Solar cell and method for producing same
First Claim
1. A method of fabricating improved photovoltaic devices, each photovoltaic device including:
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer; and
(c) a transparent, electrically conductive layer deposited atop the semiconductor body;
the method including the steps of;
dividing the semiconductor body into a plurality of portions, each portion being substantially electrically isolated from other portions;
testing the electrial output of each isolated portion of the semiconductor body;
connecting only those electrically operative isolated portions to an electrically conductive strip;
the conductive strip providing an electrical contact associated with the semiconductor body; and
providing an electrical contact on the substrate layer;
whereby the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic device is improved by electrically connecting only those electrically operative portions of the semiconductor body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method of electrically isolating portions of a large surface area semiconductor body for various purposes such as the production of improved photovoltaic and semiconductor devices is disclosed herein. In the preferred embodiment, the photovoltaic devices are of the type which include a common, electrically conductive substrate layer, a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer, and a transparent electrically conductive coating layer is deposited atop the amorphous body. The method includes the steps of dividing the semiconductor body into a plurality of electrically-isolated portions which may include a grid pattern, testing the electrical output of each of the isolated portions of the semiconductor body, connecting only those isolated portions providing satisfactory electrical output to an electrically conductive strip which provides an electrical contact from the semiconductor body, and providing an electrical contact on the substrate, whereby the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic or semiconductor device is improved. The improved solar cell includes a plurality of electrically isolated portions into which the semiconductor body thereof is divided, at least one electrically conductive strip, each isolated portion of the semiconductor body which provides satisfactory electrical output is electrically connected to the conductive strip to provide an electrical contact associated with the semiconductor body, an electrical contact associated with the substrate layer, and an upper, electrically-insulating, protective layer and a lower electrically-insulating layer encapsulate the solar cell. A plurality of such solar cells are electrically connected to form a solar cell panel. Other methods of utilizing electrically isolated portions of a semiconductor body include the production of small surface area semiconductor devices from larger surface area semiconductor devices and a process for improving the electrical output of those isolated portions of a semiconductor body which provide unsatisfactory electrical output.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of fabricating improved photovoltaic devices, each photovoltaic device including:
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer; and
(c) a transparent, electrically conductive layer deposited atop the semiconductor body;
the method including the steps of;dividing the semiconductor body into a plurality of portions, each portion being substantially electrically isolated from other portions; testing the electrial output of each isolated portion of the semiconductor body; connecting only those electrically operative isolated portions to an electrically conductive strip;
the conductive strip providing an electrical contact associated with the semiconductor body; andproviding an electrical contact on the substrate layer;
whereby the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic device is improved by electrically connecting only those electrically operative portions of the semiconductor body. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
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2. A method of fabricating an improved panel of photovoltaic devices, each of said photovoltaic devices including:
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer; and
(c) a transparent, electrically-conductive layer deposited atop the semiconductor body;
the method including the steps of;dividing the semiconductor body of each photovoltaic device into a plurality of portions, each portion being substantially electrically isolated from other portions of each semiconductor body; testing the electrical output of each isolated portion of each semiconductor body for operativeness; connecting only those electrically operative isolated portions of each semiconductor body to a conductive strip associated with that semiconductor body, the conductive strip providing a contact from the transparent layer of each photovoltaic device; providing an electrical contact on the substrate layer of each photovoltaic device; structurally and electrically joining a plurality of photovoltaic devices to form a panel of photovoltaic devices in which the transparent layer contact of each of the plurality of photovoltaic devices and the substrate layer contact of each of the plurality of photovoltaic devices are electrically connected;
whereby the overall efficiency of the photovoltaic device panel is improved by electrically connecting only those electrically operative portions of each semiconductor body.
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
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10. A method of improving the electrical output of semiconductor devices, the devices including:
- (a) an electrically conductive substrate layer;
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer; and
(c) a transparent, electrically conductive layer deposited atop the semiconductor body;
the method including the steps of;dividing the semiconductor body into a plurality of portions, each portion being substantially electrically isolated from other portions; testing the electrical output of each isolated portion of the semiconductor body to identify electrically inoperative isolated portions of the semicondcutor body; subjecting at least those electrically inoperative isolated portions of the semiconductor body to a defect curing procedure adapted to improve the electrical output thereof; and electrically interconnecting only those initially electrically operative isolated portions of the semiconductor body and those isolated portions of the semiconductor body which have become electrically operative following the curing procedure, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the semiconductor device. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
- (a) an electrically conductive substrate layer;
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14. An improved solar cell including:
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer; and
(c) a transparent electrically conductive layer deposited atop the semiconductor body;
the solar cell comprising, in combination;a plurality of substantially electrically isolated small area portions into which the semiconductor body is divided, at least one small area portion being electrically inoperative; at least one electrically conductive strip; only electrically operative portions of the semiconductor body electrically connected to the at least one conductive strip, the at least one conductive strip providing an electrical contact associated with the semiconductor body; an electrical contact on the substrate layer; and an upper, electrically-insulating, light-admitting, protective layer and a lower electrically-insulating layer, the solar cells encapsulated between the upper and lower layers, so that only electrically operative portions of the semiconductor body are electrically connected, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the solar cell. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
- (a) a common electrically conductive substrate layer;
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20. A method of fabricating a smaller surface area semiconductor device from a semiconductor device having a larger surface area;
- the larger area semiconductor device including;
(a) a common, electrically conductive substrate layer; and
(b) a semiconductor body deposited upon the substrate layer;
the method including the steps of;providing a plurality of discrete segments of a transparent, electrically conductive layer atop the semiconductor body so as to divide the semiconductor body into a plurality of electrically isolated portions; and then severing the large area semiconductor device between discrete segments of the transparent layer to form at least one discrete small area semiconductor device which includes (a) a segment of the common substrate, (b) a corresponding portion of the large area semiconductor body, and (c) a corresponding discrete segment of the transparent layer. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
- the larger area semiconductor device including;
Specification