Abstract: A continuous roll-to-roll apparatus for providing a patterned deposit of a material onto a moving substrate web includes a payout station for feeding out a substrate web, a take-up station for taking up the substrate web, and a web transport system for advancing the web through the apparatus from the payout station to the take-up station. The apparatus includes at least one deposition station disposed between the payout station and the take-up station, and the deposition station is operative to deposit a material onto the web as it moves therethrough. The apparatus includes a masking system associated with a deposition station. The masking system is operative to dispose a deposition mask in registry with a portion of the length of the moving web. The deposition mask is comprised of a plurality of filaments which are aligned with the longitudinal axis of the web.

Abstract: A metal and oxygen material such as a transparent electrically conductive oxide material is electro deposited onto a substrate in a solution deposition process. Process parameters are controlled so as to result in the deposition of a high quality layer of material which is suitable for use in a back reflector structure of a high efficiency photovoltaic device. The deposition may be carried out in conjunction with a masking member which operates to restrict the deposition of the metal and oxygen material to specific portions of the substrate. In particular instances the deposition may be implemented in a continuous, roll-to-roll process. Further disclosed are semiconductor devices and components of semiconductor devices made by the present process, as well as apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A metal and oxygen material such as a transparent electrically conductive oxide material is electro deposited onto a substrate in a solution deposition process. Process parameters are controlled so as to result in the deposition of a high quality layer of material which is suitable for use in a back reflector structure of a high efficiency photovoltaic device. The deposition may be carried out in conjunction with a masking member which operates to restrict the deposition of the metal and oxygen material to specific portions of the substrate. In particular instances the deposition may be implemented in a continuous, roll-to-roll process. Further disclosed are semiconductor devices and components of semiconductor devices made by the present process, as well as apparatus for carrying out the process.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing a thin film electrical device is provided in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. The system includes a chamber and a gas gate. The chamber includes accumulating apparatus therein configured for gathering a portion of the substrate within the chamber. The gas gate provides fluid communication between a pressure region of the chamber and a second pressure region.

Abstract: A substrate is provided with a multiplicity of electrically conductive elements, and the elements are interconnected to form an antenna structure for desired application. Either the antenna pattern itself may be altered according to the invention, or one or more feed points may be changed, or all of the above. As such, the electrically conductive elements may be interconnected to change the directionality of the antenna pattern, the gain, the frequency response, or other operational characteristics. The electrically conductive elements may be arranged in the form of an inchoate antenna pattern or regular array. Switches at key points of the structure enable the pattern to be changed dynamically. Such switching may be carried out in real time in accordance with transmissions/reception characteristics, or in advance using simulations associated with the switched elements.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved gas gate for interconnecting regions of differing gaseous composition and/or pressure, more particularly between atmosphere and a vacuum. The gas gate includes a cylinder within a housing situated between the regions of differing gaseous pressure, wherein the gas gate provides for choke mode transonic flow of air leaks between the regions. A web of substrate material is adapted to move between the regions with at least one roller in a first region and at least one roller in a second region. The rollers are positioned to create sufficient tension as the web advances over the top peripheral portion of the cylinder between the two regions or under the bottom peripheral portion of the cylinder between the two regions.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an improved gas gate for interconnecting regions of differing gaseous composition and/or pressure, more particularly between atmosphere and a vacuum. The gas gate includes a cylinder within a housing situated between the regions of differing gaseous pressure. A web of substrate material is adapted to move between the regions with at least one roller in the first region and at least one roller in the second region. The rollers are positioned to create sufficient tension as the web advances over the top peripheral portion of the cylinder between the two regions or under the bottom peripheral portion of the cylinder between the two regions. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas gate is characterized by the height of the passageway between the top plate of the housing and web of substrate advancing over the top peripheral portion of the cylinder and the height of the passageway between the bottom plate of the housing and the bottom peripheral portion of the cylinder.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing improved large area photovoltaic devices by substantially reducing the warpage of relatively large area, relatively thin webs of magnetic substrate material which travel through a plurality of high temperature, low pressure glow discharge deposition chambers. As the web of the substrate material moves through the deposition chambers, it assumes a normal, elongated path of travel. Due to the elevated deposition temperature, the elongated path of travel, the force of gravity, etc., the web has a tendency to warp. Warpage of the web is undesirable as it promotes the deposition of non-uniform semiconductor alloy layers. The improvement of the present invention contemplates the establishment of at least one magnetic field within each deposition chamber which is adapted to urge the web of substrate material out of its normal path of travel into a flat, substantially planar path of travel.