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:
Feb. 06, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 23, 1999
Eleonoor Van Andel, Enschede, NL;
Erik Middelman, Arnhem, NL;
Rudolf Emmanuel Isidore Schropp, Driebergen, NL;
Akzo Nobel NV, Arnhem, NL;
Abstract
The invention pertains to a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic foil supported by a carrier and comprising a plurality of photovoltaic layers which together have the ability of generating electric current from incident light, a back-electrode layer on one side adjacent and parallel to the photovoltaic layers, and a transparent conductor layer on the other side of, and adjacent and parallel to the photovoltaic layers, which method comprises the following subsequent steps: providing a temporary substrate, applying the transparent conductor layer, applying the photovoltaic layers, applying the back-electrode layer, applying the carrier, removing the temporary substrate, and, preferably, applying a top coat on the side of the transparent conductor layer. The invention enables the roll-to-roll manufacture of a tough photovoltaic foil or device, while at the same time making it possible to use any desired transparent conductor material and deposition process, without jeopardizing the current-generating action of the PV layers.