Solar cells

• US 4,152,536 A
• Filed: 12/02/1977
• Issued: 05/01/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ASE Americas Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mobil Tyco Solar Energy Corporation
• Inventors: Ravi, K. V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US05/856,636
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 136/89 CC, 136/89 SJ, 136/89 TF, 136/89 PC, 357/20, 357/30, 357/55
• US Class Current: 136/255
• CPC Class Codes: C30B 33/00 After-treatment of single crystals or homogeneous polycrystalline material with defined structure C30B31/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/068 the potential barriers being only of the PN homojunction type, e.g. bulk silicon PN homojunction solar cells or thin film polycrystalline silicon PN homojunction solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/18 Processes or apparatus specially adapted for the manufacture or treatment of these devices or of parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/547 Monocrystalline silicon PV cells

Abstract

Disclosed are solar cells employing slightly curved or nearly flat monocrystalline silicon ribbons. The ribbons are formed by cutting or slicing monocrystalline hollow tubes along their lengths, the tubes having been formed according to crystal growing processes disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,591,348.

Claims

1. A solar cell unit comprising an arcuate section of a curved substantially monocrystalline semi-conductor tubular body with a radiation-receiving convex surface and a photo-voltaic junction which is close to said convex surface and is capable of responding to radiant energy passing through said surface, and first and second electrodes carried by said arcuate section of said body on opposite sides of said junction for coupling said unit to an external circuit, said opposite sides each having an arcuate cross-section.

2. A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said body is made of silicon.

3. A solar cell unit according to claim 1 wherein said arcuate section comprises a section of a hollow cylinder.