US4940495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photovoltaic device having light transmitting electrically conductive stacked films
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1988-12-07
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Granted: 1990-07-10
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Expires: 2008-12-07
Abstract
Abstract A light transmitting electrically conductive stacked film, useful as a light transmitting electrode, including a first light transmitting electrically conductive layer, having a first optical thickness, a second light transmitting layer, having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer, and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in initimate contact with the first and second layers.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Weber
- 👤 Nang T. Tran
- 👤 Frank R. Jeffrey
- 👤 James R. Gilbert
- 👤 Frank E. Aspen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 11:50
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; H10F77/315; H10F77/10; H10F77/16; H10F77/169; H10F77/1692; H10F77/20; H10F77/244; H10F77/247; H10F77/251; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/12; Y10T428/12493; Y10T428/12535; Y10T428/12542; Y10T428/12611; Y10T428/12618
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
75 words
A light transmitting, electrically conductive stacked film deposited on a semiconductor, useful as a light transmitting electrode, comprising: a first light transmitting, electrically conductive layer in conductive contact with the semiconductor, having a first optical thickness; a second light transmitting layer having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in intimate contact with the first and second light transmitting layers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
75 words
A light transmitting, electrically conductive stacked film deposited on a semiconductor, useful as a light transmitting electrode, comprising: a first light transmitting, electrically conductive layer in conductive contact with the semiconductor, having a first optical thickness; a second light transmitting layer having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in intimate contact with the first and second light transmitting layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the resistivity of the film is less than 15 ohms per square.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the absorption loss of incident light is not more than 10%.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the metal layer is chosen from the group consisting of: silver, aluminum, gold and copper.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
10 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the metal is silver.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein the first and second light transmitting layers each have a refractive index from 1.8 to 2.4.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
The invention of claim 1, wherein each of the light transmitting layers are formed of metal oxides chosen from the group consisting of: ZnO optionally doped with hydrogen, Al, In, Ga, or B; SnO 2 doped with F or Sb; ITO; Cd SnO 4 ; TiO 2 doped with F; and SrTiO 2 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first light transmitting layer is deposited on amorphous silicon.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The invention of claim 1, further comprising an encapsulant in contact with the second light transmitting layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The invention of claim 9, wherein the encapsulant has a refractive index of approximately 1.5.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first light transmitting layer has an optical thickness of from approximately 180 nm to approximately 230 nm and the second light transmitting layer has an optical thickness of from approximately 20 nm to approximately 100 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The invention of claim 1 wherein the first light transmitting layer has an optical thickness of about 100 nm and the second light transmitting layer has an optical thickness of about 40 nm.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
109 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a semiconductor layer having a first side and a second side; a first electrode in electrical contact with the second side of the semiconductor layer; and a light transmitting top electrode contacting the first side of the semiconductor layer and including a first light transmitting electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the first side of the semiconductor layer, the first layer having a first optical thickness, and a second light transmitting layer, having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in electrical contact with the first and second layers.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
109 words
A photovoltaic device comprising: a semiconductor layer having a first side and a second side; a first electrode in electrical contact with the second side of the semiconductor layer; and a light transmitting top electrode contacting the first side of the semiconductor layer and including a first light transmitting electrically conductive layer in electrical contact with the first side of the semiconductor layer, the first layer having a first optical thickness, and a second light transmitting layer, having a second optical thickness different from the optical thickness of the first layer; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between and in electrical contact with the first and second layers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
The photovoltaic device of claim 13 further comprising an encapsulant layer covering the top electrode wherein the encapsulant layer has an index of refraction of from approximately 1.0 to approximately 2.0.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
134 words
A light transmitting conducting stacked film disposed on an amorphous silicon layer comprising: a first layer of light transmitting, electrically conducting material being disposed adjacent the amorphous silicon layer and being compatible with amorphous silicon and having an index of refraction from about 1.8 to about 2.4, the first layer being about 90 to about 115 nm thick and having an optical thickness of about 180 to about 230 nm; a second layer of light transmitting material, different from the material of the first layer, having an index of refraction from about 1.8 to about 2.4, the second layer being about 10 to about 50 nm thick; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between an intimate contact with the first and second light transmitting layers, the metallic layer being about 10 nm thick.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
134 words
A light transmitting conducting stacked film disposed on an amorphous silicon layer comprising: a first layer of light transmitting, electrically conducting material being disposed adjacent the amorphous silicon layer and being compatible with amorphous silicon and having an index of refraction from about 1.8 to about 2.4, the first layer being about 90 to about 115 nm thick and having an optical thickness of about 180 to about 230 nm; a second layer of light transmitting material, different from the material of the first layer, having an index of refraction from about 1.8 to about 2.4, the second layer being about 10 to about 50 nm thick; and an electrically conductive metallic layer interposed between an intimate contact with the first and second light transmitting layers, the metallic layer being about 10 nm thick.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The invention of claim 15, wherein the metallic layer is silver.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The invention of claim 15, wherein the first and second layers are light transmitting conductive oxides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The invention of claim 15, wherein the first layer is zinc oxide and the second layer is indium tin oxide.
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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) | 1993-07-09 | 1994-01-08 | 1994-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-07-09 | 1998-01-08 | 1998-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-07-09 | 2002-01-08 | 2002-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |