公开(公告)号：US09793421B2

公开(公告)日：2017-10-17

申请号：US14960328

申请日：2015-12-04

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Jiunn Benjamin Heng ,  Bobby Yang ,  Peter P. Nguyen ,  Christoph Erben

IPC: B23P19/04 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/05 ,  H01L31/0443 ,  H01L31/049 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H02S20/25 ,  H02S50/10

CPC classification number: H01L31/022433 ,  B23P19/04 ,  H01L31/0443 ,  H01L31/049 ,  H01L31/0504 ,  H01L31/0516 ,  H01L31/1876 ,  H01L31/188 ,  H02S20/25 ,  H02S50/10 ,  Y02B10/12 ,  Y02E10/50

Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing solar panels are disclosed. Solar cells are placed on a conveyor that transports the cells from a start point to an end point. A laser scribing module scribes the cells at a predetermined depth. A paste dispensing module deposits a predetermined amount of conductive paste on the surface of the solar cells. A cleaving apparatus divides the cells into smaller strips. A shingling module creates a string of cells by overlapping the strips. A targeted annealing module cures the paste, and a layup module places the strings on a backsheet. A glass cover is then added to one side of the strings.

公开(公告)号：US20170288084A1

公开(公告)日：2017-10-05

申请号：US15627312

申请日：2017-06-19

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Bobby Yang

IPC: H01L31/18

Abstract: A cleaving system and method are described. The system can include a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform. The system can further include a contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate it into a plurality of strips. During operation, the system can activate an actuator to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips.

公开(公告)号：US20170170356A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-15

申请号：US14985294

申请日：2015-12-30

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez

IPC: H01L31/18 ,  H01L21/687 ,  H01L21/677

CPC classification number: H01L31/18 ,  H01L21/67201 ,  H01L21/67303 ,  H01L21/67309 ,  H01L21/67313 ,  H01L21/67373 ,  H01L21/67379 ,  H01L21/67386 ,  H01L21/67393 ,  H01L21/6773 ,  H01L21/67757 ,  H01L21/67766 ,  H01L21/67772 ,  H01L21/67778 ,  H01L21/68707

Abstract: Systems and methods for transferring solar cells while maintaining a controlled micro-environment are provided. In particular, such systems provide automated loading and unloading of solar cells by use of a conveyor and elevator within a tank receptacle sealingly connected with a solar cell carrying pods and a flow tube of solar cell components in a solar cell fabrication process. The tank receptacle can include one or more ports for sealingly and operably coupling with a cover of a solar cell carrying pod, each port having an elevator for withdrawing a removable base of the pod along with a solar cell carrying cassette into the tank and a conveyor to facilitate loading and/or unloading of solar cells with the cassette by coordinated movement of the elevator and conveyor. Such systems can further include a robotic arm having a gripper and nozzle to maintain a micro-environment within the pod during transport.

公开(公告)号：US09590132B2

公开(公告)日：2017-03-07

申请号：US14866776

申请日：2015-09-25

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Bobby Yang

IPC: B25B11/00 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/05

CPC classification number: H01L31/188 ,  H01L31/0201 ,  H01L31/0504 ,  Y02E10/50

Abstract: A string-forming system is described. The string-forming system may include at least a first cell-lifting mechanism and a second cell-lifting mechanism that can automatically arrange a set of strips of a photovoltaic structure into a cascaded formation. During operation, a controller can cause the first cell-lifting mechanism to lift a first strip from a first platform, and can cause the second cell-lifting mechanism to lift, from the first platform, a second strip that may follow the first strip on the first platform. The controller may then activate a first shifting actuator of the first cell-lifting mechanism or a second shifting actuator of the second cell-lifting mechanism to place a leading edge of the second strip above a trailing edge of the first strip.

Abstract translation: 描述了弦形成系统。 弦线形成系统可以包括至少第一电池提升机构和第二电池提升机构，其可以将一组光伏结构的条带自动地布置成级联地层。 在操作期间，控制器可以使第一电池提升机构从第一平台抬起第一条带，并且可以使第二电池提升机构从第一平台升起第二条带，其可以跟随第一条带 第一个平台。 然后，控制器可以激活第一电池提升机构的第一移动致动器或第二电池提升机构的第二移动致动器，以将第二条带的前缘放置在第一条带的后缘上方。

公开(公告)号：US10301740B2

公开(公告)日：2019-05-28

申请号：US14983301

申请日：2015-12-29

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Ming-Du Kang

IPC: C25D17/06 ,  C25D7/12 ,  H01L31/0224 ,  H01L31/18 ,  C25D17/00 ,  C25D17/08 ,  H01L21/288 ,  C25D5/02

Abstract: A two piece electroplating frame or electroplating frame is disclosed that is suitable for holding multiple solar cells during an electroplating operation. The electroplating frame can be formed from or at least covered with non-conductive material to reduce the collection of plating material on the electroplating frame. The two pieces of the electroplating frame can be coupled together around the solar cells by magnets distributed throughout the electroplating frame. The electroplating frame can include alignment features for self-aligning the assembly of the two pieces without requiring precise pre-alignment.

