Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110114177 | MIXED SILICON PHASE FILM FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY THIN FILM SILICON SOLAR CELLS - A method and apparatus for forming solar cells is provided. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic device includes a first p-i-n junction cell formed on a substrate, wherein the p-i-n junction cell comprises a p-type silicon containing layer, an intrinsic type silicon containing layer formed over the p-type silicon containing layer, and a n-type silicon containing layer formed over the intrinsic type silicon containing layer, wherein the intrinsic type silicon containing layer comprises a first pair of microcrystalline layer and amorphous silicon layer. | 05-19-2011 |
20110171774 | CLEANING OPTIMIZATION OF PECVD SOLAR FILMS - Embodiments of the present invention generally provide a method for forming a plurality of thin film single or multi-junction solar cell in a substrate processing chamber. In one embodiment, a method for processing a plurality of thin film solar cell substrates includes depositing sequentially a first undoped layer and a first doped layer over a surface of a first substrate and a chamber component in a single processing chamber, removing the substrate having the doped and undoped layers from the processing chamber, removing the second doped layer deposited on the chamber component to expose underlying first undoped layer which serves as a seasoning layer for a second substrate to be processed in the processing chamber, and depositing sequentially a second undoped layer and a second doped layer on the second substrate in the processing chamber. In one example, the first undoped layer is amorphous silicon or microcrystalline silicon. A full cleaning process may be performed at desired intervals to expose the surfaces of the chamber component before a regular seasoning process and the subsequent depositions are proceeded in the processing chamber. | 07-14-2011 |
20120152346 | LIGHT ABSORPTION-ENHANCING SUBSTRATE STACKS - This disclosure provides substrate stacks for use in photovoltaic cells and methods of manufacturing the same. In one aspect, a substrate stack can include a substrate layer having at least one surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm. The substrate stack can also include a transparent conductive oxide layer disposed over the substrate layer. The transparent conductive oxide layer can include at least a first surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm and a second surface with an RMS roughness value that is greater than 9 nm. The RMS roughness value of the second surface can be greater than the RMS value of the first surface. | 06-21-2012 |
20120171852 | REMOTE HYDROGEN PLASMA SOURCE OF SILICON CONTAINING FILM DEPOSITION - Methods for forming and treating a silicon containing layer in a thin film transistor structure or solar cell devices are provided. In one embodiment, a method for forming a silicon containing layer on a substrate includes providing a substrate into a processing chamber, providing a gas mixture having a silicon containing gas into the processing chamber, providing a hydrogen containing gas from a remote plasma source coupled to the processing chamber, applying a RF power less than 17.5 mWatt/cm | 07-05-2012 |
20120180855 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME - This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic device includes a transparent insulator, a first thin film solar subcell disposed on a first surface of the transparent insulator, and a second thin film solar subcell disposed on a second surface of the transparent insulator opposite the first surface. The first solar subcell is configured to receive ambient light, and the second solar subcell is configured to receive a portion of light that propagates through the first solar subcell. The second solar subcell includes a first electrode including a conductive reflective layer configured to reflect light that propagates through a photovoltaic structure of the second subcell back toward the first solar subcell. | 07-19-2012 |
20130087190 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME - This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a photovoltaic device includes an anode contact structure, a cathode contact structure, and an inorganic solar cell disposed between the anode and cathode contact structures. The inorganic solar cell includes a p-type photovoltaic layer, an n-type photovoltaic layer, and one or more minority carrier blocking layers for improving the efficiency of the solar cell by preventing minority carriers within the solar cell from reaching interface recombination surfaces associated with the anode and cathode contact structures. | 04-11-2013 |
20130100675 | MULTI-FUNCTIONAL GLASS WINDOW WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC AND LIGHTING FOR BUILDING OR AUTOMOBILE - The present disclosure describes multi-functional windows. Functions of the multi-functional windows described herein can include transmitting incident light, generating photovoltaic power from incident light, and emitting light. In some implementations, a multi-functional window may be placed in a photovoltaic state, a lighting state, or a neutral state. A multi-functional window can continue to function as a normal window in transmitting a portion of any incident light in any of the photovoltaic, lighting, and neutral states. A multi-functional window can be implemented in a building or automobile. | 04-25-2013 |
20130118547 | PHOTOVOLTAIC WINDOW WITH LIGHT-TURNING FEATURES - This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for directing light incident on a window towards photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, photovoltaic cells are arranged the perimeter of a window pane. The pane also includes light-turning features that divert a portion of the incident light towards the photovoltaic cells on the perimeter, while simultaneously transmitting a portion of incident light through the pane. The dimensions and arrangement of the light-turning features can be adjusted to change the amount of light diverted to the photovoltaic cells, and consequently the amount of light transmitted through the glass. | 05-16-2013 |
20130125969 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME - This disclosure provides photovoltaic apparatus and methods of forming the same. In one implementation, a method of forming a photovoltaic device includes forming a plurality of substrate features on a surface of a glass substrate, the substrate features having a depth dimension in the range of about 10 μm to about 1000 μm and a width dimension in the range of about 10 μm to about 1000 μm. The method further includes forming a thin film solar cell over the surface of the glass substrate including over the plurality of substrate features. | 05-23-2013 |
