junction box onto the composite solar cell structure, a heating element to make electrical connections between the junction box and the solar cell device, a potting material dispensing assembly for dispensing potting material into the junction box, and a system controller for controlling the functions of the module. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20090211071 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FORMING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION ON A SOLAR CELL - Embodiments of the present invention provide a module and process for forming electrical connections on a solar cell substrate in a solar cell production line. The module generally provides a substrate handling system, a substrate positioning system, a cross-buss attachment assembly, and a side-buss attachment assembly. The module may provide adaptations for automatically adjusting the module to receive and process various sizes of solar cell substrates. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090256581 | SOLAR PARAMETRIC TESTING MODULE AND PROCESSES - Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a module that can test and analyze various regions of a solar cell device in an automated or manual fashion after one or more steps have been completed in the solar cell formation process. The module used to perform the automated testing and analysis processes can also be adapted to test a partially formed solar cell at various stages of the solar cell formation process within an automated solar cell production line. The automated solar cell production line is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090277006 | METHOD FOR FORMING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION - Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming an electrical connection on a device. In one embodiment, the electrical connection is attached to the device via an adhesive having electrically conductive particles disposed therein. In one embodiment, the adhesive is cured while applying pressure such that the conductive particles align, have a reduced particle-to-particle spacing, or come into contact with each other to provide a more directly conductive (less resistive) path between the electrical connection and the device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming an electrical lead on a partially formed solar cell during formation of the solar cell device is provided. The method comprises placing a side-buss wire onto a pattern of electrically conductive adhesive disposed on a back contact layer of a solar cell device substrate, laminating the side-buss wire and electrically conductive adhesive between the solar cell device substrate and a back glass substrate to form a composite solar cell structure, and curing the electrically conductive adhesive while applying pressure and heat to the composite solar cell structure | 11-12-2009 |
| 20110003404 | DRY HIGH POTENTIAL TESTER AND SOLAR SIMULATOR TOOL - A method and apparatus for testing a photovoltaic substrate disposes the substrate on a support gantry with connection points such as vacuum cups. The gantry is actuated into a test position. A probe nest coupled to the gantry connects to a junction box on the substrate. A power supply applies voltage to the junction box, and an actuated frame contacts an edge region of the substrate to detect any breakthrough current. The actuated frame comprises a liner for maximizing contact with the edge of the substrate. The liner may be conductive, or may have a conductive surface. Current sensors coupled to the conductive liner of the frame detect any breakthrough current. A solar spectrum simulator provides solar spectrum radiation for testing the photovoltaic properties of the substrate. | 01-06-2011 |