公开(公告)号：US10230017B2

公开(公告)日：2019-03-12

申请号：US15451326

申请日：2017-03-06

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Bobby Yang

IPC: B23Q3/00 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L31/05 ,  H01L31/02

Abstract: A string-forming system is described. The string-forming system may include at least a first cell-lifting mechanism and a second cell-lifting mechanism that can automatically arrange a set of strips of a photovoltaic structure into a cascaded formation. During operation, a controller can cause the first cell-lifting mechanism to lift a first strip from a first platform, and can cause the second cell-lifting mechanism to lift, from the first platform, a second strip that may follow the first strip on the first platform. The controller may then activate a first shifting actuator of the first cell-lifting mechanism or a second shifting actuator of the second cell-lifting mechanism to place a leading edge of the second strip above a trailing edge of the first strip.

公开(公告)号：US10056522B2

公开(公告)日：2018-08-21

申请号：US14930616

申请日：2015-11-02

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez

IPC: B23P19/00 ,  H01L31/18

CPC classification number: H01L31/1876 ,  H01L31/188 ,  Y02E10/50 ,  Y10T29/53174

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for attaching conductive tabs to photovoltaic structures. The apparatus includes a cassette configured to store a plurality of conductive tabs and a pick-and-place apparatus configured to obtain a conductive tab from the cassette and place the conductive tab at an edge of a photovoltaic structure. The pick-and-place apparatus further includes a tab holder configured to pick up and release the conductive tab and a substantially horizontal track coupled to the tab holder. The tab holder is further configured to move back and forth along the track.

公开(公告)号：US20170182521A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-29

申请号：US14983316

申请日：2015-12-29

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Ben Chung ,  Pablo Gonzalez

IPC: B08B3/02 ,  H01L21/67 ,  H01L31/18 ,  H01L21/677 ,  B65G13/02 ,  B65G39/08

CPC classification number: B08B3/022 ,  B65G13/02 ,  B65G39/08 ,  H01L21/67051 ,  H01L21/67706 ,  H01L21/67709 ,  H01L31/1876

Abstract: A system for processing solar cells is disclosed which includes a separation module for separating a processing frame from solar cells that are fed along a conveyance line. The processing frame can be separated without requiring manual lifting of the processing frame by feeding the processing frame and solar cells into a magnetic roller system. The magnetic roller system can gradually lift the processing frame away from the solar cells and divert the processing frame to a separate roller system. The solar cells can remain on the main conveyance line for further processing.

公开(公告)号：US09685579B2

公开(公告)日：2017-06-20

申请号：US14826129

申请日：2015-08-13

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Bobby Yang

IPC: B32B38/10 ,  H01L31/18 ,  B28D5/00 ,  H01L21/304 ,  H01L21/683 ,  B32B43/00 ,  H01L21/687

CPC classification number: H01L31/18 ,  B28D5/0052 ,  B28D5/0094 ,  B32B38/10 ,  B32B43/006 ,  H01L21/3043 ,  H01L21/683 ,  H01L21/6838 ,  H01L21/68735 ,  H01L21/68778 ,  Y10T156/1179 ,  Y10T156/1184 ,  Y10T156/1967 ,  Y10T156/1983

Abstract: A cleaving system is described. The system can include a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform. The system can further include a contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate it into a plurality of strips. During operation, the system can activate an actuator to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips.

公开(公告)号：US20170170348A1

公开(公告)日：2017-06-15

申请号：US14977523

申请日：2015-12-21

Applicant: SolarCity Corporation

Inventor： Pablo Gonzalez ,  Rey Ilagan

IPC: H01L31/0463

Abstract: A targeted-annealing system can automatically cure a conductive paste that may bind cascaded strips of a string together without damaging the strips. The targeted-annealing system can process strings of cascaded strips on a supporting surface, and can anneal conductive paste between overlapping strips by blowing heated air on the overlapping sections of the strips. An air nozzle shaped to target the overlapping sections may provide the heated air. The supporting surface may include a porous material that allows a vacuum to pull on the cascaded strips from below the surface during the annealing process.