The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2019

Filed:

Dec. 30, 2015
Applicant:

Solarcity Corporation, San Mateo, CA (US);

Inventor:

Pablo Gonzalez, Fremont, CA (US);

Assignee:

SolarCity Corporation, San Mateo, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/677 (2006.01); H01L 21/67 (2006.01); H01L 21/673 (2006.01); H01L 21/687 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
H01L 21/6773 (2013.01); H01L 21/67201 (2013.01); H01L 21/67303 (2013.01); H01L 21/67309 (2013.01); H01L 21/67313 (2013.01); H01L 21/67373 (2013.01); H01L 21/67379 (2013.01); H01L 21/67386 (2013.01); H01L 21/67393 (2013.01); H01L 21/67757 (2013.01); H01L 21/67766 (2013.01); H01L 21/67772 (2013.01); H01L 21/67778 (2013.01); H01L 21/68707 (2013.01);
Abstract

Devices and methods for transferring solar cells while maintaining a controlled environment are provided. Such devices can include a solar cell carrying pod adapted to support and maintain a stack of solar cells within a sealed micro-environment of inert gas. The solar cell carrying pod can further allow for ready removal of a solar cell carrier to facilitate automated transport of solar cells. The solar cell carrying pod can include a cover adapted to receive a solar cell carrier cassette securely mounted on a base that is sealably coupled with the cover to maintain solar cells within the carrier cassette in a sealed micro-environment for an extended period of time. The base can include a collet-operated gear train to facilitate unlocking and removal of the base from the cover in an automated process to facilitate large-scale solar cell fabrication.


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