Patents by Inventor Joseph C. Checchi

Joseph C. Checchi 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).

  • Columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell substrate
    Patent number: 6207891
    Abstract: The invention relates to a silicon sheet having columnar grains extending axially through the sheet from one free surface of the sheet to the other free surface. The sheet has an electrical resistivity in the range of 0.1 to 10 ohm-cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Astropower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Hall, Allen M. Barnett, Joseph C. Checchi, David H. Ford, Christopher L. Kendall, James A Rand
  • Columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell substrate and improved method of manufacture
    Patent number: 6111191
    Abstract: The invention relates to improved techniques for manufacturing columnar-grained polycrystalline sheets which have particular utility as substrates or wafers for solar cells. The sheet is made from silicon on a setter material which supports the silicon material. The setter material and silicon are subjected to a thermal profile all of which promote columnar growth. The thermal profile sequentially creates a melt region where a thin-film capping layer grows at the top of the silicon, a nucleation region where preferential nucleation occurs at the capping-layer/molten-silicon interface, and then a growth region where both liquid and a growing polycrystalline sheet layer coexist. An annealing region is created where the temperature of the grown polycrystalline silicon sheet layer is controllably reduced to effect stress relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: AstroPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Hall, Allen M. Barnett, Sandra R. Collins, Joseph C. Checchi, David H. Ford, Christopher L. Kendall, James A Rand, Chad B. Moore
  • Columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell and process of manufacture
    Patent number: 5496416
    Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for manufacturing columnar-grained polycrystalline sheets which have particular utility as substrates or wafers for solar cells. The sheet is made by applying granular silicon to a setter material which supports the granular material. The setter material and granular silicon are subjected to a thermal profile all of which promote columnar growth by melting the silicon from the top downwardly. The thermal profile sequentially creates a melt region at the top of the granular silicon and then a growth region where both liquid and a growing polycrystalline sheet layer coexist. An annealing region is created where the temperature of the grown polycrystalline silicon sheet layer is controllably reduced to effect stress relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Astropower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Hall, Allen M. Barnett, Sandra R. Collins, Joseph C. Checchi, David H. Ford, Christopher L. Kendall, Steven M. Lampo, James A. Rand
  • Columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell and process of manufacture
    Patent number: 5336335
    Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for manufacturing columnar-grained polycrystalline sheets which have particular utility as substrates or wafers for solar cells. The sheet is made by applying granular silicon to a setter material which supports the granular material. The setter material and granular silicon are subjected to a thermal profile all of which promote columnar growth by melting the silicon from the top downwardly. The thermal profile sequentially creates a melt region at the top of the granular silicon and then a growth region where both liquid and a growing polycrystalline sheet layer coexist. An annealing region is created where the temperature of the grown polycrystalline silicon sheet layer is controllably reduced to effect stress relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: AstroPower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Hall, Allen M. Barnett, Jacob E. Brown, Joseph C. Checchi, David H. Ford, Christopher L. Kendall, William P. Mulligan, James A. Rand, Todd R. Ruffins
  • Columnar-grained polycrystalline solar cell and process of manufacture
    Patent number: RE36156
    Abstract: The invention relates to techniques for manufacturing columnar-grained polycrystalline sheets which have particular utility as substrates or wafers for solar cells. The sheet is made by applying granular silicon to a setter material which supports the granular material. The setter material and granular silicon are subjected to a thermal profile all of which promote columnar growth by melting the silicon from the top downwardly. The thermal profile sequentially creates a melt region at the top of the granular silicon and then a growth region where both liquid and a growing polycrystalline sheet layer coexist. An annealing region is created where the temperature of the grown polycrystalline silicon sheet layer is controllably reduced to effect stress relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Astropower, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Hall, Allen M. Barnett, Sandra R. Collins, Joseph C. Checchi, David H. Ford, Christopher L. Kendall, Steven M. Lampo, James A. Rand