US4590327A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photovoltaic device and method
Assignee: United Solar Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1984-09-24
•
Granted: 1986-05-20
•
Expires: 2004-09-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an improved photovoltaic device design and method. The design is especially useful for large area photovoltaic devices and includes a first electrode, a semiconductor body over the first electrode, a transparent electrically conductive layer over the semiconductor body and a bus grid structure in electrical contact with the conductor layer for collecting and carrying current generated by the photovoltaic device. Structure is provided for reducing the degrading effect of a low resistance current path or short in the semiconductor body. The structure for reducing the degrading effect of a low resistance current path can be a specifically designed transparent electrically conductive layer, electrical isolation of the current carrying portions of the bus grid structure from the conductive layer, resistive connections of the current collecting fingers to the remainder of the bus grid structure, a buffered bus grid structure or a fuse-type connection or the grid or current collecting fingers which terminates when the current reaches a predetermined amount. Methods of fabricating photovoltaic devices as disclosed herein are provided.
Inventors
- 👤 Prem Nath
- 👤 Timothy J. Barnard
- 👤 Dominic Crea
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 22:45
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; H10F10/172; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F77/215; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/548
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 112
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited upon said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body for facilitating collection of electrical current produced by the photovoltaic device; and a bus-grid structure, in contact with said conductive layer, said bus-grid structure comprising a current collecting portion comprising grid fingers and a current carrying portion comprising a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said current collecting portion, the entirety of said current carrying portion which overlies the semiconductor body being electrically insulated from said semiconductor body by a layer of solid material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited upon said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body for facilitating collection of electrical current produced by the photovoltaic device; and a bus-grid structure, in contact with said conductive layer, said bus-grid structure comprising a current collecting portion comprising grid fingers and a current carrying portion comprising a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said current collecting portion, the entirety of said current carrying portion which overlies the semiconductor body being electrically insulated from said semiconductor body by a layer of solid material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 where said semiconductor body includes at least one triad of layers, said at least one triad of layers comprising a p-conductivity layer, an intrinsic layer, and an n-conductivity layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 3 wherein said at least one triad of layers comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein the device is approximately one hundred square centimeters or more in area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said busbar structure is electrically insulated from said semiconductor body by providing a layer of insulating material between said busbar structure and said semiconductor body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 6 wherein said insulating layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymer material, insulating oxides, insulating organic material, and insulating carbides.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 6 wherein the insulating layer is substantially transparent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent conductive layer is substantially continuous.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said transparent conductive layer is discontinuous.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a back reflector layer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said bus grid structure comprises an array of buffered grid fingers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said bus grid structure comprises silver.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said conductive layer has a sheet resistance of at least about 300 ohms/square.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 14 wherein said conductive layer has a sheet resistance of about 1,000 ohms/square.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
120 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said bus grid structure comprises a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically resistively connected to said busbar structure to reduce the current carrying capability between each of said grid fingers and said busbar structure so that the amount of current which can be carried between any of said grid fingers and said busbar structure is limited, for each grid finger, to about five times or less than the maximum amount of current which can be produced by the area of the solar cell from which that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 16 wherein said resistive connection comprises ink having a desired resistivity.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by screen printing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by electroplating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device is recited in claim 1 where at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by vacuum deposition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said bus grid structure comprises grid fingers arrayed in a buffered pattern and a busbar structure, said grid fingers being electrically connected to said busbar structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 21 where of said grid fingers are of about the same length to length resistance.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
121 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body over said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body, said conductive layer having a relatively high sheet resistance for reducing the current sinking effect caused by a low resistance current path in the photovoltaic device, said resistance being at least about 300 ohms/square; and, a bus-grid structure, in contact with said conductive layer, said bus-grid structure comprising a current collection portion comprising grid fingers and a current carrying portion comprising a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said current collecting portion, the entirety of said current carrying portion which overlies the semiconductor body being electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
121 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body over said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body, said conductive layer having a relatively high sheet resistance for reducing the current sinking effect caused by a low resistance current path in the photovoltaic device, said resistance being at least about 300 ohms/square; and, a bus-grid structure, in contact with said conductive layer, said bus-grid structure comprising a current collection portion comprising grid fingers and a current carrying portion comprising a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said current collecting portion, the entirety of said current carrying portion which overlies the semiconductor body being electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said transparent conductive layer comprises oxide material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 24 wherein said oxide material is selected from the group consisting of indium oxide, zinc oxide, and tin oxide.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said transparent conductive layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and noble metals.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said semiconductor body includes at least one triad of layers, said at least one triad of layers comprising a p-conductivity layer, an intrinsic layer, and an n-conductivity layer.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 27 wherein said at least one triad of layers comprise amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein the solar cell is approximately one hundred square centimeters or more in area.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 29 wherein said busbar structure is insulated from said semiconductor body with insulating material between said busbar structure and said semiconductor body.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 30 wherein said insulating layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of natural and synthetic polymer material, insulating oxides, insulating organic material, and insulating carbides.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 30 wherein said insulating layer is substantially transparent.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
139 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 29 where said bus grid structure is in electrical contact with said transparent conductive layer and said bus grid structure includes a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically resistively connected to said busbar structure to reduce the current carrying capability between each of said grid fingers and said busbar structure so that the amount of current which can be carried between any of said grid fingers and said busbar structure is limited for each grid finger to an amount of current which is about five times or less than the maximum amount of current which can be produced by the area of photovoltaic device from which that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 33 wherein said resistive connections comprise ink having a desired resistance.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 34 wherein said resistive connections are formed by screen printing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said transparent conductive layer is substantially continuous.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said transparent conductive layer is discontinuous.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 further comprising a back reflector layer.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 23 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
158 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited on said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; a bus grid structure in electrical contact with said conductive layer, said bus grid structure including a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically resistively connected to said busbar structure to reduce the current carrying capability of each of said grid fingers between said busbar structure so that the amount of current which can be carried between any of said grid fingers and said busbar structure is limited for each grid finger to an amount of current which is about five times or less than the maximum amount of current which can be produced by the area of the photovoltaic device from which current that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
158 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited on said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; a bus grid structure in electrical contact with said conductive layer, said bus grid structure including a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically resistively connected to said busbar structure to reduce the current carrying capability of each of said grid fingers between said busbar structure so that the amount of current which can be carried between any of said grid fingers and said busbar structure is limited for each grid finger to an amount of current which is about five times or less than the maximum amount of current which can be produced by the area of the photovoltaic device from which current that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said semiconductor body includes at least one triad of layers, said at least one triad of layers comprising a p-conductivity layer, an intrinsic layer, and an n-conductivity layer.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 41 wherein said at least one triad of layers comprise amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said transparent conductive layer is substantially discontinuous.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said transparent conductive layer is discontinuous.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 furthre comprising a back reflector layer between said electrically conductive substrate layer and said semiconductor body.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said resistive connections comprise ink having a desired resistance.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by screen printing.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by electroplating.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by vacuum deposition.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by sputtering.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
44 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said transparent conductive layer has a relatively high sheet resistance for reducing the current sinking caused by any shorts in the photovoltaic device, the resistivity of said conductive layer being at least about 300 ohms/square.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 51 wherein the resistance of said transparent conductive layer is about 1,000 ohms/square.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 51 wherein said transparent comprises oxide material.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 51 wherein said transparent conductive layer comprises material selected from the group consisting of aluminum and noble metals.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 40 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited over said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body for facilitating collection of electrical current produced by the solar cell; a bus grid structure, in contact with said transparent conductive layer, said bus grid structure having a plurality of grid fingers arrayed in a buffered pattern and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically connected to said busbar structure whereby the current carrying capability of said grid fingers to said busbar structure is limited for each particular grid finger to an amount of current which is about five times or less than the amount of current which is produced by the area of the photovoltaic device for which that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
146 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited over said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body for facilitating collection of electrical current produced by the solar cell; a bus grid structure, in contact with said transparent conductive layer, said bus grid structure having a plurality of grid fingers arrayed in a buffered pattern and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically connected to said busbar structure whereby the current carrying capability of said grid fingers to said busbar structure is limited for each particular grid finger to an amount of current which is about five times or less than the amount of current which is produced by the area of the photovoltaic device for which that particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said buffered pattern comprises unbranched grid fingers of varying length, each of said grid fingers having about the same end-to-end resistance.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
30 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 57 wherein the desired end-to-end resistance of the grid fingers is provided by controlling the cross-sectional area of each of said grid fingers.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said semiconductor body includes at least one triad of layers, said at least one triad of layers comprising a p-conductivity layer, an intrinsic layer, and an n-conductivity layer.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 59 wherein said at least one triad of layers comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said transparent conductive layer is substantially continuous.
