Patents by Inventor Markus E. Beck

Markus E. Beck 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).

  • Method of measuring vapor flux density
    Patent number: 9383316
    Abstract: A method of measuring vapor flux density including directing a light beam through a vapor flux to a pixel array sensor and using the pixel array sensor to measure attenuation of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ulrich A. Bonne, Raffi Garabedian, Erel Milshtein, Ming Lun Yu
  • Temperature-adjusted spectrometer
    Patent number: 9177877
    Abstract: A temperature-adjusted spectrometer can include a light source and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ming L. Yu
  • TEMPERATURE-ADJUSTED SPECTROMETER
    Publication number: 20140231945
    Abstract: A temperature-adjusted spectrometer can include a light source and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ming L. Yu
  • Elongated photovoltaic cells in casings with a filling layer
    Patent number: 8742252
    Abstract: A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The tubular shaped solar cell comprises a back-electrode, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The transparent tubular casing is circumferentially sealed onto the transparent conductive layer of the cylindrical shaped solar cell. A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell, a filler layer, and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The cylindrical shaped solar cell comprises a cylindrical substrate, a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the cylindrical substrate, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Solyndra, LLC
    Inventors: Benyamin Buller, Chris M. Gronet, Ratson Morad, Markus E. Beck
  • Temperature-adjusted spectrometer
    Patent number: 8734536
    Abstract: A temperature-adjusted spectrometer can include a light source and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ming Lun Yu
  • FLUX MONITOR
    Publication number: 20140104616
    Abstract: A flux monitor system includes a light source and a sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: MARKUS E. BECK, ULRICH A. BONNE, RAFFI GARABEDIAN, EREL MILSHTEIN, MING LUN YU
  • Photovoltaic apparatus having a filler layer and method for making the same
    Patent number: 8674213
    Abstract: Devices for converting light into electric current are provided. A representative device has an encasing structure having at least one portion transparent. The encasing structure is configured to pass light energy into an interior of the encasing structure. The device further has a photovoltaic device positioned within the interior of the encasing structure. The photovoltaic device is positioned to receive light energy. The photovoltaic device is operable to transform the light energy into electric current. The device further has a protective space material, disposed between the encasing structure and the photovoltaic device. The protective space material is operable to transmit the light energy. The protective space material is a non-solid material having a physical property such as a viscosity of less than 1×106 cP and/or a thermal coefficient of expansion of greater than 500×10?6/° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Solyndra, LLC
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Brian Cumpston
  • Flux monitor
    Patent number: 8646408
    Abstract: A flux monitor system includes a light source and a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ulrich Alexander Bonne, Raffi Garabedian, Erel Milshtein, Ming Lun Yu
  • Photoluminescence spectroscopy
    Patent number: 8629411
    Abstract: This invention relates to temperature-corrected photoluminescence spectroscopy which may be applied to semiconductors and, in particular, photovoltaic films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Janice C. Lee, Erel Milshtein
  • Deposition chamber cleaning system and method
    Patent number: 8501527
    Abstract: An in-situ method of cleaning a vacuum deposition chamber can include flowing at least one reactive gas into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Markus E. Beck
  • Particle detector
    Patent number: 8472021
    Abstract: A particle detector for evaporation flux is disclosed. The particle detector includes a light source and at least one reflective surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Robert Green, Raffi Garabedian, Erel Milshtein, Ming Lun Yu
  • DEPOSITION SOURCE INTEGRATION INTO COATER
    Publication number: 20130078375
    Abstract: An improved deposition source configuration in a process chamber can reduce the overheating in a thin film deposition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Peter Krotov, Michael Rivkin, Erel Milshtein, Markus E. Beck
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE WITH SEALED PERIMETER AND METHOD OF FORMATION
    Publication number: 20130056047
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module is formed by encasing the edge of the photovoltaic module with a dielectric while passing internal module conductors through the edge encased. The edge encasing may be an overmolded dielectric through which the internal conductors pass or connectors may be provided in the overmolded dielectric to allow for external connection to the module. The photovoltaic module can also include mechanical attachment points formed in the molded dielectric to allow the module to be attached to a support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Pedro Gonzalez
  • Deposition chamber cleaning system and method
    Patent number: 8334166
    Abstract: An in-situ method of cleaning a vacuum deposition chamber can include flowing at least one reactive gas into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Markus E. Beck
  • Photovoltaic apparatus having a filler layer and method for making the same
    Patent number: 8183458
    Abstract: Devices for converting light into electric current are provided. A representative device has an encasing structure having at least one portion transparent. The encasing structure is configured to pass light energy into an interior of the encasing structure. The device further has a photovoltaic device positioned within the interior of the encasing structure. The photovoltaic device is positioned to receive light energy. The photovoltaic device is operable to transform the light energy into electric current. The device further has a protective space material, disposed between the encasing structure and the photovoltaic device. The protective space material is operable to transmit the light energy. The protective space material is a non-solid material having a physical property such as a viscosity of less than 1×106 cP and/or a thermal coefficient of expansion of greater than 500×10?6/° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Solyndra LLC
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Brian Cumpston
  • Deposition System
    Publication number: 20120058576
    Abstract: A pumping and valve control device can be used in an atomic layer deposition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ashish Bodke, Yacov Elgar, Dhruv Gajaria, Raffi Garabedian, Jing Guo, Erel Milshtein
  • POSITION-SENSITIVE METROLOGY SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120045855
    Abstract: A metrology system for analyzing a semiconductor device on a substrate can include a metrology sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Erel Milshtein
  • BUFFER LAYER FORMATION
    Publication number: 20120017983
    Abstract: Manufacturing a photovoltaic device can include a vapor transport deposition process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventor: Markus E. Beck
  • DEPOSITION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20120021556
    Abstract: A selenium deposition system can improve the selenium vapor distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ashish Bodke, Ulrich Alexander Bonne, Benyamin Buller, Raffi Garabedian, Erel Milshtein, Ming Lun Yu
  • TEMPERATURE-ADJUSTED SPECTROMETER
    Publication number: 20120018829
    Abstract: A temperature-adjusted spectrometer can include a light source and a temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Inventors: Markus E. Beck, Ming Lun Yu