Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.

Sunpower Corporation

Total Marketing Services

Benjamin I Hsia

Pei Hsuan Lu

Taeseok Kim

Lewis C Abra

Richard Hamilton Sewell

David Fredric Joel Kavulak

Thomas Pass

David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse

George G Correos

Gabriel Harley

Tamir Lance

David C Okawa

Ryan Reagan

Thierry Nguyen

Paul Loscutoff

Matthieu Moors

Nils-Peter Harder

Robert Woehl

Mohamed A Elbandrawy

Marc Robinson

Boris Bastien

Lee J Gorny

Andrea R Bowring

David Aaron R Barkhouse

Peter John Cousins

Yafu Lin

Michael Cudzinovic

David Kavulak

Todd Johnson

Benjamin Francois

Matthieu Minault Reich

Raphael M Manalo

Arbaz Ahmed Shakir

Matthew T Matsumoto

Todd Richards Johnson

John H Lippiatt

Simone I Nazareth

Ned Western

Approaches for fabricating one-dimensional metallization for solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate having a back surface and an opposing light-receiving surface. A plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions is disposed in or above the back surface of the substrate and parallel along a first direction to form a one-dimensional layout of emitter regions for the solar cell. A conductive contact structure is disposed on the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The conductive contact structure includes a plurality of metal lines corresponding to the plurality of alternating N-type and P-type semiconductor regions. The plurality of metal lines is parallel along the first direction to form a one-dimensional layout of a metallization layer for the solar cell.

One-dimensional metallization for solar cells

Local patterning and metallization of semiconductor structures using a laser beam, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes providing a substrate having an intervening layer thereon. The method also includes locating a metal foil over the intervening layer. The method also includes exposing the metal foil to a laser beam, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms openings in the intervening layer and forms a plurality of conductive contact structures electrically connected to portions of the substrate exposed by the openings.

Local patterning and metallization of semiconductor structures using a laser beam

A solar cell can include a first plurality of metal contact fingers, and a second plurality of metal contact fingers interdigitated with the first plurality of metal contact fingers, wherein at least one of the first plurality of metal contact fingers comprises a wrap-around metal finger that passes between a first edge of the solar cell and at least one contact pads. A photovoltaic (PV) string including a solar cell with a wrap-around metal contact finger. A method of coupling an electrically conductive connector to a solar cell with a wrap-around metal contact finger.

Solar cell with wraparound finger

Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.

Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures and their methods of manufacture

Metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, solar cell circuit, solar cell strings, and solar cell arrays are described. A solar cell string can include a plurality of solar cells. The plurality of solar cells can include a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contact structures is electrically connected to the plurality semiconductor regions. Each conductive contact structure includes a locally deposited metal portion disposed in contact with a corresponding one of the semiconductor regions.

Laser assisted metallization process for solar cell stringing

Local metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contact structures is electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor regions. Each conductive contact structure includes a locally deposited metal portion disposed in contact with a corresponding a semiconductor region.

Local metallization for semiconductor substrates using a laser beam

A method for fabricating a solar cell and the and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. The method can include: providing a solar cell having metal foil having first regions that are electrically connected to semiconductor regions on a substrate at a plurality of conductive contact structures, and second regions; locating a carrier sheet over the second regions; bonding the carrier sheet to the second regions; and removing the carrier sheet from the substrate to selectively remove the second regions of the metal foil.

Laser assisted metallization process for solar cell fabrication

A method of fabricating solar cell, solar laminate and/or solar module string is provided. The method may include: locating a metal foil over a plurality of semiconductor substrates; exposing the metal foil to laser beam over selected portions of the plurality of semiconductor substrates, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms a plurality conductive contact structures having of locally deposited metal portion electrically connecting the metal foil to the semiconductor substrates at the selected portions; and selectively removing portions of the metal foil, wherein remaining portions of the metal foil extend between at least two of the plurality of semiconductor substrates.

Laser assisted metallization process for solar cell circuit formation

Laser foil trim approaches for foil-based metallization of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes attaching a metal foil sheet to a surface of a wafer to provide a unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer, wherein the wafer has a perimeter and the metal foil sheet has a portion overhanging the perimeter. The method also includes laser scribing the metal foil sheet along the perimeter of the wafer using a laser beam that overlaps the metal foil sheet outside of the perimeter of the wafer and at the same time overlaps a portion of the unified pairing of the metal foil sheet and the wafer inside the perimeter of the wafer to remove the portion of the metal foil sheet overhanging the perimeter and to provide a metal foil piece coupled to the surface of the wafer.

Laser foil trim approaches for foil-based metallization for solar cells

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Benjamin I Hsia