Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.

Dominic Crea

Prem Nath

Timothy J Barnard

Allen Murray

An improved photovoltaic device having a preselected current carrying capacity includes an electrically conductive body, an electrically insulating layer disposed atop the conductive body and a current carrying electrically conductive pattern atop the insulating layer. The material forming the current carrying pattern infiltrates portions of the insulating layer and establishes electrical communication with the electrically conductive body in such a manner that the current carrying capacity of the device is proportional to the area which is infiltrated by the conductive material. Also disclosed herein are methods for the fabrication of the improved device.

Photovoltaic device having a predetermined current carrying capacity

An improved photovoltaic device exhibiting increased tolerance of shorting and shunting defects includes: a substrate having a semiconductor body disposed thereupon, a current collecting structure such as a bus-grid structure disposed upon the semiconductor body and a transparent conductive electrode overlying the semiconductor body and the current collecting structure. The photovoltaic device may also include a layer of low electrical conductivity material disposed beneath at least portions of the current collecting structure to prevent electrical contact between said structure and defective regions of the device occuring therebelow. Also disclosed are methods for the fabrication of the improved device.

Photovoltaic device and method

An improved photovoltaic device exhibiting increased tolerance of shorting and shunting defects includes a pattern of current flow restricting material operatively disposed so as to limit the flow of electrical current between the substrate and the current collector of the device. Also disclosed are methods for the fabrication of the improved device.

Disclosed is an improved photovoltaic device design and method. The design is especially useful for large area photovoltaic devices and includes a first electrode, a semiconductor body over the first electrode, a transparent electrically conductive layer over the semiconductor body and a bus grid structure in electrical contact with the conductor layer for collecting and carrying current generated by the photovoltaic device. Structure is provided for reducing the degrading effect of a low resistance current path or short in the semiconductor body. The structure for reducing the degrading effect of a low resistance current path can be a specifically designed transparent electrically conductive layer, electrical isolation of the current carrying portions of the bus grid structure from the conductive layer, resistive connections of the current collecting fingers to the remainder of the bus grid structure, a buffered bus grid structure or a fuse-type connection or the grid or current collecting fingers which terminates when the current reaches a predetermined amount. Methods of fabricating photovoltaic devices as disclosed herein are provided.

A non-destructive method of electro-coating a preselected pattern of electrically insulating or conducting material onto a semiconductor device which includes a photoresponsive junction. The method includes the step of illuminating the semiconductor device prior to initiating the flowing of electro-coating current therethrough. The method has particular utility in providing electroplated grid patterns and connections on large area photovoltaic cells. Also disclosed is the use of current generated by a photovoltaic cell to effect the electro-coating thereof.

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Mt. Clemens, MI, United States of America

Dominic Crea