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:
Jul. 28, 2015
Filed:
Jul. 26, 2013
First Solar, Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
Mark Jeffrey Pavol, Arvada, CO (US);
First Solar, Inc., Tempe, AR (US);
Abstract
Vapor deposition apparatus for forming stacked thin films on discrete photovoltaic module substrates conveyed in a continuous non-stop manner through the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes a first sublimation compartment positioned over a first deposition area of said apparatus, a second sublimation compartment positioned over a second deposition area of said apparatus, and an internal divider positioned therebetween and defining a middle seal member. An actuator is attached to the internal divider and is configured to move the internal divider to control intermixing of first source material vapors and second source material vapors within the first deposition area and the second deposition area. Methods are also generally provided for depositing stacked thin films on a substrate.