Patent application number | Description | Published |
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 |
20090188603 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING LAMINATOR TEMPERATURE ON A SOLAR CELL - The present invention generally relates to an automated thermal processing module that is used perform a lamination process that is used to isolate the active regions of a solar cell from the external environment. One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for bonding a composite solar cell structure comprising a conveyer system configured to transfer and support the composite solar cell structure, a preheat module disposed along the conveyer system, a lamination module disposed along the conveyer system, and a system controller adapted to control the preheat module and the lamination 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 |
20120017973 | IN-LINE DEPOSITION SYSTEM - A deposition system includes a load lock chamber for receiving a substrate and exposing a substrate to a load lock temperature and load lock pressure suitable to prepare a substrate for subsequent low-pressure and high-temperature processing or for ambient temperature and pressure conditions. | 01-26-2012 |
20120058576 | Deposition System - A pumping and valve control device can be used in an atomic layer deposition system. | 03-08-2012 |
20120060919 | JUNCTION BOX FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL - A junction box for a solar panel comprises a housing, a lid, a first connector and a second connector. The housing comprises sidewalls and a top wall defining an interior space. The first coupling comprises a first contact element and the second coupling comprises a second contact element. Said contact elements penetrate at least one of the sidewalls, so that the contact elements provide an electrical contact from external contact elements to internal contact elements, such as solder tails. Internal contact elements are arranged at least partially in said interior space. The top wall comprises an opening extending only partially in said top wall. Said opening is located such in the top wall that access to said solder tails in a substantially perpendicular direction to the surface of a solar panel for connecting the solder tail to the solar panel is provided. | 03-15-2012 |
20130276856 | JUNCTION BOX FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR PANEL - A junction box for a solar panel comprises a housing, a lid, a first connector and a second connector. The housing comprises sidewalls and a top wall defining an interior space. The first coupling comprises a first contact element and the second coupling comprises a second contact element. Said contact elements penetrate at least one of the sidewalls, so that the contact elements provide an electrical contact from external contact elements to internal contact elements, such as solder tails. Internal contact elements are arranged at least partially in said interior space. The top wall comprises an opening extending only partially in said top wall. Said opening is located such in the top wall that access to said solder tails in a substantially perpendicular direction to the surface of a solar panel for connecting the solder tail to the solar panel is provided. | 10-24-2013 |
20130306140 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE TEMPERATURE CONTROL WHILE CONDITIONING A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A system and method for applying an electrical bias to a photovoltaic device in a temperature control chamber, in which the temperature of the photovoltaic device is controlled according to a temperature profile. The temperature profile may include at least one hot phase and at least one cool phase. | 11-21-2013 |