Abstract:
Described herein are methods of fabricating solar cells. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an amorphous dielectric layer on the back surface of a substrate opposite a light-receiving surface of the substrate. The method also includes forming a microcrystalline silicon layer on the amorphous dielectric layer by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The method also includes forming an amorphous silicon layer on the microcrystalline silicon layer by PECVD. The method also includes annealing the microcrystalline silicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer to form a homogeneous polycrystalline silicon layer from the microcrystalline silicon layer and the amorphous silicon layer. The method also includes forming an emitter region from the homogeneous polycrystalline silicon layer.
Abstract:
Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.
Abstract:
A solar cell structure includes a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. A damage buffer can be disposed above the semiconductor region. First and second conductive layers can be bonded together at a location above the damage buffer.
Abstract:
Systems, apparatuses, and methods for dispatching maximum available capacity for photovoltaic (PV) power plants are described. For an embodiment, a PV panel assembly comprises a first PV panel configured to generate direct current (DC) power and an inverter molecule coupled to the first PV panel. The inverter molecule is configured to convert the DC power generated by the first PV panel into alternating current (AC) power. Moreover, the inverter molecule includes a monitoring device configured to monitor a condition of the first PV panel. The monitored condition of the first PV panel is converted into electronic data for generating or creating a first adaptive PV panel model for the first PV panel. Information derived from the first adaptive PV panel model can be communicated to a third party, such as an electric utility company or an Independent System Operator (ISO).
Abstract:
Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions with differentiated P-type and N-type architectures and incorporating dotted diffusion, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate having a light-receiving surface and a back surface. A first polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a first conductivity type is disposed on a first thin dielectric layer disposed on the back surface of the substrate. A second polycrystalline silicon emitter region of a second, different, conductivity type is disposed on a second thin dielectric layer disposed in a plurality of non-continuous trenches in the back surface of the substrate.
Abstract:
A photovoltaic (PV) system can include strings of PV collection devices. A positive parallel bus can be coupled to positive terminals of first and second strings and a negative parallel bus can be coupled to negative terminals of first and second strings.
Abstract:
Preprocessing of the light field input data for full parallax compressed light field 3D display systems is described. The described light field input data preprocessing can be utilized to format or extract information from input data, which can then be used by the light field compression system to further enhance the compression performance, reduce processing requirements, achieve real-time performance and reduce power consumption. This light field input data preprocessing performs a high-level 3D scene analysis and extracts data properties to be used by the light field compression system at different stages. As a result, rendering of redundant data is avoided while at the same rendering quality is improved.
Abstract:
A solar cell can include a built-in bypass diode. In one embodiment, the solar cell can include an active region disposed in or above a first portion of a substrate and a bypass diode disposed in or above a second portion of the substrate. The first and second portions of the substrate can be physically separated with a groove. A metallization structure can couple the active region to the bypass diode.
Abstract:
Methods of operation of liquid and gaseous multi-fuel compression ignition engines that may be operated on a gaseous fuel or a liquid fuel, or a combination of both a gaseous fuel and a liquid fuel at the same time and in some embodiments, in the same combustion event. Various embodiments are disclosed.
Abstract:
Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a plurality of alternating N-type and P-type regions in or above a substrate. The method also involves forming a metal seed layer on the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type regions. The method also involves patterning at least a portion of the metal seed layer at regions in alignment with locations between the alternating N-type and P-type regions. The method also involves, subsequent to the patterning, etching to form trenches at the locations between the alternating N-type and P-type regions, isolating the alternating N-type and P-type regions from one another.