Patents by Inventor Ned Western

Ned Western 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).

  • STRINGS OF SOLAR CELLS HAVING LASER ASSISTED METALLIZATION CONDUCTIVE CONTACT STRUCTURES AND THEIR METHODS OF MANUFACTURE
    Publication number: 20210408313
    Abstract: Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Pei Hsuan Lu, Tyler D. Newman, Paul W. Loscutoff, George G. Correos, Yafu Lin, Andrea R. Bowring, David C. Okawa, Matthew T. Matsumoto, Benjamin I. Hsia, Arbaz Ahmed Shakir, John H. Lippiatt, Simone I. Nazareth, Ryan Reagan, Todd R. Johnson, Ned Western, Tamir Lance, Marc Robinson
  • Method of forming a contact for a photovoltaic cell
    Patent number: 10361321
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a contact for a photovoltaic (PV) cell. The method comprises the step of providing a substrate of a semiconductor material. The substrate has first regions that have a first doping property and are located at first surface portions. The method also comprises depositing a passivation layer on the surface of the substrate including the first surface portions. Further, the method comprises depositing a conductive layer on the passivation layer such that material of the passivation layer is sandwiched between the first regions and the conductive layer. In addition, the method comprises applying an electric field between the first regions and the conductive layer in a manner such that locally a dielectric breakdown of the sandwiched passivation layer material is induced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: NewSouth Innovations Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Ned Western, Stephen Bremner
  • METHOD OF FORMING A CONTACT FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL
    Publication number: 20150303324
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method of forming a contact for a photovoltaic (PV) cell. The method comprises the step of providing a substrate of a semiconductor material. The substrate has first regions that have a first doping property and are located at first surface portions. The method also comprises depositing a passivation layer on the surface of the substrate including the first surface portions. Further, the method comprises depositing a conductive layer on the passivation layer such that material of the passivation layer is sandwiched between the first regions and the conductive layer. In addition, the method comprises applying an electric field between the first regions and the conductive layer in a manner such that locally a dielectric breakdown of the sandwiched passivation layer material is induced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Ned Western, Stephen Bremner