Abstract: An asymmetrical shaped capillary die made exclusively of graphite is used to grow silicon ribbon which is capable of being made into solar cells that are more efficient than cells produced from ribbon made using a symmetrically shaped die.

Abstract: An improved furnace is provided for growing crystalline bodies from a melt. The improved furnace is characterized by a door assembly which is remotely controlled and is arranged so as to selectively shut off or permit communication between an access port in the furnace enclosure and a hot zone within that enclosure. The invention is especially adapted to facilitate use of crystal growing cartridges of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,118,197.

Abstract: A simple method for plating nickel onto silicon which renders unnecessary any catalyzing pretreatment of the silicon surface which is to receive the nickel. The method comprises the immersion of a silicon substrate in a suitable nickel bath in order that nickel ions in the bath will be reduced to solid nickel and deposited onto the substrate so as to form an adhering layer thereon. The method is especially advantageous in plating nickel onto silicon shallow junction devices for the purpose of providing ohmic contacts.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring the growth of a crystalline body from a liquid meniscus in a furnace. The system provides an improved human/machine interface so as to reduce operator stress, strain and fatigue while improving the conditions for observation and control of the growing process. The system comprises suitable optics for forming an image of the meniscus and body wherein the image is anamorphic so that the entire meniscus can be viewed with good resolution in both the width and height dimensions. The system also comprises a video display for displaying the anamorphic image. The video display includes means for enhancing the contrast between any two contrasting points in the image. The video display also comprises a signal averager for averaging the intensity of at least one preselected portions of the image. The value of the average intensity, can in turn be utilized to control the growth of the body.

Abstract: A belt-roller crystal pulling mechanism is described. The belt-roller comprises a single driven belt having a vertical run, and a set of pivotally mounted follower rollers for urging the growing crystal in contact with the belt. The pivot mount enables bends or buckles in the crystal to go through the belt and rollers without causing wiggle at the growth interface which might otherwise cause the growing crystal to break free from the meniscus.

Abstract: The growth of a crystalline body of a selected material is controlled so that the body has a selected cross-sectional shape. The apparatus is of the type which includes the structure normally employed in known capillary die devices as well as means for observing at least the portion of the surfaces of the growing crystalline body and the meniscus (of melt material from which the body is being pulled) including the solid/liquid/vapor junction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the meniscus surface formed at the junction when the growth of the crystalline body is under steady state conditions.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring the growth of a crystalline body from a liquid meniscus in a furnace. The system provides an improved human/machine interface so as to reduce operator stress, strain and fatigue while improving the conditions for observation and control of the growing process. The system comprises suitable optics for forming an image of the meniscus and body wherein the image is anamorphic so that the entire meniscus can be viewed with good resolution in both the width and height dimensions. The system also comprises a video display for displaying the anamorphic image. The video display includes means for enhancing the contrast between any two contrasting points in the image. The video display also comprises a signal averager for averaging the intensity of at least one preselected portions of the image. The value of the average intensity, can in turn be utilized to control the growth of the body.

Abstract: An improved method of growing ribbon-shaped crystalline bodies is disclosed. The method comprises the step of pulling the body from a melt pool through a very narrow gap as the body cools through a range of temperatures at which significant plastic deformation can occur so as to reduce the amount of buckling the body otherwise experienced due to transverse residual stress. The method in its preferred form utilizes an improved guidance mechanism for use with apparatus for growing ribbon-shaped bodies. The mechanism comprises a pair of heat-conductive plates rigidly positioned with respect to the melt pool.

Abstract: The growth of a crystalline body of a selected material is controlled so that the body has a selected cross-sectional shape. The apparatus is of the type which includes the structure normally employed in known capillary die devices as well as means for observing at least the portion of the surfaces of the growing crystalline body and the meniscus (of melt material from which the body is being pulled) including the solid/liquid/vapor junction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the meniscus surface formed at the junction when the growth of the crystalline body is under steady state conditions.

Abstract: A crystal growth guidance mechanism for use in crystal growing apparatus. The guidance mechanism, which is disposed between a crystal puller and a crystal forming die comprises a plurality of gravity damped guide rods mounted on ramped supports. The rods have sufficient mass and number so that when acting in unison the rods will provide sufficient resistance to prevent puller induced motion in the crystal from being translated down into the die top, while individual guide rods "float" on the surface of the growing crystal whereby each rod will move out of the way of any localized surface perturbations in the growing crystal.

Abstract: A temperature profile controller is provided for cooling a crystal as it is pulled from a melt so that a substantially linear temperature gradient is established and maintained along the length of the crystal as it is cooled, whereby to prevent or reduce the occurrence of residual stresses in the crystal.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for monitoring the growth of a crystalline-body from a liquid meniscus in a furnace. The system provides an improved human/machine interface so as to reduce operator stress, strain and fatigue while improving the conditions for observation and control of the growing process. The system comprises suitable optics for forming an image of the meniscus and body wherein the image is anamorphic so that the entire meniscus can be viewed with good resolution in both the width and height dimensions. The system also comprises a video display for displaying the anamorphic image. The video display includes means for enhancing the contrast between any two contrasting points in the image. The video display also comprises a signal averager for averaging the intensity of at least one preselected portions of the image. The value of the average intensity, can in turn be utilized to control the growth of the body.

Abstract: Solar cell array and method for manufacturing same wherein the individual cells of the array are sandwiched and held resiliently captive between and electrically isolated from a transparent protective front cover and a protective rear substrate by an encapsulating transparent silicone elastomer cast in situ in the interstices between the cover, the cells, and the substrate, the elastomer being introduced, while fluid, into the sandwich through the same terminals used for the electrical connection of the array to its electrical load.

Abstract: A system for and method of growing a crystalline body of a selected material is described, whereby the body grown is of a selected cross-sectional shape. The system and method are used in accordance with known capillary die techniques and further includes observing opposite edge portions of the growing body, preferably just above the meniscus (of melt material from which the body is being pulled). The cross-sectional size of the growing crystalline body can be controlled by determining when horizontal shifts occur in the edge portions relative to each other as well as the same predetermined reference position.

Abstract: The invention is an improved apparatus for use in a system for growing crystalline bodies from the melt. The apparatus is a novel crucible-die in which the crucible forms an integral part of the die.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of growing a crystalline body of a selected material so that the body has a selected cross-sectional shape. The method includes the steps normally employed in known capillary die processes and further includes observing at least the portion of the surfaces of the growing crystalline body and the meniscus (of melt material from which the body is being pulled) including the solid/liquid/vapor junction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the meniscus surface formed at the junction when the growth of the crystalline body is under steady state conditions. The cross-sectional size of the growing crystalline body can be controlled by determining which points exhibit a sharp change in the amount of reflected radiation of a preselected wavelength and controlling the speed at which the body is being pulled or the temperature of the growth pool of melt so as to maintain those points exhibiting a sharp change at a preselected spatial position relative to a predetermined reference position.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for controlling the growth of a crystalline body of a selected material so that the body has a selected cross-sectional shape. The apparatus includes the structure normally employed in known capillary die devices and further includes means for observing at least the portion of the surfaces of the growing crystalline body and the meniscus (of melt material from which the body is being pulled) including the solid/liquid/vapor junction in a direction substantially perpendicular to the meniscus surface formed at the junction when the growth of the crystalline body is under steady state conditions.

Abstract: A temperature profile controller is provided for cooling a crystal as it is pulled from a melt so that a substantially linear temperature gradient is established and maintained along the length of the crystal as it is cooled, whereby to prevent or reduce the occurrence of residual stresses in the crystal.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of producing solar cells having a composite shallow/deep junction device construction. The solar cells have grid-like contacts on their front energy-receiving sides, with each portion of each contact being coincident, i.e., aligned with, the deep junction regions while the shallow junction regions are exposed to incident radiation. The composite junction and contacts are formed by a novel method which employs conventional techniques, notably the use of doped oxide films as diffusion sources.

Abstract: A solar energy assembly is disclosed comprising at least one hermetically sealed envelope in which a trough-shaped radiation collector having a reflective surface is disposed so as to receive incident solar radiation through the wall of said envelope. Radiation conversion means comprising at least one solar cell is positioned inside the trough to receive radiation concentrated by the collector. The collector and the radiation conversion means may be formed as a unit for joint positioning inside the envelope. Means may be provided for orienting the envelope toward the sun and a cooling fluid may be circulated through the envelope in order to maintain the temperature below a suitable level.