Patents Assigned to Evergreen Solar Inc.
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Patent number: 7507291Abstract: Methods and apparatus for concurrent growth of multiple crystalline ribbons from a single crucible employ meniscus shapers to facilitate continuous growth of discrete and substantially flat crystalline ribbons having controlled width.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2006Date of Patent: March 24, 2009Assignee: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventor: Richard Lee Wallace, Jr.
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Publication number: 20090061224Abstract: A method of making string for string ribbon crystal provides a substrate having an outer surface, and extrudes refractory material over the substrate. The refractory material substantially covers the outer surface of the substrate. The method then cures the refractory material.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Christine Richardson, Lawrence Felton
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Publication number: 20090061197Abstract: A ribbon crystal has a body and end string within the body. At least one end string has a generally concave cross-sectional shape and is formed from at least two individual strings.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 16, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventor: Scott Reitsma
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Publication number: 20090060823Abstract: A string for use in a string ribbon crystal has a base portion with a refractory material, and an externally exposed layer radially outward of the refractory material. The base portion has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is generally matched with the coefficient of thermal expansion for silicon. The externally exposed layer has a contact angle with silicon of between about 15 and 120 degrees.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Christine Richardson, Weidong Huang, Richard Wallace, Daniel Doble, Scott Reitsma
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Publication number: 20090061163Abstract: A ribbon crystal has a body with a width dimension, and string embedded within the body. The string has a generally elongated cross-sectional shape. This cross-section (of the string) has a generally longitudinal axis that diverges with the width dimension of the ribbon crystal body.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventor: Scott Reitsma
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Publication number: 20090025787Abstract: A method of processing a ribbon crystal provides a string ribbon crystal, and removes at least one edge of the string ribbon crystal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2008Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventor: Andrew Gabor
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Publication number: 20080308034Abstract: A ribbon crystal pulling furnace has an interior for enclosing at least a portion of one or more ribbon crystals, and an afterheater positioned within the interior. The afterheater has at least one wall with one or more openings that facilitate control of the temperature profile within the furnace.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Weidong Huang, David Harvey, Scott Reitsma
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Publication number: 20080308035Abstract: A ribbon crystal pulling furnace has a base insulation and a liner insulation removably connected to the base insulation. At least a portion of the liner insulation forms an interior for containing a crucible.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 13, 2008Publication date: December 18, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Richard Wallace, David Harvey, Weidong Huang, Scott Reitsma, Christine Richardson
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Publication number: 20080223433Abstract: A solar module includes a plurality of interconnected photovoltaic cells, an encapsulant layer encapsulating the photovoltaic cells, the encapsulant layer having a first side, a protective layer coupled to the first side of the encapsulant layer, and a stiffening layer coupled to the protective layer, the stiffening layer having an open support structure that provides stiffness to the solar module.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2008Publication date: September 18, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Jack I. Hanoka, Joseph Woods
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Patent number: 7407550Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing a crystalline or poly-crystalline body from a melt is described, wherein the melt is retained by capillary attachment to edge features of a mesa crucible. The boundary profile of the resulting melt surface results in an effect which induces a ribbon grown from the surface of the melt to grow as a flat body. Further, the size of the melt pool is substantially reduced by bringing these edges close to the ribbon, thereby reducing the materials cost and electric power cost associated with the process.Type: GrantFiled: October 17, 2003Date of Patent: August 5, 2008Assignee: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventor: Emanuel Michael Sachs
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Publication number: 20080149170Abstract: A solar cell module adapted for direct intercoupling with another solar cell module. The solar cell module has a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed within an integral enclosure, a plurality of bypass diodes coupled in shunt across a subset of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and at least one electrical connector adapted for intercoupling with another solar cell module constituting the sole path for delivery of electrical power from all of the plurality of photovoltaic cells of the solar cell module. Stiffening members may be coupled to a backskin of the solar cell module for providing rigidity of the module with respect to deflection.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2007Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventor: Jack I. Hanoka
