Stion Corporation

Conner Peripherals, Inc.

Miasole

Hanergy Holding Group Ltd.

Paul Alexander

Robert D Wieting

Ashish Tandon

Darin Birtwhistle

Bruce Krein

Jeff Thompson

William Sanders

John P Ross

Steven Aragon

Jurg Schmitzberger

Jurg Schmizberger

Robert Ocheltree

An apparatus for uniform reactive thermal treatment of thin-film materials includes a chamber enclosing a tube shaped space filled with a work gas and heaters disposed outside the chamber. The apparatus further includes a loading configuration for subjecting a plurality of planar substrates to the work gas in the tube shaped space. Baffles are disposed above and below the loading configuration.

Apparatus and method utilizing forced convection for uniform thermal treatment of thin film devices

Provided herein are methods, apparatuses and systems for fabricating photovoltaic cells and modules. In certain embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems involve coating ferromagnetic substrates with thin film solar cell materials and using magnetic force to constrain, move or otherwise manipulate partially fabricated cells or modules. According to various embodiments, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide magnetically actuated handling throughout a photovoltaic cell or module fabrication process, from forming photovoltaic cell layers on a substrate to packaging the module for transport and installation. The magnetically manipulated processing provides advantages over conventional photovoltaic module processing operations, including fewer mechanical components, greater control over placement and tolerances, and ease of handling. As a result, the methods, apparatuses and systems provide highly efficient, low maintenance photovoltaic module fabrication processes.

Systems, methods and apparatuses for magnetic processing of solar modules

An apparatus for extracting a bell jar chamber from a processing station of a thin film photovoltaic material is provided. The apparatus includes a rack fixture coupled to a robot loader. The rack fixture is configured to support the bell jar chamber to be moved using the robot loader in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction. The apparatus further includes at least two support members configured within a vicinity of an upper region of the rack fixture.

Bell jar extraction tool method and apparatus for thin film photovoltaic materials

A method of supporting a plurality of planar substrates in a tube shaped furnace for conducting a thermal treatment process is disclosed. The method uses a boat fixture having a base frame including two length portions and a first width portion, a second width portion, and one or more middle members connected between the two length portions. Additionally, the method includes mounting a removable first grooved rod respectively on the first width portion, the second width portion, and each of the one or more middle members, each first grooved rod having a first plurality of grooves characterized by a first spatial configuration. The method further includes inserting one or two substrates of a plurality of planar substrates into each groove in the boat fixture separated by a distance.

Quartz boat method and apparatus for thin film thermal treatment

An apparatus for reactive thermal treatment of thin film photovoltaic devices includes a furnace tube including an inner wall extended from a first end to a second end. The apparatus further includes a gas supply device coupled to the second end and configured to fill one or more working gases into the furnace tube. Additionally, the apparatus includes a cover configured to seal the furnace tube at the first end and serve as a heat sink for the one or more working gases. Furthermore, the apparatus includes a fixture mechanically attached to the cover. The fixture is configured to load an array of substrates into the furnace tube as the cover seals the furnace tube. Moreover, the apparatus includes a crescent shaped baffle member disposed seamlessly at a lower portion of the inner wall for blocking a convection current of the one or more working gases cooled by the cover.

Method and structure for processing thin film PV cells with improved temperature uniformity

A method of centering a disk on the rotational axis of a motor, the motor having a hub protruding into a center hole in the disk, and the disk having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, is provided. The method includes the steps of (a) placing a contact element in contact with the outer diameter of the disk; (b) applying a damping force and a spring force to said contact element, said damping force and said spring force, urging said contact element towards said rotational axis, wherein the magnitude of said damping force is greater than the magnitude of said spring force, and said spring force is of insufficient amplitude to move said disk with respect to said hub; and (c) rotating said contact element to rotate said disk. Also provided is an apparatus for centering a disk on the rotational axis of a motor having a hub protruding into a center hole of the disk, the disk being loosely fixed to the hub and having an outer diameter and an inner diameter defining the center hole. The apparatus includes means for contacting the outer diameter of the disk, and for rotating the disk. The apparatus further includes shock absorber means, coupled to the means for contacting, for applying a first force and a second force toward the rotational axis of the motor, where the first force being constantly applied and is of insufficient amplitude to move the disk with respect to the hub, the second force urges the means for contacting in the direction of the rotational axis when the disk is rotated to generate a third force in the direction away from the rotational axis, the second force being greater than the first force and of sufficient amplitude to move the disk with respect to the hub.

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San Jose, CA, United States of America

Paul Alexander