US4769086A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thin film solar cell with nickel back
Assignee: Siemens Solar Industries LP
•
Filing: 1987-01-13
•
Granted: 1988-09-06
•
Expires: 2007-01-13
Abstract
Abstract A solar module of the type having at least two series connected solar cells which each include a transparent front-face electrode, a thin film photovoltaic device, and an aluminum back contact. A nickel film is provided over the aluminum back contact to provide improved resistance to degradation.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Tanner
- 👤 Theresa L. Jester
- 👤 Ming-Jau Yin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 18:49
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/20; H10F77/206; H10F77/211; H10F19/00; H10F19/30; H10F19/31; H10F19/35; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
45 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front-face electrode, a thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer on said front-face electrode, a back face electrode comprising a layer of aluminum directly contacting said thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer, and, a layer comprising nickel on said back face electrode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
45 words
A solar cell comprising: a transparent front-face electrode, a thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer on said front-face electrode, a back face electrode comprising a layer of aluminum directly contacting said thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer, and, a layer comprising nickel on said back face electrode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 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
26 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer comprises one or more layers of amorphous hydrogenated silicon or alloys thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said back-face electrode is from about 1000 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms thick.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A solar cell according to claim 1 wherein said layer comprising nickel is from about 500 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms thick.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solar panel including at least two series connected solar cells wherein each cell includes a transparent front-face electrode, a thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer on said front-face electrode, a back electrode comprising a layer of aluminum directly contacting said thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer and a layer comprising nickel on said layer of aluminum, a portion of said back electrode of each cell overlapping a portion of the front-face electrode on an adjacent cell, and a cell interconnecting contact comprising a screen printed conductive bar positioned on that portion of each front-face electrode which is overlapped by a portion of an adjacent cell back electrode, said contact including silver.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
110 words
A solar panel including at least two series connected solar cells wherein each cell includes a transparent front-face electrode, a thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer on said front-face electrode, a back electrode comprising a layer of aluminum directly contacting said thin film photovoltaic semiconductor layer and a layer comprising nickel on said layer of aluminum, a portion of said back electrode of each cell overlapping a portion of the front-face electrode on an adjacent cell, and a cell interconnecting contact comprising a screen printed conductive bar positioned on that portion of each front-face electrode which is overlapped by a portion of an adjacent cell back electrode, said contact including silver.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A solar panel according to claim 6 wherein said back electrode aluminum layer is from about 1000 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms thick.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A solar panel according to claim 6 wherein said back electrode nickel layer is from about 500 angstroms to about 5000 angstroms thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A solar panel according to claim 6 wherein a portion of said back contact is fused by local heating with a portion of said cell interconnecting contact to form a low resistance connection between adjacent cells.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4465575A
Cited
US4527006A
Cited
US4451969A
Cited
US4542578A
Cited
JPS59194477A
Cited
US4517403A
Cited
US4675469A
Cited
US4665278A
Cited
US4584427A
Cited
US4697041A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-09-06 | 1992-03-07 | 1992-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-09-06 | 1996-03-07 | 1996-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-09-06 | 2000-03-07 | 2000-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |