| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20080246030 | TEST STRUCTURES AND METHODS FOR INSPECTION OF SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS - Disclosed is a semiconductor die having a scanning area. The semiconductor die includes a first plurality of test structures wherein each of the test structures in the first plurality of test structures is located entirely within the scanning area. The semiconductor die further includes a second plurality of test structures wherein each of the test structures in the first plurality of test structures is located only partially within the scanning area. The test structures are arranged so that a scan of the scanning area results in detection of defects outside of the scanning area. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20100258444 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CHEMICAL ELECTRODEPOSITION ON A SUBSTRATE FOR SOLAR CELL FABRICATION - The invention relates generally to electrodeposition apparatus and methods. The invention finds particular use in fabricating thin film solar cells. Electrodeposition is improved by using a continuous thin film flow of electrodeposition solution between a substrate and a counter electrode, positioned in close proximity to each other, while the plating current is applied. Apparatus for carrying out methods described herein are highlighted particularly by flow manifolds that allow electrodeposition in the manner described. | 10-14-2010 |
| 20100273287 | METHODS FOR INTEGRATING QUANTUM WINDOW STRUCTURES INTO SOLAR CELLS - The invention relates generally to methods of fabricating photovoltaic stack structures. Methods of the invention find particular use in solar cell fabrication. The performance of a photovoltaic stack can be improved by independent control of fabrication conditions during stack formation, particularly depositing window layers after formation of absorber layers where fabrication conditions of absorber layers would otherwise detrimentally affect quantum grain structures of window layers. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20110179999 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SEALING IN SITE-ISOLATED REACTORS - Substrate processing systems and methods are described for site-isolated processing of substrates. The processing systems include numerous site-isolated reactors (SIRs). The processing systems include a reactor block having a cell array that includes numerous SIRs. A sleeve is coupled to an interior of each of the SIRs. The sleeve includes a compliance device configured to dynamically control a vertical position of the sleeve in the SIR. A sealing system is configured to provide a seal between a region of a substrate and the interior of each of the SIRs. The processing system can include numerous modules that comprise one or more site-isolated reactors (SIRs) configured for one or more of molecular self-assembly and combinatorial processing of substrates. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110281773 | ADVANCED MIXING SYSTEM FOR INTEGRATED TOOL HAVING SITE-ISOLATED REACTORS - An integrated processing tool is described comprising a full-wafer processing module and a combinatorial processing module. Chemicals for use in the combinatorial processing module are fed from a delivery system including a set of first manifolds. An output of each first manifold is coupled to at least one mixing vessel. An output of each mixing vessel feeds more than one of a set of second manifolds. An output of each set of second manifolds feeds one of multiple site-isolated reactors of the combinatorial processing module. | 11-17-2011 |
| 20110290641 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FAST CHEMICAL ELECTRODEPOSITION FOR FABRICATION OF SOLAR CELLS - The invention relates generally to electrodeposition apparatus and methods. When depositing films via electrodeposition, where the substrate has an inherent resistivity, for example, sheet resistance in a thin film, methods and apparatus of the invention are used to electrodeposit materials onto the substrate by forming a plurality of ohmic contacts to the substrate surface and thereby overcome the inherent resistance and electrodeposit uniform films. Methods and apparatus of the invention find particular use in solar cell fabrication. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110290654 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR FAST CHEMICAL ELECTRODEPOSITION FOR FABRICATION OF SOLAR CELLS - The invention relates generally to electrodeposition apparatus and methods. When depositing films via electrodeposition, where the substrate has an inherent resistivity, for example, sheet resistance in a thin film, methods and apparatus of the invention are used to electrodeposit materials onto the substrate by forming a plurality of ohmic contacts to the substrate surface and thereby overcome the inherent resistance and electrodeposit uniform films. Methods and apparatus of the invention find particular use in solar cell fabrication. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110312120 | ABSORBER REPAIR IN SUBSTRATE FABRICATED PHOTOVOLTAICS - The invention relates generally to methods of repairing defects in thin films. Void defects in thin films are repaired using methods that take advantage of substrate manufacturing protocols rather than conventional superstrate manufacturing protocols. Methods described herein are simple, robust and compatible with existing processes and equipment used in the manufacture of superstrate devices. | 12-22-2011 |