Patents by Inventor Curtis M. Lampkin
Curtis M. Lampkin 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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Publication number: 20020092766Abstract: A sputter deposition apparatus for depositing a film onto a substrate includes a surrogate rotating magnetron includes an internal magnet and a wall thickness that permits a fringe magnetic field to support an electron cyclotron resonance. Auxiliary coating sources are modulated for depositing a desired sequence of material onto the substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2002Publication date: July 18, 2002Inventor: Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 5405517Abstract: An apparatus is described for depositing a thin film (9) of compound materials on selected substrates (48) in an evacuable coating chamber. This apparatus includes a rotating primary surrogate magnetron cathode surface (19) which acts to receive, in-situ, material to be sputtered. Vapor crucibles (2) expose the rotating cathode surface (19) to material vapors (8) which condense on the thermally cooled cathode surface (19) to combine with other coatings on the cathode and are thence rotated through the associated plasma sputter zone (26P) to sputter deposit desired film (9). Auxiliary rotating magnetron cathodes (32) can deposit additional material onto rotating primary cathode (19). Molten material crucible assemblies (31) having coating rollers (34) can convey molten material onto rotating auxiliary thermally cooled cathode surfaces (32) which sputter coat primary cathode.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 1993Date of Patent: April 11, 1995Assignee: Curtis M. LampkinInventor: Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4414252Abstract: An improved spray booth is provided for use in forming high quality thin films by controlling the spray parameters related to film formation. A spray nozzle design is selected which permits control of the spray footprint on a heated substrate. A projected atomized liquid is formed to the selected spray configuration by directing spray cones of air toward the atomized liquid. Dwell time of the spray material adjacent the hot substrate is then controlled by controlling the velocity of airflow within the spray chamber and adjacent the substrate. To promote a gas phase reaction, a roof section is provided with reduced airflow wherein sufficient dwell time is provided for the vapor reaction to occur. Where a liquid phase reaction is provided, high velocity airflow is maintained to promptly remove reaction products and spray material which has not reached the surface after a selected time period.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 1982Date of Patent: November 8, 1983Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventor: Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4412091Abstract: A photovoltaic cell having an electrically conductive substrate, which may be glass having a film of conductive tin oxide; a first layer containing a suitable semiconductor, which layer has a first component film with an amorphous structure and a second component film with a polycrystalline structure; a second layer forming a heterojunction with the first layer; and suitable electrodes where the heterojunction is formed from a solution containing copper, the amorphous film component is superposed above an electrically conductive substrate to resist permeation of the copper-containing material to shorting electrical contact with the substrate. The penetration resistant amorphous layer permits a variety of processes to be used in forming the heterojunction with even very thin layers (1-6.mu. thick) of underlying polycrystalline semiconductor materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1980Date of Patent: October 25, 1983Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4338078Abstract: An improved conveyor assembly is provided for transporting a transparent vitreous substrate along a group of controlled radiative heaters. A plurality of control groups are formed from the radiative heaters and the illumination for the various control groups is isolated so that areas of the conveyor or substrate are illuminated by only a single control group at any one time. Heater control thermocouples are affixed to the radiative heater elements and the output signals from the control thermocouples are calibrated from a calibration thermocouple extending to a position between the control thermocouple and the substrate surface. A wire mesh belt assembly permits illumination of the substrate through the conveyor assembly while supporting the substrate in a manner effective to obtain uniform heating of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 1980Date of Patent: July 6, 1982Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventor: Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4313022Abstract: An array of photovoltaic cells in a back wall-type configuration supported by a rigid transparent vitreous substrate, such as glass, for admitting incident radiation to the cells. A plurality of cells are interconnected into a desired electrical configuration by one or more layers of electrically conducting materials which overlie the entire heterojunction of each cell to minimize the internal resistance of the cell and may conveniently protect the heterojunction from degrading environmental conditions. Various component layers forming the photovoltaic cells are selectively removed and strips of insulating material are applied prior to forming the heterojunction. The electrically conductive material is thereafter applied and separated at areas protected by insulating material. The resulting series array contains no exposed heterojunction areas, thereby obtaining improved operating stability and performance.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 1980Date of Patent: January 26, 1982Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4307681Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming films of materials which are component layers of solar energy conversion devices, e.g. photovoltaic cells and heat collector panels. A selected substrate, generally glass, is heated while being sprayed with solutions which react on the heated surface to form a particular film. Films of SnO.sub.x and CdS are particularly produced. According to the present invention, a thermal energy input gradient is provided to approximate the energy loss gradient during the spray process. Radiative heaters provide a rapid resupply of energy to the substrate and, in some instances, directly to the film forming surface. Temperature detectors, such as thermocouples, monitor substrate temperature to provide the radiative energy input needed for substantial temperature uniformity.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1980Date of Patent: December 29, 1981Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: Curtis M. Lampkin, Guy A. Roderick, Peter Locke
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Patent number: 4304607Abstract: A photovoltaic cell having an electrically conductive substrate, which may be glass having a film of conductive tin oxide; a first layer containing a suitable semiconductor, which layer has a first component film with an amorphous structure and a second component film with a polycrystalline structure; a second layer forming a heterojunction with the first layer; and suitable electrodes where the heterojunction is formed from a solution containing copper, the amorphous film component is superposed above an electrically conductive substrate to resist permeation of the copper-containing material to shorting electrical contact with the substrate. The penetration resistant amporphous layer permits a variety of processes to be used in forming the heterojunction with even very thin layers (1-6.mu. thick) of underlying polycrystalline semi-conductor materials.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1979Date of Patent: December 8, 1981Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4262411Abstract: A method of producing an array of photovoltaic cells responsive to incident radiation by forming heterojunction-forming material layers over a transparent substrate panel having a transparent electrically conductive coating and thereafter removing selected portions of the materials to form a plurality of cells on a common substrate. The cells are then electrically interconnected by depositing electrically conducting materials over substantially the entire panel and removing only those portions of the deposited materials required to form series electrical connections.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 1979Date of Patent: April 21, 1981Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4243432Abstract: An array of photovoltaic cells in a back wall-type configuration supported by a rigid transparent vitreous substrate, such as glass, for admitting incident radiation to the cells. A plurality of cells are interconnected into a desired electrical configuration by one or more layers of electrically conducting materials which overlie substantially the entire heterojunction of each cell to minimize the internal resistance of the cell and may conveniently protect the heterojunction from degrading environmental conditions. The conducting layer interconnects an exposed electrode region of one cell with the heterojunction forming material of the adjacent cell while remaining insulated from any intervening cell structure. In one embodiment, the uppermost conducting layer is lead, which seals the underlying materials from atmospheric constituents, such as oxygen and water vapor, while remaining relatively inert to such constituents.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1978Date of Patent: January 6, 1981Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 4239809Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming films of materials which are component layers of solar energy conversion devices, e. g. photovoltaic cells and heat collector panels. A selected substrate is heated while being sprayed with solutions which react on the heated surface to form a particular film. Films of SnO.sub.x and CdS are particularly produced. According to the present invention, the spray is projected at an angle to control upstream flow and confine film formation to the substrate panel portions most suitable for forming the selected film. Various waste products are removed to minimize defects in the resulting film. Baffles are located to shield the substrate surface at selected areas and preclude the spray from impacting on the shielded areas.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1978Date of Patent: December 16, 1980Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: Curtis M. Lampkin, Guy A. Roderick, Robert B. Nikodem
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Patent number: 4224355Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for forming films of materials which are component layers of solar energy conversion devices, e.g. photovoltaic cells and heat collector panels. A selected substrate, generally glass, is heated while being sprayed with solutions which react on the heated surface to form a particular film. Films of SnO.sub.x and CdS are particularly produced. According to the present invention, a thermal energy input gradient is provided to approximate the energy loss gradient during the spray process. Radiative heaters provide a rapid resupply of energy to the substrate and, in some instances, directly to the film forming surface. Temperature detectors, such as thermocouples, monitor substrate temperature to provide the radiative energy input needed for substantial temperature uniformity.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1978Date of Patent: September 23, 1980Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: Curtis M. Lampkin, Guy A. Roderick, Peter Locke
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Patent number: 4159914Abstract: A photovoltaic cell having an electrically conductive substrate, which may be glass having a film of conductive tin oxide; a first layer containing a suitable semiconductor, which layer has a first component film with an amorphous structure and a second component film with a polycrystalline structure; a second layer forming a heterojunction with the first layer; and suitable electrodes where the heterojunction is formed from a solution containing copper, the amorphous film component is superposed above an electrically conductive substrate to resist permeation of the copper-containing material to shorting electrical contact with the substrate. The penetration resistant amorphous layer permits a variety of processes to be used in forming the heterojunction with even very thin layers (1-6.mu. thick) of underlying polycrystalline semi-conductor materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 1978Date of Patent: July 3, 1979Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 3971672Abstract: A photovoltaic system in which strips of active photovoltaic cells are coated on one side of a sheet of glass, the glass being illuminated by the sun from the other side of the sheet and the strips being separated by inactive areas devoted to electrodes, in which light diffusing areas are provided on said other side of the sheet of glass in superposition of the inactive areas in order to refract sunlight which would otherwise fall wholly on the inactive areas, on large part to the active areas of the cells.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1975Date of Patent: July 27, 1976Assignee: D. H. Baldwin CompanyInventor: Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: 3959565Abstract: A sheet of glass coated with SnO.sub.x by intermittent spraying of a mixture of materials in non-aqueous solution and in an oxidizing atmosphere, while maintaining the glass at a fixed temperature by supporting the glass in molten liquid at a controlled temperature, the spraying being conducted in successive passes involving small amounts of spray per pass, and the sheet of glass moving continuously along a pool of the molten liquid during the spraying process.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 1974Date of Patent: May 25, 1976Assignee: D. H. Baldwin CompanyInventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: RE29812Abstract: A large area photovoltaic cell comprising a layer of multicrystalline cadmium sulfide, about 1 to 2 microns thick, formed by simultaneously spraying two suitably selected compounds on a uniformly heated plate of Nesa glass, thereafter forming a coating of Cu.sub.2 S by spraying two suitable compounds over the cadmium sulfide layer while the latter is heated, to form a photovoltaic heterojunction, applying thereover a layer of CuSO4, and applying electrodes of Cu and Zn, respectively, to separated areas of the layer of CuSO.sub.4, and heating the cell to form a cuprous oxide rectifying junction under the copper electrode by reaction of the Cu electrode with the CuSO.sub.4, while diffusing the zinc through the body of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 1977Date of Patent: October 24, 1978Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: RE30147Abstract: A method of making low cost solar cells on a large scale basis by means of a continuous process of fabricating float glass and coating the float glass, in sequence, with tin oxide, cadmium sulphide, and copper sulphide, while the glass floats atop tanks of molten material in a furnace of proper temperature for each step of the process, the application of the coatings, in a preferred embodiment, being accomplished by depositing materials which form the coatings on contact with heated surfaces at such slow rates and, in the case of spray application, via drops of such uniformity that the float glass may (1) remain at uniform temperatures by virtue of the superior thermal conductivity of the molten material and retain those temperatures despite the abstraction of heat from the glass by evaporation of liquids and/or formation of crystalline layers, and (2) be substantially free of temperature gradients along the surface of the sheet glass.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1977Date of Patent: November 13, 1979Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin
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Patent number: RE30504Abstract: A photovoltaic cell having an electrically conductive substrate, which may be glass having a film of conductive tin oxide; a first layer containing a suitable semiconductor, which layer has a first component film with an amorphous structure and a second component film with a polycrystalline structure; a second layer forming a heterojunction with the first layer; and suitable electrodes where the heterojunction is formed from a solution containing copper, the amorphous film component is superposed above an electrically conductive substrate to resist permeation of the copper-containing material to shorting electrical contact with the substrate. The penetration resistant amorphous layer permits a variety of processes to be used in forming the heterojunction with even very thin layers (1-6.mu. thick) of underlying polycrystalline semi-conductor materials.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1979Date of Patent: February 3, 1981Assignee: Photon Power, Inc.Inventors: John F. Jordan, Curtis M. Lampkin