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US 7,271,333 B2Granted
Apparatus and method of production of thin film photovoltaic modules
AssigneeAscent Solar Technologies, Inc.
InventorsLeon B. Fabick, Alan W. Yehle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates to light-weight thin-film photovoltaic cells, methods for making cells, modules made from cells, and methods for making modules from cells. The invention teaches a manner in which individual cells may be bonded to one another, eliminating the need for an additional support substrate and interconnecting leads, thus reducing the overall weight and thickness of individual cells and modules of the cells.
Claims72
An apparatus for use as a thin-film photovoltaic cell comprising:
- a substrate having a first side and a second side;
- a photoactive layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- a first insulator layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- three or more weld contact points defined by said photoactive layer on said first side, said substrate exposed at the weld contact points;
- a grid deposited on said photoactive layer and on said first insulator layer, such that the substrate remains exposed at said weld contact points;
- a second insulator layer deposited on at least a portion of said grid and on said second side of said substrate such that the substrate remains exposed opposite said weld contact points;
- and
- at least one first weld contact deposited onto said grid covering said first insulator layer;
- wherein said first weld contact facilitates attachment to a second cell.
6 more elements
An apparatus for use as a module of photovoltaic cells comprising:
- a first apparatus comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side;
- a photoactive layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- a first insulator layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- three or more weld contact points defined by said photoactive layer and said first insulator layer on said first side, said substrate exposed at said weld contact points;
- a grid deposited on said photoactive layer and on said first insulator layer, such that the substrate remains exposed at said weld contact points;
- a second insulator layer deposited on at least a portion of said grid and on said second side of said substrate such that the substrate remains exposed opposite said weld contact points;
- at least one weld contact deposited onto said grid covering said first insulator layer;
- a second apparatus comprising a substrate having a first side and a second side;
- a photoactive layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- a first insulator layer deposited onto at least part of said first side of said substrate;
- three or more weld contact points defined by said photoactive layer and said first insulator layer on said first side, said substrate exposed at said weld contact points;
- a grid deposited on said photoactive layer and on said first insulator layer, such that the substrate remains exposed at said weld contact points;
- a second insulator layer deposited on at least a portion of said grid and on said second side of said substrate such that the substrate remains exposed opposite said weld contact points;
- and
- at least one weld contact deposited onto said grid covering said first insulator layer;
- wherein said second apparatus is attached to said first apparatus.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.