US4638111A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin film solar cell module
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
•
Filing: 1985-06-04
•
Granted: 1987-01-20
•
Expires: 2005-06-04
Abstract
Abstract A solar cell module contains a thin film silicon (TFS) semiconductor panel positioned above a copper indium dieselenide (CIS) semiconductor panel. The combination of the TFS panel and the CIS panel is effective to utilize a substantial proportion of the light energy of the solar spectrum.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert R. Gay
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:05
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F71/00; H10F71/138; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; H10F19/35; H10F19/40; H10F77/00; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1694; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/541
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A thin film solar cell module comprising a first solar cell panel containing an array of solar cells consisting of a TFS semiconductor sandwiched between a transparent conductive zinc oxide layer and a transparent conductive layer selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, indium tin oxide, and zinc oxide deposited upon a transparent superstrate, and a second solar cell panel containing an array of solar cells consisting of a CIS semiconductor layer sandwiched between a zinc oxide semiconductor layer and a conductive metal layer deposited upon an insulating substrate, said zinc oxide semiconductor layer containing a first relatively thin layer of high resistivity zinc oxide adjacent said CIS semiconductor and a second relatively thick layer of low resistivity zinc oxide overlying said high resistivity zinc oxide layer, said transparent conductive zinc oxide layer of said first panel facing said low resistivity zinc oxide layer of said second panel, said first and second panels being positioned optically in series and separated by a transparent insulating layer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A thin film solar cell module comprising a first solar cell panel containing an array of solar cells consisting of a TFS semiconductor sandwiched between a transparent conductive zinc oxide layer and a transparent conductive layer selected from the group consisting of tin oxide, indium tin oxide, and zinc oxide deposited upon a transparent superstrate, and a second solar cell panel containing an array of solar cells consisting of a CIS semiconductor layer sandwiched between a zinc oxide semiconductor layer and a conductive metal layer deposited upon an insulating substrate, said zinc oxide semiconductor layer containing a first relatively thin layer of high resistivity zinc oxide adjacent said CIS semiconductor and a second relatively thick layer of low resistivity zinc oxide overlying said high resistivity zinc oxide layer, said transparent conductive zinc oxide layer of said first panel facing said low resistivity zinc oxide layer of said second panel, said first and second panels being positioned optically in series and separated by a transparent insulating layer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said TFS semiconductor is a P-I-N type semiconductor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said TFS semiconductor is a P-I-N-P-I-N type semiconductor stack.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 where in said transparent conductive zinc oxide layer of said first solar cell panel is a zinc oxide layer deposited upon said TFS semiconductor by chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said transparent conductive zinc oxide layer of said first solar cell panel has a resistivity in the range of about 10 -4 to 10 -2 ohm-centimeter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein: said CIS semiconductor layer is deposited upon said conductive metal layer by sputtering copper and indium thereon and selenizing the resulting copper and indium containing layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said conductive metal layer contains chromium and molybdenum sub-layers, said chromium sublayer being deposited upon said insulating substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said zinc oxide semiconductor layers of said second solar cell panel are deposited upon said CIS semiconductor by chemical vapor deposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said high resistivity zinc oxide layer has a thickness of about 100 to 2,000 angstroms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said high resistivity zinc oxide layer has a resistivity of about 0.1 to 0.2 ohm-centimeter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said low resistivity zinc oxide layer has a thickness of about 5,000 to 20,000 angstroms.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said low resistivity zinc oxide layer has a resistivity of about 1×10 -3 to 2×10 -3 ohm-centimeter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said transparent insulating layer is air.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thin film solar cell module according to claim 1 wherein said transparent insulating layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicone, polyvinyl butyral, and ethylene vinyl acetate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4295002A
Cited
US4461922A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-01-19 | 1990-07-21 | 1991-01-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-01-19 | 1994-07-21 | 1995-01-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-01-19 | 1998-07-21 | 1999-01-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |