Solar cell emitter region fabrication with differentiated p-type and n-type architectures and incorporating dotted diffusion
Granted: October 13, 2020
Patent Number:
10804415
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…
Solar panel
Granted: September 22, 2020
Patent Number:
D896747
Formed photovoltaic module busbars
Granted: September 15, 2020
Patent Number:
10777691
A method and apparatus directed to busbar components for photovoltaic modules.
Solar panel support
Granted: September 15, 2020
Patent Number:
D896168
Photovoltaic module interconnect joints
Granted: September 8, 2020
Patent Number:
10770610
Photovoltaic (PV) cells that can be interconnected with improved interconnect joints to form PV cell strings and PV modules. The improved interconnect joints comprise at least two types of adhesive bonding regions to maximize both electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of interconnect joints coupling terminals of PV cells. The disclosed approaches to PV cell interconnection provide greater manufacturing rates and higher quality PV cell strings and PV modules.
Systems and method for determining solar panel placement and energy output
Granted: September 8, 2020
Patent Number:
10769318
Determining solar panel placement enables sales representatives and homeowners to modify a solar power system by adding or removing solar panels or arrays of solar panels, or changing module type. The user sees the corresponding solar energy production update instantly in a user interface. Determining solar panel placement includes receiving data corresponding to an installation location. A maximum solar panel design is determined based on the installation location. Energy production is…
Photovoltaic module having bi-directional couplings
Granted: September 1, 2020
Patent Number:
10763780
A photovoltaic (PV) module having bi-directional couplings is described. The bi-directional couplings include a first coupling mounted on a support frame under a first edge of the PV module and a second coupling mounted on the support frame under a second edge of the PV module. The PV module can be a keystone module and the bi-directional couplings of the keystone module can connect to respective couplings of several adjacent PV modules. The bi-directional couplings can form…
Generating a photovoltaic system design for a building
Granted: August 25, 2020
Patent Number:
10754999
A solar design generation system is configured to design a solar panel or photovoltaic (PV) system for the roof of building. A server includes processing circuitry configured to receive information from a remote device, including an address corresponding to a building having a roof, automatically generate a solar design in real time based on the received information, and display the solar design to a user. The user can interact with the solar design in various ways to accommodate,…
System and method for associating a load demand with a variable power generation
Granted: August 18, 2020
Patent Number:
10749349
Systems and methods for associating a load demand with a variable power generation are described. For example, a method of providing power from a renewable resource includes receiving a signal including an output capability value for a renewable variable power generation module. An input power demand value is calculated for a load demand module based on the output capability value of the received signal. A customer load is controlled on a power transmission and distribution grid based on…
Shingled solar cells overlapping along non-linear edges
Granted: August 11, 2020
Patent Number:
10741703
Solar devices and methods for producing solar devices are disclosed. In some examples, a solar device includes solar cells arranged in a shingled manner such that adjacent long edges of adjacent ones of the solar cells overlap. The adjacent long edges have a non-linear shape that has protruding portions. The solar device includes contact pads arranged in the protruding portions of the adjacent long edges such that the contact pads of the adjacent ones of the solar cells are electrically…
Thermo-compression bonding tool with high temperature elastic element
Granted: August 11, 2020
Patent Number:
10737475
A thermo-compression bonding tool with a high temperature elastic element, and methods of bonding a metal sheet to a substrate using a thermo-compression bonding tool are described. In an example, a system for bonding a metal sheet to a substrate includes a stage to support the substrate and an elastic roller located above the stage. The elastic roller includes a high temperature material. The system also includes a heated backing plate located above the elastic roller. The backing plate…
Conductive foil based metallization of solar cells
Granted: July 28, 2020
Patent Number:
10727369
Methods of fabricating a solar cell, and system for electrically coupling solar cells, are described. In an example, the methods for fabricating a solar cell can include forming a first cut portion from a conductive foil. The method can also include aligning the first cut portion to a first doped region of a first semiconductor substrate. The method can include bonding the first cut portion to the first doped region of the first semiconductor substrate. The method can also include…
Solar roof mounting surface transition
Granted: July 28, 2020
Patent Number:
D891360
Method and system for communication between inverter and solar module
Granted: July 21, 2020
Patent Number:
10720878
Technologies for communication between an inverter and a solar module are disclosed. The disclosed technologies include monitoring a voltage and/or current of the solar module to determine a corresponding voltage waveform and/or current waveform and determining whether the voltage waveform and/or current waveform includes an encoded message. If a message is encoded in the voltage waveform and/or current waveform, the solar module may perform one or more actions. For example, the solar…
Bowing semiconductor wafers
Granted: July 21, 2020
Patent Number:
10720351
This specification describes methods for processing semiconductor wafers, methods for loading semiconductor wafers into wafer carriers, and semiconductor wafer carriers. The methods and wafer carriers can be used for increasing the rigidity of wafers, e.g., large and thin wafers, by intentionally bowing the wafers to an extent that does not break the wafers. In some examples, a method for processing semiconductor wafers includes loading each semiconductor wafer into a respective…
Trench process and structure for backside contact solar cells with polysilicon doped regions
Granted: July 14, 2020
Patent Number:
10714647
A solar cell includes polysilicon P-type and N-type doped regions on a backside of a substrate, such as a silicon wafer. A trench structure separates the P-type doped region from the N-type doped region. Each of the P-type and N-type doped regions may be formed over a thin dielectric layer. The trench structure may include a textured surface for increased solar radiation collection. Among other advantages, the resulting structure increases efficiency by providing isolation between…
Metallization of solar cells
Granted: June 30, 2020
Patent Number:
10700222
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…
Electrical junction box with removable sealing cover
Granted: June 9, 2020
Patent Number:
10681829
An electrical assembly may include an enclosure having a base portion to attach the enclosure to a panel and a heat dissipating portion opposite the base portion, a circuit board having a first thermal interface on a first side of the board, a second thermal interface on a second side of the board, and a thermally conductive portion to provide enhanced thermal conduction between the first thermal interface and the second thermal interface, a power electronic device having a thermal…
Clamps for solar system
Granted: June 9, 2020
Patent Number:
10680548
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…
Laser foil trim approaches for foil-based metallization for solar cells
Granted: June 2, 2020
Patent Number:
10672924
Laser foil trim approaches for foil-based metallization of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes attaching a metal foil sheet to a surface of a wafer to provide a unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer, wherein the wafer has a perimeter and the metal foil sheet has a portion overhanging the perimeter. The method also includes laser scribing the metal foil sheet along the perimeter of the wafer…
