Patents by Inventor Joseph Behnke
Joseph Behnke 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: 20230287568Abstract: Described herein is a chamber component including a metal layer comprising nickel and a barrier layer of nickel oxide over the metal layer. The barrier layer of nickel oxide may be formed by ozone treating the chamber component with air, nitrogen or argon O2, O3 at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 350° C.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2022Publication date: September 14, 2023Inventors: Laksheswar Kalita, Joseph Behnke, David Knapp
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Publication number: 20230103643Abstract: Described herein is a chamber component including a metal layer comprising nickel and a barrier layer of nickel oxide over the metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 4, 2021Publication date: April 6, 2023Inventors: Laksheswar Kalita, Joseph Behnke
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Publication number: 20210384366Abstract: Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2021Publication date: December 9, 2021Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Junbo Wu, Michael Cudzinovic, Paul Loscutoff, Joseph Behnke, Michel Arsène Olivier Ngamo Toko
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Patent number: 11195966Abstract: A solar cell and a solar laminate are described. The solar cell can have a front side which faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite front side. The solar cell can include conductive contacts having substantially reflective outer regions disposed on the back side of the solar cell. The solar laminate can include a first encapsulant, the first encapsulant disposed on the back side of the solar cell and a second encapsulant. The solar laminate can include the solar cell laminated between the first and second encapsulant. The substantially reflective outer regions of the conductive contacts and the first encapsulant can be configured to scatter and/or diffuse light at the back side of the solar laminate for substantial light collection at the back side of the solar cell. Methods of fabricating the solar cell are also described herein.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2015Date of Patent: December 7, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: David D. Smith, Sung Dug Kim, Joseph Behnke, Hung-Ming Wang
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Patent number: 11127866Abstract: Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 1, 2016Date of Patent: September 21, 2021Assignees: SunPower Corporation, Total Marketing ServicesInventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Junbo Wu, Michael Cudzinovic, Paul Loscutoff, Joseph Behnke, Michel Arséne Olivier Ngamo Toko
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Publication number: 20170077336Abstract: A solar cell and a solar laminate are described. The solar cell can have a front side which faces the sun during normal operation and a back side opposite front side. The solar cell can include conductive contacts having substantially reflective outer regions disposed on the back side of the solar cell. The solar laminate can include a first encapsulant, the first encapsulant disposed on the back side of the solar cell and a second encapsulant. The solar laminate can include the solar cell laminated between the first and second encapsulant. The substantially reflective outer regions of the conductive contacts and the first encapsulant can be configured to scatter and/or diffuse light at the back side of the solar laminate for substantial light collection at the back side of the solar cell. Methods of fabricating the solar cell are also described herein.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2015Publication date: March 16, 2017Inventors: David D. Smith, Sung Dug Kim, Joseph Behnke, Hung-Ming Wang
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Publication number: 20160276504Abstract: Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2016Publication date: September 22, 2016Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Junbo Wu, Michael Cudzinovic, Paul Loscutoff, Joseph Behnke, Michel Arsène Olivier Ngamo Toko
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Patent number: 9362427Abstract: Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2013Date of Patent: June 7, 2016Assignees: SunPower Corporation, Total Marketing ServicesInventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Junbo Wu, Michael Cudzinovic, Paul Loscutoff, Joseph Behnke, Michel Arsène Olivier Ngamo Toko
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Patent number: 9328427Abstract: A method for plating metal to a solar cell is disclosed. The method includes plating a metal layer only on the surface of solar cell without plating metal along the solar cell edges by conducting a first current in a first direction in an electroplating bath, ejecting metal from the metal layer by conducting a second current in a second direction and plating additional metal to the metal layer by conducting a third current in the first direction. The first, second and third current can be alternated. Subsequent to an electroplating process, an ultrasonic cleaning process is performed on the solar cell to remove any excess plated metal along the surface and edges of the solar cell.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 3, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Joseph Behnke
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Patent number: 9293624Abstract: A method for forming a contact region for a solar cell is disclosed. The method includes depositing a paste composed of a first metal above a substrate of the solar cell, curing the paste to form a first metal layer, electrolessly plating a second metal layer on the first metal layer and electrolytically plating a third metal layer on the second metal layer, where the second metal layer electrically couples the first metal layer to the third metal layer. The method can further include electrolytically plating a fourth metal layer on the third metal layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 4, 2013Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Michael Cudzinovic, Joseph Behnke
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Patent number: 9263601Abstract: Enhanced adhesion of seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an adhesion layer above an emitter region of a substrate. A metal seed paste layer is formed on the adhesion layer. The metal seed paste layer and the adhesion layer are annealed to form a conductive layer in contact with the emitter region of the substrate. A conductive contact for the solar cell is formed from the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: February 16, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Junbo Wu, Michael C. Johnson, Michael Cudzinovic, Joseph Behnke, Xi Zhu, David D. Smith, Richard Sewell Hamilton, Xiuwen Tu, Seung Bum Rim
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Patent number: 9217206Abstract: Forming a porous layer on a silicon substrate. Forming the porous layer can include placing a first silicon substrate in a solution, where a first electrode is within a threshold distance to an edge of the silicon substrate. It can further include conducting a first current through the silicon substrate, where the first electrode can be positioned relative to the edge allowing for substantially uniform porosification along the edge of the first silicon substrate.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: December 22, 2015Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Joseph Behnke, Seung Bum Rim
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Publication number: 20150179836Abstract: Approaches for the metallization of solar cells and the resulting solar cells are described. In an example, a method of fabricating a solar cell involves forming a barrier layer on a semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate. The semiconductor region includes monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon. The method also involves forming a conductive paste layer on the barrier layer. The method also involves forming a conductive layer from the conductive paste layer. The method also involves forming a contact structure for the semiconductor region of the solar cell, the contact structure including at least the conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, Junbo Wu, Michael Cudzinovic, Paul Loscutoff, Joseph Behnke, Michel Arsène Olivier Ngamo Toko
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Publication number: 20150090606Abstract: Forming a porous layer on a silicon substrate. Forming the porous layer can include placing a first silicon substrate in a solution, where a first electrode is within a threshold distance to an edge of the silicon substrate. It can further include conducting a first current through the silicon substrate, where the first electrode can be positioned relative to the edge allowing for substantially uniform porosification along the edge of the first silicon substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Joseph Behnke, Seung Bum Rim
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Publication number: 20140174518Abstract: Enhanced adhesion of seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an adhesion layer above an emitter region of a substrate. A metal seed paste layer is formed on the adhesion layer. The metal seed paste layer and the adhesion layer are annealed to form a conductive layer in contact with the emitter region of the substrate. A conductive contact for the solar cell is formed from the conductive layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventors: Junbo Wu, Michael C. Johnson, Michael Cudzinovic, Joseph Behnke, Xi Zhu, David D. Smith, Richard Sewell Hamilton, Xiuwen Tu, Seung Bum Rim
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Publication number: 20140162399Abstract: A method for forming a contact region for a solar cell is disclosed. The method includes depositing a paste composed of a first metal above a substrate of the solar cell, curing the paste to form a first metal layer, electrolessly plating a second metal layer on the first metal layer and electrolyticly plating a third metal layer on the second metal layer, where the second metal layer electrically couples the first metal layer to the third metal layer. The method can further include electrolyticly plating a fourth metal layer on the third metal layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2013Publication date: June 12, 2014Inventors: Michael Cudzinovic, Joseph Behnke
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Publication number: 20140090982Abstract: A method for plating metal to a solar cell is disclosed. The method includes plating a metal layer only on the surface of solar cell without plating metal along the solar cell edges by conducting a first current in a first direction in an electroplating bath, ejecting metal from the metal layer by conducting a second current in a second direction and plating additional metal to the metal layer by conducting a third current in the first direction. The first, second and third current can be alternated. Subsequent to an electroplating process, an ultrasonic cleaning process is performed on the solar cell to remove any excess plated metal along the surface and edges of the solar cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2012Publication date: April 3, 2014Inventor: Joseph Behnke
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Patent number: 7727364Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating a metal onto a substrate. One embodiment of the invention provides an apparatus for electrochemically plating a substrate. The apparatus comprises a fluid basin configured to retain a plating solution therein, an anode assembly disposed in the fluid basin, a substrate support member configured to support the substrate and contact the substrate electrically, and an encased auxiliary electrode assembly disposed in the fluid basin. The encased auxiliary electrode assembly generally comprises an auxiliary electrode disposed in a protective tube.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2006Date of Patent: June 1, 2010Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Saravjeet Singh, Hooman Hafezi, Manoocher Birang, Aron Rosenfeld, Joseph Behnke
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Publication number: 20070089990Abstract: A method and apparatus for supplying a dose to an electrolyte solution including measuring the time after adding fresh solution, measuring the Amp-hours after adding fresh solution, measuring the number of substrates processed by the solution, calculating the volume of a dose to supply to the solution based on the time, Amp-hours, and number of substrates processed, and adding the dose to the solution.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2005Publication date: April 26, 2007Inventors: Joseph Behnke, Timothy Webb, Yevgeniy Rabinovich, Bo Zheng, Thomas Fischenich
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Patent number: D851679Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2018Date of Patent: June 18, 2019Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: William McChesney, Gilles Serge BianRosa, Christian James Bauer, Pedro Miguel Freitas, Brian Joseph Behnke, Peter Francis Mendoza Santos