Photovoltaic cells
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic system comprising:
- (a) a photovoltaic device comprising;
a lower photovoltaic cell fabricated from semiconductor material having a first bandgap and having first electrical contacts for extraction of current from the lower cell;
an electrically insulating layer monolithically fabricated on the lower photovoltaic cell; and
an upper photovoltaic cell monolithically fabricated on the electrically insulating layer from semiconductor material having a second bandgap larger than the first bandgap and having second electrical contacts for extraction of current from the upper cell;
(b) one or more first photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a first wavelength range associated primarily with the first bandgap; and
(c) one or more second photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a second wavelength range primarily associated with the second bandgap.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A photovoltaic system includes a photovoltaic device that includes a lower photovoltaic cell fabricated from semiconductor material having a first bandgap, and having first electrical contacts for extraction of current from the lower cell; an electrically insulating layer monolithically fabricated on the lower photovoltaic cell; and an upper photovoltaic cell monolithically fabricated on the electrically insulating layer from semiconductor material having a second bandgap larger than the first bandgap, and having second electrical contacts for extraction of current from the upper cell. The photovoltaic system also includes one or more first photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a first wavelength range associated primarily with the first bandgap. The photovoltaic system further includes one or more second photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a second wavelength range primarily associated with the second bandgap.
60 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic system comprising:
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(a) a photovoltaic device comprising; a lower photovoltaic cell fabricated from semiconductor material having a first bandgap and having first electrical contacts for extraction of current from the lower cell; an electrically insulating layer monolithically fabricated on the lower photovoltaic cell; and an upper photovoltaic cell monolithically fabricated on the electrically insulating layer from semiconductor material having a second bandgap larger than the first bandgap and having second electrical contacts for extraction of current from the upper cell; (b) one or more first photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a first wavelength range associated primarily with the first bandgap; and (c) one or more second photon sources operable to supply photons to the photovoltaic device, the photons having wavelengths in a second wavelength range primarily associated with the second bandgap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of generating electricity via the photovoltaic effect comprising:
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(a) providing a photovoltaic device comprising; a lower photovoltaic cell fabricated from semiconductor material having a first bandgap and having first electrical contacts for extraction of current from the lower cell; an electrically insulating layer monolithically fabricated on the lower photovoltaic cell; and an upper photovoltaic cell monolithically fabricated on the electrically insulating layer from semiconductor material having a second bandgap larger than the first bandgap and having second electrical contacts for extraction of current from the upper cell; (b) exposing the device to photons supplied by one or more first photon sources, the photons having wavelengths in a first wavelength range associated primarily with the first bandgap, and extracting current from at least the lower photovoltaic cell; and (c) exposing the device to photons supplied by one or more second photon sources, the photons having wavelengths in a second wavelength range associated primarily with the second bandgap, and extracting current from at least the upper photovoltaic cell. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification