Patents by Inventor Benjamin Milliron

Benjamin Milliron has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20240088319
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Publication date: March 14, 2024
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • Annealing materials and methods for annealing photovoltaic devices with annealing materials
    Patent number: 11929447
    Abstract: A method for annealing an absorber layer is disclosed, the method including contacting a surface of the absorber layer with an annealing material provided as a gel. The annealing material comprises cadmium chloride and a thickening agent. A viscosity of the gel of the annealing material is greater than or equal to 5 millipascal seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Brubaker, Joan King, Benjamin Milliron, Jay Norman, Jason Robinson, John Tumbush
  • Photovoltaic devices and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 11817516
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • ANNEALING MATERIALS AND METHODS FOR ANNEALING PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH ANNEALING MATERIALS
    Publication number: 20210043794
    Abstract: A method for annealing an absorber layer is disclosed, the method including contacting a surface of the absorber layer with an annealing material provided as a gel. The annealing material comprises cadmium chloride and a thickening agent. A viscosity of the gel of the annealing material is greater than or equal to 5 millipascal seconds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2019
    Publication date: February 11, 2021
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joshua Brubaker, Joan King, Benjamin Milliron, Jay Norman, Jason Robinson, John Tumbush
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20200058818
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Publication date: February 20, 2020
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • Photovoltaic devices and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 10529883
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • Photovoltaic devices and method of manufacturing
    Patent number: 10461207
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • High efficiency photovoltaic device employing cadmium sulfide telluride and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 9799784
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is disclosed including at least one Cadmium Sulfide Telluride (CdSxTe1?x) layer as are methods of forming such a photovoltaic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, Benyamin Buller, Markus Gloeckler, Benjamin Milliron, Xilin Peng, Rick C. Powell, Jigish Trivedi, Oomman K. Varghese, Jianjun Wang, Zhibo Zhao
  • Method and apparatus providing multi-step deposition of thin film layer
    Patent number: 9337376
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for vaporizing and depositing a tellurium containing semiconductor material on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, John Barden, Benjamin Milliron, Rick C. Powell
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20160126396
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING
    Publication number: 20160126395
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • In situ substrate detection for a processing system using infrared detection
    Patent number: 9151597
    Abstract: Infrared detection is used to monitor the temperature within a vapor transport deposition processing chamber. Changes in temperature that occur when a substrate passes an infrared detector are detected and used to precisely locate a position of the substrate within the chamber. Position correction of the substrate can also be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Milliron, Dale Roberts, David Berger, William Logan
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING MULTI-STEP DEPOSITION OF THIN FILM LAYER
    Publication number: 20150079725
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for vaporizing and depositing a tellurium containing semiconductor material on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, John Barden, Benjamin Milliron, Rick C. Powell
  • Method and apparatus providing multi-step deposition of thin film layer
    Patent number: 8921147
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for vaporizing and depositing a tellurium containing semiconductor material on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, John Barden, Benjamin Milliron, Rick C. Powell
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE EMPLOYING CADMIUM SULFIDE TELLURIDE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20140261688
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is disclosed including at least one Cadmium Sulfide Telluride (CdSxTe1-x) layer as are methods of forming such a photovoltaic device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, Benyamin Buller, Markus Gloeckler, Benjamin Milliron, Xilin Peng, Rick C. Powell, Jigish Trivedi, Oomman K. Varghese, Jianjun Wang, Zhibo Zhao
  • METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN-LINE REAL-TIME CALCULATION OF THICKNESSES OF SEMICONDUCTOR LAYERS OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE
    Publication number: 20140185061
    Abstract: A method and system for real-time, in-line measurements of thicknesses of semiconductor layers of photovoltaic devices is provided. The method and system include taking ex-situ optical data measurements after deposition of the semiconductor layers. The measurements are then used to calculate the thicknesses of the layers in real-time using optical modeling software.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC
    Inventors: Benyamin Buller, David Hwang, Benjamin Milliron, Dale Roberts, Rui Shao, Zhibo Zhao
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING MULTI-STEP DEPOSITION OF THIN FILM LAYER
    Publication number: 20140051206
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for vaporizing and depositing a tellurium containing semiconductor material on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, John Barden, Benjamin Milliron, Rick C. Powell