SPACER FORMATION IN A SOLAR CELL USING OXYGEN ION IMPLANTATION
Granted: April 3, 2014
Application Number:
20140090701
A solar cell is disclosed. The solar cell has a front side facing the sun during normal operation, and a back side facing away from the sun. The solar cell comprises a silicon substrate, a first polysilicon layer with a region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the substrate. The solar cell also comprises a second polysilicon layer with a second region of doped polysilicon on the back side of the silicon substrate. The second polysilicon layer at least partially covers the region…
THERMAL TRACKING FOR SOLAR SYSTEMS
Granted: April 3, 2014
Application Number:
20140090691
A power generating system is disclosed. The power generating system comprises a solar cell, a support structure coupled to the solar cell and adapted to adjust the position of the solar cell, a first thermal sensor coupled to the solar cell and adapted to detect a first temperature at a first location on the solar cell, a second thermal sensor coupled to the solar cell and adapted to detect a second temperature at a second location on the solar cell, the second location spaced apart from…
SUN TRACKING SYSTEM
Granted: April 3, 2014
Application Number:
20140090638
A sun tracking solar power generation system can include drive members for driving a plurality of parallel sun tracking assemblies. The drive components of the drive system can be arranged in a recess or trench created in the ground. This arrangement can reduce the material and labor costs for constructing a solar power system.
METHODS AND STRUCTURES FOR FORMING AND PROTECTING THIN FILMS ON SUBSTRATES
Granted: March 27, 2014
Application Number:
20140087496
A method for forming of a thin film on a substrate is disclosed. The method includes cleaning a process chamber by flowing a first gas having fluorine. The method also includes coating the process chamber with a first encapsulating layer including amorphous silicon (A-Si) by flowing a second gas for a first duration, where the first encapsulating layer protects against fluorine contamination. The method further includes loading a substrate into the process chamber, depositing a thin film…
OPPOSING ROW LINEAR CONCENTRATOR ARCHITECTURE
Granted: March 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140078607
A solar concentrator assembly is disclosed. The solar concentrator assembly comprises a first reflective device having a first reflective front side and a first rear side, a second reflective device having a second reflective front side and a second rear side, the second reflective device positioned such that the first reflective front side faces the second rear side, and a support assembly coupled to and supporting the first and second reflective devices, the second reflective device…
DIODE AND HEAT SPREADER FOR SOLAR MODULE
Granted: February 20, 2014
Application Number:
20140048119
Arrangements of diodes and heat spreaders for solar modules are described. For example, a solar module may include a backsheet with a low profile, surface-mount diode disposed above the backsheet. A pair of ribbon interconnects is coupled to the low profile, surface-mount diode and may penetrate the backsheet.
CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NON-CONTACT EDGE COATING APPARATUS FOR SOLAR CELL SUBSTRATES
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140038422
A non-contact edge coating apparatus includes an applicator for applying a coating material on an edge of a solar cell substrate and a control system configured to drive the applicator. The control system may drive the applicator along an axis to maintain a distance with an edge of the substrate as the substrate is rotated to have the edge coated with a coating material. The applicator may include a recessed portion into which the edge of the substrate is received for edge coating. For…
NON-PERMEABLE SUBSTRATE CARRIER FOR ELECTROPLATING
Granted: February 6, 2014
Application Number:
20140034488
One embodiment relates to a substrate carrier for use in electroplating a plurality of substrates. The substrate carrier comprises a non-conductive carrier body on which the substrates are to be held. Electrically-conductive lines are embedded within the carrier body, and a plurality of contact clips are coupled to the electrically-conductive lines embedded within the carrier body. The contact clips hold the substrates in place and electrically couple the substrates to the…
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SOLAR POWER GENERATION
Granted: January 30, 2014
Application Number:
20140026943
A photovoltaic device comprising an array of elongate reflector elements mounted substantially parallel to one another and transversely spaced in series, at least one of the reflector elements having an elongate concave reflective surface to reflect incident solar radiation towards a forward adjacent reflector element in the array. The at least one reflector element includes a photovoltaic receptor mounted on the reflector element by a mounting arrangement to receive reflected solar…
Balancing Vibrations At Harmonic Frequencies By Injecting Harmonic Balancing Signals Into The Armature Of A Linear Motor/Alternator Coupled To A Stirling Machine
Granted: January 16, 2014
Application Number:
20140015497
Vibrations at harmonic frequencies are reduced by injecting harmonic balancing signals into the armature of a linear motor/alternator coupled to a Stirling machine. The vibrations are sensed to provide a signal representing the mechanical vibrations. A harmonic balancing signal is generated for selected harmonics of the operating frequency by processing the sensed vibration signal with adaptive filter algorithms of adaptive filters for each harmonic. Reference inputs for each harmonic…
Driving An Active Vibration Balancer To Minimize Vibrations At The Fundamental And Harmonic Frequencies
Granted: January 16, 2014
Application Number:
20140013842
Vibrations of a principal machine are reduced at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies by driving the drive motor of an active balancer with balancing signals at the fundamental and selected harmonics. Vibrations are sensed to provide a signal representing the mechanical vibrations. A balancing signal generator for the fundamental and for each selected harmonic processes the sensed vibration signal with adaptive filter algorithms of adaptive filters for each frequency to generate a…
FRAMING SYSTEM FOR MOUNTING SOLAR COLLECTING DEVICES
Granted: January 2, 2014
Application Number:
20140001129
A framing system for mounting solar collection devices to form a solar array can include a plurality of interconnected frame members having connectors provided on the frame members to form rows of an array solar collector devices. Mounts can be provided at the upper portion of the frame members to secure the solar collecting devices at a raised position. The framing system can simplify the installation of the wiring system before the solar collection devices are attached to the frame…
REFLECTOR SYSTEM FOR CONCENTRATING SOLAR SYSTEMS
Granted: January 2, 2014
Application Number:
20140000705
A solar concentrator assembly is disclosed. The solar concentrator assembly comprises a first reflective member, a second reflective member, a photovoltaic receiver comprising at least one photovoltaic solar cell unit, and a support structure coupled to the first and second reflective members and the photovoltaic receiver. The first reflective member is shaped to concentrate sunlight in front of the first reflective member, and has an edge region extending inward from an edge adjacent…
BRACE FOR SOLAR MODULE ARRAY
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340811
A brace for connecting the frames of adjacent solar modules can include one or more lower lips and one or more upper lips configured to capture an outer edge of a solar module frame. The brace can include a removable top so as to facilitate connection and disconnection of the couplers and solar modules. Additionally, the brace can be configured to allow a solar module to be engaged and disengaged by hooking the frame onto the brace then tilting the frame relative to the brace. The brace…
MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR SOLAR MODULE ARRAY
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340810
A mounting system for a solar array can include a plurality of couplers that are designed to engage and disengage all modules without the use of rails that are greater than the maximum dimension of a solar module. The couplers can be configured to cooperate with height adjuster mechanisms. Additionally, the couplers can be configured to accommodate the engagement and disengagement of solar modules without the need to loosen or remove fasteners, for example, through a hook and tilt…
ANCHOR FOR SOLAR MODULE
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340381
An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof is disclosed. The anchor can comprise a clamp body comprising a central surface and a first arm extending from the central surface. The first arm can have a first clamping face. The clamp body can be sized and shaped to receive at least a first web extending from at least a first solar module such that at least the first web can lie in proximity to the first clamping face. The anchor can further include a clamp member coupled to…
ANCHOR FOR SOLAR MODULE
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340380
An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof is disclosed. The anchor can comprise a clamp body comprising a central surface and a first arm extending from the central surface. The first arm can have a first clamping face. The clamp body can be sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending from one or more solar modules, each web having a hem at a distal end. The first arm can comprise a first recess sized and shaped to receive a first hem of a first web of the one…
ANCHOR FOR SOLAR MODULE
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340379
An anchor for mounting one or more solar modules to a roof is disclosed. The anchor can comprise a clamp body comprising a central surface and a first arm extending from the central surface. The first arm can have a first clamping face. The clamp body can be sized and shaped to receive one or more webs extending from one or more solar modules. The anchor can include a rotatable clamp device coupled to the clamp body, the rotatable clamp device configured to press a first web of the one…
LEVELER FOR SOLAR MODULE ARRAY
Granted: December 26, 2013
Application Number:
20130340358
A leveler for a solar module can include a base, a rotatable adjuster, and a follower. The rotatable adjuster can be mounted to the base with a swaging process, or other techniques. The follower can be embedded within a coupler configured to be connectable to solar modules. Turning the rotatable height adjuster changes the relative spacing between the solar module and the base.
HEAT-REGULATING GLASS BENDING APPARATUS AND METHOD
Granted: November 21, 2013
Application Number:
20130305787
A sag-bending system is disclosed. The sag-bending system comprises a sag-bending glass support mold and a perimeter thermal manager. The sag-bending glass support mold has a quadrilateral shape, a collective upper surface, and a periphery. The support mold comprises a plurality of rib members extending in a first direction, each of the plurality of rib members having a curved upper surface shaped to form the collective upper surface having a position and shape to support a…