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Publication number: 20080134964Abstract: A system for producing a crystal formed from a material with impurities has a crucible for containing the material. The crucible has, among other things, a crystal region for forming the crystal, an introduction region for receiving the material, and a removal region for removing a portion of the material. The crucible is configured to produce a generally one directional flow of the material (in liquid form) from the introduction region toward the removal region. This generally one directional flow causes the removal region to have a higher concentration of impurities than the introduction region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventors: David Harvey, Weidong Huang, Richard L. Wallace, Leo van Glabbeek, Emanuel M. Sachs
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Publication number: 20080111206Abstract: A method of processing a substrate having first and second surfaces applies a first dopant in liquid form on the first surface of the substrate, and applies a second dopant in liquid form on the second surface of the substrate. The method then causes the first and second dopants to diffuse into the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2007Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Jack I. Hanoka, Christopher E. Dube, Carolyn K. Schad
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Publication number: 20080105193Abstract: A method and apparatus for growing a crystalline or poly-crystalline body from a melt is described, wherein the melt is retained by capillary attachment to edge features of a mesa crucible. The boundary profile of the resulting melt surface results in an effect which induces a ribbon grown from the surface of the melt to grow as a flat body. Further, the size of the melt pool is substantially reduced by bringing these edges close to the ribbon, thereby reducing the materials cost and electric power cost associated with the process.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2007Publication date: May 8, 2008Applicant: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventor: Emanuel Sachs
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Publication number: 20080102605Abstract: A furnace for growing a ribbon crystal has a channel for growing a ribbon crystal at a given rate in a given direction, and a separating mechanism for separating a portion from the growing ribbon crystal. At least a part of the separating mechanism moves at about the given rate and in about the given direction while separating the portion from the growing ribbon crystal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2007Publication date: May 1, 2008Applicant: EVERGREEN SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Leo van Glabbeek, Brian Atchley, Robert E. Janoch, Andrew P. Anselmo, Scott Reitsma
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Publication number: 20080072951Abstract: Interconnected solar cells include a first solar cell and a second solar cell connected by a wire with a coefficient of thermal expansion matched to the first solar cell's coefficient of thermal expansion.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2007Publication date: March 27, 2008Applicant: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventor: Andrew Gabor
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Publication number: 20070254462Abstract: Semiconductor materials such as silicon particles are doped by mixing the semiconductor material with a solution having a dopan and a solvent. The solvent is removed from the wetted surface of the particles of the semiconductor material, thereby yielding particles that are substantially free from the solvent and are uniformly coated with the dopant.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 20, 2007Publication date: November 1, 2007Applicant: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventors: Mary Cretella, Richard Wallace
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Patent number: 7267721Abstract: Group IV nanocrystals, such as, for example, silicon nanocrysals and germanium nanocrystals, with chemically accessible surfaces are produced in solution reactions. Group IV halides can be reduced in organic solvents such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane (glyme), with soluable reducing agents to give halide-terminated group IV nanocrystals, which can then be easily functionalized with alkyl lithium, Grignard or other reagents to synthesize group IV nanocrystals having air and moisture stable surfaces. Synthesis can occur at ambient temperature and pressure.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2004Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Evergreen Solar, Inc.Inventors: Susan M. Kauzlarich, Richard K. Baldwin
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Patent number: 7232484Abstract: Semiconductor materials such as silicon particles are doped by mixing the semiconductor material with a solution having a dopan and a solvent. The solvent is removed from the wetted surface of the particles of the semiconductor material, thereby yielding particles that are substantially free from the solvent and are uniformly coated with the dopant.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Assignee: Evergreen Solar Inc.Inventors: Mary C. Cretella, Richard L. Wallace, Jr.
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Patent number: 7214599Abstract: Silicon nanocrystals with chemically accessible surfaces are produced in solution in high yield. Silicon tetrahalide such as silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) can be reduced in organic solvents, such as 1,2-dimethoxyethane(glyme), with soluble reducing agents, such as sodium naphthalenide, to give halide-terminated (e.g., chloride-terminated) silicon nanocrystals, which can then be easily functionalized with alkyl lithium, Grignard or other reagents to give easily processed silicon nanocrystals with an air and moisture stable surface. The synthesis can be used to prepare alkyl-terminated nanocrystals at ambient temperature and pressure in high yield. The two-step process allows a wide range of surface functionality.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2004Date of Patent: May 8, 2007Assignee: Evergreen Solar Inc.Inventors: Susan M. Kauzlarich, Richard K. Baldwin