Abstract: A method for passivating photovoltaic cells includes providing a plurality of photovoltaic cells, each cell including a front face, a rear face and a peripheral edge connecting the front and rear faces, on each cell, forming an insulation element shaped along the perimeter of the cell, the insulation element being formed on the front or rear face, stacking the plurality of cells, the insulation element being positioned between two adjacent cells so that the face of the cell provided with the insulation element is positioned at a distance from the face facing the adjacent cell, and depositing a passivation layer onto the peripheral edge of the cells by injecting a passivation species, the insulation element forming a penetration barrier to the passivation species so that the passivation layer covers the peripheral edge of the cells.

Abstract: A method for passivating photovoltaic cells includes providing a plurality of cells, each cell including a front face, a rear face and a peripheral edge, each cell being provided with a plurality of first tracks and a plurality of second tracks being parallel, stacking the cells, the plurality of first tracks and the plurality of second tracks of each cell being positioned between the cell concerned and an adjacent cell, and depositing a passivation layer onto the peripheral edge of the cells by injecting a passivation species, the plurality of first tracks and the plurality of second tracks forming a penetration barrier to the passivation species.

Abstract: A device for holding a photovoltaic cell to form a passivation layer on the photovoltaic cell, the photovoltaic cell including a first face, a second face and a peripheral edge connecting the first face and the second face, the device including a first support part including a first support face and a second support face, the first support face being provided with a first seal shaped according to a perimeter of the photovoltaic cell, a second support part including a third support face and a fourth support face, the third support face being provided with a second seal shaped according to the perimeter of the photovoltaic cell, and a compression device configured to hold the photovoltaic cell bearing tightly against the first seal and against the second seal.

Abstract: A photovoltaic cell element includes a photovoltaic cell substrate configured to generate electrons upon reception of a light radiation, an outer boundary and an inner boundary delimiting the substrate. The element has no material outside the outer boundary and inside the inner boundary, and the substrate has a primer trench formed at least partially over the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: A method for electrically characterising a cut photovoltaic cell, includes measuring the feature I-V of the uncut cell; cutting the cell into a plurality of sub-cells; measuring the feature I-V of each sub-cell not electrically connected to the other sub-cells; measuring the feature I-V of a set comprising all the sub-cells connected in parallel; determining, on the basis of the measured features I-V, performance parameters of the uncut cell, of each sub-set and of the set; computing, for each sub-cell, the difference between the value of the performance parameters of the sub-cell and that of the performance parameter of the uncut cell; and computing the difference between the value of the performance parameter of the set and the value of the performance parameter of the uncut cell.

Abstract: A method for electrically characterising a cut photovoltaic cell, includes measuring the feature I-V of the uncut cell; cutting the cell into a plurality of sub-cells; measuring the feature I-V of each sub-cell not electrically connected to the other sub-cells; measuring the feature I-V of a set comprising all the sub-cells connected in parallel; determining, on the basis of the measured features I-V, performance parameters of the uncut cell, of each sub-set and of the set; computing, for each sub-cell, the difference between the value of the performance parameters of the sub-cell and that of the performance parameter of the uncut cell; and computing the difference between the value of the performance parameter of the set and the value of the performance parameter of the uncut cell.

Abstract: A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for treating an n-type photovoltaic cell free from all but trace amounts of boron atoms, said process comprising the following steps: providing an n-type heterojunction photovoltaic cell (10) comprising a central crystalline silicon layer (1) on and under which two passivation layers (2, 3) made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon are deposited; heating this cell to a temperature between 20° C. and 200° C., for example on a hot plate (20) or in an oven (40), while illuminating the photovoltaic cell with a light flux from a light source (30). The efficiency of the photovoltaic cell is thus improved and stabilized.

Abstract: An extruder for depositing a material includes an extruder body including an extruder drive system and defining a body axis, and an extruder nozzle. The extruder nozzle includes a nozzle tip defining an exit orifice, a reconfigurable arm defining a material path in fluid communication with the exit orifice, the reconfigurable arm including a proximal end coupled to the extruder body and coaxial with the body axis, and a distal end coupled to the nozzle tip, and a plurality of actuators operatively associated with the reconfigurable arm and configured to move the reconfigurable arm between an initial configuration, in which the distal end of the reconfigurable arm is coaxial with the body axis, to a displaced configuration. In the displaced configuration, the distal end of the reconfigurable arm is at least one of positioned offset from the body axis and oriented at an angle relative to the body axis.

Abstract: A digital camera optically couples a monocentric lens to image sensor arrays, without optical fibers, yet shields the image sensor arrays from stray light. In some digital cameras, baffles are disposed between an outer surface of a monocentric lens and each image sensor array to shield the image sensor arrays from stray light. In other such digital cameras, an opaque mask defines a set of apertures, one aperture per image sensor array, to limit the amount of stray light. Some digital cameras include both masks and baffles.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for treating an n-type photovoltaic cell free from all but trace amounts of boron atoms, said process comprising the following steps: providing an n-type heterojunction photovoltaic cell (10) comprising a central crystalline silicon layer (1) on and under which two passivation layers (2, 3) made of hydrogenated amorphous silicon are deposited; heating this cell to a temperature between 20° C. and 200° C., for example on a hot plate (20) or in an oven (40), while illuminating the photovoltaic cell with a light flux from a light source (30). The efficiency of the photovoltaic cell is thus improved and stabilized.