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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 09, 1986
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1984
Joseph A Minahan, Simi Valley, CA (US);
Eugene L Ralph, San Gabriel, CA (US);
Hans G Dill, Newhall, CA (US);
Hughes Aircraft Company, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Abstract
We disclose and claim a process for fabricating wraparound solar cells wherein vertical slots are scribed in a semiconductor wafer to initially define the lateral dimensions of the cell. Thereafter, photolithographic masking, etching and diffusion steps are used to define the geometry of a p-n junction of the cell. Then, using lift-off photolithography and a multiple-element metal deposition process, the solar cell grid lines are formed on one surface of the cell and p- and n-type metal contacts are extended around to the opposite surface of the cell. In this manner, the dimensions of the cell can be made less than the diameter of the semiconductor wafer from which it is made.