Patent US4461922A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4461922A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar cell module
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1983-02-14
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2003-02-14
Abstract
Abstract Individual panels of solar cells are stacked one on top of the other and arranged so that incident light passes through each of the arrays of cells in each panel striking the one below it. The solar cells in each panel are selected to have a predetermined and different spectral response and thus are responsive to different frequencies of light. Electrical connection is individually made to each of the panels to collect the electrical energy generated from conversion of the light incident on the particular array of cells. Each of the panels may independently be constructed from microcrystalline thin films, amorphous silicon, single crystal silicon, compound semi-conductors, and the like. Individual panels may be constructed of the same semi-conductor material but compositionally modified to provide sensitivity to different portions of the light spectrum.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Gay
- 👤 V. K. Kapur
- 👤 James H. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:38
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; H10F19/40; H10F19/80; H10F19/85; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A photovoltaic module comprising: (A) a first independently operable panel of solar cells having a first bandgap and including a first optically transparent substrate having a plurality of thin film solar cells formed thereon, at least some of said thin film solar cells being electrically series interconnected; (B) a first transparent conductive layer between said first substrate and said thin film solar cells and a second transparent conductive layer on the other side of said thin film solar cells; (C) a second independently operable panel of solar cells having a second bandgap, said first and second band gaps being different, said second panel including a second substrate carrying a plurality of solar cells, at least some of said solar cells on said second substrate being electrically series interconnected; (D) said second transparent conductive layer having a thickness such that the light passed through it is optimally at the peak of the spectral response of the semiconductor material in said second panel of solar cells; (E) said first and second panels being stacked one on top of the other with said solar cells facing each other in optical series; and (F) an interface layer of optically transparent and electrically insulative material sandwiched between said first and second panels.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
207 words
A photovoltaic module comprising: (A) a first independently operable panel of solar cells having a first bandgap and including a first optically transparent substrate having a plurality of thin film solar cells formed thereon, at least some of said thin film solar cells being electrically series interconnected; (B) a first transparent conductive layer between said first substrate and said thin film solar cells and a second transparent conductive layer on the other side of said thin film solar cells; (C) a second independently operable panel of solar cells having a second bandgap, said first and second band gaps being different, said second panel including a second substrate carrying a plurality of solar cells, at least some of said solar cells on said second substrate being electrically series interconnected; (D) said second transparent conductive layer having a thickness such that the light passed through it is optimally at the peak of the spectral response of the semiconductor material in said second panel of solar cells; (E) said first and second panels being stacked one on top of the other with said solar cells facing each other in optical series; and (F) an interface layer of optically transparent and electrically insulative material sandwiched between said first and second panels.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said second panel includes single-crystal silicon solar cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A module as defined in claim 2 wherein each of said panels includes separate electrical connections for providing electrical energy produced thereby externally of said panel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A module as defined in claim 3 wherein said electrical connections further include electrical leads connected to said transparent conductive layers for providing electrical energy produced by said thin film panel externally thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A module as defined in claim 4 wherein said second panel of solar cells includes thin film semiconductor solar cells deposited upon an optically transparent substrate with electrical leads connected to said cells for providing electrical energy produced by said second panel externally thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A module as defined in claim 5 which further includes a transparent conductive layer on each side of said second panel of solar cells, said transparent conductive layers each being an electrical connection to said cells.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A module as defined in claim 5 wherein said thin flim semiconductor panels face each other and are separated by said interface layer and said substrates both constitute part of the housing for said module.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A module as defined in claim 7 which further includes a third panel of thin film semiconductor solar cells deposited on an optically transparent substrate and sandwiched between said first and second panels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A module as defined in claim 4 wherein said first panel of thin film solar cells includes first and second contiguous layers of monolithic semiconductor material optically and electrically interconnected by a thin tunneling junction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A module as defined in claim 2 which further includes at least one additional panel of thin film semiconductor solar cells.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said optically transparent substrate further constitutes a part of the housing for said module.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said second panel of solar cells includes thin film semiconductor solar cells.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A module as defined in claim 12 which further includes at least one additional panel of thin film semiconductor solar cells separated from its adjacent panel by a layer of optically transparent and electrically insulative material and each such additional panel having a different spectral response from each other panel whereby each such panel will be responsive a predetermined different portion of the solar spectrum.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A module as defined in claim 13 wherein each such additional panel includes electrical leads connected thereto for providing electrical energy produced thereby externally of said panel.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said interface layer of material is thermally stable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said interface layer is solid and adheres said first and second panels together.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A module as defined in claim 16 wherein said interface layer includes as its major constituant a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl butyral, silicone, and ethylene vinyl acetate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said interface layer is a gas.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
A module as defined in claim 18 wherein said gas is air.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A module as defined in claim 1 wherein said interface layer is a liquid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
161 words
A photovoltaic module comprising: (A) a first independently operable panel of solar cells having a first bandgap and including a first substrate having a plurality of thin film solar cells formed thereon, at least some of said thin film solar cells being electrically series interconnected; (B) a second independently operable panel of solar cells having a second bandgap, said first and second band gaps being different, said second panel including a second substrate carrying a plurality of solar cells, at least some of said solar cells on said second substrate being electrically series interconnected; (C) said first and second panels being stacked one on top of the other with said solar cells facing each other in optical series and with said substrates facing outwardly, said substrates forming a housing for said photovoltaic module; and (D) an interface layer of optically transparent and electrically insulative material sandwiched between said first and second panels and adhesively securing said first and second panels together.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
161 words
A photovoltaic module comprising: (A) a first independently operable panel of solar cells having a first bandgap and including a first substrate having a plurality of thin film solar cells formed thereon, at least some of said thin film solar cells being electrically series interconnected; (B) a second independently operable panel of solar cells having a second bandgap, said first and second band gaps being different, said second panel including a second substrate carrying a plurality of solar cells, at least some of said solar cells on said second substrate being electrically series interconnected; (C) said first and second panels being stacked one on top of the other with said solar cells facing each other in optical series and with said substrates facing outwardly, said substrates forming a housing for said photovoltaic module; and (D) an interface layer of optically transparent and electrically insulative material sandwiched between said first and second panels and adhesively securing said first and second panels together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A module as defined in claim 21 wherein said interface layer includes as its major constituent a material selected from the group consisting of polyvinylbutyral, silicone and ethylene vinyl acetate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
A module as defined in claim 22 wherein said second panel of solar cells includes thin film semiconductor solar cells deposited upon an optically transparent substrate with electrical leads connected to said cells for providing electrical energy produced by said second panel externally thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A module as defined in claim 23 which further includes a transparent conductive layer on each side of said second panel of solar cells, said transparent conductive layers each being an electrical connection to said cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |