Abstract: An apparatus for retro-reflecting electromagnetic energy and a method for producing the same are provided. The apparatus includes a substrate and a plurality of corner mirrors disposed in said substrate. The plurality of corner mirrors may have respective angles of acceptance with respect to the substrate to be operable to retro-reflect the electromagnetic energy within the respective angles of acceptance. The plurality of corner mirrors are arranged to provide a combined angle of acceptance that is greater than any one of the respective angles of acceptance. The apparatus may also include at least one modulator disposed over at least a portion of said plurality of corner mirrors. The modulator is operable to modulate any of said electromagnetic energy received and retro-reflected.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing an electro-optic device having at least one optically transparent conducting layer with low electrical resistance. The method includes providing a composite substrate that includes an optically transparent and electrically insulating base substrate and an electrically conducting grid disposed in grooves located in the base substrate. Also provided is an electro-optical module having at least one transparent conducting layer. The composite substrate is attached onto the electro-optic module such that electrical contact is established between the grid and the transparent conducting layer of the electro-optic module.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes forming on a substrate a first thin-film absorber layer using a first deposition process. A second thin-film absorber layer is formed on the first thin-film absorber layer using a second deposition process different from the first deposition process. The first and second thin-film absorber layers are each photovoltaically active regions and the second thin-film absorber layer has a smaller concentration of defects than the first thin-film absorber layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for using a renewable source of energy such as solar, wind or geothermal energy. The method includes generating electric energy from a renewable form of energy at a plurality of locations at which reside an electric power line associated with an electric power grid. The electric energy generated at each location is transferred to the electric power line to thereby supply electric energy to the electric power grid.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a film of compound material. The method includes providing a substrate and depositing a film on the substrate. The deposited film has a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and at least one second chemical element. At least one residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing at least one second chemical element to thereby increase the content of at least one second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The content of at least one second element in the second chemical composition is larger than the content of at least one second element in the first chemical composition.

Abstract: Formation of stretchable photovoltaic devices and carriers is described. In some examples, a formation method includes: forming a stretchable carrier including a stretchable part having a given length, the given length being operable to change in response to a force being applied to the stretchable carrier; depositing a photovoltaic cell over a surface of the stretchable carrier; and interconnecting the photovoltaic cell to output terminals.

Abstract: A method for producing a film of compound semiconductor includes providing a substrate and a compound bulk material having a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and a second chemical element. A film is deposited on the substrate using the compound bulk material as a single source of material. The deposited film has a composition substantially the same as the first chemical composition. A residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing the second chemical element to thereby increase the content of the second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The film may be employed in a photovoltaic device.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A patterned photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell, at least one carrier substrate attached to the cell, and at least one opening extending through the cell and the carrier substrate.

Abstract: A stretchable photovoltaic device, a stretchable photovoltaic module and a carrier for facilitating formation of a stretchable photovoltaic device and/or module are provided. The stretchable photovoltaic device includes a stretchable part, at least one photovoltaic cell and a surface over which that at least one photovoltaic cell is disposed. The stretchable part has a given length that is operable to change in response to a force being applied to the device. The given length may, for example, elongate when the force causes the device to elongate. Alternative and/or additionally, the given length may compress when the force causes the device to compress.

Abstract: Formation of stretchable photovoltaic devices and carriers is described. In some examples, a formation method includes: forming a stretchable carrier including a stretchable part having a given length, the given length being operable to change in response to a force being applied to the stretchable carrier; depositing a photovoltaic cell over a surface of the stretchable carrier; and interconnecting the photovoltaic cell to output terminals.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided which includes a plurality of junction layers. Each junction layer includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to one another. At least one of the junction layers is at least in part optically transmissive. The junction layers are arranged in a stack on top of each other.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a thin-film device such as a photovoltaic device. The method begins by forming at least one semiconductor device on a first substrate. At least one secondary substrate having a plurality of indentations is attached to the at least one semiconductor device. The at least one semiconductor device is separated from the at least one first substrate.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed in an array in which each cell is adjacent to another cell. Each of the cells includes first and second photovoltaic modules. The first photovoltaic module of each cell is configured to convert a first part of light energy incident thereon into electrical energy and to reflect to the second photovoltaic module of an adjacent cell at least some of a remaining portion of light energy incident thereon. The second photovoltaic module of each cell is configured to convert into electrical energy the remaining portion of the light energy received from the first photovoltaic module of an adjacent cell.

Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing an electro-optic device having at least one optically transparent conducting layer with low electrical resistance. The method includes providing a composite substrate that includes an optically transparent and electrically insulating base substrate and an electrically conducting grid disposed in grooves located in the base substrate. Also provided is an electro-optical module having at least one transparent conducting layer. The composite substrate is attached onto the electro-optic module such that electrical contact is established between the grid and the transparent conducting layer of the electro-optic module.

Abstract: An electro-optic device includes at least one electro-optic module having first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. At least one optically transparent, electrically insulating base substrate is disposed on the module. The base substrate has a plurality of grooves disposed therein and an electrically conducting material filling the grooves. Electrical contact is established between the conducting material and at least one of the conducting layers of the module.

Abstract: A method is provided for producing a hybrid multi-junction photovoltaic device. The method begins by providing a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules. Each of the modules is a fully functional, thin-film, photovoltaic device and includes first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. The method continues by disposing the modules one on top of another and hybridly adhering them to each other. At least one of the modules is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least part of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.

Abstract: A laminate film includes a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other. Each of the modules includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. At least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.