EP0204562A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Transparent photovoltaic module
Assignee: Shell Solar Industries LP
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Filing: 1986-06-04
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A thin film photovoltaic module has transparent electrodes on front and back surfaces of a semiconductive layer. In one embodiment, both transparent electrodes pass light to the semiconductive layer for photovoltaic purposes. In another embodiment, the back electrode passes light which enters through the front electrode and is not absorbed by the semiconductive layer, so that the module is selectively transparent to the unabsorbed light. The spectral makeup of the transmitted light is controlled by controlling the optical characteristics of the layers of the module. The index of refraction of the back electrode is a primary source of transmission control along with the refractive index of the front electrode and the thickness of the semiconductive layer itself. Light transmitted by the module can be used for nonphotovoltaic purposes, such as illuminating the interior of a vehicle or dwelling, or may be directed back into the semiconductive layer by a reflective surface behind the back electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Elliot Berman
- 👤 Stephen C. Miller
- 👤 Charles F. Gay
- 👤 David P. Tanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:35
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/244; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; H10F19/37; H10F77/247; H10F77/251; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B10/00; Y02B10/10; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
. A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a first portion of the solar spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive over a second portion of the solar spectrum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
. A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a first portion of the solar spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive over a second portion of the solar spectrum.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The photovoltaic module of claim 1, further comprising means for reflecting light on to at least one of said first and second electrode means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
101 words
A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a preselected spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for optically coupling the semiconductive layer to the atmosphere to permit transmission by the module of at least a portion of the incident light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a preselected spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for optically coupling the semiconductive layer to the atmosphere to permit transmission by the module of at least a portion of the incident light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
115 words
A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light over a preselected spectrum; second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and permitting transmission of at least a portion of the light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer; and reflective surface means substantially opposed to the second electrode means to reflect light transmitted by the first electrode means, the semiconductive layer and the second electrode means, back toward the semiconductive layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
A photovoltaic module comprising a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light over a preselected spectrum; second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and permitting transmission of at least a portion of the light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer; and reflective surface means substantially opposed to the second electrode means to reflect light transmitted by the first electrode means, the semiconductive layer and the second electrode means, back toward the semiconductive layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The photovoltaic module of claim 4, wherein the reflective surface means is laminated to the second electrode means preferably through a dielectric pottant layer.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The photovoltaic module of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the reflective surface means is textured to scatter said light.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The photovoltaic module of claim 4, claim 5, or claim 6, wherein the reflective surface means is a mirror having a transparent sheet portion with a reflective coating on one side thereof and the transparent sheet portion is laminated to the second electrode means on a side of the sheet portion opposite the reflective coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 3, and forming part of a structure comprising a plurality of walls defining an interior volume; at least one opening in said walls and said photovoltaic module over the opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one or both of the electrode means are fabricated to enhance or preferably to maximise transmission of visible light.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the electrode means is fabricated to attenuate transmission of infra-red light and preferably comprises a layer having an index of refraction of less than 1.7 for infra-red light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
49 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 10, wherein said at least one electrode means comprises a layer having an extinction coefficient greater than approximately 0.05 for a portion of the wave length range of infra-red light which is substantial and preferably corresponds with wave lengths greater than 0.9 microns.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the electrode means comprises an even number of layers alternating between a high reflection metal layer preferably of a thickness approximately 50 to 200 angstroms and a metal oxide layer preferably of a thickness approximately 400 to 1000 angstroms with the or one of the high reflection metal layers being directly adjacent the semiconductive layer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
100 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one electrode means comprises a thin film composite layer having, in order; a first transparent conductive oxide layer in electrical contact with the semiconductive layer; a first barrier layer; a central metallic layer preferably of Ag; a second barrier layer and a second transparent conductive layer, the transparent conductive oxide layers being preferably of zinc oxide and preferably between 500 and 1500 angstroms thickness and the barrier layers being preferably of Ti0 2 , no more than 100 angstroms and preferably approximately 50 angstroms in thickness.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the electrode means comprises a layer of transparent conductive oxide, preferably zinc oxide, containing a preselected concentration of an additive to control the conductivity and index of refraction of the layer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
71 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims wherein at least one of the electrode means comprises a stack of layers comprising, in order; a first transparent conductive oxide layer, preferably of ITO, in electrical contact with the semiconductive layer, a central layer of an oxide, preferably Ti0 2 ) having a refractive index of at least 2.0 and a second transparent conductive oxide layer, preferably of ITO.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
85 words
A photovoltaic module according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first electrode means, the semiconductive layer and the second electrode means are fabricated to enhance transmission of light by the module, the semiconductive layer preferably comprising a thin film silicon-based layer between 100 and 10000 angstroms and preferably approximately 3500 angstroms in thickness and the second electrode means preferably comprising a layer having an index of refraction of at least approximately 2.1 over the solar spectrum and preferably of doped cadmium sulphide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
70 words
A photovoltaic module according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the semiconductive layer comprises thin film regions of p-type and n-type conductivity with a band gap of preferably at least 1.85 electron volts on opposite sides of a substantially intrinsic photoconductive region; and both the p-type and the n-type regions are window layers fabricated to transmit light within a preselected spectrum to which the photovoltaic region is sensitive.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
174 words
In the manufacture of photovoltaic modules having a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a preselected spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for optically coupling the semiconductive layer to the atmosphere to permit transmission by the module of at least a portion of the light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer; the method of controlling the transmission of light by the module comprising the steps of; providing the first electrode means, the semiconductive layer, and the second electrode means with preselected optical transmitance characteristics over a preselected wave length range so that light incident on the first electrode means is selectively transmitted by the semiconductive layer and the second electrode means and is coupled by the second electrode means to the atmosphere.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
174 words
In the manufacture of photovoltaic modules having a thin film semiconductive layer containing at least one photovoltaic region and having first and second oppositely directed major surfaces; first transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the first surface of the semiconductive layer and for transmitting incident light to the semiconductive layer over a preselected spectrum; and second transparent electrode means for establishing electrical connection to the second surface of the semiconductive layer and for optically coupling the semiconductive layer to the atmosphere to permit transmission by the module of at least a portion of the light not absorbed by the semiconductive layer; the method of controlling the transmission of light by the module comprising the steps of; providing the first electrode means, the semiconductive layer, and the second electrode means with preselected optical transmitance characteristics over a preselected wave length range so that light incident on the first electrode means is selectively transmitted by the semiconductive layer and the second electrode means and is coupled by the second electrode means to the atmosphere.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the selected transmission of visible light is achieved by controlling the index of refraction of the second electrode means preferably to equal that of the first electrode means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the selected transmission of visible light is achieved by controlling the index of refraction, extension coefficient, transparency and the thickness of the electrode means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 20, wherein the selected transmission of visible light is further achieved by including additives in the material of the second electrode means to increase its conductivity and reduce its index of refraction.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of utilising a thin film photovoltaic module to filter light entering a structure having a plurality of walls defining an interior volume, comprising the steps of providing the photovoltaic module with a transparent first electrode at a light-incident side of the module and a transparent second electrode at an opposite side of the module; and positioning the module over an opening in said walls to convert light within a first portion of the spectrum of incident light into electricity and pass light within a second portion of said spectrum to the interior of the structure for non-photovoltaic use.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of utilising a thin film photovoltaic module to filter light entering a structure having a plurality of walls defining an interior volume, comprising the steps of providing the photovoltaic module with a transparent first electrode at a light-incident side of the module and a transparent second electrode at an opposite side of the module; and positioning the module over an opening in said walls to convert light within a first portion of the spectrum of incident light into electricity and pass light within a second portion of said spectrum to the interior of the structure for non-photovoltaic use.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 8, wherein said structure comprises a vehicle.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
69 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle is an automobile having a sun roof; the opening in said walls is closed by the sun roof; and the photovoltaic module is disposed within the sun roof to convert incident light falling within a first portion of the solar spectrum to electricity and transmit light within a second portion of the spectrum to the interior of the automobile.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
76 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 23, wherein the vehicle is a vessel for navigation on water and has a hatch cover; the opening in said walls is closed by the hatch cover; and the photovoltaic module is disposed within the hatch cover to convert incident light falling within a first portion of the solar spectrum to electricity and transmit light falling within a second portion of the solar spectrum to the interior of the vessel.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
70 words
A photovoltaic module according to claim 8, wherein the structure is a building; the opening in the walls is a window opening; and the photovoltaic module is disposed within the window opening to convert incident light falling within a first portion of the solar spectrum to electricity and acts as a window to transmit light falling within a second portion of the solar spectrum to the interior of the building.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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