Patents by Inventor Niels KUHR

Niels KUHR 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).

  • THIN-FILM SOLAR FABRICATION PROCESS, DEPOSITION METHOD FOR TCO LAYER, AND SOLAR CELL PRECURSOR LAYER STACK
    Publication number: 20120285522
    Abstract: Method of depositing a TCO layer on a substrate, of depositing precursors of a solar cell and precursors of a solar cell are described. The methods includes DC sputtering a ZnO-containing transparent conductive oxide layer over the substrate, the substrate having a size of 1.4 m2 or above and texturing the ZnO-containing transparent conductive oxide layer, wherein the textured ZnO-containing transparent conductive oxide layer has a root means square roughness of 60 nm or below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Elisabeth Sommer, Philipp Obermeyer, Thomas Zilbauer, Inge Vermeir, Daniel Severin, Niels Kuhr, Markus Kress, Christof Kurthen, Ursula Ingeborg Schmidt, Stefan Klein, Susanne Buschbaum, Konrad Schwanitz, Christian Stoemmer, Tobias Stolley, Martin Rohde, Andreas Rembeck
  • METHOD FOR FORMING TCO FILMS AND THIN FILM STACK
    Publication number: 20120255602
    Abstract: A method for controlling surface morphology of a transparent conductive oxide film (TCO) is provided. A substrate is provided as a basis for forming a solar cell. Onto the substrate, a seed layer is deposited. Then, the method includes depositing the transparent conductive oxide film (TCO) above the seed layer. The seed layer is adapted to control the surface morphology of the transparent conductive oxide film. The surface of the transparent conductive oxide film is etched in order to provide a front contact of the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ursula Ingeborg SCHMIDT, Elisabeth SOMMER, Inge VERMEIR, Markus KRESS, Niels KUHR, Philipp OBERMEYER, Daniel SEVERIN, Anton SUPRITZ
  • THIN FILM SOLAR FABRICATION PROCESS, DEPOSITION METHOD FOR TCO LAYER, AND SOLAR CELL PRECURSOR LAYER STACK
    Publication number: 20120012171
    Abstract: Methods for manufacturing a layer stack for a thin-film solar cell and layer stacks are provided. The layer stack includes a transparent substrate having a first refraction index, a transparent conductive oxide layer comprising ZnO, wherein the transparent conductive oxide layer is deposited over the substrate and has a second refraction index, and a further layer, which is deposited between the transparent conductive oxide layer and the substrate, wherein the layer has a third refraction index in a range from the first refraction index to the second refraction index, the layer comprises a metal, and wherein the layer composition has a metal content of 0.5 to 10 weight-%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ursula Ingeborg Schmidt, Elisabeth Sommer, Inge Vermeir, Markus Kress, Niels Kuhr, Philipp Obermeyer, Daniel Severin, Anton Supritz
  • THIN-FILM SOLAR FABRICATION PROCESS, DEPOSITION METHOD FOR TCO LAYER, AND SOLAR CELL PRECURSOR LAYER STACK
    Publication number: 20120012172
    Abstract: Methods of depositing a TCO layer on a substrate and precursor for solar cells are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Ursula Ingeborg Schmidt, Elisabeth Sommer, Inge Vermeir, Markus Kress, Niels Kuhr, Philipp Obermeyer, Daniel Severin, Anton Supritz, Steven Verhaverbeke
  • THIN FILM SOLAR FABRICATION PROCESS, ETCHING METHOD, DEVICE FOR ETCHING, AND THIN FILM SOLAR DEVICE
    Publication number: 20110294234
    Abstract: Methods and devices for etching a device precursor are provided. For example, a method includes: providing a substrate, determining a temperature associated with the substrate, and etching a metal oxide layer of the substrate, wherein the etching is controlled based on the determined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Niels KUHR, Ursula SCHMIDT