US4124411A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of providing a layer of solid material on a substrate in which liquid from which the solid material can be formed, is spread over the substrate surface
Assignee: US Philips Corp
•
Filing: 1976-09-02
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Granted: 1978-11-07
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Expires: 1996-09-02
Abstract
Abstract A method of providing a layer of solid material, in particular semiconductor material, in which drops of a liquid from which the solid material is deposited, is dropped and spread on a flat surface which is given a rotating movement and also another periodic movement, changing the position of the plane of the substrate surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes Meuleman
- 👤 Jean-Pierre Besselere
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:23
CPC Classifications
C; C30; C30B; C30B11/00; C30B11/04; C30B11/08; C30B11/10; C23; C23C; C23C4/00; C23C4/12; C23C4/123; C30B11/008; C30B29/00; C30B29/02; C30B29/06; H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/162; H10F77/164; H10F77/1642; H10P; H10P14/00; H10P14/20; H10P14/26; H10P14/263; H10P14/34; H10P14/3402; H10P14/3404; H10P14/3411; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/546
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of providing a layer of solid polycrystalline semiconductor material on a flat substrate surface, for use as a solar cell in which a liquid material from which said solid polycrystalline semiconductor material is formed, is supplied dropwise to the substrate, while said substrate is given a rotating movement, characterized in that the rotating movement of said substrate is combined with at least one other periodic movement which produces a change of the position of the plane of said substrate surface, such that the points of the surface which are situated outside the point of intersection of the axis of the rotating movement change in height periodically with respect to said point of intersection.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A method of providing a layer of solid polycrystalline semiconductor material on a flat substrate surface, for use as a solar cell in which a liquid material from which said solid polycrystalline semiconductor material is formed, is supplied dropwise to the substrate, while said substrate is given a rotating movement, characterized in that the rotating movement of said substrate is combined with at least one other periodic movement which produces a change of the position of the plane of said substrate surface, such that the points of the surface which are situated outside the point of intersection of the axis of the rotating movement change in height periodically with respect to said point of intersection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said other periodic movement has a frequency other than that of the rotating movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said other periodic movement has a larger frequency than that of the rotating movement.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method of claim 1, characterized in that the axis of the rotating movement, remains at right angles to the substrate surface and the said other periodic movement varies the position of the axis of the rotating movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method of claim 1, characterized in that said other movement is a tilting movement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the maximum angle of tilt is chosen to be between 3° and 10°.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that said other movement is a rotating movement about an axis which encloses an angle with the normal of the substrate surface.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the angle of the axis of said other rotating movement to the normal of the substrate surface is chosen to be between 1.5° and 5°.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of claim 1, characterized in that the place where the liquid material is dropped on the substrate surface, is situated outside the axis of the rotating movement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said substrate is circular and the distance on said substrate surface between the axis of the rotating movement and the average point of impact of a drop of the liquid material is at least 1/10 of the diameter of said substrate surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said distance is at least 1/5 of the diameter of the substrate surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the said distance is at most 1/3 of the diameter of said substrate surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the said distance is at most 1/4 of the diameter of said substrate surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method of claim 1, characterized in that the liquid material consists of a melt of said solid material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the semiconductor material is silicon.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A solar cell, having a body of semiconductor material obtained by using a method as claimed in claim 1.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US2021485A
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US3031339A
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US3364054A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-11-06 | 1982-05-08 | 1982-11-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-11-06 | 1986-05-08 | 1986-11-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-11-06 | 1990-05-08 | 1990-11-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |