Use of doped silicon dioxide in the fabrication of solar cells
Granted: November 14, 2006
Patent Number:
7135350
In one embodiment, a method of forming doped regions in a substrate of a back side contact solar cell includes the steps of depositing a first doped oxide layer on a back side of a substrate, depositing a first undoped oxide layer over the first doped oxide layer, diffusing a first dopant from the first doped oxide layer into the substrate to form a first doped region in the substrate, and diffusing a second dopant into the substrate by way of a front side of the substrate, wherein the…
Method for centering a workpiece on the cylindrical axis of a bore
Granted: May 16, 2006
Patent Number:
7043835
A method and system for precisely centering a workpiece within a cylindrical bore such that the center of the workpiece is coaxial with the central axis of the bore. An arbor is used within the cylindrical bore to sense and calculate the location of the central axis. The position of the workpiece is also sensed so that it can be aligned with the central axis. A computer system is used to perform the calculations and provide an indication of alignment of the workpiece and the central…
Stirling cycle engine or heat pump with improved heat exchanger
Granted: February 21, 2006
Patent Number:
7000390
A Stirling cycle machine heat exchanger and a method for making the heat exchanger including, forming an annular ring of a solid heat conductive mass, the annular ring having a central axis and having axially opposite faces. A plurality of passages are drilled through the annular ring and through the opposite faces to provide passages for the flow of a fluid through the passages and transfer of heat energy between the mass and the fluid. The passages are preferably parallel to the axis…
Use of doped silicon dioxide in the fabrication of solar cells
Granted: February 14, 2006
Patent Number:
6998288
In one embodiment, a method of forming doped regions in a substrate of a back side contact solar cell includes the steps of depositing a first doped oxide layer on a back side of a substrate, depositing a first undoped oxide layer over the first doped oxide layer, diffusing a first dopant from the first doped oxide layer into the substrate to form a first doped region in the substrate, and diffusing a second dopant into the substrate by way of a front side of the substrate, wherein the…
Coupling for heat transfer member
Granted: February 7, 2006
Patent Number:
6993917
A heat transfer member having an external heat transfer member including an insertion hole having an adaptor ring inserted thereinto, and at least one of a base blocking protrusion and a grove blocking protrusion formed on a predetermined portion of the surface of the base confronting the inserted adaptor ring inside the insertion groove, for increasing the coupling strength of the external radiating member and the adaptor ring and the transition member.
Involute foil regenerator
Granted: January 31, 2006
Patent Number:
6991023
A regenerator having a plurality of involute foils disposed in an annular gap between an inner cylindrical tube and an outer cylindrical tube. The involute shape of the foils provides uniform spacing throughout the entire regenerator and substantial surface area for fluid contact.
Controller for reducing excessive amplitude of oscillation of free piston
Granted: July 26, 2005
Patent Number:
6920967
An apparatus for detecting and reducing excessive amplitude of oscillation of a free piston slidably mounted in a housing. The housing has a vibration absorber, including a mass mounted through a spring to the housing. The mass reciprocates relative to the housing along a path in a phase relationship to the piston. A sensor is mounted near the mass for detecting the amplitude of oscillation of the mass. A controller is connected to the sensor for reducing the amplitude of oscillation of…
Spring standoff for a reciprocating device
Granted: April 19, 2005
Patent Number:
6880452
A spring standoff for a reciprocating device, the standoff having a generally cylindrical body and having a window in a circumferential surface of the body, and a flange at each end of the body, one flange to be coupled to a planar spring of the reciprocating device, and the other flange to be coupled to a sealing container of the reciprocating device. The body generally concentrically houses at least a portion of a reciprocating rod coupled to the planar spring of the reciprocating…
Wound regenerator method
Granted: November 16, 2004
Patent Number:
6817221
A method of forming a wound roll, such as a regenerator, including the steps of inserting wires at the lateral edges of an elongated strip as the strip is being wound around a spool. Spacers, such as localized bumps, are formed on the strip to space strip layers apart to form uniform gaps. An offset is added to the angle of rotation between each spacer-forming step to inhibit the nesting of bumps in the cavities of adjacent strip layers.
Transient temperature control system and method for preventing destructive collisions in free piston machines
Granted: August 31, 2004
Patent Number:
6782700
The free piston cooler transient temperature control system of the present invention eliminates collisions during the transient cool-down period in a free piston cooler upon start-up. The transient temperature control system incorporates a free piston cooler, having a cold head and a warm end, a cold head temperature sensor, a relational interface, and a temperature controller. The cold head temperature sensor senses the temperature of the cold head and generates a temperature signal.…
Screen printing with improved ink stop
Granted: June 8, 2004
Patent Number:
6745687
Screen printing to an edge of an object without the flow of print ilk over the edge and to a supporting platen is realized by applying a flow of gas from the platen over the edge of the object and opposing the flow of print ink. The platen can have a support surface including a groove or a plurality of holes arranged to match the edge of the wafer. The wafer can include a semiconductor wafer such as a photovoltaic cell, and the gas can include air, nitrogen, or an inert gas.
Parallel slot heat exchanger
Granted: February 3, 2004
Patent Number:
6684637
A heat exchanger in which a fluid and a surface transfer thermal energy effectively with a smaller pressure drop than is conventionally realized. In a preferred embodiment, gas at one end of a piston flows into a piston chamber and passes radially through a plurality of axial slots formed through the piston sidewall and into a gap between the piston sidewall and the surface of the housing in which the piston slidably mounts. Between each pair of through-slots, longer axial slots are…
Centering system for free piston machine
Granted: December 2, 2003
Patent Number:
RE38337
A centering apparatus for a free piston Stirling engine including a pressure regulator valve which connects a passageway between the work space and the back space when both (a) the average pressure in the back space exceeds the average pressure in the work space as a result of the piston deflecting a spring, and simultaneously (b) the instantaneous pressure in the back space exceeds the instantaneous pressure in the work space. A diaphragm spans across an actuator housing cavity,…
Control system and method for preventing destructive collisions in free piston machines
Granted: March 25, 2003
Patent Number:
6536326
In a free piston machine, initial collisions of the piston with structures at the end of the cylinder are detected and generate a change in the magnitude of a perturbation signal, which is applied to the summing junction of a closed loop feedback control system controlling a piston force. The change is applied in a direction to reduce piston amplitude. In embodiments in which maximization of piston amplitude is desirable, the magnitude of the perturbation signal is also varied in the…
Heat exchanger and method of constructing same
Granted: September 10, 2002
Patent Number:
6446336
A method of forming a heat exchanger apparatus on a housing wall. The heat exchanger includes inner and outer annular rings. The rings have heat radiating, high surface area fins attached on oppositely facing surfaces. The inner ring has a radially outwardly facing surface that abuts the interior surface of the housing sidewall. The outer ring has a radially inwardly facing surface that abuts the exterior surface of the housing sidewall. When displaced longitudinally along the ring axes,…
Method of fabricating a silicon solar cell
Granted: July 23, 2002
Patent Number:
6423568
A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing and patterning a first metal layer comprising aluminum on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing an insulator…
Method of fabricating a silicon solar cell
Granted: May 14, 2002
Patent Number:
6387726
A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing and patterning a first metal layer on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing an insulator layer of polyimide on…
Method of fabricating a silicon solar cell
Granted: January 8, 2002
Patent Number:
6337283
A method of fabricating a back surface point contact silicon solar cell having p-doped regions and n-doped regions on the same side by forming a passivating layer on a surface of the cell having opened windows at the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, b depositing and patterning a first metal layer on the passivating layer in such a way that the first metal layer comes into contact with the p-doped regions and the n-doped regions, by depositing a first insulator layer of polyimide…
Edge passivated silicon solar/photo cell and method of manufacture
Granted: December 25, 2001
Patent Number:
6333457
Edge passivation for a small area silicon cell is provided in a batch process by providing streets between individual cells formed in a silicon substrate and diffusing dopant through the substrate along the streets. Following completion of fabrication of the plurality of cells in the substrate, the substrate is sawed along the streets with the diffused region providing passivation along the edges of the individual die.
Interconnect structure for solar cells and method of making same
Granted: November 6, 2001
Patent Number:
6313395
An interconnect structure for use with solar cells and like devices which are subject to compressive and/or expansive forces through packaging or in application comprises a flattened spiral of a metal strip. The interconnect is fabricated by first providing a length of metal strip, wrapping the metal strip around a cylindrical or flat mandrel or otherwise folded in a helical pattern, removing the mandrel, and then flattening the metal strip to reduce thickness of the interconnect.
