MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES

• US 20090211622A1
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sunlight Aerospace Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Sunlight Photonics Incorporated
• Inventors: Cyrus, Michael, Frolov, Sergey
• Application Number:
  US12/034,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20090211622A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/255 Details, e.g. use of specially adapted sources, lighting or optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/27 using photo-electric detection G01N21/31 takes precedence; circuits for computing concentration logarithmic circuits G06G7/24; photometric circuits in general G01J
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/043 Mechanically stacked PV cells
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A laminate film includes a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other. Each of the modules includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. At least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.

Claims

1. A laminate film, comprising:

a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other, each of the modules including a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between conductive layers, said first and second semiconductor layers defining a junction at an interface therebetween, wherein at least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.

2. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules includes at least three modules.

3. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules are electrically insulated from each other and separated by a transparent substrate layer.

4. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least two of the junctions have semiconductor bandgaps that are different from each other.

5. The laminate film of claim 4 where one of the junctions with a smaller bandgap is disposed below another of the junctions with a larger bandgap, wherein the junction with the smaller bandgap is configured to absorb the portion of the second portion of optical energy.

6. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules are glued to each other.

7. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of modules are separated from one another by a thin layer of adhesive used for their attachment to each other.

8. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules includes a flexible substrate.

9. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules includes a rigid substrate.

10. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said modules are arranged so that parts of their conducting layers are exposed and available for connection to external electrical circuits.

11. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said modules has an area larger than about 400 cm².

12. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said modules is segmented into a number of sections, each section being an independent photovoltaic module, that are electrically connected in parallel with each other.

13. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said modules are further attached onto a single carrier substrate.

14. The laminate film of claim 13 wherein said carrier substrate is textured to provide light scattering back into said modules.

15. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a compound semiconductor.

16. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises an amorphous semiconductor material.

17. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises an organic semiconductor material.

18. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a polymer semiconductor material.

19. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a CIGS-based semiconductor material.

20. The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a CdTe-based semiconductor material.

21. A laminate film, comprising:

a plurality of planar electro-optic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other, each of the modules including a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between conductive layers, said first and second semiconductor layers defining a junction at an interface therebetween, wherein each of said modules includes separate electrical contacts connected to their respective conductive layers.

22. The laminate film of claim 21 wherein said modules are light emitting diodes.

23. The laminate film of claim 21 wherein said modules are segmented.