Abstract: A combined solar energy panel and roof element, which provides an additional layer of weather proofing to a building, as well as providing an electric power source. The solar energy panel is comprised of a translucent polymeric pane, with electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells laminated onto the underside of the polymeric pane. A polymeric frame is attached to the underside of the pane contiguous to the edges of the pane. Anchor blocks are adhered to the roof and the panel is attached to the roof at the anchor blocks, where several anchor blocks support the frame attached to the panel and each anchor block may support the frames of more than one panel. A plurality of solar energy panels may be arranged in an array, whereby waterproofing means seals any spaces between the panels.

Abstract: Two adjacent rotating cylindrical targets are used in a specific form of a vacuum sputtering system to deposit a film of material onto a substrate. Elongated anodes are provided on opposite sides and in between the targets in a manner to make more uniform the rate of deposition across the substrate.

Abstract: High quality, stable photovoltaic and electronic amorphous silicon devices which effectively resist light-induced degradation and current-induced degradation, are produced by a special plasma deposition process. Powerful, efficient single and multi-junction solar cells with high open circuit voltages and fill factors and with wider bandgaps, can be economically fabricated by the special plasma deposition process. The preferred process includes relatively low temperature, high pressure, glow discharge of silane in the presence of a high concentration of hydrogen gas.

Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device comprising a photoelectric conversion element having a photosensitivity to at least near infrared radiation and an indium oxide containing transparent film having a sufficient light transmission property to at least the near infrared radiation formed on the photoelectric conversion element is disclosed.

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: An improved solar cell design and method of fabrication that primarily uses two materials, n-type doped silicon and aluminum to form a p-n alloy junction back contact solar cell. The aluminum alloy junctions are placed on the back (unilluminated) side of the cell, thereby combining the desirable features of aluminum (as a dopant, contact metal and light reflector), with the advantages of a back contact cell. The cell design and method of fabrication includes such features as surface texturing, front and back surface field minority carrier mirrors, surface passivation using oxidation layers, use of Al contacts as light reflectors, intrinsic protection against reverse bias due to contiguous n.sup.+ and p.sup.+ regions, and an improved bus bar contact design suitable for interconnecting cells using a surface mount technology. An improved method of ohmic contact formation uses a self-alignment technique for forming the ohmic contacts.

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: Even when a portion of the incident light plane of a solar cell array is shaded, drastic decrease of photoelectric output is prevented by connecting a plurality of unit cells in parallel and a plurality of such parallel circuits are connected in series to form a solar cell array in which a plurality of unit cells are arranged in rows and columns in the incident light plane of the solar cell such that at least one of the unit cells forming the parallel circuit is arranged in other rows or columns from those of other unit cells forming the parallel circuit.

Abstract: A resin composition for forming an insulating film suitable for fabricating an amorphous silicon solar cell utilizing a flexible substrate, obtained by mixing a first component comprising a polyfunctional isocyanate compound and a polyol based second component comprising polymers or oligomers having reactive hydroxyl groups which react with isocyanate groups to principally form urethane bonds.

Abstract: The solar tracking system maintains a solar collector with its responsive surface normal to the sun rays. It includes a shaft supported for rotation about an axis parallel to the north-south axis of the earth, a stepper motor for intermittent rotation of the shaft at a mean rate equal to the earth's rate of rotation. A solar collector securing assembly is located on one side of the shaft and includes a bracket, collars securing the bracket to the shaft, a support for fixing a solar collector pivoted to the bracket about a pivotal axis transverse to the shaft to vary the inclination of the support relative to the shaft and stays between the support and the bracket to maintain the support at an adjusted inclination. A counter-balancing system includes an arm secured to the shaft and extending normal thereto and away from the assembly and a weight adjustably mounted on the shaft.

Abstract: An ITO sputtering target comprised of indium oxide and tin oxide and having a density of at least 6.4 g/cm.sup.3, wherein the center line average height (R.sub.a) of the surface to be sputtered is not larger than 0.8 .mu.m, and at least one property selected from the following (i), (ii) and (iii) is satisfied: (i) the maximum height (R.sub.max) is not larger than 7.0 .mu.m, (ii) the ten point average height (R.sub.z) is not larger than 6.0 .mu.m, and (iii) the maximum height (R.sub.t) of said surface as expressed by the distance between two lines which are parallel to the center line of a surface roughness curve drawn as measured at a sample length of 2.5 mm, and which sandwich said surface roughness curve, is not larger than 6.5 .mu.m. Preferably, R.sub.a and the or each property (R.sub.max, R.sub.z or R.sub.t) selected from (i), (ii) and (iii) satisfy the formula: R.sub.a .times.(R.sub.max, R.sub.z or R.sub.t).ltoreq.3.0 .mu.m.sup.2.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a novel method for fabricating silicon solar cells utilizing concentrated solar radiation. The solar radiation is concentrated by use of a solar furnace which is used to form a front surface junction and back-surface field in one processing step. The present invention also provides a method of making multicrystallline silicon from amorphous silicon. The invention also teaches a method of texturing the surface of a wafer by forming a porous silicon layer on the surface of a silicon substrate and a method of gettering impurities. Also contemplated by the invention are methods of surface passivation, forming novel solar cell structures, and hydrogen passivation.

Abstract: A substrate-independent manufacturing method for a solar cell with chalcopyrite absorber layer (4, 5) is proposed wherein a desired alkali content is obtained in the finished absorber layer by dosed addition of Na, K, or Li during the manufacturing process. An additional drive-in of alkali ions from a potentially alkali-containing substrate (1) is prevented by providing a diffusion barrier layer (2) between substrate and absorber layer.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell used in a direct energy conversion generator for converting heat to electricity includes a reflective layer disposed within the cell between the active layers of the cell and the cell substrate. The reflective layer reflects photons of low energy back to a photon producing emitter for reabsorption by the emitter, or reflects photons with energy greater than the cell bandgap back to the cell active layers for conversion into electricity. The reflective layer can comprise a reflective metal such as gold while the substrate can comprise heavily doped silicon or a metal.

Abstract: A sputtering apparatus uses a plurality of rectangular targets to form a thin film on a substrate, and includes a plurality of magnets disposed along both side edges of each target in such a manner that the polarities of adjacent magnets along the side edges of the targets are opposite, and polarities of the magnets confronting each other across the targets are opposite. The surfaces of at least two targets are inclined to a surface of the substrate at an angle not smaller than 30.degree. and not larger than 60.degree..

Abstract: A thin-film solar cell includes an insulating flexible substrate, a plurality of photoelectric conversion regions each having a rear electrode layer, an amorphous semiconductor layer and a transparent electrode layer, formed in this order on a first surface of the substrate, and a connecting electrode layer formed on a second surface of the substrate, so as to extend over two adjacent photoelectric conversion regions. The rear electrode layer is connected with the connecting electrode layer, through extended parts thereof deposited on an inner wall of a first hole formed through the rear electrode layer, substrate and the connecting electrode layer. The amorphous semiconductor layer includes an extended portion covering a surface of a portion of the connecting electrode layer located on a periphery of the first hole.

Abstract: A flexible, conformal energy storage device (10) has a plurality of photovoltaic devices (40, 42, 44) formed integrally therewith. The energy source includes an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte encapsulated between layers of oxygen and water impermeable sealing materials. The sealing materials also serve as the base upon which the photovoltaic devices are deposited. The anode and cathode of the photovoltaic devices are electrically coupled to the anode and the cathode of the energy storage device to provide a recharging current thereto.

Abstract: A parallel paired, closely coupled, first and second resonant notch filter array. The disclosed frequency doubling filters are particularly useful in the field of thermophotovoltaics for upgrading black body radiation from heated objects to a shorter wavelength such as for illuminating silicon solar cells.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a photoelectrochemical cell having increased conductivity. The cell employs an electrolyte formed from a polymeric matrix, an electrolytic solvent, an inorganic ion salt and a redox couple.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a back reflector layer having a texture structure with a high reflectivity by preventing oxidation of a metal or alloy base layer, and a method for forming it. A further object is to provide a photovoltaic element with excellent characteristics such as a conversion efficiency, and a process for fabricating it. The back reflector layer has a metal or alloy (hereinafter referred to as a first metal) base layer, and a transparent oxide of a second metal, formed on the first metal. A photovoltaic element is formed by forming a semiconductor junction on the back reflector layer. In the back reflector layer and the photovoltaic element, the electron affinity of the second metal is at least 0.46 eV smaller than that of the first metal, and the transparent oxide is formed by a sputtering method in an atmosphere comprising at least H.sub.2 O and an inert gas and with a target having a composition ratio of the second metal of 1.06 to 1.