Patents by Inventor Rolf Wächter

Rolf Wächter 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 MODULE AND PRODUCTION METHOD
    Publication number: 20250089380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array, including a plurality of solar cells with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer, a front contact layer and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure for electrically serially connecting neighboring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2024
    Publication date: March 13, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher
  • Thin film solar module and production method
    Patent number: 12154997
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array (1), including a plurality of solar cells (2) with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer (3), a front contact layer (4) and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure (6) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method. In the thin film solar module according to the invention, the electrical connection structure includes contact strips (7) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells, wherein the electrical connection structure electrically serially connects two respective solar cells (2m, 2m+1) that are adjacent to one another in a series connection direction (RS) via one or more contact strips (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher
  • THIN FILM SOLAR MODULE AND PRODUCTION METHOD
    Publication number: 20230136328
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thin film solar module comprising a monolithic solar cell array (1), including a plurality of solar cells (2) with a layer structure, comprising a rear contact layer (3), a front contact layer (4) and an absorber layer between the rear contact layer and the front contact layer, and an electrical connection structure (6) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells. The invention also relates to an associated production method. In the thin film solar module according to the invention, the electrical connection structure includes contact strips (7) for electrically serially connecting neighbouring solar cells, wherein the electrical connection structure electrically serially connects two respective solar cells (2m, 2m+1) that are adjacent to one another in a series connection direction (RS) via one or more contact strips (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Applicant: First Solar GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Wächter, Tobias Repmann, Bernd Sprecher