摘要:
A significant improvement in the alignment of a particle-beam-generated pattern relative to a pre-existing pattern present on a substrate has been accomplished using optical measurement to register the particle beam to the pre-existing pattern. Use of a position fiducial which can be accurately measured by both an optical microscope and a particle beam axis is used to align a pre-existing pattern with a particle-beam-generated pattern during writing of the particle-beam-generated pattern. Registration of the pre-existing pattern to the fiducial and registration of the particle beam axis to the fiducial periodically during production of the particle-beam-generated pattern continually provides an improvement in the overall alignment of the pattern being created to the pre-existing pattern on the substrate. The improved method of alignment can be used to correct for drift, or thermal expansion, or gravitational sag, by way of example.
摘要:
The apparatus includes a particle beam, having an axis which functions as a primary optical axis, which particle beam is used to generate a pattern on a substrate. The apparatus also includes an optical reader, having an axis which functions as a secondary optical axis. A position fiducial is located at a stationary position relative to the substrate. Registration of a pre-existing pattern and the particle beam axis to the position fiducial periodically during production of a particle-beam-generated pattern continually provides an improvement in the overall alignment of the pattern being created with the pre-existing pattern on the substrate.
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to a system that can be used to form a photovoltaic device, or solar cell, using processing modules that are adapted to perform one or more steps in the solar cell formation process. The automated solar cell fab is generally an arrangement of automated processing modules and automation equipment that is used to form solar cell devices. The automated solar fab will thus generally comprise a substrate receiving module that is adapted to receive a substrate, one or more absorbing layer deposition cluster tools having at least one processing chamber that is adapted to deposit a silicon-containing layer on a surface of the substrate, one or more back contact deposition chambers, one or more material removal chambers, a solar cell encapsulation device, an autoclave module, an automated junction box attaching module, and one or more quality assurance modules that are adapted to test and qualify the completely formed solar cell device.
摘要:
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a solar simulator module of a solar cell production line. In one embodiment the solar simulator receives a solar cell module in a horizontal position and reorients the module into a vertical position. A light source is oriented to emit a flash of light in a substantially horizontal orientation toward the vertically oriented solar cell module. In one embodiment, an automated labeling device affixes a label including the electrical characteristics measured onto a back surface of the solar cell module. In one embodiment, a plurality of solar cell modules are received and tested simultaneously.
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to an automated solar cell electrical connection module that is positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line and is configured to ensure a robust and reliable bond is formed during the electrical connection process. The electrical connection module generally provides a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The electrical connection module further provides a thermode assembly including heating elements for forming a soldered connection between the junction box and the composite solar cell structure and a temperature sensing device in thermal communication with the heating elements for detecting a temperature profile during the connection process. The heating elements and temperature sensing device are linked to a controller configured to monitor and compare the energy input into the heating elements with the temperature near the tip of the heating elements throughout the connection process. The controller is further configured to compare the actual energy versus temperature profile to an expected profile throughout the connection process and verify whether a quality bond is achieved.
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to an edge deletion module positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line. The edge deletion module may include a grinding wheel device for removing material from edge regions of a solar cell device and cleaning the edge regions of the solar cell device after removing the material. The edge deletion module may also include an abrasive element, a portion of which is ground as it is periodically, laterally advanced toward the grinding wheel device. A controller is provided for controlling the operation and function of various facets of the module.
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to a module and process for automatically attaching a junction box to a composite solar cell structure during the fabrication of a completed solar cell device. The electrical connection module further provides a thermode assembly including heating elements for forming a soldered connection between the junction box and the composite solar cell structure and a temperature sensing device in thermal communication with the heating elements for detecting a temperature profile during the connection process. The heating elements and temperature sensing device are linked to a controller configured to monitor and compare the energy input into the heating elements with the temperature near the tip of the heating elements throughout the connection process. The controller is further configured to compare the actual energy versus temperature profile to an expected profile throughout the connection process and verify whether a quality bond is achieved.
摘要:
Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and an apparatus for processing and qualifying a formed photovoltaic device to assure that the formed photovoltaic device meets desired quality and industry electrical standards. Embodiments of the present invention may also provide a photovoltaic device, or solar cell device, production line that is adapted to form a thin film solar cell device by accepting an unprocessed substrate and performing multiple deposition, material removal, cleaning, bonding, and testing steps to form a complete functional and tested solar cell device. The solar cell device production line, or system, is generally an arrangement of processing modules and automation equipment used to form solar cell devices that are interconnected by automated material handling system. In one embodiment, the system is a fully automated solar cell production line that is designed to reduce and/or remove the need for human interaction and/or labor intensive processing steps to improve the device reliability, process repeatability, and the solar cell formation process cost of ownership (CoO).
摘要:
The present invention generally relates to an edge deletion module positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line. The edge deletion module may include a grinding wheel device for removing material from edge regions of a solar cell device and cleaning the edge regions of the solar cell device after removing the material. The edge deletion module may also include an abrasive element, a portion of which is ground as it is periodically, laterally advanced toward the grinding wheel device. A controller is provided for controlling the operation and function of various facets of the module.
摘要:
Embodiments of the present invention provide a module and process for forming electrical connections on a solar cell substrate in a solar cell production line. The module generally provides a substrate handling system, a substrate positioning system, a cross-buss attachment assembly, and a side-buss attachment assembly. The module may provide adaptations for automatically adjusting the module to receive and process various sizes of solar cell substrates.