Patent US2497570A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4726850A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4726850A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Buried contact solar cell
Assignee: Unisearch Ltd
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Filing: 1987-04-07
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Granted: 1988-02-23
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Expires: 2007-04-07
Abstract
Abstract An electrical contact formed in a groove in the surface of a semiconductor material facilitates an advantageous contact with the material for a given cross-sectional area of contact when compared with a contact of the same cross-sectional area formed on the surface of the material. The grooved contact significantly reduces shading of the surface of the semiconductor material compared with an equivalent surface contact.
Inventors
- 👤 Stuart R. Wenham
- 👤 Martin A. Green
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:37
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/93; H10F77/933; H10F77/935; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/547
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
A solar cell comprising a body of semiconductor material with electrical contacts formed by conducting material arranged in a pattern in one or more grooves formed in the light incident surface of said semiconductor material, wherein each said groove extends a distance into said semiconductor material greater than the average width of each respective groove to substantially reduce the series resistance of the conducting material in each groove while reducing the area of inactive cell surface, and wherein the location and shape of said conducting material is defined by the location and shape of each said groove, and further wherein said conducting material is confined to and substantially fills each said groove, said conducting material being in intimate contact with the walls of each respective groove to reduce the contact resistance between said conducting material and said semiconductor material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
A solar cell comprising a body of semiconductor material with electrical contacts formed by conducting material arranged in a pattern in one or more grooves formed in the light incident surface of said semiconductor material, wherein each said groove extends a distance into said semiconductor material greater than the average width of each respective groove to substantially reduce the series resistance of the conducting material in each groove while reducing the area of inactive cell surface, and wherein the location and shape of said conducting material is defined by the location and shape of each said groove, and further wherein said conducting material is confined to and substantially fills each said groove, said conducting material being in intimate contact with the walls of each respective groove to reduce the contact resistance between said conducting material and said semiconductor material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of the width to the depth of each said groove lies in the range of 1:2 to 1:7.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transverse cross-section of said groove is U-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transverse cross-section of said groove is V-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pattern of the conducting material is determined by a plurality of said grooves formed in the surface of the cell prior to formation of the contacts.
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) | 1991-02-22 | 1991-08-24 | 1992-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-02-22 | 1995-08-24 | 1996-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-02-22 | 1999-08-24 | 2000-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |