Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell comprising providing a growth substrate; depositing on said growth substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell, including at least one subcell composed of a group IV alloy such as GeSiSn; and removing the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a solar cell includes depositing a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming at least one solar cell on a first substrate; temporarily bonding a flexible film to a support second substrate; permanently bonding the sequence of layers of semiconductor material to the flexible film so that the flexible film is interposed between the first and second substrates; thinning the first substrate while bonded to the support substrate to expose the sequence of layers of semiconductor material; and subsequently removing the support substrate from the flexible film.

Abstract: An automated method causes a terrestrial solar cell array to track the sun. The solar cell system may include motors that adjust a position of the array along different respective axes with respect to the sun. An alignment analysis procedure, e.g., a find sun routine, is performed to ensure that the solar cell system is properly aligned with the sun during solar tracking. This procedure may sweep the solar cell system along determined paths (e.g., azimuth and elevation paths) while measuring an output parameter indicative of system performance. The measured data is analyzed to determine if the solar cell system is in misalignment in which case the solar cell system is moved into proper alignment. The alignment procedure may be implemented on a periodic basis or using triggers, and may be automatically executed or manually executed.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell disposed adjacent the top surface of the multijunction solar cell; a middle second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell; a graded interlayer adjacent to the second solar subcell; and a lower solar subcell adjacent to the interlayer; a metal contact layer adjacent to the lower solar subcell for making an electrical contact thereto; and a cut-out extending from a peripheral edge along the top surface of the solar cell to the metal contact layer to allow an electrical contact to be made to the lower subcell from the top surface of the solar cell.

Abstract: The terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array includes a longitudinal support that may be constructed of discrete sections. The overall length of the array may be adjusted depending upon the necessary size of the array. A drive may be configured to rotate the longitudinal support in first and second directions about a first axis. Solar cell modules are positioned along the longitudinal support and may each include a rectangular case with a plurality of lenses that are positioned over corresponding receivers. Linkages may be connected to the solar cell modules and are axially movable along the longitudinal support to rotate the solar cell modules within second planes that each orthogonal to the first plane to further track the sun during the course of the day. The array may be configured to facilitate rotation about the first axis. The array may be constructed with a center of gravity of the array to extending through the longitudinal support.

Abstract: A terrestrial concentrator solar tracking photovoltaic array that may include an elongated frame configured to mount concentrator solar cell modules in a longitudinally-extending and spaced-apart arrangement. The frame is able to rotate each of the concentrator solar cell modules along a first axis to simultaneously track the elevation of the sun during the course of a day. The frame is also able to rotate each concentrator solar cell array module along second axes that are substantially perpendicular to the first axis to track the azimuthal position of the sun during the course of the day.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a first substrate; depositing on the first substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell including a top subcell and a bottom subcell; forming a metal back contact over the bottom subcell; forming a group of discrete, spaced-apart first bonding elements over the surface of the back metal contact; attaching a surrogate substrate on top of the back metal contact using the bonding elements; and removing the first substrate to expose the surface of the top subcell.

Abstract: A solar cell receiver comprising a III-V compound semiconductor solar cell and a diode mounted on a board including a connector for electrically connecting to adjacent receivers. The diode is connected in parallel with the solar cell, for reverse biasing the diode against conductivity during operation of the solar cell in generating solar energy, and the diode is operative to provide a current bypassing the solar cell when the solar cell is damaged or shadowed. The diode has a pair of electrical connector terminals for electrical connection to the solar cell. The connector includes a first receiving section adapted for receiving a first electrical conductor to connect the receiver to adjacent receivers.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell receiver includes providing an insulative substrate having a metallized surface with a first conductive region separated from a second conductive region. The first conductive region forms a first terminal of the solar cell receiver and the second conductive region forms a second terminal of the solar cell receiver. The metallized surface has receptacles positioned around attachment regions with each attachment region corresponding to a different portion of the metallized surface. The method further includes positioning a material within the receptacles, placing a solar cell on the first conductive region and on a first one of the attachment regions, placing a second component on a second one of the attachment regions, placing a third component on a third one of the attachment regions and attaching the solar cell, the second component, and the third component to the metallized surface.

Abstract: A solar cell module comprises an array of lenses, corresponding secondary optical elements and corresponding solar cell receivers. The solar cell receiver includes a solar cell having one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers, a diode coupled in parallel with the solar cell and connector for coupling to other solar cell receivers. The module includes a housing that supports the lenses such that each lens concentrates solar energy onto its respective solar cell.

Abstract: Methods and devices for assembling a terrestrial solar tracking photovoltaic array. The methods may include securing a torque tube to an alignment fixture by positioning a flange at an end of the torque tube over a shelf on the alignment fixture and positioning a section of the torque tube inward from the flange into a receptacle on the shelf of the alignment fixture. The method may include aligning and mounting a mount to the torque tube at a point along the torque tube inward from the end of the torque tube. The method may include aligning and mounting a solar cell module to the mount with the solar cell module including an array of lenses positioned over a set of corresponding receivers that include one or more III-V compound semiconductor solar cells. The method may include removing the torque tube from the alignment fixture after the solar cell module is mounted to the mount.

Abstract: Solar cell modules for converting solar energy into electrical energy. The modules includes a housing formed from three separate members that are attached together to form an interior space. A top member extends across an open side of the housing and includes one or more lenses. One or more solar cell receivers are positioned within the interior space of the house and are aligned with one or more of the lenses to receive and convert the solar energy into electrical energy.

Abstract: A method of forming a multijunction solar cell including an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell by providing a first substrate for the epitaxial growth of semiconductor material; forming a first solar subcell on the substrate having a first band gap; forming a second solar subcell over the first solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap; forming a graded interlayer over the second subcell; forming a third solar subcell over the graded interlayer having a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell; attaching a surrogate second substrate over the third solar subcell and removing the first substrate; and etching a first trough around the periphery of the solar cell to the surrogate second substrate so as to form a mesa structure on the surrogate second substrate and facilitate the removal of the solar cell from the surrogate second substrate.

Abstract: A solar cell receiver for use in a concentrating solar system which concentrates the solar energy onto a solar cell for converting solar energy to electricity. The solar cell receiver may include a solar cell mounted on a support and with one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers. An optical element may be positioned over the solar cell and have an optical channel with an inlet that faces away from the solar cell and an outlet that faces towards the solar cell. A frame may be positioned over the support and extend around the solar cell with the frame having an inner side that extends above the support and faces towards the optical element. An encapsulant may be positioned over the support and contained between the optical element and the frame. The encapsulant may have enlarged heights at contact points with the optical element and the frame and a reduced height between the contact points away from the optical element and the frame. The solar cell receiver may be used in a solar cell module.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a first substrate; depositing on a first substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell including at least a top subcell and a bottom subcell; mounting a surrogate substrate on top of the sequence of layers adjacent to the bottom subcell; removing the first substrate to expose the surface of the top subcell; removing the surrogate substrate; and holding the solar cell on a vacuum chuck to support it for subsequent fabrication operations, such as attaching interconnects to the solar cells to form an interconnected array.

Abstract: A solar cell receiver subassembly for use in a concentrating solar system which concentrates the solar energy onto a solar cell by a factor of 1000 or more for converting solar energy to electricity, including an optical element defining an optical channel, a solar cell receiver having a support; a solar cell mounted on the support adjacent to the optical element and in the optical path of the optical channel, the solar cell comprising one or more III-V compound semiconductor layers and capable of generating in excess of 20 watts of peak DC power; a diode mounted on the support and coupled in parallel with the solar cell; and first and second electrical contacts mounted on the support and coupled in parallel with the solar cell and the diode; and an encapsulant covering the support, the solar cell, the diode, and at least a portion of the exterior sides of the optical element.

Abstract: A multijunction solar cell comprising an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap; a middle second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell and having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap, and having a base layer and an emitter layer; a graded interlayer adjacent to said second solar subcell, having a third band gap greater than the second band gap; a lower solar subcell adjacent to the grading interlayer, having a fourth band gap smaller than said second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said second subcell; and a metal electrode layer deposited on said lower subcell and having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially similar to that of the subcells.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell by providing a first substrate; depositing sequentially on the first substrate a plurality of semiconductor layers, the plurality of semiconductor layers comprising a first layer and a last layer in the direction of deposition; forming a backside contact layer on the last semiconductor layer; forming on the last semiconductor layer a back cathode contact isolated from at least a first portion of the backside contact layer, the first portion forming the anode contact; attaching a second substrate on the backside contact layer and removing the first substrate to expose the first semiconductor layer and to define a front surface and an opposite back surface of a solar cell; forming a front cathode contact on the front surface of the solar cell; etching a first trench through the plurality of semiconductor layers to define an active portion of the solar cell with a first mesa structure including the front cathode contact and the anode contact and being surrounded by the firs

Abstract: A solar cell including a semiconductor body including at least one photoactive junction, and a textured layer or coverglass having a textured surface disposed over the top surface of the semiconductor body. The textured layer may be between 200 and 1800 nm in thickness, and may have a graded index of refraction.