US3928073A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar cells
Assignee: Societe Anonyme de Telecommunications SAT
•
Filing: 1974-10-09
•
Granted: 1975-12-23
•
Expires: 1994-10-09
Abstract
Abstract A solar cell comprising a p-type doped semi-conductor body in whose upper part, exposed to the incident light, there is provided a thin n-type doped zone, the battery being covered in its lower part by a metal electrode and in its upper part by a metal collector grid, wherein the n-type doped layer between the bars of the collector grid is covered by an insulating layer which is transparent to the incident radiation, said insulating layer being itself covered by a conductive layer which constitutes a third electrode and is also transparent to the incident radiation and insulated from the collector grid.
Inventors
- 👤 Jean Georges Besson
- 👤 Duy Thuoc Nguyen
- 👤 Wolfgang Palz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 00:39
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/12; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F99/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
118 words
A SOLAR CELL COMPRISING A P-TYPE DOPED SEMI-CONDUCTOR BODY IN WHOSE UPPER PART, EXPOSED TO THE INCIDENT LIGHT, THERE IS PROVIDED A THIN N-TYPE DOPED ZONE IN THE FORM OF A CONTINUOUS LAYER, THE CELL BEING COVERED IN ITS LOWER PART BY A CONTINUOUS METAL ELECTRODE AND IN ITS UPPER PART BY A METAL COLLECTOR GRID CONSTITUTED OF METAL BARS, WHEREIN THE N-TYPE DOPED LAYER BETWEEN THE BARS OF THE COLLECTOR GRID IS COVERED BY AN INSULATING LAYER WHICH IS TRANSPARENT TO THE INCIDENT RADIATION, SAID INSULATING LAYER BEING ITSELF COVERED BY A CONDUCTIVE LAYER WHICH IS ALSO TRANSPARENT TO THE INCIDENT RADIATION AND INSULATED FROM THE COLLECTOR GRID, SAID CONDUCTIVE LAYER BEING MAINTAINED AT A FIXED POTENTIAL.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
118 words
A SOLAR CELL COMPRISING A P-TYPE DOPED SEMI-CONDUCTOR BODY IN WHOSE UPPER PART, EXPOSED TO THE INCIDENT LIGHT, THERE IS PROVIDED A THIN N-TYPE DOPED ZONE IN THE FORM OF A CONTINUOUS LAYER, THE CELL BEING COVERED IN ITS LOWER PART BY A CONTINUOUS METAL ELECTRODE AND IN ITS UPPER PART BY A METAL COLLECTOR GRID CONSTITUTED OF METAL BARS, WHEREIN THE N-TYPE DOPED LAYER BETWEEN THE BARS OF THE COLLECTOR GRID IS COVERED BY AN INSULATING LAYER WHICH IS TRANSPARENT TO THE INCIDENT RADIATION, SAID INSULATING LAYER BEING ITSELF COVERED BY A CONDUCTIVE LAYER WHICH IS ALSO TRANSPARENT TO THE INCIDENT RADIATION AND INSULATED FROM THE COLLECTOR GRID, SAID CONDUCTIVE LAYER BEING MAINTAINED AT A FIXED POTENTIAL.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the cell is provided with an independent power source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solar cell according to claim 2, wherein the independent power source is constituted of an interfitting arrangement of elementary photovoltaic diodes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
101 words
A solar cell according to claim 3, wherein the elementary photovoltaic diodes are disposed within the p-type doped zone in a small area of its upper surface from which the n-type doped zone has been removed in this region, by successive diffusions of doped zones of alternately one or the other type connected in series by appropriate metallization between zones of opposite types of two successive cells, the third electrode of the solar cell being directly connected to the output of the diode of highest potential in absolute value with respect to the electrode connected to the p-type doped base zone.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the semi-conductor body is of silicon.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is constituted by silicon oxide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the conductive layer is constituted by a film of tin oxide, SnO2.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is formed within the mass by oxidation of the silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
A solar cell according to claim 1, wherein the insulating layer is obtained by evaporation of silicon oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
A plurality of solar cells each of which is constructed according to claim 1 and the solar cells being grouped to form a battery providing a potential equal to the sum of the voltages of the cells and constituting a solar generator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3322575A
Cited
US3459944A
Cited
US3497698A
Cited
US3620829A
Cited
US3615855A
Cited
US3713893A
Cited
US3664874A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-12-22 | 1979-06-23 | 1979-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-22 | 1983-06-23 | 1983-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-22 | 1987-06-23 | 1987-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |