Process and apparatus for continuous production of lightweight arrays of photovoltaic cells
First Claim
1. A process for producing relatively large-area, lightweight arrays of thin film semiconductor alloy photovoltaic cells comprising:
- continuously depositing a thin semiconductor alloy film on a traveling surrogate substrate;
continuously applying a transparent support material to said deposited thin film semiconductor alloy film opposite said traveling surrogate substrate; and
continuously separating said alloy film and support material from said surrogate substrate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A process and apparatus for contiuously producing a relatively large-area, lightweight array of thin film semiconductor alloy photovoltaic cells having no substrate includes depositing a semiconductor alloy film, such as amorphous silicon, on a traveling surrogate substrate, applying a support material to the traveling film to give it mechanical strength and separating the film and support material from the traveling surrogate substrate. The surrogate substrate is preferably an endless stainless steel band from which the deposited alloy film is repeatedly stripped and on which deposits are repeatedly made. The apparatus may provide for the deposition and patterning of a back electrode on the substrate before deposition of the alloy film to form one set of electrical interconnections for the array. The apparatus may also provide for the deposition and patterning of a transparent, electrically conducting layer on the alloy film, before application of the support material, in order to form a second set of electrical interconnections for the array. The apparatus may also apply a protective, support material to the rear of the alloy film.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A process for producing relatively large-area, lightweight arrays of thin film semiconductor alloy photovoltaic cells comprising:
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continuously depositing a thin semiconductor alloy film on a traveling surrogate substrate; continuously applying a transparent support material to said deposited thin film semiconductor alloy film opposite said traveling surrogate substrate; and continuously separating said alloy film and support material from said surrogate substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. Apparatus for producing relatively large-area, lightweight arrays of thin film semiconductor alloy photovoltaic cells comprising:
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means for continuously depositing a thin film of semiconductor alloy material on a surrogate substrate traveling through said apparatus; means for continuously applying a transparent support material to said deposited thin film alloy opposite said traveling surrogate substrate; and means for continuously separating said thin film alloy and support material from said surrogate support. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification