Patents Assigned to Solopower, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8497152
    Abstract: A deposition method and a system are provided to deposit a CdS buffer layer on a surface of a solar cell absorber layer of a flexible workpiece from a process solution including all chemical components of the CdS buffer layer material. CdS is deposited from the deposition solution while the flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by a series of shaping rollers to retain the process solution on the solar cell absorber layer and while the flexible workpiece is heated by contacting to a heated liquid that the shaping rollers are fully or partially immersed. The flexible workpiece is elastically shaped by pulling a back surface of the flexible workpiece into surface cavity of the shaping rollers using magnetic force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Jalal Ashjaee
  • Publication number: 20130160824
    Abstract: A solar module having a curved surface to facilitate shedding of accumulated snow and water. The module can also be angled to achieve the same. The module includes a housing with a curved or angled upper surface and solar cells are positioned within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Khouri, Mark Ensor
  • Publication number: 20130160823
    Abstract: A solar module having a curved surface to facilitate shedding of accumulated snow and water. The module can also be angled to achieve the same. The module includes a housing with a curved or angled upper surface and solar cells are positioned within the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Khouri, Mustafa Pinarbasi, Mark Ensor, Robert Campbell
  • Patent number: 8444842
    Abstract: An electrochemical co-deposition method and solution to plate uniform, defect free and smooth (In,Ga)—Se films with repeatability and controllable molar ratios of (In,Ga) to Se are provided. Such layers are used in fabrication of semiconductor and electronic devices such as thin film solar cells. In one embodiment, the present invention provides an alkaline electrodeposition solution that includes an In salt, a Se acid or oxide, a tartrate salt as complexing agent for the In species, and a solvent to electrodeposit an In—Se film possessing sub-micron thickness on a conductive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiaxiong Wang, Serdar Aksu, Bulent M. Basol
  • Publication number: 20130112564
    Abstract: The embodiment described herein relate to pulse electroplating methods and solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: SOLOPOWER, INC.
    Inventor: SOLOPOWER, INC.
  • Patent number: 8425753
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and precursor structure to form a solar cell absorber layer. The method includes electrodepositing a first layer including a film stack including at least a first film comprising copper, a second film comprising indium and a third film comprising gallium, wherein the first layer includes a first amount of copper, electrodepositing a second layer onto the first layer, the second layer including at least one of a second copper-indium-gallium-ternary alloy film, a copper-indium binary alloy film, a copper-gallium binary alloy film and a copper-selenium binary alloy film, wherein the second layer includes a second amount of copper, which is higher than the first amount of copper, and electrodepositing a third layer onto the second layer, the third layer including selenium; and reacting the precursor stack to form an absorber layer on the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar Aksu, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Publication number: 20130096710
    Abstract: A system and method of manufacturing solar panels whereby parameters about how each cell, each array and each panel are recorded in a database or electronic memory. The cells, arrays and panels are also provided an identification, such as a bar code, to allow for subsequent retrieval of the parameters. The electronic memory is arranged so that different cells, arrays and panels that share the same parameters can be identified.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Mustafa Pinarbasi, Howard Zolla, Serkan Erdemli
  • Patent number: 8415559
    Abstract: Precursor layers and methods of forming Group IBIIIAVIA solar cell absorbers with bandgap grading using such precursor layers are described. The Group IBIIIAVIA absorber includes a top surface with a Ga/(Ga+In) molar ratio in the range of 0.1-0.3. The Group IBIIIAVIA solar cell absorber is formed by reacting the layers of a multilayer material structure which includes a metallic film including Cu, In and Ga formed on a base, a layer of Se formed on the metallic film, and a second metallic layer substantially including Ga formed on the layer of Se.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Bulent M. Basol
  • Patent number: 8409418
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and precursor structure to form a Group IBIIIAIVA solar cell absorber layer. The method includes forming a Group IBIIIAVIA compound layer on a base by forming a precursor layer on the base through electrodepositing three different films, and then reacting the precursor layer with selenium to form the Group IBIIIAVIA compound layer on the base. The three films, described by the precursor layer, include in one embodiment a first alloy film comprising copper, indium and gallium, a second alloy film comprising copper and selenium formed on the first alloy film; and a selenium film formed on the second alloy film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar Aksu, Jiaxiong Wang, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 8404512
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for forming a doped Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer for a solar cell. The method includes forming precursor layers that include a dopant rich layer and then annealing the precursor layers. The annealing process results in dopants diffusing through the layers to an exterior surface. The annealing process is periodically halted to remove dopants from the exposed surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar Aksu, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Publication number: 20130061803
    Abstract: The present inventions provide method and apparatus that employ constituents from one or more constituent supply source or sources to form one or more films of a precursor layer formed on a surface of a continuous flexible workpiece. Of particular significance is the implementation of PVD systems that operate upon a horizontally disposed portion of a continuous flexible workpiece and a vertically disposed portion of a continuous flexible workpiece, preferably in conjunction with a short free-span zone of the portion of a continuous flexible workpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: SOLOPOWER, INC.
    Inventors: Jorge Vasquez, James Freitag, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Publication number: 20120325282
    Abstract: A plurality of solar cells is connected together in a shingled fashion. Each of the solar cells includes grid wires that are attached to an electrode of the solar cell so as to receive charge carriers produced when photons are absorbed by the solar cell. The grid wires are then interconnected with adjacent solar cells when the solar cells are shingled together. The grid wires may be applied to the solar cells via a laminate and the electrical interconnection of the grid wires may be achieved by the use of a conductive epoxy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Snow, Eric Lee, Burak Metin, Serkan Erdemli, Anjuli Appapillai
  • Publication number: 20120318319
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprises a first group of solar cells; a second group of solar cells; a first interconnection member extending across a first surface of the first group of solar cells and across a first surface of the second group of solar cells to connect the first and second groups of solar cells in parallel; and a second interconnection member extending across a second surface of the first group of solar cells and across a second surface of the second group of solar cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Mustafa Pinarbasi, Burak Metin
  • Publication number: 20120318318
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprises a first bypass diode and a first group of solar cells connected to the first bypass diode. The first group of solar cells comprises a first solar cell, a second solar cell connected in series to the first solar cell, and a third solar cell connected in parallel to the first solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Burak Metin, Deepak Nayak, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Publication number: 20120309125
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for forming a buffer layer for Group IBIIIAVIA solar cells. The buffer layer is formed using chemical bath deposition and the layer is formed in steps. A first buffer layer is formed on the absorber and the first buffer layer is then treated using etching, oxidizing, annealing or some combination thereof. Subsequently a second buffer layer is then positioned on the treated surface. Additional buffer layers can be added following treatment of the previously deposited layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Serdar Aksu, Sarah Lastella, Mustafa Pinarbasi
  • Patent number: 8323408
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus are described that form a solar cell absorber on a surface of a workpiece by reacting a precursor layer disposed on the surface of the workpiece with an absorber constituent vapor in a heating chamber. The absorber constituent material is delivered from an absorber constituent material delivery system in molten form into a container in the heating chamber and vaporized to be used during the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard G. Zolla, Douglas W. Young, Bulent M. Basol
  • Patent number: 8323735
    Abstract: A method and a system are provided for forming planar absorber layers or structures by planarizing and reacting precursor layers in a reactor. A precursor structure is first formed over the front surface of a foil substrate and then planarized through application of pressure by a smooth surface while heated to a first temperature range to obtain a planar layer. The planar layer may be only partially reacted. The planar layer is further reacted at a second temperature range to form a fully or completely reacted planar absorber layer. The planar absorber layer may include at least one Group IB material, at least one Group IIIA material and at least one Group VIA material. The planar absorber layer may be a Group IBIIIAVIA compound layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Bulent M. Basol
  • Patent number: 8318240
    Abstract: The present inventions relate to methods and apparatus for detecting and mechanically removing defects and a surrounding portion of the photovoltaic layer and the substrate in a thin film solar cell such as a Group IBIIIAVIA compound thin film solar cell to improve its efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Geordie Zapalac, David Soltz, Bulent M. Basol
  • Patent number: 8318530
    Abstract: Described is a continuous electroless deposition method and a system to form a solar cell buffer layer with a varying composition through its thickness are provided. The composition of the buffer layer is varied by varying the composition of a chemical bath deposition solution applied onto an absorber surface on which the buffer layer with varying composition is formed. In one example, the buffer layer with varying composition includes a first section containing CdS, a second section containing CdZnS formed on top of the already deposited CdS, and a third section containing ZnS is formed on the second section All the process steps are applied in a roll-to-roll fashion. In another example, a transparent conductive layer including a first transparent conductive film such as aluminum doped zinc oxide and a second transparent conductive film such as indium tin oxide is deposited over the buffer layer with the varying composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent M. Basol, Mustafa Pinarbasi, James Freitag
  • Patent number: 8318239
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present invention provide a defect detection process and apparatus to detect defects in solar cell structures. During the process, an input signal from a signal source is applied to a top surface of a transparent conductive layer of a solar cell structure. In response to the input signal, an output signal is generated from a predetermined area of the top surface and detected by a defect detector. The output signal carrying the defect position information is transmitted to a computer and registered in a database. With the position information, an injector is driven to the defect location to apply an insulator to passivate the defect. A finger pattern layer may be formed over the predetermined area after completing the defect detection and passivation processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: SoloPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Bulent M. Basol, David Soltz