Abstract: Solar roof for motor vehicles with a solar generator having solar cells for supplying power to a power consumer and/or a battery and with a D.C. converter for impedance matching between the solar generator and the consumer and/or battery. The D.C. converter is a flat module and is integrated into the solar cell carrying roof panel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photocell including means for providing protection against the accumulation of electrostatic charge, to a method of manufacturing it, and to a solar panel including such cells.A photocell of the invention includes a circuit for drawing off electrostatic charge that is efficient but is of low mass and that masks incident solar radiation very little.The circuit for drawing off charge comprises a grid of material that is optionally transparent on the outside surface of the protective glass sheet of the photocell, said grid being connected to the cell's electrode for current collection. Advantageously, the grid of the circuit for drawing off electrostatic charge is superposed over the grid of the electrode for collecting the current generated by the photocell.

Abstract: The roof of a solar house includes a plurality of crosspieces arranged parallel to each other, and a solar battery roofing for the solar house is fixed to the crosspieces. The solar battery is formed of a plurality of solar cells connected in series to form a solar cell row arranged parallel to the crosspieces. In case a plurality of solar cell rows is used, the solar cell rows are arranged parallel to each other, and the first and last solar cells in the rows are electrically connected to each other.

Abstract: A process for producing a layer of cadmium sulfide on a cadmium telluride surface to be employed in a photovoltaic device. The process comprises providing a cadmium telluride surface which is exposed to a hydrogen sulfide plasma at an exposure flow rate, an exposure time and an exposure temperature sufficient to permit reaction between the hydrogen sulfide and cadmium telluride to thereby form a cadmium sulfide layer on the cadmium telluride surface and accomplish passivation. In addition to passivation, a heterojunction at the interface of the cadmium sulfide and the cadmium telluride can be formed when the layer of cadmium sulfide formed on the cadmium telluride is of sufficient thickness.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell, comprising the steps of forming a layer of n-type compound semiconductor, a layer of p-type compound semiconductor, and an electrode layer on a glass substrate, wherein at least one of said steps of forming a layer of compound semiconductor layer comprises preparing a paste by mixing a semiconductor raw material and a viscous agent, applying said paste to said substrate, drying said paste to harden it, and firing the dried paste, and vibrating said substrate during or after the application of the paste, to remove the bubbles in the paste, resulting in a semiconductor layer which is smooth, dense, and having good adhesion, thus realizing a solar cell with improved and uniform characteristics.

Abstract: A solar energy concentrator apparatus which simultaneously focuses incident solar radiation upon both sides of a bifacial photovoltaic cell. The concentrator apparatus includes a corrugated-shaped reflector sheet and an open-grid support structure. Bifacial photovoltaic cells are held in place by the open-grid support structure and are mounted either horizontally or vertically with respect to the plane of the reflector sheet. The cells are specifically positioned so as to receive solar radiation--either directly or by reflection--at 90.degree. angles to their surfaces. The system is designed to operate in conjunction with any one of the tracking systems currently available in the industry whereby the apparatus is maintained at a 90.degree. angle with respect to the angle of incidence of the sun.

Abstract: An evacuable chamber serving as a cathode contains a rotatable magnet system and is connected to a high frequency power supply for sputtering a target. The chamber is electrically isolated from an evacuable housing containing the substrate to be coated, the chamber being covered by a cup-like shield fixed to the housing to define an interior space. A pipe for evacuating the chamber includes first and second sections separated by a gap and connected by an electrically insulating collar in which parallel metal grids are installed in the gap and respectively connected to the power source and to ground in order to prevent the formation of secondary plasma.

Abstract: Three dimensional deep contact amorphous silicon/microcrystalline silicon (a-Si/.mu.c-Si) solar cells which use deep (high aspect ratio) p and n contacts to create high electric fields within the carrier collection volume material of the cell. The deep contacts are fabricated using repetitive pulsed laser doping so as to create the high aspect p and n contacts. By the provision of the deep contacts which penetrate the electric field deep into the material where the high strength of the field can collect many of the carriers, thereby resulting in a high efficiency solar cell.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a three-dimensionally shaped photovoltaic device involves first forming a photovoltaic element on a flexible substrate, preferably while it is flat, and then deforming the substrate to achieve the three-dimensional shape. Preferably a crystalline photovoltaic conversion layer is first formed on the flat substrate, then the layer is cut or divided while leaving the substrate uncut to form a plurality of separate adjacent photovoltaic elements on the substrate, and finally the substrate is deformed into the three-dimensional shape. The cutting can be carried out by laser irradiation. The deforming can be carried out by providing a shape memory member as the substrate, or bonding a shape memory member onto the substrate, and then restoring the shape memory member to its previously memorized three-dimensional shape.

Abstract: A process and apparatus (70) for making a large area photovoltaic device (22) that is capable of generating low cost electrical power. The apparatus (70) for performing the process includes an enclosure (126) providing a controlled environment in which an oven (156) is located. At least one and preferably a plurality of deposition stations (74,76,78) provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within the oven (156) for continuous elevated temperature deposition of semiconductor material on a sheet substrate (24) including a glass sheet (26) conveyed within the oven. The sheet substrate (24) is conveyed on a roller conveyor (184) within the oven (156) and the semiconductor material whose main layer (82) is cadmium telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface (28) of the substrate by each deposition station from a location within the oven above the roller conveyor.

Abstract: A sputtering device for improving adhesion of a deposited film by attaching a grating set to a shield is provided. The sputtering device comprises a sputtering chamber, a first electrode which supports a substrate and is used as an electrode within the sputtering chamber, a target composed of a source material to be sputtered toward the first electrode, a second electrode attached to the target, a shield which is insulated from the second electrode and attached beneath the target, and a grating set which is attached to the shield, for changing the paths of the sputtered particles. The path of particles moving near the shield during sputtering, e.g., sputtered particles or neutralized plasma ions, is changed into a vertical direction with respect to the substrate via the grating set. As a result, the film formed over the whole surface of the substrate has a compressive stress, thereby improving the adhesion.

Abstract: A target assembly in which the sputtering material is not soldered or otherwise metallurgically bonded to a backing plate. Rather, the target, which is homogeneously manufactured of sputtering material, is mechanically coupled (e.g., with bolts) to an adapter, which is itself permanently affixed to the chamber. As a result, the target can be easily uncoupled from the chamber and replaced, without also requiring removal and replacement of a backing plate.

Abstract: A process for producing a solar cell module is characterized in that a grid electrode is formed having a coating comprising an epoxy resin of 20 g/m.sup.2 .multidot.day.multidot.0.1 mm/40.degree. C..multidot.90%RH or less in moisture permeability which is disposed so as to cover the entire exposed exterior of said grid electrode. The solar cell module is free of short-circuits between the grid electrode and the lower electrode even upon repeated use under severe environmental conditions of high temperature and high humidity, and continuously exhibits a desirable photoelectric conversion efficiency over a long period of time.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus deposits a material layer on a substrate. The apparatus includes a tube extending partially between the target and substrate, to selectively prevent portions of the target material flux from reaching the substrate to provide a more symmetrical deposition flux at each region of the substrate. In one aspect, the tube includes a single tubular wall which provides an inner and an outer particle blocking surface. The upper end of the inner surface of the tube is positioned to block, from the substrate edge, that portion of the sputtering target surface inward of the substrate edge which exceeds the target surface located outward of the substrate edge, and the lower surface of the outer wall is located to block access of particles sputtered from the edge of the target to the center of the substrate.

Abstract: Individual solar cells are disposed in a stacked-cell solar module alternately as p-i-n, n-i-p, p-i-n and so on, the solar-cell stack is patterned in strip-like fashion and the interconnection is carried out by means of comb-like electrode structures which connect the p-type sides of the solar cells of a stack to the n-type sides of the solar cells of the adjacent stack. The solar module, which can be produced in integrated form is connected in parallel within a stack and in series between the stacks. By simply repeating the manufacturing steps, stacks can be built in this way from two or more solar cells, which have a reduced light aging compared with known solar modules.

Abstract: An improved shield structure for use in a sputtering apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate is disclosed. The cylindrically shaped shield structure, which extends over the ends of a cylindrical sputtering target, has at least one annular structure extending around an outside surface of the shield. The annular structure is dimensioned to interrupt or suppress movement of any arc which might otherwise travel across its outside surface. In a preferred embodiment, the annular structure is a groove capable of trapping any such arc therein and preventing its escape therefrom. In another preferred embodiment, the improved shield structure is electrically isolated such that it is prevented from becoming an anode. In this manner, the electrically isolated shield structure inhibits the formation of severe arcs between it and the cathodic target.

Abstract: The present photoelectric conversion device includes a photo-receiving surface generating electron-hole pairs due to a distortion of an energy band thereof after receiving light, and two contacts contacting the photo-receiving surface for separating the electron-hole pairs. By this disclosure, a cost-effective, easily-makable photoelectric conversion device made by a clean manufacturing process is provided. A preferred MOS photoelectric conversion device of the present invention is made by using a silicon substrate having an upper surface and a lower surface, growing an oxide layer on the upper surface of the silicon substrate, forming a first metal contact layer on said oxide layer, forming a second metal contact layer on the lower surface of the silicon substrate, and breaking the MOS structure into several parts each having a broken surface to serve as a photo-receiving surface.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of a photoelectrochemical cell and a cell made by this method. A disadvantage of such cells (1) is the fact that their efficiency is not sufficient for economic use. It is therefore the aim of the invention to avoid this disadvantage. The method according to the invention makes it possible to produce a photoelectrochemical cell (1) comprising a porous electrode (4), the effective surface of which is by a factor 700 greater than that of electrodes of comparable size.

Abstract: A roof with solar battery Y is structured to support the solar battery module 3 on the base panel 2 by means of cores 6 and frame 11. The solar battery can be ventilated by air flow through ventilation layer 1A between the solar battery module 3 and the base panel 2. The frame 11 is designed to provide waterproofing by the seal members 12 and 14 inserted into the large C portions 13 and 15. The respective solar battery module 3 is surrounded by the square shaped frame 32 to prevent water seepage by means of extending frame member 39. The single roof panel 1 has a predetermined number of solar battery cells 10 to obtain the necessary voltage.

Abstract: Apparatus for converting solar energy to thermal and electrical energy including a substantially unsealed enclosure, an array of photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy to electrical energy located within the enclosure, and a plurality of interconnected heat collecting tubes located within the enclosure and disposed on the same plane as the array of photovoltaic cells for converting solar energy to thermal energy in a fluid disposed within the heat collecting tubes.