Claim 67
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said transparent conductive layer is discontinuous.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
51 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said transparent conductive layer has a relatively high sheet resistance through said transparent conductive layer for reducing the current sinking caused by a short in the solar cell, the sheet resistance of said transparent conductive layer being at least about 300 ohms/square.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 64 wherein said transparent conductive layer has a resistance through said layer of about 1,000 ohms square.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein said resistive connections comprise ink having a desired resistance.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
21 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is screen printing.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by electroplating.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 56 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by vacuum deposition.
Claim 74
Dependent Claim
129 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited on said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; a bus-grid structure in electrical contact with said transparent conductive layer, said bus-grid structure including a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically connected to said busbar structure with a separate destructible connection such that if the amount of current carried between a grid finger and the busbar structure is about five times the maximum amount of current produced by the photovoltaic device which can be collected relative to each grid finger, its destructible connection to the busbar structure terminates.
Claim 75
Dependent Claim
129 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: an electrically conductive substrate layer; a semiconductor body deposited on said substrate layer; a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; a bus-grid structure in electrical contact with said transparent conductive layer, said bus-grid structure including a plurality of grid fingers for collecting current and a busbar structure for carrying current collected by said grid fingers, each of said grid fingers being electrically connected to said busbar structure with a separate destructible connection such that if the amount of current carried between a grid finger and the busbar structure is about five times the maximum amount of current produced by the photovoltaic device which can be collected relative to each grid finger, its destructible connection to the busbar structure terminates.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said destructible connection comprises fusible material.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 71 wherein said fusible material comprises fusible metal.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 72 wherein said fusible metal is selected from the group consisting of tin, lead, bismuth, and alloys thereof.
Claim 79
Dependent Claim
37 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said semiconductor body includes at least one triad of layers, said at least one triad of layers comprising a p-conductivity layer, an intrinsic layer and an n-conductivity layer.
Claim 80
Dependent Claim
20 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 74 wherein said at least one triad of layers comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 81
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 82
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said transparent conductive layer is substantially continuous.
Claim 83
Dependent Claim
46 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 77 wherein said continuous transparent conductive layer has a relatively high sheet resistance for reducing the current sinking caused by any shorts in the photovoltaic device, the resistance of said transparent conductive layer being at least about 300 ohms/square.
Claim 84
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 78 said transparent layer has a resistance of about 1,000 ohms/square.
Claim 85
Dependent Claim
31 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 78 wherein said transparent conductive layer comprises oxide material, or ultra thin metal films selected from the group consisting of aluminum and noble metals.
Claim 86
Dependent Claim
15 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said transparent conductive layer is discontinuous.
Claim 87
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 further comprising a back reflector layer between said electrically conductive substrate layer and said semiconductor body.
Claim 88
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said bus grid structure comprises buffered bus grid fingers.
Claim 89
Dependent Claim
16 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein said destructible connections are formed by sputtering.
Claim 90
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by screen printing.
Claim 91
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein at least a portion of said bus grid structure is formed by electroplating.
Claim 92
Dependent Claim
23 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 20 wherein at least a portion of said bas grid structure is formed by vacuum deposition.
Claim 93
Dependent Claim
25 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 wherein the current carrying portions of said bus grid structure are electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 94
Dependent Claim
47 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 88 wherein a layer of electrically insulating material is provided between said current carrying portions of said bus grid structure and said semiconductor body for electrically insulating the current carrying portions of said bus grid structure from said semiconductor body.
Claim 95
Dependent Claim
17 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 89 wherein said layer of insulating material is substantially transparent.
Claim 96
Dependent Claim
24 words
A photovoltaic device as recited in claim 70 further comprising a back reflector layer between said electrically conductive substrate layer and said semiconductor body.
Claim 97
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device that includes a bus-grid structure wherein the bus-grid structure comprises a current collecting portion including a plurality of grid fingers and a current carrying portion for carrying current collected by the grid fingers, comprising: depositing a semiconductor body over an electrically conductive substrate; depositing a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; depositing insulating material to form an insulating layer upon said semiconductor body in a pattern and location corresponding to the entirety of the areas in which the current carrying portion of said bus-grid structure is to be deposited; and thereafter depositing the current carrying portion of said bus-grid structure so that the current carrying portion is electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 98
Independent Claim
126 words
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device that includes a bus-grid structure wherein the bus-grid structure comprises a current collecting portion including a plurality of grid fingers and a current carrying portion for carrying current collected by the grid fingers, comprising: depositing a semiconductor body over an electrically conductive substrate; depositing a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; depositing insulating material to form an insulating layer upon said semiconductor body in a pattern and location corresponding to the entirety of the areas in which the current carrying portion of said bus-grid structure is to be deposited; and thereafter depositing the current carrying portion of said bus-grid structure so that the current carrying portion is electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 99
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as recited in claim 92 further comprising depositing the current collection portion of said bus-grid structure in electrical contact with said conductive layer.
Claim 100
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 92 wherein said conductive layer is deposited prior to depositing said insulating material.
Claim 101
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 92 wherein said insulating layer is substantially transparent.
Claim 102
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 95 wherein said insulating layer covers an area of the photovoltaic device slightly larger than the area of the photovoltaic device covered by the current carrying portion of said bus grid structure.
Claim 103
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 92 wherein the photovoltaic device has an area of about one hundred square centimeters or more.
Claim 104
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 92 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 105
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 92 wherein the said transparent conductive layer has a sheet resistance of at least about 300 ohms/square.
Claim 106
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic device that includes a bus grid structure wherein the bus grid comprises a current collecting portion including a plurality of grid fingers and a current carrying portion for carrying current collected by the grid fingers comprising: depositing a semiconductor body over an electrically conductive substrate; depositing a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; and thereafter depositing the current collecting and current carrying portions of said bus grid structure, including said grid fingers, so that the current collecting portion is in electrical contact with said conductive layer, and wherein said grid fingers are electrically resistively connected to said current carrying portion so that the current carrying capability of each of said grid fingers between said current carrying portion is about five times or less than the amount of current which is produced by the area of the photovoltaic device for which a particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 107
Independent Claim
158 words
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic device that includes a bus grid structure wherein the bus grid comprises a current collecting portion including a plurality of grid fingers and a current carrying portion for carrying current collected by the grid fingers comprising: depositing a semiconductor body over an electrically conductive substrate; depositing a transparent conductive layer over at least a portion of said semiconductor body; and thereafter depositing the current collecting and current carrying portions of said bus grid structure, including said grid fingers, so that the current collecting portion is in electrical contact with said conductive layer, and wherein said grid fingers are electrically resistively connected to said current carrying portion so that the current carrying capability of each of said grid fingers between said current carrying portion is about five times or less than the amount of current which is produced by the area of the photovoltaic device for which a particular grid finger collects current.
Claim 108
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 100 wherein the photovoltaic device has an area of about one hundred square centimeters or more.
Claim 109
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as recited in claim 100 wherein said semiconductor body comprises amorphous semiconductor material.
Claim 110
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as recited in claim 100 further comprising depositing insulating material to form an insulating layer in a pattern and location corresponding to the areas in which the current carrying portion of said bus grid structure is to be deposited wherein the current carrying portion of said bus grid structure is deposited over said insulating layer so that the current carrying portion is electrically insulated from said semiconductor body.
Claim 111
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as recited in claim 103 wherein said insulating layer is substantially transparent.
Claim 112
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method as recited in claim 104 wherein said insulating layer covers an area of the photovoltaic device slightly larger than the area of the photovoltaic device covered by the current carrying portion of said bus grid structure.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-19 | 1989-11-18 | 1990-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-19 | 1993-11-18 | 1994-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-19 | 1997-11-18 | 1998-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |