Patents by Inventor August Lerchenberger

August Lerchenberger 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: 8309390
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, which method comprises the steps of providing a first layer structure on an second layer structure so that the first layer structure has an external surface, and an interface with the second layer structure, the first layer structure comprising a thin-film photovoltaic absorber layer; patterning through the first layer structure from the external surface to or into the second layer structure by first mechanically removing material from the first layer structure in a predetermined patterning area, and subsequently removing, by means of laser cleaning, residual material from the mechanical removal in the patterning area; and a system for patterning an object having a first layer structure on an second layer structure, the system comprising a mechanical patterning device and a laser cleaning device, and means for relative movement between the object, and the mechanical patterning device and the laser cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: August Lerchenberger, Jorg Palm
  • Publication number: 20100147384
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, which method comprises the steps of providing a first layer structure on an second layer structure so that the first layer structure has an external surface, and an interface with the second layer structure, the first layer structure comprising a thin-film photovoltaic absorber layer; patterning through the first layer structure from the external surface to or into the second layer structure by first mechanically removing material from the first layer structure in a predetermined patterning area, and subsequently removing, by means of laser cleaning, residual material from the mechanical removal in the patterning area; and a system for patterning an object having a first layer structure on an second layer structure, the system comprising a mechanical patterning device and a laser cleaning device, and means for relative movement between the object, and the mechanical patterning device and the laser cleaning device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: August LERCHENBERGER, Jorg PALM
  • Patent number: 4643797
    Abstract: Recrystallized silicon plates are readily removed from a carrier member after melting and recrystallization, the carrier member being composed of a material that is not appreciably wettable by molten silicon, through the use of a parting agent between the silicon and the carrier in solid form as a powder or a raw foil. Fine quartz sand, very fine grained silicon powder, or quartz glass fiber fabric can be employed as the parting agent. The method is employed for the inexpensive manufacture of self-supporting silicon crystal plates for solar cells and allows throughput drawing rates of greater than 1 m.sup.2 /min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christa Grabmaier, Josef Kotschy, August Lerchenberger