# US 2017/0288084 A1 · Photovoltaic structure cleaving system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288084 A1 - Document ID: US20170288084A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/627,312 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2014-12-05 - Assignees: SolarCity Corporation - Applicants: SolarCity Corporation - Inventors: Pablo Gonzalez; Bobby Yang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288084A1 ## CPC - H10F 71/00: Manufacture or treatment of devices covered by this subclass (patterning processes to connect thin photovoltaic cells in integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/33; manufacture or treatment of encapsulations or containers for integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, having photovoltaic cells H10F19/80; manufacture or treatment of integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one element in which radiation controls the flow of current H10F39/00) - H10F 71/136: {Singulating, e.g. dicing} - B28D 5/0052: {Means for supporting or holding work during breaking (means for conveying work to or discharging work from the breaking machine B28D5/0058)} - B28D 5/0094: {the supporting or holding device being of the vacuum type} - B32B 38/10: Removing layers, or parts of layers, mechanically or chemically - B32B 43/006: {Delaminating} - H10P 52/00: Grinding, lapping or polishing of wafers, substrates or parts of devices - H10P 72/70: for supporting or gripping - H10P 72/7611: {characterised by edge profile or support profile} - H10P 72/7622: {characterised by supporting substrates others than wafers, e.g. chips} - H10P 72/78: using vacuum or suction, e.g. Bernoulli chucks - Y02P 70/50: Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product - Y10T 156/1179: with poking during delaminating [e.g., jabbing, etc.] - Y10T 156/1184: Piercing layer during delaminating [e.g., cutting, etc.] - Y10T 156/1967: Cutting delaminating means - Y10T 156/1983: Poking delaminating means - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - B28D: WORKING STONE OR STONE-LIKE MATERIALS - B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM - H10P: GENERIC PROCESSES OR APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF DEVICES COVERED BY CLASS H10 - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A cleaving system and method are described. The system can include a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform. The system can further include a contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate it into a plurality of strips. During operation, the system can activate an actuator to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising: a first surface; and a second surface; wherein a junction between the first surface and second surface forms a first fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be separated along the first fulcrum edge; and wherein the second surface comprises a buffer mechanism adapted to reduce impact when the photovoltaic structure lands on the second surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the buffer mechanism comprises at least one device adapted to slow down the photovoltaic structure's movement after being separated by creating an air flow. ### Claim 3 An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising: a first surface; a second surface connected to the first surface; and a third surface connected to the first surface, wherein a junction between the first surface and second surface forms a first fulcrum edge and a junction between the first surface and third surface forms a second fulcrum edge configured to simultaneously separate photovoltaic structure into three strips. ### Claim 4 A cleaving system comprising: a contact apparatus configured to make contact with a photovoltaic structure on a cleaving platform; an actuator configured to move the contact apparatus and the cleaving platform relative to each other causing separation of the photovoltaic structure into two or more strips, and a side section comprising a buffer mechanism adapted to reduce impact when a strip of the two or more separated strips lands on the side section. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The cleaving system of claim 4, wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of contact tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The cleaving system of claim 4, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least one air-suction mechanism adapted to maintain a suction hold on the photovoltaic structure. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The cleaving system of claim 4, wherein upon being actuated the contact mechanism is operable to separate the photovoltaic structure into three strips. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: activating an actuator to cause a contact apparatus to contact a photovoltaic structure and separate the photovoltaic structure into three portions, comprising a first portion, and second portion, and a third portion, along two fulcrum edges on a cleaving platform, wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously cleaved from the photovoltaic structure by the contact apparatus, and wherein the first portion and second portion extend from opposite sides of the third portion of the photovoltaic structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein activating the actuator comprises lowering the contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein activating the actuator comprises raising the holding apparatus to cause a top surface of the photovoltaic structure to make contact with the contact apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of cleave tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus; and wherein activating the actuator comprises causing the cleave tips to contact the photovoltaic structure sequentially. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein a side section of the cleaving platform is sloped from the center section; wherein the side section of the cleaving platform comprises a plurality of air-emitting jets; and wherein the method further comprises ejecting air via the jets at the first and second portions after the contact apparatus makes contact with the first portion and second portion.