Patents by Inventor Hsin-Chiao Luan

Hsin-Chiao Luan 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: 10629760
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating emitter regions of solar cells are described. Methods of forming layers on substrates of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: David D. Smith, Helen Liu, Tim Dennis, Jane Manning, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Ann Waldhauer, Genevieve A. Solomon, Brenda Pagulayan Malgapu, Joseph Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20170263795
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating emitter regions of solar cells are described. Methods of forming layers on substrates of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: David D. Smith, Helen Liu, Tim Dennis, Jane Manning, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Ann Waldhauer, Genevieve A. Solomon, Brenda Pagulayan Malgapu, Joseph Ramirez
  • Patent number: 9577120
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Denis De Ceuster
  • Patent number: 9556512
    Abstract: A system for substrate deposition is disclosed. The system includes a wafer pallet and an anode. The wafer pallet has a bottom and a top. The top of the wafer pallet is configured to hold a substrate wafer. The anode has a substantially fixed position relative to the wafer pallet and is configured to move with the wafer pallet through the deposition chamber. The anode is electrically isolated from the substrate wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Peter John Cousins, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Thomas Pass, John Ferrer, Rex Gallardo, Stephen F. Meyer
  • Patent number: 9153725
    Abstract: A solar cell includes a crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate, an intrinsic amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, an amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer. The crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate possesses a first doped type and a trench is formed thereon to form an enclosed area to define a first electrode region in the enclosed area and a second electrode region out of the enclosed area. The intrinsic amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the transparent conductive layer are formed sequentially on the crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate and in the trench. Having discontinuity in the trench, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the transparent conductive layer provide an isolation function between the previously defined first and second electrode regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: NEO SOLAR POWER CORP.
    Inventors: Jau-Min Ding, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Kun-Chih Lin, Chih-Hung Liao, Yi-Wen Tseng
  • Publication number: 20150179858
    Abstract: A solar cell includes a crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate, an intrinsic amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, an amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and a transparent conductive layer. The crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate possesses a first doped type and a trench is formed thereon to form an enclosed area to define a first electrode region in the enclosed area and a second electrode region out of the enclosed area. The intrinsic amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the transparent conductive layer are formed sequentially on the crystalline silicon semiconductor substrate and in the trench. Having discontinuity in the trench, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer, the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the transparent conductive layer provide an isolation function between the previously defined first and second electrode regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: JAU-MIN DING, HSIN-CHIAO LUAN, KUN-CHIH LIN, CHIH-HUNG LIAO, YI-WEN TSENG
  • Publication number: 20140373910
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao LUAN, Denis DE CEUSTER
  • Patent number: 8748736
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Denis De Ceuster
  • Publication number: 20140014499
    Abstract: A system for substrate deposition is disclosed. The system includes a wafer pallet and an anode. The wafer pallet has a bottom and a top. The top of the wafer pallet is configured to hold a substrate wafer. The anode has a substantially fixed position relative to the wafer pallet and is configured to move with the wafer pallet through the deposition chamber. The anode is electrically isolated from the substrate wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Peter John Cousins, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Thomas Pass, John Ferrer, Rex Gallardo, Stephen F. Meyer
  • Patent number: 8557093
    Abstract: A system for substrate deposition. The system includes a wafer pallet and an anode. The wafer pallet has a bottom and a top. The top of the wafer pallet is configured to hold a substrate wafer. The anode has a substantially fixed position relative to the wafer pallet and is configured to move with the wafer pallet through the deposition chamber. The anode is electrically isolated from the substrate wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Cousins, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Thomas Pass, John Ferrer, Rex Gallardo, Stephen F. Meyer
  • Publication number: 20120255606
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao LUAN, Denis DE CEUSTER
  • Patent number: 8198528
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally-grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Denis De Ceuster
  • Publication number: 20120073650
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating emitter regions of solar cells are described. Methods of forming layers on substrates of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: David Smith, Helen Liu, Tim Dennis, Jane Manning, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Ann Waldhauer, Genevieve A. Solomon, Brenda Pagulayan Malgapu, Joseph Ramirez
  • Publication number: 20100129955
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a solar cell is described. The method includes first providing, in a process chamber, a substrate having a light-receiving surface. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is then formed, in the process chamber, above the light-receiving surface of the substrate. Finally, without removing the substrate from the process chamber, a protection layer is formed above the ARC layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2010
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Peter Cousins
  • Publication number: 20100071765
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a solar cell is described. The method includes first providing a substrate having a dielectric layer disposed thereon. A pin-hole-free masking layer is then formed above the dielectric layer. Finally, without the use of a mask, the pin-hole-free masking layer is patterned to form a patterned pin-hole-free masking layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Peter Cousins, Hsin-Chiao Luan
  • Patent number: 7670638
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a solar cell is described. The method includes first providing, in a process chamber, a substrate having a light-receiving surface. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is then formed, in the process chamber, above the light-receiving surface of the substrate. Finally, without removing the substrate from the process chamber, a protection layer is formed above the ARC layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Sunpower Corporation
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Peter Cousins
  • Publication number: 20090151784
    Abstract: A multilayer anti-reflection structure for a backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may be formed on a front side of the backside contact solar cell. The anti-reflection structure may include a passivation level, a high optical absorption layer over the passivation level, and a low optical absorption layer over the high optical absorption layer. The passivation level may include silicon dioxide thermally-grown on a textured surface of the solar cell substrate, which may be an N-type silicon substrate. The high optical absorption layer may be configured to block at least 10% of UV radiation coming into the substrate. The high optical absorption layer may comprise high-k silicon nitride and the low optical absorption layer may comprise low-k silicon nitride.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao LUAN, Denis De Ceuster
  • Publication number: 20090022572
    Abstract: Systems and methods combining a cluster chamber with linear sources are described. A plurality of wafers is mounted on a pallet. A central robot in a cluster chamber moves the pallet among chambers connected to the cluster chamber chamber. At least one of the chambers connected to the cluster chamber includes a linear deposition source, the pallet moveable relative to the linear deposition source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Thomas Pass, Hsin-Chiao Luan
  • Publication number: 20080283490
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a solar cell is described. The method includes first providing, in a process chamber, a substrate having a light-receiving surface. An anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is then formed, in the process chamber, above the light-receiving surface of the substrate. Finally, without removing the substrate from the process chamber, a protection layer is formed above the ARC layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Peter Cousins
  • Publication number: 20080230372
    Abstract: A system for substrate deposition. The system includes a wafer pallet and an anode. The wafer pallet has a bottom and a top. The top of the wafer pallet is configured to hold a substrate wafer. The anode has a substantially fixed position relative to the wafer pallet and is configured to move with the wafer pallet through the deposition chamber. The anode is electrically isolated from the substrate wafer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Inventors: Peter Cousins, Hsin-Chiao Luan, Thomas Pass, John Ferrer, Rex Gallardo, Stephen F. Meyer