Patents by Inventor Thomas Andreev

Thomas Andreev 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).

  • Method and apparatus for detecting mechanical defects in a semiconductor device, particularly in a solar cell arrangement
    Patent number: 8306309
    Abstract: A process detects defects in a semiconductor device, particularly a solar cell or solar cell arrangement, having at least one pn junction in a semiconductor layer of a semiconductor material with an indirect band junction. A voltage is applied to the at least one pn junction to operate it in the transmitting direction; and the radiation behavior of the semiconductor layer generated by the applied voltage, at least for partial ranges of the semiconductor layer, is optically detected and automatically examined for essentially one-dimensional intensity changes in order to detect mechanical defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Andreev, Claus Zimmermann
  • METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MECHANICAL DEFECTS IN A SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE, PARTICULARLY IN A SOLAR CELL ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20100150428
    Abstract: A process detects defects in a semiconductor device, particularly a solar cell or solar cell arrangement, having at least one pn junction in a semiconductor layer of a semiconductor material with an indirect band junction. A voltage is applied to the at least one pn junction to operate it in the transmitting direction; and the radiation behavior of the semiconductor layer generated by the applied voltage, at least for partial ranges of the semiconductor layer, is optically detected and automatically examined for essentially one-dimensional intensity changes in order to detect mechanical defects.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Astrium GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Andreev, Claus Zimmermann