US4584427A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin film solar cell with free tin on tin oxide transparent conductor
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1984-10-22
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Granted: 1986-04-22
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Expires: 2004-10-22
Abstract
Abstract A thin film solar cell structure having a free metal layer between a transparent conductor front face contact and the front face surface of the actual thin film photovoltaic device. The free metal, preferably tin, may be formed by glow discharge reduction of the transparent conductor surface or by direct deposition of free metal.
Inventors
- 👤 Kevin K. Mackamul
- 👤 Don L. Morel
- 👤 David P. Tanner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:46
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F77/20; H10F77/244; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
70 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front face electrode comprising oxides of one or more metals, a layer of free metal on said front face electrode, said free metal layer comprising at least one of said one or more metals, said layer of free metal being substantially transparent to visible light, a thin film photovoltaic device on said free metal layer, and a back face electrode on said photovoltaic device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
70 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front face electrode comprising oxides of one or more metals, a layer of free metal on said front face electrode, said free metal layer comprising at least one of said one or more metals, said layer of free metal being substantially transparent to visible light, a thin film photovoltaic device on said free metal layer, and a back face electrode on said photovoltaic device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said transparent front face electrode is supported on a transparent insulating substrate through which incident light may be received.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said transparent front face electrode comprises tin oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said layer of free metal has a thickness of from 10 to 100 angstroms.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
In the method for manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic cell wherein a substrate having a transparent conductive layer of primarily tin oxide is positioned in a glow discharge chamber and semiconductor layers are deposited on said transparent conductive layer, the improvement comprising: before deposition of said semiconductor layers, treating said transparent conductive layer with a glow discharge atmosphere for a time sufficient to generate an essentially transparent layer of free tin on the surface of said transparent conductive layer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
In the method for manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic cell wherein a substrate having a transparent conductive layer of primarily tin oxide is positioned in a glow discharge chamber and semiconductor layers are deposited on said transparent conductive layer, the improvement comprising: before deposition of said semiconductor layers, treating said transparent conductive layer with a glow discharge atmosphere for a time sufficient to generate an essentially transparent layer of free tin on the surface of said transparent conductive layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improved method of claim 5 wherein said glow discharge atmosphere includes hydrogen gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The improvement method of claim 5 wherein said glow discharge atmosphere includes only nonreactive gases.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement method of claim 7 wherein said glow discharge atmosphere comprises argon gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
In the method for manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic cell wherein a substrate having a transparent conductive layer of primarily tin oxide is positioned in a glow discharge chamber and semiconductor layers are deposited on said transparent conductive layer, the improvement comprising: after deposition of a first semiconductor layer, treating said substrate with a glow discharge including hydrogen gas for a time sufficient to generate an essentially transparent layer of free tin at the interface of said transparent conductive layer and said first semiconductor layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
85 words
In the method for manufacturing a thin film photovoltaic cell wherein a substrate having a transparent conductive layer of primarily tin oxide is positioned in a glow discharge chamber and semiconductor layers are deposited on said transparent conductive layer, the improvement comprising: after deposition of a first semiconductor layer, treating said substrate with a glow discharge including hydrogen gas for a time sufficient to generate an essentially transparent layer of free tin at the interface of said transparent conductive layer and said first semiconductor layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front face electrode comprising oxides of one or more metals, a layer of free metal on said front face electrode, said free metal layer formed by reduction of a portion of said front face electrode, said layer of free metal being substantially transparent to visible light, a thin film photovoltaic device on said free metal layer, and a back face electrode on said photovoltaic device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
71 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front face electrode comprising oxides of one or more metals, a layer of free metal on said front face electrode, said free metal layer formed by reduction of a portion of said front face electrode, said layer of free metal being substantially transparent to visible light, a thin film photovoltaic device on said free metal layer, and a back face electrode on said photovoltaic device.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A solar cell according to claim 10 wherein said transparent front face electrode is supported on a transparent insulating substrate through which incident light may be received.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A solar cell according to claim 10 wherein said transparent front face electrode comprises tin oxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solar cell according to claim 10 wherein said layer of free metal has a thickness of from 10 to 100 angstroms.
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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) | 1989-04-21 | 1989-10-21 | 1990-04-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-04-21 | 1993-10-21 | 1994-04-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-04-21 | 1997-10-21 | 1998-04-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |