Patent US4490573A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4490573A
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Solar cells
Assignee: Sera Solar Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-20
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Granted: 1984-12-25
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Expires: 2001-05-20
Abstract
Abstract A solar cell comprising layers of n-type and p-type crystalline or substantially crystalline semiconductor material separated by a layer of amorphous semiconductor material having a larger coefficient of absorption than the outer p-type and n-type layers.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Gibbons
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 05:05
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/162; H10F77/164; H10F77/1642; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/546; Y02E10/548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
36 words
A solar cell comprising layers of n-type and p-type crystalline or substantially crystalline semiconductor material separated by a layer of amorphous semiconductor material having a larger coefficient of absorption than the outer p-type and n-type layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
36 words
A solar cell comprising layers of n-type and p-type crystalline or substantially crystalline semiconductor material separated by a layer of amorphous semiconductor material having a larger coefficient of absorption than the outer p-type and n-type layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers have an energy gap greater than the separating layer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the separating layer has a built-in impurity gradient to produce an electric field to aid in carrier transport.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are heavily doped to form low resistivity layers to minimize loss of output power.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the separation layer is of a different composition than the outer layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are silicon and the separation layer is silicon-germanium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are silicon-carbon and the separation layer is silicon-germanium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are GA x Al 1-x As and the separation layer is GaAs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are GaP and the separation layer is GaAs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the outer layers are SiC and the separation layer is Zn 3 P 2 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar cell as in claim 1 in which the separating layer is amorphized by ion implantation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
A solar cell including a substrate, a metal layer on said substrate, a patterned protective layer on said metal layer covering portions of said metal layer and exposing other portions, a crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of semiconductor material of one conductivity type on said metal layer and protective layer forming ohmic contact with said metal layer, a solar energy absorbing layer of amorphous semiconductor material on said layer of one conductivity type and a crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type on said solar absorbing layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
92 words
A solar cell including a substrate, a metal layer on said substrate, a patterned protective layer on said metal layer covering portions of said metal layer and exposing other portions, a crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of semiconductor material of one conductivity type on said metal layer and protective layer forming ohmic contact with said metal layer, a solar energy absorbing layer of amorphous semiconductor material on said layer of one conductivity type and a crystalline or substantially crystalline layer of semiconductor material of opposite conductivity type on said solar absorbing layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A solar cell as in claim 12 in which the solar energy absorbing layer has a built-in impurity gradient to produce an electric field to aid in carrier transport.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A solar cell as in claim 12 in which said metal layer is reflective.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3990101A
Cited
US4270018A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-25 | 1988-06-25 | 1988-12-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-25 | 1992-06-25 | 1992-12-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-25 | 1996-06-25 | 1996-12-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |