PRODUCTION LINE MODULE FOR FORMING MULTIPLE SIZED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES
First Claim
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7. A method for sectioning a partially processed solar cell device, comprising:
- receiving a substrate having a processing surface;
forming a silicon layer on the processing surface;
sectioning the substrate into a first and a second section after forming the silicon layer on the processing surface; and
transferring the first section into a next station for further processing.
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Abstract
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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7. A method for sectioning a partially processed solar cell device, comprising:
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receiving a substrate having a processing surface; forming a silicon layer on the processing surface; sectioning the substrate into a first and a second section after forming the silicon layer on the processing surface; and transferring the first section into a next station for further processing. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for fabricating solar cell devices, comprising:
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a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate; a cluster tool having a processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate; a back contact deposition chamber configured to deposit a back contact layer on a surface of the substrate; a substrate sectioning module configured to section the substrate into two or more sections; and a system controller for controlling and coordinating functions of each of the substrate receiving module, the cluster tool, the processing chamber, the back contact deposition chamber, and the substrate sectioning module. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of processing a solar cell device, comprising:
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cleaning a substrate to remove one or more contaminants from a surface of the substrate; depositing a photoabsorbing layer on the surface of the substrate; removing at least a portion of the photoabsorbing layer from a region on the surface of the substrate; depositing a back contact layer on the surface of the substrate; sectioning the substrate into two or more sections; performing an edge deletion process on a surface of one of the sections; bonding a back glass substrate to the surface of one of the sections to form a composite structure; and attaching a junction box to the composite structure. - View Dependent Claims (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 19, 20)
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19-1. The method of claim 18, wherein sectioning the substrate comprises scribing a first line into the substrate, aligning the first line with a first break mechanism, and breaking the substrate along the first line.
Specification