Structures and methods for forming electrodes of solar cells
Granted: September 21, 2021
Patent Number:
11127871
Solar cells are attached together to form a plating assembly. The plating assembly is attached to a belt, which transports the plating assembly through a plating chamber where metal is electroplated on the solar cells. The electroplated metal is patterned to form metal contact fingers. After the metal is electroplated, the plating assembly is singulated to separate the two solar cells.
Metallization of solar cells
Granted: September 21, 2021
Patent Number:
11127866
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 barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method…
Photovoltaic modules
Granted: September 14, 2021
Patent Number:
11121674
A modular photovoltaic (PV) system can include a PV cell, a frame coupled to the PV cell, and a converter. The frame is configured to support a plurality of pairs of externally accessible connectors, each pair having a positive voltage connector and a negative voltage connector, the positive voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other and the negative voltage connector of each pair of the plurality electrically connected to each other. The…
Clamps for solar system
Granted: September 14, 2021
Patent Number:
11121668
A solar power system can include a rail and a solar module disposed on the rail. A clamp assembly can couple the solar module to the rail. The clamp assembly can have a clamped configuration in which the solar module is secured to the rail and an unclamped configuration. The clamp assembly can comprise an upper clamp member, a lower clamp member coupled to the rail, and a stabilization member mechanically engaging the upper clamp member and the lower clamp member. The stabilization…
Systems and apparatuses for carport with integrated precipitation and cable management
Granted: September 7, 2021
Patent Number:
11111689
A solar power generation assembly includes a vertical support column; a canopy including a plurality of solar modules for solar power generation; a first brace and a second brace on a first side of the support column to support the canopy; a third brace and a fourth brace on a second side of the support column to support the canopy; and a gutter system integrated into the canopy and directing precipitation along one or more of the second brace and the fourth brace to the support column.…
Solar cell with reduced base diffusion area
Granted: August 31, 2021
Patent Number:
11107935
In one embodiment, a solar cell has base and emitter diffusion regions formed on the back side. The emitter diffusion region is configured to collect minority charge carriers in the solar cell, while the base diffusion region is configured to collect majority charge carriers. The emitter diffusion region may be a continuous region separating the base diffusion regions. Each of the base diffusion regions may have a reduced area to decrease minority charge carrier recombination losses…
Roll-to-roll metallization of solar cells
Granted: August 24, 2021
Patent Number:
11101401
Disclosed herein are approaches to fabricating solar cells, solar cell strings and solar modules using roll-to-roll foil-based metallization approaches. Methods disclosed herein can comprise the steps of providing at least one solar cell wafer on a first roll unit and conveying a metal foil to the first roll unit. The metal foil can be coupled to the solar cell wafer on the first roll unit to produce a unified pairing of the metal foil and the solar cell wafer. We disclose solar energy…
Blister-free polycrystalline silicon for solar cells
Granted: August 24, 2021
Patent Number:
11101398
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…
Textured solar panel
Granted: August 17, 2021
Patent Number:
D928079
Verifying status of a termination end cap of a microinverter chain
Granted: August 10, 2021
Patent Number:
11088548
A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a system control module that determines the presence of a microinverter chain termination end cap. The end cap includes an embedded circuit. The embedded circuit includes components having resistive, reactive, or impedance values. A signal source provides a signal through the microinverter chain. A parameter for a sensed signal detected by the system control module is used to determine the presence of the end cap using a change between the parameter…
Water sealing surface attachment
Granted: August 10, 2021
Patent Number:
11085484
A mounting assembly for securing fixtures to a mounting structure may include a first fastener, a washer, a mounting bracket, and second fastener. The first fastener may be coupled to the mounting structure through a mounting aperture. The washer may be disposed around shaft of the first fastener between a head of the first fastener and the mounting surface. The mounting bracket may be disposed on top of the first fastener. The second fastener may be disposed through the mounting bracket…
Single-step metal bond and contact formation for solar cells
Granted: August 3, 2021
Patent Number:
11081601
A method for fabricating a solar cell is disclosed. The method can include forming a dielectric region on a surface of a solar cell structure and forming a first metal layer on the dielectric region. The method can also include forming a second metal layer on the first metal layer and locally heating a particular region of the second metal layer, where heating includes forming a metal bond between the first and second metal layer and forming a contact between the first metal layer and…
Systems and methods for reworking shingled solar cell modules
Granted: July 20, 2021
Patent Number:
11070167
A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency. Removing a defective solar cell from a super cell may be difficult, however. It may therefore be advantageous to bypass defective solar cells in a super cell rather than remove and replace them. A bypass conductor may be applied to…
System and method for shingling wafer strips connected in parallel
Granted: July 13, 2021
Patent Number:
11063166
A solar device includes a first string of first solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the first string. Additionally, the solar device includes a second string of second solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the second solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the second string, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers overlap with one or more of the…
Universal photovoltaic laminate
Granted: July 6, 2021
Patent Number:
11056997
A photovoltaic (PV) module can include a PV laminate, a frame coupled to a perimeter of the laminate, a junction box that includes a housing for an electrical connection between a plurality of PV cells of the laminate and a plurality of conductors, and an electronics enclosure coupled to the frame. In embodiments, the electronics enclosure can include electronic circuitry that is electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors and to another photovoltaic module.
Distributed energy resource topology and operation
Granted: June 29, 2021
Patent Number:
11050256
Systems and methods regarding distributed energy resource systems (DERs) are described. Configurations and employed methods may include sending a command to a DER system to place the DER system in one or more of a charge state, a discharge state, an idle state, or a reactive power state. These DER systems may include an energy storage circuit, a dc/ac converter configured to receive a DC voltage from the storage circuit and convert the received DC voltage for receipt by an external AC…
Shingled solar cell module
Granted: June 15, 2021
Patent Number:
11038072
A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells conductively bonded to each other in a shingled manner to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module, reduce series resistance, and increase module efficiency.
Separation region between diffusion regions in a continuous layer of a solar cell
Granted: June 8, 2021
Patent Number:
11031515
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…
Photovoltaic panel system
Granted: June 8, 2021
Patent Number:
D921573
Solar module skirt assembly
Granted: May 25, 2021
Patent Number:
11018620
A solar module skirt assembly includes a skirt that is attached to a frame of a solar module, and a clip to attach the skirt to the solar module. The clip includes a first portion to attach to a frame of the solar module and to the skirt, a second portion to hold a portion of the frame of the solar module and a portion of the skirt, and a fastener to affix the clip to the frame of the solar module and the portion of the skirt.
