Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a photovoltaic module, the photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a controllable infrared protection layer, and a protection switching means. The controllable infrared protection layer is for reducing the infrared radiation absorbed by the photovoltaic module, where the controllable infrared protection layer has a first state and a second state. When the infrared protection layer is in the first state the transmission of infrared radiation to the photovoltaic cells is higher than when the infrared protection layer is in the second state. The protection switching means is for switching the controllable infrared protection layer between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An apparatus for restoring efficiency of a photovoltaic cell includes an illumination module for illuminating one or more photovoltaic cells such that the one or more photovoltaic cells receive a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 5 hours of solar illumination. The apparatus includes an annealing module for annealing the one or more photovoltaic cells at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes, the annealing in response to illuminating the one or more photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells and a controllable heater for heating the plurality of photovoltaic cells to a temperature of at least 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes, the plurality of photovoltaic cells in a manufactured state such that the plurality of photovoltaic cells are capable of producing electricity when illuminated. In one embodiment, controllable heater includes an infrared absorber, where the infrared absorber is adapted for moving between a stored position and a deployed position, and where the infrared absorber is adapted for heating the photovoltaic module using absorbed infrared radiation when in the deployed position.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for restoring efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. An illumination module illuminates photovoltaic cells so the cells receive a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 5 hours of solar illumination. After illumination, an annealing module anneals the photovoltaic cells at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes. In one embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 20 hours of solar illumination. In another embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 16 hours of solar illumination while being heated to at least 50 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, a solar concentrator irradiates the photovoltaic cells in sunlight for at least 10 hours and increases the irradiance of solar illumination on the cells by a factor of 2 to 5.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (10) with a plurality of solar cells (20) interconnected in serial and/or parallel arrangement within the module (10) is equipped with an overheat protection system (30) for suppressing damages of the photovoltaic module (10) due to defects of the solar cells (20). The overheat protection system (30) comprises a heat sensor (32) which is thermally coupled to a solar cell (20). The heat sensor (32) is physically integrated into an electrical switch (34, 36, 38) which is electrically connected to said solar cell (20).

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing process of a photovoltaic solar cell (100) comprising: providing high doped areas (20) on the rear side (18) of the photovoltaic solar cell (100), providing localized metal contacts (30) localized on said high doped areas (20), providing a passivation layer (50) covering a surface (52) between said contacts (30), wherein the contacts (30) remain substantially free of the passivation layer (50), and depositing a metal layer (32) for a back surface field.

Abstract: A method for characterizing the electronic properties of a solar cell to be used in a photovoltaic module comprises the steps of performing a room temperature IV curve measurement of the solar cell and classifying the solar cell based on this IV curve measurement. In order to take stress-related effects into account, the solar cells are reclassified depending on the result of an additional measurement conducted on the solar cells under stress. This stress-related measurement may be gained from light induced thermography (LIT) yielding information on diode shunt areas within the solar cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing process of a photovoltaic solar cell (100) comprising: providing high doped areas (20) on the rear side (18) of the photovoltaic solar cell (100), providing localized metal contacts (30) localized on said high doped areas (20), providing a passivation layer (50) covering a surface (52) between said contacts (30), wherein the contacts (30) remain substantially free of the passivation layer (50), and depositing a metal layer (32) for a back surface field.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (10) comprises a plurality of solar cells (20) interconnected in serial arrays (15). At least some of the solar cells (20) are equipped with control units (30) comprising at least one thermal sensor (42) and one power sensor (43). The control unit (30) comprises means (35) for removing a specific solar cell (20?) from the photovoltaic module (10) network if said solar cell (20?) is found to have reached a predefined level of degradation. In a preferred embodiment, control unit (30) is an ASIC chip (40) in thermal contact with said solar cell (20) and electrically connected to said solar cell (20).

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (10) with a plurality of solar cells (20) interconnected in serial and/or parallel arrangement within the module (10) is equipped with an overheat protection system (30) for suppressing damages of the photovoltaic module (10) due to defects of the solar cells (20). The overheat protection system (30) comprises a heat sensor (32) which is thermally coupled to a solar cell (20). The heat sensor (32) is physically integrated into an electrical switch (34, 36, 38) which is electrically connected to said solar cell (20).

Abstract: A photovoltaic module and a method of manufacturing such a module in which metal is deposited in a pattern on the front side of a semiconductor wafer which acts as an electrode. Photovoltaic cells manufactured using a semiconductor wafer typically have a P type semiconductor region and an N type semiconductor region. The metal on the front side of each of the photovoltaic cells forms an electrical connection to the doped layer of the semiconductor wafer on its front side.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for a photovoltaic module, the photovoltaic module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a controllable infrared protection layer, and a protection switching means. The controllable infrared protection layer is for reducing the infrared radiation absorbed by the photovoltaic module, where the controllable infrared protection layer has a first state and a second state. When the infrared protection layer is in the first state the transmission of infrared radiation to the photovoltaic cells is higher than when the infrared protection layer is in the second state. The protection switching means is for switching the controllable infrared protection layer between the first state and the second state.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for restoring efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. An illumination module illuminates photovoltaic cells so the cells receive a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 5 hours of solar illumination. After illumination, an annealing module anneals the photovoltaic cells at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes. In one embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 20 hours of solar illumination. In another embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 16 hours of solar illumination while being heated to at least 50 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, a solar concentrator irradiates the photovoltaic cells in sunlight for at least 10 hours and increases the irradiance of solar illumination on the cells by a factor of 2 to 5.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a temporary chip carrier for semiconductor chip burn-in test and speed sorting. A multi-layered substrate or card, usually comprised of one of various materials is made by offsetting the conductor-filled vias or holes in the outer few layers with the outer most layer not being filled with a conductor, such that a partially filled via or hole is produced. This effectively produces a smaller surface conductor feature, on which the semiconductor chip is temporarily attached, electrically tested, and subsequently removed using various methods, at forces much lower than normal chip removal processes require.

Abstract: A multilayer ceramic substrate in which an outer metal pad is anchored to the substrate by a single metal-filled via in the first ceramic layer adjacent to the metal pad. In turn, this single metal-filled via is anchored to the substrate by a larger, single metal-filled via in the next ceramic layer adjacent to the first ceramic layer. Preferably, the metal-filled vias and metal pad are 100 volume percent metal.