← Back to Patent Explorer
US3914856A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Economical solar cell for producing electricity

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-05
•
Granted: 1975-10-28
•
Expires: 1992-06-05
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract This invention relates to a method for economically and rapidly producing solar cells, made of either silicon or of germanium. Complete solar cells are deposited in a carrier substrate by processes geared to large scale production at high production rates not obtainable from the present state of art.

Inventors

  • 👤 Pao-Hsien Fang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-25 22:47
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F71/00; H10F71/121; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/14; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F99/00; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/20; H10P14/29; H10P14/2901; H10P14/2923; H10P14/34; H10P14/3402; H10P14/3404; H10P14/3411; H10P14/3438; H10P14/3441; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/546; Y02E10/547; Y02P; Y02P70/00; Y02P70/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S148/00; Y10S148/006; Y10S148/007; Y10S148/12; Y10S148/122; Y10S148/142; Y10S148/15; Y10S148/158; Y10S148/169; Y10S438/00; Y10S438/914; Y10S438/916

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim 85 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SOLAR CELL DEVICE HAVING SILICON SOLAR CELLS SUPPORTED BY AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE, ALUMINUM SUBSTRATE, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF DEPOSITING AND GROWING A THIN LAYER OF CRYSTALLINE SILICON OF SPECIFIC IMPURITYY TYPE AND CONCENTRATION ON THE ALUMINUM SUBSTRATE USING THE ALUMINUM AS THE NUCLEATION SITE FOR GROWTH OF THE SILICON CRYSTALS AND FOR AUTO-DOPING OF THE SILICON, FORMING P-N JUNCTIONS TO ENABLE THE DEVICE TO PERFORM PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION, AND SECURING FRONT ELECTRODES AND CONNETION LEADS TO THE DEVICE.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 85 words
A METHOD FOR PRODUCING A SOLAR CELL DEVICE HAVING SILICON SOLAR CELLS SUPPORTED BY AN ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE, ALUMINUM SUBSTRATE, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF DEPOSITING AND GROWING A THIN LAYER OF CRYSTALLINE SILICON OF SPECIFIC IMPURITYY TYPE AND CONCENTRATION ON THE ALUMINUM SUBSTRATE USING THE ALUMINUM AS THE NUCLEATION SITE FOR GROWTH OF THE SILICON CRYSTALS AND FOR AUTO-DOPING OF THE SILICON, FORMING P-N JUNCTIONS TO ENABLE THE DEVICE TO PERFORM PHOTOVOLTAIC ENERGY CONVERSION, AND SECURING FRONT ELECTRODES AND CONNETION LEADS TO THE DEVICE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1 to improve the efficiency of silicon solar cells by carrying out a thermal annealing step between the first and second steps.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said thin layer of crystalline silicon has a thickness of approximately 10 microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of coating an anti-reflection and anti-corrosion agent thereon.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3151379A Cited
US3317287A Cited
US3483038A Cited
US3689991A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-10-27 1979-04-28 1979-10-28 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-10-27 1983-04-28 1983-10-28 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-10-27 1987-04-28 1987-10-28 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag