Patents by Inventor Brian Robert Murphy
Brian Robert Murphy 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).
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Patent number: 8597430Abstract: A system for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic module substrate is provided. The system includes a vacuum chamber having a pre-heat section, a vapor deposition apparatus, and a cool-down section; and a conveyor system operably disposed within said vacuum chamber and configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement from said pre-heat section and through said vapor deposition apparatus at a controlled constant linear speed. The vapor deposition apparatus is configured for depositing a thin film of a sublimed source material onto an upper surface of the substrates as the substrates are continuously conveyed by said conveyor system through said vapor deposition apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2012Date of Patent: December 3, 2013Assignee: PrimeStar Solar, Inc.Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Russell Weldon Black, Brian Robert Murphy, Christopher Rathweg, Edwin Jackson Little, Max William Reed
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Publication number: 20130284094Abstract: A system and associated process for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. A conveyor system is operably disposed within the vacuum chamber and is configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus within the vacuum chamber at a controlled constant linear speed. A post-heat section is disposed within the vacuum chamber immediately downstream of the vapor deposition apparatus in the conveyance direction of the substrates. The post-heat section is configured to maintain the substrates conveyed from the vapor deposition apparatus in a desired heated temperature profile until the entire substrate has exited the vapor deposition apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2013Publication date: October 31, 2013Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Stacy Ann Black, Brian Robert Murphy, Christopher Rathweg, Edwin Jackson Little, Max William Reed
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Patent number: 8481355Abstract: A system and associated process for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. A conveyor system is operably disposed within the vacuum chamber and is configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus within the vacuum chamber at a controlled constant linear speed. A post-heat section is disposed within the vacuum chamber immediately downstream of the vapor deposition apparatus in the conveyance direction of the substrates. The post-heat section is configured to maintain the substrates conveyed from the vapor deposition apparatus in a desired heated temperature profile until the entire substrate has exited the vapor deposition apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: July 9, 2013Assignee: Primestar Solar, Inc.Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Russell Weldon Black, Brian Robert Murphy, Christopher Rathweg, Edwin Jackson Little, Max William Reed
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Publication number: 20130000555Abstract: A system for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic module substrate is provided. The system includes a vacuum chamber having a pre-heat section, a vapor deposition apparatus, and a cool-down section; and a conveyor system operably disposed within said vacuum chamber and configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement from said pre-heat section and through said vapor deposition apparatus at a controlled constant linear speed. The vapor deposition apparatus is configured for depositing a thin film of a sublimed source material onto an upper surface of the substrates as the substrates are continuously conveyed by said conveyor system through said vapor deposition apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2012Publication date: January 3, 2013Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: MARK JEFFREY PAVOL, RUSSELL WELDON BLACK, BRIAN ROBERT MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER RATHWEG, EDWIN JACKSON LITTLE, MAX WILLIAM REED
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Publication number: 20120285375Abstract: Systems and processes for treatment of a cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic device are generally provided. The systems can include a treatment system and a conveyor system. The treatment system includes a preheating section, a treatment chamber, and an anneal oven that are integrally interconnected within the treatment system. The conveyor system is operably disposed within the treatment system and configured for transporting substrates in a serial arrangement into and through the preheat section, into and through the treatment chamber, and into and through the anneal oven at a controlled speed. The treatment chamber is configured for applying a material to a thin film on a surface of the substrate and the anneal oven is configured to heat the substrate to an annealing temperature as the substrates are continuously conveyed by the conveyor system through the treatment chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 30, 2012Publication date: November 15, 2012Applicant: PrimeStar Solar, Inc.Inventors: Cory Allen Schaeffer, Brian Robert Murphy
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Patent number: 8252619Abstract: Systems and processes for treatment of a cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic device are generally provided. The systems can include a treatment system and a conveyor system. The treatment system includes a preheating section, a treatment chamber, and an anneal oven that are integrally interconnected within the treatment system. The conveyor system is operably disposed within the treatment system and configured for transporting substrates in a serial arrangement into and through the preheat section, into and through the treatment chamber, and into and through the anneal oven at a controlled speed. The treatment chamber is configured for applying a material to a thin film on a surface of the substrate and the anneal oven is configured to heat the substrate to an annealing temperature as the substrates are continuously conveyed by the conveyor system through the treatment chamber.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2010Date of Patent: August 28, 2012Assignee: PrimeStar Solar, Inc.Inventors: Cory Allen Schaeffer, Brian Robert Murphy
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Patent number: 8247255Abstract: A process and associated system for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. The substrates are pre-heated as they are conveyed through the vacuum chamber, and are then conveyed in serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus in the vacuum chamber wherein a thin film of a sublimed source material is deposited onto an upper surface of the substrates. The substrates are conveyed through the vapor deposition apparatus at a controlled constant linear speed such that leading and trailing sections of the substrate in a conveyance direction are exposed to the same vapor deposition conditions within the vapor deposition apparatus. The vapor deposition apparatus may be supplied with source material in a manner so as not to interrupt the vapor deposition process or non-stop conveyance of the substrates through the vapor deposition apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2009Date of Patent: August 21, 2012Assignee: PrimeStar, Inc.Inventors: Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Russell Weldon Black, Brian Robert Murphy, Christopher Rathweg, Edwin Jackson Little, Max William Reed
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INTEGRATED DEPOSITION OF THIN FILM LAYERS IN CADMIUM TELLURIDE BASED PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE MANUFACTURE
Publication number: 20120164784Abstract: Apparatus and processes for thin film deposition of semiconducting layers in the formation of cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic device are provided. The apparatus includes a series of integrally connected chambers, such as a load vacuum chamber connected to a load vacuum pump; a sputtering deposition chamber; a vacuum buffer chamber; and, a vapor deposition chamber. A conveyor system is operably disposed within the apparatus and configured for transporting substrates in a serial arrangement into and through the load vacuum chamber, the sputtering deposition chamber, the vacuum buffer chamber, and the vapor deposition chamber at a controlled speed. The sputtering deposition chamber; the vacuum buffer chamber; and the vapor deposition chamber are integrally connected such that the substrates being transported through the apparatus are kept at a system pressure less than about 760 Torr.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2010Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Scott Daniel Feldman-Peabody, Russell Weldon Black, Robert Dwayne Gossman, Brian Robert Murphy, Mark Jeffrey Pavol -
Publication number: 20110263065Abstract: A system and related method for deposition of multiple thin film layers on photovoltaic (PV) module substrates includes a first processing side wherein the substrates are conveyed in a first direction for deposition of a first thin film layer on the substrates. A second processing side is operably disposed relative to the first processing side such that substrates exiting the first processing side are subsequently conveyed in a second direction through the second processing side for deposition of a second thin film layer on the first thin film layer. A first transfer station is operably disposed between the first processing side and the second processing side to receive the substrates from an exit of the first processing side and to introduce the substrates into an entry of the second processing side such that the substrates are continuously moved through the first and second processing sides for deposition of multiple thin film layers thereon.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Russell Weldon Black, Brian Robert Murphy
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Publication number: 20110263070Abstract: Systems and processes for treatment of a cadmium telluride thin film photovoltaic device are generally provided. The systems can include a treatment system and a conveyor system. The treatment system includes a preheating section, a treatment chamber, and an anneal oven that are integrally interconnected within the treatment system. The conveyor system is operably disposed within the treatment system and configured for transporting substrates in a serial arrangement into and through the preheat section, into and through the treatment chamber, and into and through the anneal oven at a controlled speed. The treatment chamber is configured for applying a material to a thin film on a surface of the substrate and the anneal oven is configured to heat the substrate to an annealing temperature as the substrates are continuously conveyed by the conveyor system through the treatment chamber.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2010Publication date: October 27, 2011Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: Cory Allen Schaeffer, Brian Robert Murphy
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Publication number: 20110143481Abstract: A system and associated process for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. A conveyor system is operably disposed within the vacuum chamber and is configured for conveying the substrates in a serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus within the vacuum chamber at a controlled constant linear speed. A post-heat section is disposed within the vacuum chamber immediately downstream of the vapor deposition apparatus in the conveyance direction of the substrates. The post-heat section is configured to maintain the substrates conveyed from the vapor deposition apparatus in a desired heated temperature profile until the entire substrate has exited the vapor deposition apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: MARK JEFFREY PAVOL, RUSSELL WELDON BLACK, BRIAN ROBERT MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER RATHWEG, EDWIN JACKSON LITTLE, MAX WILLIAM REED
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Publication number: 20110143478Abstract: A process and associated system for vapor deposition of a thin film layer on a photovoltaic (PV) module substrate is includes establishing a vacuum chamber and introducing the substrates individually into the vacuum chamber. The substrates are pre-heated as they are conveyed through the vacuum chamber, and are then conveyed in serial arrangement through a vapor deposition apparatus in the vacuum chamber wherein a thin film of a sublimed source material is deposited onto an upper surface of the substrates. The substrates are conveyed through the vapor deposition apparatus at a controlled constant linear speed such that leading and trailing sections of the substrate in a conveyance direction are exposed to the same vapor deposition conditions within the vapor deposition apparatus. The vapor deposition apparatus may be supplied with source material in a manner so as not to interrupt the vapor deposition process or non-stop conveyance of the substrates through the vapor deposition apparatus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2009Publication date: June 16, 2011Applicant: PRIMESTAR SOLAR, INC.Inventors: MARK JEFFREY PAVOL, RUSSELL WELDON BLACK, BRIAN ROBERT MURPHY, CHRISTOPHER RATHWEG, EDWIN JACKSON LITTLE, MAX WILLIAM REED