US4406913A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar cell with increased efficiency
Assignee: Siemens AG
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Filing: 1981-12-04
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Granted: 1983-09-27
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Expires: 2001-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A solar cell has a semiconductor body with a radiation-receiving surface having a ribbed structure and having a small pn-junction in the semiconductor body which is matched to follow the contour of the surface of the ribbed structure, and the interstices between adjacent ribs are filled with a material which is highly permeable to the solar radiation and which contains particles for scattering the solar radiation to a high degree situated therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Claus Weyrich
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 11:29
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/14; H10F77/147; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/484; H10F77/70; H10F77/703; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A solar cell comprising: a semiconductor body having a solar radiation-receiving surface having a plurality of parallel grooves therein forming a plurality of ribs, said semiconductor body having a pn-junction which follows the contour of said ribs and grooves; and a filler material filling said grooves, said filler material being permeable to said solar radiation and having particles suspended therein for scattering said solar radiation for increasing the amount of said solar radiation which reaches the sides of said ribs.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A solar cell comprising: a semiconductor body having a solar radiation-receiving surface having a plurality of parallel grooves therein forming a plurality of ribs, said semiconductor body having a pn-junction which follows the contour of said ribs and grooves; and a filler material filling said grooves, said filler material being permeable to said solar radiation and having particles suspended therein for scattering said solar radiation for increasing the amount of said solar radiation which reaches the sides of said ribs.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein said filler material is a synthetic material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein said filler material is an epoxy resin having particles of TiO 2 suspended therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein said semiconductor body is comprised of a polycrystalline semiconductor material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein the depth of said grooves in said semiconductor body is greater than 1/α, wherein α is the coefficient of absorption of the material comprising said semiconductor body for a long-wave component of said solar radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein the width of said ribs is less than or equal to twice the value (l N +l P ), wherein l N is the diffusion length for the electrons in the material comprising said semiconductor body and wherein l P is the diffusion length for the holes in said material comprising said semiconductor body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein said grooves are generated by sawing said semiconductor body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The solar cell of claim 1 wherein said grooves are generated by cutting said semiconductor body with a laser beam.
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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) | 1986-09-26 | 1987-03-28 | 1987-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-26 | 1991-03-28 | 1991-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-26 | 1995-03-28 | 1995-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |