Patents by Inventor Bernd Sprecher

Bernd Sprecher 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).

  • Publication number: 20250089380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array, including a plurality of solar cells with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer, a front contact layer and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure for electrically serially connecting neighboring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher
  • Patent number: 12154997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array (1), including a plurality of solar cells (2) with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer (3), a front contact layer (4) and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure (6) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method. In the thin film solar module according to the invention, the electrical connection structure includes contact strips (7) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells, wherein the electrical connection structure electrically serially connects two respective solar cells (2m, 2m+1) that are adjacent to one another in a series connection direction (RS) via one or more contact strips (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher
  • Publication number: 20240322057
    Abstract: A method of patterning a thin-film photovoltaic layer stack includes the steps of providing a continuous layer stack comprising a planar substrate, a first electrode layer on the substrate and a photovoltaic layer on the first electrode layer, immersing the layer stack into an electrically conductive solution, applying a bias voltage between the electrolyte solution and the first electrode layer and converting a first material or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion of the layer stack into a first reaction product by an electrochemical reaction, wherein the first reaction product has an electrical conductivity that is lower than an electrical conductivity of the first material or first material composition, or removing a first material or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion of the layer stack by an electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2024
    Publication date: September 26, 2024
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuping Lin, Raffael Reineker, Hongqing Shan, Joachim Leopold Ludwig Müller, Bernd Sprecher, Kay Orgassa
  • Patent number: 12009445
    Abstract: A method of patterning a thin-film photovoltaic layer stack includes the steps of providing a continuous layer stack comprising a planar substrate, a first electrode layer on the substrate and a photovoltaic layer on the first electrode layer, immersing the layer stack into an electrically conductive solution, applying a bias voltage between the electrolyte solution and the first electrode layer and converting a first material or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion of the layer stack into a first reaction product by an electrochemical reaction, wherein the first reaction product has an electrical conductivity that is lower than an electrical conductivity of the first material or first material composition, or removing a first material or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion of the layer stack by an electrochemical reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventors: Shuping Lin, Raffael Reineker, Hongqing Shan, Joachim Leopold Ludwig Müller, Bernd Sprecher, Kay Ogassa
  • Publication number: 20230136328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array (1), including a plurality of solar cells (2) with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer (3), a front contact layer (4) and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure (6) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method. In the thin film solar module according to the invention, the electrical connection structure includes contact strips (7) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells, wherein the electrical connection structure electrically serially connects two respective solar cells (2m, 2m+1) that are adjacent to one another in a series connection direction (RS) via one or more contact strips (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: First Solar GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher
  • Publication number: 20230080774
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method of patterning a thin-film photovoltaic layer stack (20), the method comprising the steps of:—providing of a continuous layer stack (20), the layer stack (20) comprising a planar substrate (21), a first electrode layer (22) on the substrate (21) and a photovoltaic layer (24) on the electrode layer (22),—immersing the layer stack (20) into an electrically conductive solution (40),—applying a bias voltage between the electrolyte solution (40) and the first electrode layer (22) and—converting of a first material (51, 53) or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion (50, 52, 54) of the layer stack (20) into a first reaction product (56) by an electrochemical reaction, wherein the first reaction product (56) has an electrical conductivity that is lower than an electrical conductivity of the first material (51, 53) or first material composition, or—removing a first material (51, 53) or a first material composition provided in at least a first portion
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2021
    Publication date: March 16, 2023
    Inventors: Shuping Lin, Raffael Reineker, Hongqing Shan, Joachim Leopold Ludwig Müller, Bernd Sprecher, Kay Ogassa