| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080226270 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080247737 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080247738 | Nozzle-based, vapor-phase, plume delivery structure for use in production of thin-film deposition layer - A vapor deposition source including a crucible configured to hold a quantity of molten constituent material and at least one nozzle to pass vapor evaporated from the molten constituent material out of the crucible. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20090255467 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090255469 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090255565 | THIN FILM SOLAR CELL STRING - Thin film PV cells and strings of such cells that may be electrically joined with conductive tabs or ribbons. A semi-flexible, electrically conductive adhesive is applied to join the tabs to the front and back of a cell, providing a conductive pathway between the tab and solar cell, with good adhesion to both. The tabs may be constructed of one or more materials having a thermal expansion coefficient that closely matches that of the substrate material of the cells, so that when the string or module is subsequently heated, mechanical stress between the tab and solar cell is minimized. The semi-flexible nature of the ECA also acts to relieve stress between the tab and the solar cell, decreasing the possibility of adhesion failure at critical locations. One or more dielectric materials may be applied to the PV cells and/or the tabs in regions where a tab crosses the edge of a cell, to avoid electrical shorting between the negative and positive electrodes of the cell. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258444 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258457 | 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. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090258476 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100086673 | HEATING FOR BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin film buffer layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web through the chemical combination of a metal and chalcogen in solution form. The web and/or the solutions may be heated by one or a plurality of heating elements that may be disposed out of physical contact with the web, allowing enhanced control over the reaction speed through fine temperature control. One or more properties of the chalcogenide layer may be measured, and the temperature of the system may be adjusted in response. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100086699 | SOLUTION CONTAINMENT DURING BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. Solutions containing the reactants for the chalcogenide layer may be contained substantially to the front surface of the web, controlling the boundaries of the reaction and avoiding undesired deposition of chalcogenide upon the back side of the web. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100087015 | FEEDBACK FOR BUFFER LAYER DEPOSITION - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin film layers of chalcogenide on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a feedback control system may be employed to measure one or more properties of the web and/or the chalcogenide layer, and to adjust one or more parameters of the system or buffer layer deposition method in response to the measurement. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100087016 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM SOLAR CELLS - Improved methods and apparatus for forming thin-film layers of semiconductor material absorber layers on a substrate web. According to the present teachings, a semiconductor layer may be formed in a multi-zone process whereby various layers are deposited sequentially onto a moving substrate web. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100147356 | Thin film solar cell string - Thin film photovoltaic cells and strings of cells that may be electrically joined in series by a conductive carrier web that underlies the positive polarity side (bottom side) of the cells. Electrical contact between the positive polarity side of a cell and the carrier web may be made through electrically conductive material such as conductive adhesive disposed between the carrier web and one or more portions of the bottom surface of each cell. Electrical contact between the negative polarity (top side) of a cell and the carrier web may be made through one or more apertures formed in the cell. An electrically conductive material may be disposed in the apertures for this purpose, in conjunction with a dielectric to line the aperture and avoid an electrical short between the opposite polarities of a given cell. | 06-17-2010 |
