Abstract: The invention relates to an element capable of collecting light, including a first substrate having a glass function and forming a cover, and a second substrate forming a support, the substrates sandwiching between two electrode-forming conductive layers at least one functional layer based on an absorber material for converting light energy into electrical energy, the second substrate provided on its lower face with a plurality of profiles oriented parallel to one of the sides of the element.

Abstract: A device for attaching a module for collecting energy originating from solar radiation on a structure such as a roof, a façade or a mounting structure of a ground-mounted system, in which the module is provided with at least one fastener on its face designed to be facing the structure. The device includes at least one support secured to the structure by snap-fitting, the fastener and the support being suitable for being coupled to one another for the attachment of the module to the structure.

Abstract: A thin film solar module having a series connection is described. The thin film solar module has a back electrode layer that is divided into regions by a first set of structuring lines, a photoactive semiconductor layer that is arranged on the back electrode layer and divided by a second set of structuring lines, and a front electrode layer that is arranged on the side of the photoactive semiconductor layer opposite the back electrode layer and divided into regions by a third set of structuring lines.

Abstract: A solar module having a connecting element is described. The solar module has a substrate, a back electrode layer, a photovoltaically active absorber layer, and a cover pane disposed one over the other, at least one prefabricated conductive film at least one connection housing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for processing substrates in a processing system with at least one process tool disposed in at least one process area, which tool has two substrate levels disposed opposite each other in the process area, which are aligned at least approximately vertical, wherein the device is adapted to process at least two substrates at the same time in the process area by means of the process tool, wherein the substrates can be disposed in the substrate levels such that coatings of the substrates face each other and, at least during processing, a quasi-closed process space is formed between the substrates. It further relates to a method for processing coated substrates in a processing system, wherein the substrates have coatings and the substrates are each disposed opposite each other such that the coatings of the substrates face each other and, at least during processing, a quasi-closed process space is formed between the substrates.

Abstract: A system for mounting a photovoltaic module onto a structure at least in part made of metal, in which the photovoltaic module includes at least one photovoltaic cell including electrically conductive elements, the mounting system including, in each region in which the photovoltaic cell is near a grounded metal part of the structure when in the mounted configuration, at least one electrically insulating element positioned between the metal part and the nearest part of the electrically conductive elements of the photovoltaic cell, the total thickness of electrically insulating material between the metal part and the nearest part of the electrically conductive elements of the photovoltaic cell being at least 7 mm.

Abstract: A device for attaching a module for collecting energy originating from solar radiation on a structure such as a roof, a façade or a mounting structure of a ground-mounted system, in which the module is provided with at least one fastener on its face designed to be facing the structure. The device includes at least one support secured to the structure by snap-fitting, the fastener and the support being suitable for being coupled to one another for the attachment of the module to the structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) and to a method for tempering objects (2, 15). According to the invention, a temporary process box (11) is used to overcome the disadvantages of tempering processes previously known, in particular to achieve a high level of reproducibility and a high throughput during the tempering process, at the same time reducing the investment costs such that overall, the entire tempering process is carried out in a highly economical manner.

Abstract: A solar cell device comprising a photovoltaically active layer between a transparent front cover and a back cover, wherein the front cover comprises a first surface region and a second surface region opposite thereto and facing the photovoltaically active layer, and the back cover comprises a third surface region facing the photovoltaically active layer and a fourth surface region opposite thereto, wherein at least one of the first to the fourth surface regions is provided with a first area and a second area, which areas have different light modulation properties, wherein both areas are light transparent, and wherein the solar cell device further comprises at least one light source (7) for coupling light laterally into at least one of the front cover (2) and the back cover (3). Moreover a method for producing such solar cell device, and an information board comprising such a solar cell device and its use for displaying information.

Abstract: The invention relates to an element capable of collecting light, comprising a first substrate having a glass function and forming a cover, and a second substrate forming a support, said substrates sandwiching between two electrode-forming conductive layers at least one functional layer based on an absorber material for converting light energy into electrical energy. The second substrate is provided on its lower face with a plurality of profiles (17, 18) oriented parallel to one of the sides of said element.

Abstract: A solar module comprising a common substrate supporting a rectifying diode sheet. The rectifying diode sheet comprising at least a back electrode layer, a front electrode layer, and an absorber layer located between the back electrode layer and the front electrode layer. The rectifying diode sheet is divided in first and second sheet parts, whereby the first sheet part comprises at least one solar cell. The second sheet part comprises at least one bypass diode, circuited in an anti-parallel configuration with the at least one solar cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for structuring transparent, conductive layers, especially for structuring transparent electrode layers in thin-layer components. The selected wavelength (&lgr;) of the laser used for structuring should fall substantially within the plasma absorption range of the transparent electrode layer and should fulfill following three requirements: a) the wavelength &lgr; of the laser must be greater than the cut-off wavelength &lgr;gopt for optical absorption in the base absorber, b) the wavelength &lgr; of the laser must be greater than the cut-off wavelength for free substrate absorption (plasma absorption) &lgr;gpla in the transparent electrode layer, and c) the wavelength &lgr; of the laser must be less than the cut-off wavelength for metallic reflection &lgr;gmet on the transparent front electrode.

Abstract: A method and device for thin-film ablation of a substrate of a workpiece, more particularly, for surface layer ablation of a thin-film solar cell. The device comprises a laser resonator for generating a light pulse machining beam having pulse durations smaller than 100 ns and a pulse energy density between 0.1 and 10 J/cm2, and a controllable positioner for positioning the workpiece relative to the machining beam such that an amount of energy impinging the surface to be machined is substantially constant for each unit of surface area. The device further includes an optical system arranged in a path of the machining beam, including an optical fiber cable and an optical imaging member for imaging an output of the optical fiber cable on a surface of the workpiece, the optical system being configured such that, in a plane of the surface to be machined, the power distribution is substantially homogenous.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diode structure, especially for thin film solar cells. The aim of the invention is to provide a diode structure for thin film solar cells. Said structure allows for an assembly of a thin film solar cell, whereby said assembly is as flexible as possible, efficiency is high, and utilizing materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. A diode structure comprising a p-conducting layer, which consists of a chalcopyrite compound, and a n-conducting layer, which is adjacent to the p-conducting layer and consists of a compound that contains titanium and oxygen, is provided.

Abstract: A method and device for thin-film ablation of a substrate of a workpiece, more particularly, for surface layer ablation of a thin-film solar cell. The device comprises a laser resonator for generating a light pulse machining beam having pulse durations smaller than 100 ns and a pulse energy density between 0.1 and 10 J/cm2, and a controllable positioner for positioning the workpiece relative to the machining beam such that an amount of energy impinging the surface to be machined is substantially constant for each unit of surface area. The device further includes an optical system arranged in a path of the machining beam, including an optical fiber cable and an optical imaging member for imaging an output of the optical fiber cable on a surface of the workpiece, the optical system being configured such that, in a plane of the surface to be machined, the power distribution is substantially homogenous.

Abstract: The invention relates to a diode structure, especially for thin film solar cells. The aim of the invention is to provide a diode structure for thin film solar cells. Said structure allows for an assembly of a thin film solar cell, whereby said assembly is as flexible as possible, efficiency is high, and utilizing materials that are as environmentally friendly as possible. A diode structure comprising a p-conducting layer, which consists of a chalcopyrite compound, and a n-conducting layer, which is adjacent to the p-conducting layer and consists of a compound that contains titanium and oxygen, is provided.

Abstract: A solar cell has a chalcopyrite absorber layer that is applied on the substrate side over an adhesive layer which is chosen from chromium, titanium, tantalum, and titanium nitride.

Abstract: To produce a polycrystalline, single-phase compound semiconductor layer of the chalcopyrite type ABC.sub.2, it is proposed to deposit, on a substrate, a layer structure which comprises a plurality of layers and which contains the components in elemental form, as an interelemental compound or as an alloy, the component C being present in stoichiometric excess. In a rapid annealing process with a heating rate of at least 10.degree. C./s to a processing temperature of at least 350.degree. C., the layer structure is converted into the compound semiconductor ABC.sub.2 even after a few seconds, the gas exchange being limited by encapsulation of the layer structure, with the result that an evaporation of the most volatile components is prevented. Highly efficient solar cells can be produced from the semiconductor.

Abstract: An amorphous semiconductor material which does not age under the action of light is particularly suitable for red-sensitive photovoltaic components and is highly photosensitive. The amorphous semiconductor material is germanium based, particularly a silicon-germanium alloy. To this end, the semiconductor material has a compact, void-free structure, is manufactured in a glow discharge reactor by appropriate variation of the precipitation parameters, and contains one element from Group VI A of the periodic system.

Abstract: A method for producing a solar cell having a semiconductor layer of copper gallium diselenide covered with a window layer of copper aluminum diselenide by first producing a semiconductor material of one type of conductivity by forming either a copper gallium diselenide or a copper aluminum diselenide and then exchanging metal ions in the upper portion of the layer to provide an opposite type of conductivity by exchanging metal ions of the layer for another type. The exchange can include exchanging both the copper and gallium ions with the zinc ion to form a zinc diselenide window or replacing the gallium ions with aluminum ions to form a copper aluminum diselenide window or, if a copper aluminum diselenide layer had been provided, forming an absorbing layer by replacing the aluminum ions with the gallium ions to form the absorbing layer.