SOLAR CELL WITH COLORIZATION LAYER

• US 20090242021A1
• Filed: 03/31/2008
• Published: 10/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Noribachi LLC
• Original Assignee: Noribachi LLC
• Inventors: Petkie, Ronald, Leising, Bruce, Dibachi, Farzad, Dibachi, Rhonda
• Application Number:
  US12/060,012
• Publication Number:
  US 20090242021A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02168 the coatings being antireflective or having enhancing optical properties for the solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

Colorization of a solar cell is achieved by modifying a layer proximate an active layer of the solar cell. The color attribute may be obtained by selecting one or more narrow bands of wavelengths in the visible color spectrum to be reflected from the surface of the solar cell unit that results in a specific color or combination of colors at various angles. The spectrum of light reflected from the active solar cell area is controlled through the use of filters that reflect only limited portions of the spectrum, thereby minimizing the effect of reflected light on the overall efficiency of the solar cell.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a solar cell; and

a colorization layer coupled to the solar cell that trades off reflectance minimization with colorization.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the colored layer comprises a filter that reflects one or more wavelengths of light.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the filter comprises a rugate filter.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the filter comprises sequential layers of dielectric films having different indices of refraction.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the sequential layers are apodization matched.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the colorization layer comprises a hologram film.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the colorization layer comprises a transferable dielectric film.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the colorization layer comprises a colored gelatinous filter.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the colorization layer comprises an anti-reflective film modified to reflect one or more desired wavelengths at the expense of solar cell conversion efficiency.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein an interference pattern is created in the anti-reflective film.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein the addition of a colorization layer increases reflectance of the solar cell by at least approximately 10 percent.

12. A device comprising:

a solar cell;

an anti-reflectance layer optimized to minimize reflection of light away from the solar cell; and

a colorization layer formed over the anti-reflectance layer to provide colorization of the device.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the colored layer comprises a filter that reflects one or more wavelengths of light.

14. The device of claim 13 wherein the filter comprises a rugate filter.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the filter comprises sequential layers of dielectric films having different indices of refraction.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the sequential layers are apodization matched.

17. The device of claim 12 wherein the colorization layer comprises a hologram film.

18. The device of claim 12 wherein the colorization layer comprises a transferable dielectric film.

19. The device of claim 12 wherein the colorization layer comprises a colored gelatinous filter.

20. The device of claim 12 wherein the solar cell comprises a mesh formed of strips of flexible solar material wherein the strips are electrically coupled to each other.

21. A method comprising:

forming a solar cell; and

forming a colorization layer coupled to the solar cell that trades off reflectance minimization with colorization.

22. The method of claim 21 and further comprising integrating the solar cell with colorization layer with a product.