Patents by Inventor Adolf Muenzer

Adolf Muenzer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10115851
    Abstract: Solar cell (11; 21; 31) having a dielectric coating arranged on a back side of the solar cell (11; 21; 31) which is at least partly covered by at least one planar contact (12; 22; 32), a boundary line (14; 24; 34) of the at least one planar contact (12; 22; 32) having at least one recess (16a, 16b; 26a, 26b, 26c), and method for producing same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignees: Centrotherm Photovoltaics AG, RCT Solutions GMBH
    Inventors: Andreas Teppe, Adolf Muenzer, Jan Schoene, Mathias Hein, Peter Winter
  • Publication number: 20160133774
    Abstract: In a method for producing a solar cell, a layer stack of dielectric layers is applied to a back of a solar cell substrate and the layer stack is heated and is held at temperatures of at least 700° C. during a time period of at least 5 minutes. The novel solar cell has a layer stack of dielectric layers on its back. At least one of the dielectric layers of the layer stack is densified so that its resistivity to firing-through of pastes with glass components is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Publication date: May 12, 2016
    Inventors: ADOLF MUENZER, ANDREAS TEPPE, JAN SCHOENE, REINHOLD SCHLOSSER, STEFFEN KELLER
  • Patent number: 9276155
    Abstract: In a method for producing a solar cell, a layer stack of dielectric layers is applied to a back of a solar cell substrate and the layer stack is heated and is held at temperatures of at least 700° C. during a time period of at least 5 minutes. The novel solar cell has a layer stack of dielectric layers on its back. At least one of the dielectric layers of the layer stack is densified so that its resistivity to firing-through of pastes with glass components is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: RCT Solutions GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Muenzer, Andreas Teppe, Jan Schoene, Reinhold Schlosser, Steffen Keller
  • Publication number: 20140051199
    Abstract: Method for producing a silicon solar cell which is smoothly etched on one side, in which a front side and a rear side of a silicon substrate are etched (10) to form a smooth texture, a dielectric coating is then formed (14, 16) on the rear side of the silicon substrate and the front side of the silicon substrate is subsequently textured (20) by means of a texture etching medium, the dielectric coating formed on the rear side of the silicon substrate being used as an etching mask against the texture etching medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Inventors: Adolf Muenzer, Andreas Teppe, Jan Schoene, Mathias Hein, Jens Kruemberg, Sandra Kruemberg
  • Publication number: 20130312823
    Abstract: Solar cell (11; 21; 31) having a dielectric coating arranged on a back side of the solar cell (11; 21; 31) which is at least partly covered by at least one planar contact (12; 22; 32), a boundary line (14; 24; 34) of the at least one planar contact (12; 22; 32) having at least one recess (16a, 16b; 26a, 26b, 26c), and method for producing same.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Inventors: Andreas Teppe, Adolf Muenzer, Jan Schoene, Mathias Hein, Peter Winter
  • Publication number: 20130061924
    Abstract: In a method for producing a solar cell, a layer stack of dielectric layers is applied to a back of a solar cell substrate and the layer stack is heated and is held at temperatures of at least 700° C. during a time period of at least 5 minutes. The novel solar cell has a layer stack of dielectric layers on its back. At least one of the dielectric layers of the layer stack is densified so that its resistivity to firing-through of pastes with glass components is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS AG
    Inventors: Adolf Münzer, Andreas Teppe, Jan Schöne, Reinhold Schlosser, Steffen Keller
  • Publication number: 20130014819
    Abstract: A method for doping a semiconductor substrate includes heating the semiconductor substrate by irradiation with laser radiation and at the same time diffusing dopant from a dopant source into the semiconductor substrate in heated regions. The semiconductor substrate is heated by the irradiation with laser radiation. A surface portion of the semiconductor substrate that is less than 10% of the total surface of all irradiated regions is melted and recrystallized. There is also provided a solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS AG
    Inventors: Andreas Teppe, Matthias Geiger, Reinhold Schlosser, Adolf Muenzer, Jan Schoene, Joerg Isenberg, Tino Kuehn, Steffen Keller
  • Publication number: 20110214727
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell via a two-stage doping includes the steps of forming an oxide layer, which can be penetrated by a first dopant, on at least one part of the surface of a solar cell substrate, forming an opening in the oxide layer in at least one high-doping region by removing the oxide layer in this high-doping region and diffusing the first dopant into the at least one high-doping region of the solar cell substrate through the opening. The first dopant is diffused into the solar cell substrate through the oxide layer. The diffusing-in through the openings and through the oxide layer takes place at the same time in a common diffusion step and the solar cell substrate is diffused in the common diffusion step in an at least partially hydrophilic state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2009
    Publication date: September 8, 2011
    Applicant: CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS AG
    Inventors: Ainhoa Esturo-Breton, Matthias Geiger, Steffen Keller, Reinhold Schlosser, Catharine Voyer, Johannes Maier, Martin Breselge, Adolf Muenzer, Tobias Friess, Tino Kuehn
  • Patent number: 7336376
    Abstract: A method for measuring pyramid size of pyramids outwardly extending on a textured surface of an object, which method involves emitting from a light source a light beam along a first direction onto a region of the textured surface, measuring an intensity of light received from that region along a second direction, and processing the measured intensity to obtain an average size of pyramids; and a device suitable for measuring pyramid size according to the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: SolarWorld Industries Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Adolf Münzer
  • Patent number: 7217883
    Abstract: A solar cell involving a silicon wafer having a basic doping, a light-receiving front side and a backside, which is provided with an interdigital semiconductor pattern, which interdigital semiconductor pattern has a first pattern of at least one first diffusion zone having a first doping and a second pattern of at least one second diffusion zone, separated from the first diffusion zone(s) and having a second doping that differs from the first doping, wherein each second diffusion zone is arranged along the sides of at least one groove extending from the backside into the silicon wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Shell Solar GmbH
    Inventor: Adolf Münzer
  • Patent number: 7129109
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for structuring an oxide layer applied to a substrate material. The aim of he invention is to provide an inexpensive method for structuring such an oxide layer. To this end, a squeegee paste that contains an oxide-etching component is printed on the oxide layer through a pattern stencil after silk screen printing and the printed squeegee paste is removed after a determined dwelling time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Shell Solar GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Münzer, Reinhold Schlosser
  • Patent number: 5620528
    Abstract: A solar cell has electrical conductors applied on a pattern of electric contacts on a front surface and extending transversely relative thereto with a portion projecting beyond the edge of the solar cell. The formation of the electrical pattern includes at least two elongated portions interconnected by a return portion which extends beyond the one edge. This return portion provides a stiffening suitable for reliable interconnection to an additional solar cell to achieve a connection of two conductors in the projecting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1997
    Assignees: Siemens Solar GmbH, Siemens Solar Industries International, Inc.
    Inventors: Reinhart Schade, Gerhard Lehner, Adolf Muenzer, Friedrich-Wilhelm Schulze, Robert Wieting
  • Patent number: 5268038
    Abstract: A simple connection for a solar cell module is composed of a soldered-on, stud-shaped terminal element that is fixed with a retainer element plugged thereover and glued to the back side of the solar module. The projection of the end of the terminal element comprises a connection for a cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Solar GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Riermeier, Gerhard Zinke, Adolf Muenzer
  • Patent number: 5169791
    Abstract: A method for the passivation of crystal defects in polycrystalline or amorphous silicon material using a temperature treatment step in a hydrogen-containing atmosphere the method results in favorable diode properties and favorable passivation properties in amorphous or, respectively, polycrystalline silicon material in a simple manner. Hydrogen-oxygen compounds are reduced at the surface of the silicon material, creating atomic hydrogen that diffuses into the silicon material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1992
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Adolf Muenzer
  • Patent number: 4835006
    Abstract: A process for the passivation of crystal defects or grain boundaries or internal grain defects or surfaces in an electrically conductive material in a plasma, where the passivation is carried out by the influence of suitable ions on the electrically conductive material to facilitate a shorter process time and lower stress on the electrically conductive material. A high-frequency gas discharge plasma is acted upon by a superimposed d.c. voltage which serves to accelerate the ions, suitable to carry out the passivation, towards the electrically conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Heinrich Grasser, Adolf Muenzer