Patents by Inventor Keith McIntosh

Keith McIntosh 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).

  • Publication number: 20140366939
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic module, and the resulting photovoltaic module, are provided and include selecting a photovoltaic cell operable to convert photons to electrons, selecting a light transparent superstrate material having a superstrate absorption coefficient and a superstrate refractive index, and selecting an encapsulant having an encapsulant absorption coefficient and an encapsulant refractive index, wherein an absorption coefficient relationship between the superstrate absorption coefficient and the encapsulant absorption coefficient and a refractive index relationship between the superstrate refractive index and the encapsulant refractive index are selected such that there is a gain in efficiency, and assembling the photovoltaic module using the selected materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Barry Ketola, Ann Norris, Nick Powell, Keith McIntosh
  • Patent number: 8796532
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic module, and the resulting photovoltaic module, are provided and include selecting a photovoltaic cell operable to convert photons to electrons, selecting a light transparent superstrate material having a superstrate absorption coefficient and a superstrate refractive index, and selecting an encapsulant having an encapsulant absorption coefficient and an encapsulant refractive index, wherein an absorption coefficient relationship between the superstrate absorption coefficient and the encapsulant absorption coefficient and a refractive index relationship between the superstrate refractive index and the encapsulant refractive index are selected such that there is a gain in efficiency, and assembling the photovoltaic module using the selected materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation, The Australian National University
    Inventors: Barry Ketola, Ann Norris, Nick Powell, Keith McIntosh, James Cotsell
  • Patent number: 8399287
    Abstract: A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Mulligan, Michael J. Cudzinovic, Thomas Pass, David D. Smith, Neil Kaminar, Keith McIntosh, Richard M. Swanson
  • Publication number: 20120073654
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic module, and the resulting photovoltaic module, are provided and include selecting a photovoltaic cell operable to convert photons to electrons, selecting a light transparent superstrate material having a superstrate absorption coefficient and a superstrate refractive index, and selecting an encapsulant having an encapsulant absorption coefficient and an encapsulant refractive index, wherein an absorption coefficient relationship between the superstrate absorption coefficient and the encapsulant absorption coefficient and a refractive index relationship between the superstrate refractive index and the encapsulant refractive index are selected such that there is a gain in efficiency, and assembling the photovoltaic module using the selected materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: Barry Ketola, Ann Norris, Nich Powell, Keith McIntosh, James Cotsell
  • Patent number: 7897867
    Abstract: A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Mulligan, Michael J. Cudzinovic, Thomas Pass, David Smith, Neil Kaminar, Keith McIntosh, Richard M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7883343
    Abstract: A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Mulligan, Michael J. Cudzinovic, Thomas Pass, David Smith, Neil Kaminar, Keith McIntosh, Richard M. Swanson
  • Patent number: 7339110
    Abstract: A solar cell that is readily manufactured using processing techniques which are less expensive than microelectronic circuit processing. In preferred embodiments, printing techniques are utilized in selectively forming masks for use in etching of silicon oxide and diffusing dopants and in forming metal contacts to diffused regions. In a preferred embodiment, p-doped regions and n-doped regions are alternately formed in a surface of the wafer in offset levels through use of masking and etching techniques. Metal contacts are made to the p-regions and n-regions by first forming a seed layer stack that comprises a first layer such as aluminum that contacts silicon and functions as an infrared reflector, second layer such titanium tungsten that acts as diffusion barrier, and a third layer functions as a plating base. A thick conductive layer such as copper is then plated over the seed layer, and the seed layer between plated lines is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: William P. Mulligan, Michael J. Cudzinovic, Thomas Pass, David Smith, Neil Kaminar, Keith McIntosh, Richard M. Swanson