US4260429A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrode for photovoltaic cell
Assignee: Ses Inc
•
Filing: 1980-05-19
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Granted: 1981-04-07
•
Expires: 2000-05-19
Abstract
Abstract In a photovoltaic cell which comprises a first electrode, a first layer of cadmium sulfide, a second layer of cuprous sulfide forming a barrier junction with said first layer, and a second electrode, the improvement wherein said second electrode is formed by coating a conducting metal wire with a solid polymer containing electrically conductive particles, and attaching the coated wire to the cuprous sulfide layer by the application of moderate heat and/or pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard L. Moyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:39
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) an electrically conductive first electrode; (b) a film of a first semiconductor material of one type conductivity covering at least a portion of said first electrode; (c) a film of a second semiconductor material of opposite type conductivity overlying and forming a p-n junction with the first semiconductor material; and (d) a second electrode, in ohmic contact with said second semiconductor material and which allows radiant energy to pass into the second semiconductor material, said second electrode comprising one or more electrically conductive metal wires coated with a solid polymer containing electrically conductive particles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
A photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) an electrically conductive first electrode; (b) a film of a first semiconductor material of one type conductivity covering at least a portion of said first electrode; (c) a film of a second semiconductor material of opposite type conductivity overlying and forming a p-n junction with the first semiconductor material; and (d) a second electrode, in ohmic contact with said second semiconductor material and which allows radiant energy to pass into the second semiconductor material, said second electrode comprising one or more electrically conductive metal wires coated with a solid polymer containing electrically conductive particles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said first semiconductor material is cadmium sulfide and said second semiconductor material is cuprous sulfide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claims 1 or 2 wherein said conducting metal wire is a copper wire.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 3 wherein said polymer is a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 4 wherein said conductive particles are crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cell according to claim 5 wherein the polymer coating contains between about 5 percent by weight and about 95 percent by weight crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 2 wherein said electrically conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of conductive carbon black, crystalline graphite, and gold.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is a thermosetting polymer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
8 words
A silicon photovoltaic cell according to claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 10 wherein said conducting metal wire is a copper wire.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 11 wherein said polymer is a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 12 wherein said conductive carbon particles are crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 13 wherein the polymer contains between about 5 percent by weight and about 95 percent by weight crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 10 wherein said electrically conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of conductive carbon black, crystalline graphite, and gold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
123 words
A photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) an electrically conductive first electrode; (b) a film of a first semiconductor material of one type conductivity covering at least a portion of said first electrode; (c) a film of a second semiconductor material of opposite type conductivity overlying and forming a p-n junction with the first semiconductor material; and (d) a second electrode, in ohmic contact with said second semiconductor material and which allows radiant energy to pass into the second semiconductor material, said second electrode being formed by the process comprising: (i) coating an electrically conductive metal wire with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles; and (ii) attaching said coated wire to said second semiconductor material by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
123 words
A photovoltaic cell comprising: (a) an electrically conductive first electrode; (b) a film of a first semiconductor material of one type conductivity covering at least a portion of said first electrode; (c) a film of a second semiconductor material of opposite type conductivity overlying and forming a p-n junction with the first semiconductor material; and (d) a second electrode, in ohmic contact with said second semiconductor material and which allows radiant energy to pass into the second semiconductor material, said second electrode being formed by the process comprising: (i) coating an electrically conductive metal wire with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles; and (ii) attaching said coated wire to said second semiconductor material by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cell according to claim 16 wherein said first semiconductor material is cadmium sulfide and said second semiconductor material is cuprous sulfide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claims 16 or 17 wherein said conducting metal wire is a copper wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 19 wherein said conductive carbon particles are crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 20 wherein the polymer contains between about 5 percent by weight and about 95 percent by weight crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cell according to claim 17 wherein said electrically conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of conductive carbon black, crystalline graphite, and gold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement in the process for forming and attaching an electrode for a photovoltaic cell, which improvement comprises: (i) coating a conducting metal wire with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles; (ii) attaching said coated wire to an outer semiconductor layer of said cell by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
54 words
An improvement in the process for forming and attaching an electrode for a photovoltaic cell, which improvement comprises: (i) coating a conducting metal wire with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles; (ii) attaching said coated wire to an outer semiconductor layer of said cell by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 23 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a cadmium sulfide/cuprous sulfide photovoltaic cell.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 24 wherein said polymer is a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 25 wherein said conductive particles are crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
57 words
A process according to claim 26 wherein said wire is coated by passing the wire through a dispersion of said vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer and said crystalline graphite particles in a carrier liquid, passing the resulting wire through a die so as to provide a uniform coating, and evaporating at least a substantial portion of said carrier liquid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process according to claim 27 wherein said carrier liquid is isophorone.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
A process according to claim 27 wherein the evaporation is effected between about 80° and about 95° C.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 29 wherein said coated wire is attached to said cell by the application of heat in the range of about 150° C. to about 230° C. and external pressure in the range of about 15 psi to about 100 psi.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 23 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a silicon solar cell.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 23 wherein two or more coated wires are attached to said cell in parallel arrangement.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 23 wherein said polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process according to claim 33 wherein said thermoplastic polymer containing conductive particles is extruded onto said wire so as to form said coated wire.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
10 words
A cell produced according to the process of claim 23.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improvement in the process of attaching an electrode to a photovoltaic cell, which improvement comprises attaching said electrode to an outer semiconductor layer of said cell by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure, said electrode comprising an electrically conductive metal wire coated with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
53 words
An improvement in the process of attaching an electrode to a photovoltaic cell, which improvement comprises attaching said electrode to an outer semiconductor layer of said cell by the application of heat, pressure, or heat and pressure, said electrode comprising an electrically conductive metal wire coated with a polymer containing electrically conductive particles.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process according to claim 36 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a cadmium sulfide/cuprous sulfide photovoltaic cell.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 37 wherein said polymer is a vinylidene fluoride/hexafluoropropene copolymer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 38 wherein said conductive particles are crystalline graphite particles.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process according to claim 36 wherein said photovoltaic cell is a silicon solar cell.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
45 words
A process according to claim 36 wherein said coated wire is attached to said cell by the application of heat in the range of about 150° C. to about 230° C. and external pressure in the range of about 15 psi to about 100 psi.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 36 wherein two or more coated wires are attached to said cell in parallel arrangement.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 36 wherein said polymer is a thermoplastic polymer.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
10 words
A cell produced according to the process of claim 30.
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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) | 1984-04-06 | 1984-10-06 | 1985-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-04-06 | 1988-10-06 | 1989-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-04-06 | 1992-10-06 | 1993-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |