Patents by Inventor Thomas W. Shields

Thomas W. Shields 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).

  • Apparatus and method for forming a transparent conductive oxide layer over a substrate using a laser
    Patent number: 9065009
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting an amorphous transparent conductive oxide to a crystalline form with the assistance of irradiation of a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Dauson, Joseph Kucharczyk, James D. Reed, Thomas W. Shields
  • APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A TRANSPARENT CONDUCTIVE OXIDE LAYER OVER A SUBSTRATE USING A LASER
    Publication number: 20130267060
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for converting an amorphous transparent conductive oxide to a crystalline form with the assistance of irradiation of a laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas Dauson, Joseph Kucharczyk, James D. Reed, Thomas W. Shields
  • HIGH PRESSURE CLEANER
    Publication number: 20110155182
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a semiconductor material from a photovoltaic module manufacturing component can include enclosing the component and directing a liquid stream at the component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Kucharczyk, James D. Reed, Thomas W. Shields
  • Photovoltaic device back contact
    Publication number: 20110146784
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device may include depositing a semiconductor absorber layer on a substrate, depositing a molybdenum in the presence of a nitrogen to form a molybdenum nitride in contact with the semiconductor absorber layer, and doping the molybdenum nitride with a copper dopant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Pratima V. Addepalli, Oleh P. Karpenko, Thomas W. Shields