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:
May. 19, 2015
Filed:
Dec. 18, 2012
Nthdegree Technologies Worldwide Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
Tricia A. Youngbull, Tempe, AZ (US);
William J. Ray, Fountain Hills, AZ (US);
Lixin Zheng, Kirkland, WA (US);
Mark D. Lowenthal, Gilbert, AZ (US);
Vera N. Lockett, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Theodore I. Kamins, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Neil O. Shotton, Tempe, AZ (US);
Nthdegree Technologies Worldwide Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
Abstract
A PV panel uses an array of small silicon sphere diodes (10-300 microns in diameter) connected in parallel. The spheres are embedded in an uncured aluminum-containing layer, and the aluminum-containing layer is heated to anneal the aluminum-containing layer as well as p-dope the bottom surface of the spheres. A phosphorus-containing layer is deposited over the spheres to dope the top surface n-type, forming a pn junction. The phosphorus layer is then removed. A conductor is deposited to contact the top surface. Alternatively, the spheres are deposited with a p-type core and an n-type outer shell. After deposition, the top surface is etched to expose the core. A first conductor layer contacts the bottom surface, and a second conductor layer contacts the exposed core. A liquid lens material is deposited over the rounded top surface of the spheres and cured to provide conformal lenses designed to increase the PV panel efficiency.