Patents by Inventor Rick C. Powell

Rick C. Powell 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).

  • Photovoltaic devices including doped semiconductor films
    Patent number: 11843070
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Anke Abken, Markus Gloeckler, Roger T. Green, Akhlesh Gupta, Upali Jayamaha, Peter Meyers, Rick C. Powell
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING DOPED SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS
    Publication number: 20210091250
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Publication date: March 25, 2021
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Anke Abken, Markus Gloeckler, Roger T. Green, Akhlesh Gupta, Upali Jayamaha, Peter Meyers, Rick C. Powell
  • Vapor transport deposition method and system for material co-deposition
    Patent number: 10749068
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers couple to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizer provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Barden, Rick C. Powell
  • System and method for transport
    Patent number: 10570516
    Abstract: A deposition system and method includes a deposition source, a roll conveyor and at least one shield positioned at a location proximate to the deposition source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Rick C. Powell
  • Photovoltaic devices including doped semiconductor films
    Patent number: 10319873
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Rick C. Powell, Upali Jayamaha, Anke Abken, Markus Gloeckler, Akhlesh Gupta, Roger T. Green, Peter Meyers
  • VAPOR TRANSPORT DEPOSITION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MATERIAL CO-DEPOSITION
    Publication number: 20190081199
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers couple to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizer provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Barden, Rick C. Powell
  • Vapor transport deposition method and system for material co-deposition
    Patent number: 10147838
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers coupled to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizers provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Barden, Rick C. Powell
  • Integrated Vapor Transport Deposition Method and System
    Publication number: 20180323332
    Abstract: A vapor transport deposition system and method that includes a vaporizer and distributor unit and at least one auxiliary process unit for integrating thin-film layer deposition with one or more pre- or post-deposition processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John Barden, Changming Jin, Feng Liao, Rick C. Powell, Gang Xiong
  • High efficiency photovoltaic device employing cadmium sulfide telluride and method of manufacture
    Patent number: 9799784
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is disclosed including at least one Cadmium Sulfide Telluride (CdSxTe1?x) layer as are methods of forming such a photovoltaic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, Benyamin Buller, Markus Gloeckler, Benjamin Milliron, Xilin Peng, Rick C. Powell, Jigish Trivedi, Oomman K. Varghese, Jianjun Wang, Zhibo Zhao
  • VAPOR TRANSPORT DEPOSITION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MATERIAL CO-DEPOSITION
    Publication number: 20170092803
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers couple to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizer provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: John Barden, Rick C. Powell
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING MG-DOPED SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS
    Publication number: 20170084762
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Akhlesh Gupta, Rick C. Powell, David Eaglesham
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING EFFICIENCY OF THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES
    Publication number: 20170054052
    Abstract: A method for producing, apparatus for producing and photovoltaic device including semiconductor layers with halide heat treated surfaces that increase grain growth within at least one of the semiconductor layers and improve the interface between the semiconductor layers. The halide heat treatment includes applying and heating multiple coatings of a halide compound on surfaces adjacent to or part of the semiconductor layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Inventors: Markus Gloeckler, Akhlesh Gupta, Xilin Peng, Rick C. Powell, Jigish Trivedi, Jianjun Wang, Zhibo Zhao
  • Vapor transport deposition method and system for material co-deposition
    Patent number: 9490120
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for continuous vapor transport deposition that includes at least two vaporizers couple to a common distributor through an improved seal for separately vaporizing and collecting at least any two vaporizable materials for deposition as a material layer on a substrate. Multiple vaporizer provide redundancy and allow for continuous deposition during vaporizer maintenance and repair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: John Barden, Rick C. Powell
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DEPOSITING A MATERIAL ON A SUBSTRATE
    Publication number: 20160300714
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for depositing a film on a substrate includes a plasma source positioned proximate to a distributor configured to provide a semiconductor coating on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Publication date: October 13, 2016
    Inventor: Rick C. Powell
  • FEEDER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A VAPOR TRANSPORT DEPOSITION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20160265100
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for a vapor transport deposition system that includes a carrier gas bypass flow line to allow for continuous carrier gas flow to a vaporizer unit when a vibratory unit which supplies powdered material and carrier gas to the vaporizer unit is out of service. A process gas flow line to the vibratory unit may be included when the powdered material contains a powdered dopant in the material mix.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Publication date: September 15, 2016
    Inventors: Feng Liao, Rick C. Powell, Gang Xiong
  • Method of reducing semiconductor window layer loss during thin film photovoltaic device fabrication, and resulting device structure
    Patent number: 9437760
    Abstract: A completed photovoltaic device and method forming it are described in which fluxing of a window layer into an absorber layer is mitigated by the presence of a sacrificial fluxing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Damjanovic, Rick C. Powell, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS PROVIDING SINGLE STEP VAPOR CHLORIDE TREATMENT AND PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES
    Publication number: 20160197226
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed in which cadmium chloride is deposited on a cadmium telluride layer while simultaneously heat treating the cadmium telluride layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Akhlesh Gupta, Markus Gloeckler, Rick C. Powell
  • Feeder system and method for a vapor transport deposition system
    Patent number: 9359668
    Abstract: An improved feeder system and method for a vapor transport deposition system that includes a carrier gas bypass flow line to allow for continuous carrier gas flow to a vaporizer unit when a vibratory unit which supplies powdered material and carrier gas to the vaporizer unit is out of service. A process gas flow line to the vibratory unit may be included when the powdered material contains a powdered dopant in the material mix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Gang Xiong, Feng Liao, Rick C. Powell
  • Method and apparatus providing multi-step deposition of thin film layer
    Patent number: 9337376
    Abstract: A multi-stage method and apparatus for vaporizing and depositing a tellurium containing semiconductor material on a substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Allenic, Zhigang Ban, John Barden, Benjamin Milliron, Rick C. Powell
  • PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES INCLUDING DOPED SEMICONDUCTOR FILMS
    Publication number: 20160126398
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include a dopant in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2016
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Inventors: Rick C. Powell, Upali Jayamaha, Anke Abken, Markus Gloeckler, Akhlesh Gupta, Roger T. Green, Peter Meyers