20130163062 | MECHANICAL SMART WINDOW WITH CONTINUOUSLY TUNABLE TRANSMISSION - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing continuous light-transmissivity tuning through a mechanical smart window. In one aspect, a mechanical smart window including multiple layers is provided, each layer featuring light-blocking and light-transmitting areas. The layers may be moved relative to each other, changing the amount by which each light-blocking area occludes light-transmitting areas on other layers. | 06-27-2013 |
20130220399 | HYBRID WEDGE SHAPED/MICROSTRUCTURED LIGHT COLLECTOR - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a wedge shaped light guide having an inclined light receiving surface that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 60 degrees to about 90 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface. Additionally, the hybrid wedge shaped/microstructured light collector includes a microstructured light collector that can collect light incident at angles in the range from about 0 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to a normal to the inclined light receiving surface. | 08-29-2013 |
20130249293 | FUNCTIONAL BACK GLASS FOR A SOLAR PANEL - A photovoltaic solar panel includes a front glass, a back glass, and a photovoltaic (PV) power generating layer encapsulated between the front glass and the back glass. The PV power generating layer is configured to convert ambient electromagnetic energy, received through the front glass, to a direct current (DC) power output. The PV solar panel also includes at least one component, disposed behind the PV power generating layer, selected from the group consisting of: a direct current to alternating current (DC-AC) inverter configured to convert the DC power output from the PV power generator to an alternating current (AC) power output, a battery, and an antenna. | 09-26-2013 |
20130319504 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATING WINDOW - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the plurality of micro-lens is provided in an organic glass panel that is attached to an inorganic glass substrate. The inorganic glass substrate includes a material that is substantially opaque to radiation in the ultraviolet spectral range. During use, the light collector is disposed such that the inorganic glass substrate is exposed to the exterior to prevent a portion of the ultraviolet radiation incident on the light collector from being transmitted to the organic glass panel. | 12-05-2013 |
20130319505 | PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER GENERATING WINDOW - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus including a light collector having a plurality of micro-lens and a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes a micro-lens array having a plurality of micro-lens that focus incident light onto a light guide including a plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure. Each of the plurality of multi-cone light redirecting structure is configured to divert the focused light towards one or more photovoltaic cells disposed along the edge of the light guide. Each multi-cone light redirecting structure includes a central cone shaped structure surrounded by several secondary cone-shaped structures. | 12-05-2013 |
20140084137 | SWITCHABLE SUBSTRATES FOR PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO ENHANCEMENT APPLICATIONS - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus relating to implementations of a switchable substrate that can be used in an imaging device. In one aspect, the switchable substrate includes a plurality of pixels, with each pixel having at least one switchable element. The switchable element can be switched between a first optical state and a second optical state. In the first optical state, a first spectral band of broadband light is reflected from the switchable element while a second spectral band is transmitted through the switchable element. In the second optical state, the first spectral band of the broadband light is transmitted through the switchable element while the second spectral band is reflected from the switchable element. | 03-27-2014 |
20140158197 | TRI-FUNCTIONAL LIGHT AND ENERGY GENERATING PANEL SYSTEM - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus that can generate PV power and simultaneously provide artificial lighting. The devices disclosed herein include a first optical structure having a plurality of focusing elements that can collect and focus ambient light onto a first set of light redirecting elements that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells. The devices also include one or more illumination sources that are optically coupled to a light guide including a second set of light redirecting elements that can direct light from the one or more illumination sources out of the device to provide artificial lighting. The devices further include a second optical structure disposed below the first optical structure such that the one or more illumination sources and the one or more PV cells are disposed along the edges of the first or the second optical structure. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159636 | SOLAR ENERGY HARVESTING SKYLIGHTS AND WINDOWS WITH INTEGRATED ILLUMINATION - This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus that can generate PV power and simultaneously provide artificial lighting. The devices disclosed herein include a first optical structure having a plurality of focusing elements that can collect and focus ambient light onto a first set of light redirecting elements that is optically coupled to at least photovoltaic (PV) cell. The devices also include at least one illumination source that is optically coupled to a first edge of a second optical structure including a second set of light redirecting elements that can direct light from the at least one illumination source out of the device to provide artificial lighting. The at least one photovoltaic cell is coupled to a second edge of the second optical structure. | 06-12-2014 |
20140261621 | WINDOW SOLAR HARVESTING MEANS - Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed, including a light collector having a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of light redirecting features that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes half-cylinder shaped lenses that can focus light incident at various angles onto an elongate v-groove in the light guide such that a first portion of the incident light is diverted to one or more PV cells and a second portion of the incident light is transmitted through the light collector to provide illumination. | 09-18-2014 |
20140261622 | SUN-TRACKING PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR CONCENTRATOR PANEL - Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed, including a light collector having a plurality of focusing elements and a plurality of light redirecting features that is optically coupled to one or more photovoltaic (PV) cells. In one aspect, the light collector includes half-cylinder shaped lenses that can focus light incident at various angles onto an elongate v-groove in the light guide such that a first portion of the incident light is diverted to one or more PV cells and a second portion of the incident light is transmitted through the light collector to provide illumination. | 09-18-2014 |