Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving efficiency of photovoltaic cells by improving light capture between the photoelectric unit and back reflector is provided. A transition layer is formed at the interface between the photoelectric unit and transmitting conducting layer of the back reflector by adding oxygen, nitrogen, or both to the surface of the photoelectric unit or the interface between the photoelectric unit and the transmitting conducting layer. The transition layer may comprise silicon, oxygen, or nitrogen, and may be silicon oxide, silicon nitride, metal oxide with excess oxygen, metal oxide with nitrogen, or any combination thereof, including bilayers and multi-layers. The sputtering process for forming the transmitting conducting layer may feature at least one of nitrogen and excess oxygen, and may be performed by sputtering at low power, followed by an operation to form the rest of the transmitting conductive layer.

Abstract: A method and system for interactively configuring a network device is disclosed. A computer based method interactively configures a network device such as a router. A document is displayed to a user of a client computer, which is coupled to the network device via a network. The document contains a configuration for the network device in a text format. The user edits the document to make a change in the configuration of the network device. The change in the configuration is sent to the network device. The change can be sent without sending the entire configuration.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of forming an electrical connection on a device. In one embodiment, the electrical connection is attached to the device via an adhesive having electrically conductive particles disposed therein. In one embodiment, the adhesive is cured while applying pressure such that the conductive particles align, have a reduced particle-to-particle spacing, or come into contact with each other to provide a more directly conductive (less resistive) path between the electrical connection and the device. In one embodiment of the present invention, a method for forming an electrical lead on a partially formed solar cell during formation of the solar cell device is provided.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an automated production line using a common laser scribe module for providing consistent scribe lines in multiple layers during the formation of thin film photovoltaic modules. The common laser scribe module includes a plurality of identical, programmable laser tools configured to emit radiation at a common wavelength. Substrates flowing through the production line are tracked by a system controller, which identifies available laser tools within the common laser scribe module and routes substrates to available tools for scribing features in one or more layers disposed on the substrates. The system controller also sets and controls laser parameters, such as power, pulse frequency, pulse width, and laser pattern, in order to accurately and consistently produce scribed lines in the appropriate material layer of the substrate.

Abstract: Methods for making solar cells are described. The methods include selectively etching strips formed by laser scribing to remove oxides formed during laser scribing.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for fabricating a solar cell on a substrate that have proportionally reduced current to minimize or reduce the likelihood of shading of a portion of the solar cell causing damage to the formed device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a series of solar cell arrays on a substrate includes providing a substrate having a TCO layer formed thereon, forming a first plurality of vertical scribing lines and a first plurality of horizontal scribing lines in the TCO layer, forming a film stack and a back metal layer on the scribed TCO layer, and forming a second plurality of the horizontal scribing lines in the film stack and the back metal layer, wherein the second plurality of horizontal scribing lines comprise pairs of scribing lines formed adjacent to each respective one of the first plurality of the horizontal scribing lines formed in the TCO layer.

Abstract: Photovoltaic cells and methods for making photovoltaic cells are described. The methods include disposing an intermediate layer within the back contact at a thickness that does not negatively impact reflection or transmission of light through the solar cell. The intermediate layer prevents peeling of metal from the back contact during laser scribing.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the configuration of a network device through the exchange of XML documents is provided. A network device transmits multiple chunks of an XML document to a client in response to the size of the XML document being larger than a configurable size. The client does not receive any XML documents from network device that exceed the configurable size, and may abort receiving additional chunks of the XML document. The client and the network device may each discover which version of a data schema each other is using to reference components of the network device. The exchanged XML documents include version data that identifies a version for a plurality of data schemas that are each associated with a component of network device. The client and the network device may thus avoid exchanging ambiguous communications due to inconsistent versions of a data schema.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a process of depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over a substrate. The transparent oxide layer is sometimes deposited onto a substrate for later use in a solar cell device. The transparent conductive oxide layer may be deposited by a “cold” sputtering process. In other words, during the sputtering process, a plasma is ignited in the processing chamber which naturally heats the substrate. No additional heat is provided to the substrate during deposition such as from the susceptor. After the transparent conductive oxide layer is deposited, the substrate may be annealed and etched, in either order, to texture the transparent conductive oxide layer. In order to tailor the shape of the texturing, different wet etch chemistries may be utilized. The different etch chemistries may be used to shape the surface of the transparent conductive oxide and the etch rate.

Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein generally relate to a process of depositing a transparent conductive oxide layer over a substrate. The transparent oxide layer is sometimes deposited onto a substrate for later use in a solar cell device. The transparent conductive oxide layer may be deposited by a “cold” sputtering process. In other words, during the sputtering process, a plasma is ignited in the processing chamber which naturally heats the substrate. No additional heat is provided to the substrate during deposition such as from the susceptor. After the transparent conductive oxide layer is deposited, the substrate may be annealed and etched, in either order, to texture the transparent conductive oxide layer. In order to tailor the shape of the texturing, different wet etch chemistries may be utilized. The different etch chemistries may be used to shape the surface of the transparent conductive oxide and the etch rate.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a thin film scribing procedure is presented. Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for determining a scribe setting for removal of an absorber layer of a photovoltaic device that improves contact resistance between a back contact layer and a front contact layer of the device.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a light source used to simulate the sun in solar cell testing apparatus.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and related cleaning solutions (116) for cleaning a glass substrate (10, 112), such as for removing metal ion contaminates from a glass substrate (10, 112) having a transparent conductive oxide layer (12). One method includes: providing a glass substrate (10, 112) having a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (12); and exposing the glass substrate (10, 112) to a cleaning solution (116) that includes 0.5% to 5% organic acid, wherein the organic acid used includes citric acid, acetic acid, or oxalic acid.

Abstract: Methods of promoting adhesion between a reflective backing layer and a solar cell substrate are provided. The reflective backing layer is formed over a conductive metal oxide layer as an alloy using reflective and adhesive components, the adhesive components being present in levels generally below about 5 atomic percent. Techniques are disclosed for depositing varying the concentration of the reflective backing layer to localize the adhesive components in an adhesion region near the conductive metal oxide layer. Techniques are also disclosed for boosting bonding species in the conductive metal oxide layer to further enhance adhesion.

Abstract: An apparatus for sputter depositing a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer are provided in the present invention. The transparent conductive oxide layer may be utilized as a contact layer on a substrate or a back reflector in a photovoltaic device. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a processing chamber having an interior processing region, a substrate carrier system disposed in the interior processing region, the substrate carrier system having a plurality of rollers for conveying a substrate through the interior processing region, and an insulating member electrically isolating the rollers from the processing chamber.

Abstract: Methods for sputter depositing a transparent conductive layer are provided in the present invention. The transparent conductive layer may be utilized as a contact layer on a substrate or a back reflector in a photovoltaic device. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying a gas mixture into a processing chamber, sputtering source material from a target disposed in the processing chamber, wherein the target has dopants doped into a base material, wherein the dopants are selected from a group consisting of boron containing materials, titanium containing materials, tantalum containing materials, tungsten containing materials, alloys thereof, or combinations thereof, and reacting the sputtered material with the gas mixture to deposit a transparent conductive layer on a substrate disposed in the processing chamber.

Abstract: Methods for sputter depositing a transparent conductive layer are provided in the present invention. The transparent conductive layer may be utilized as a contact layer on a substrate or a back reflector in a photovoltaic device. In one embodiment, the method includes supplying a gas mixture into the processing chamber, sputtering source material from a target disposed in the processing chamber, wherein the target is fabricated from a zinc containing material having an aluminum containing dopant concentration less than 3 percent by weight, and reacting the sputtered material with the gas mixture.

Abstract: Methods of promoting adhesion between a reflective backing layer and a solar cell substrate are provided. The reflective backing layer is formed over a conductive metal oxide layer as an alloy using reflective and adhesive components, the adhesive components being present in levels generally below about 5 atomic percent. Techniques are disclosed for depositing varying the concentration of the reflective backing layer to localize the adhesive components in an adhesion region near the conductive metal oxide layer. Techniques are also disclosed for boosting bonding species in the conductive metal oxide layer to further enhance adhesion.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods for fabricating a solar cell on a substrate that have proportionally reduced current to minimize or reduce the likelihood of shading of a portion of the solar cell causing damage to the formed device. In one embodiment, a method for fabricating a series of solar cell arrays on a substrate includes providing a substrate having a TCO layer formed thereon, forming a first plurality of vertical scribing lines and a first plurality of horizontal scribing lines in the TCO layer, forming a film stack and a back metal layer on the scribed TCO layer, and forming a second plurality of the horizontal scribing lines in the film stack and the back metal layer, wherein the second plurality of horizontal scribing lines comprise pairs of scribing lines formed adjacent to each respective one of the first plurality of the horizontal scribing lines formed in the TCO layer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving a thin film scribing procedure is presented. Embodiments of the invention include a method and apparatus for determining a scribe setting for removal of an absorber layer of a photovoltaic device that improves contact resistance between a back contact layer and a front contact layer of the device.