MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES
A laminate film includes a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other. Each of the modules includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. At least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.
1 . A laminate film, comprising:
a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other, each of the modules including a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between conductive layers, said first and second semiconductor layers defining a junction at an interface therebetween, wherein at least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage.
2 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules includes at least three modules.
3 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules are electrically insulated from each other and separated by a transparent substrate layer.
4 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least two of the junctions have semiconductor bandgaps that are different from each other.
5 . The laminate film of claim 4 where one of the junctions with a smaller bandgap is disposed below another of the junctions with a larger bandgap, wherein the junction with the smaller bandgap is configured to absorb the portion of the second portion of optical energy.
6 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said plurality of modules are glued to each other.
7 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of modules are separated from one another by a thin layer of adhesive used for their attachment to each other.
8 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules includes a flexible substrate.
9 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said modules includes a rigid substrate.
10 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said modules are arranged so that parts of their conducting layers are exposed and available for connection to external electrical circuits.
11 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said modules has an area larger than about 400 cm 2 .
12 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein each of said modules is segmented into a number of sections, each section being an independent photovoltaic module, that are electrically connected in parallel with each other.
13 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein said modules are further attached onto a single carrier substrate.
14 . The laminate film of claim 13 wherein said carrier substrate is textured to provide light scattering back into said modules.
15 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a compound semiconductor.
16 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises an amorphous semiconductor material.
17 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises an organic semiconductor material.
18 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a polymer semiconductor material.
19 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a CIGS-based semiconductor material.
20 . The laminate film of claim 1 wherein at least one of said semiconductor layers comprises a CdTe-based semiconductor material.
21 . A laminate film, comprising:
a plurality of planar electro-optic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other, each of the modules including a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between conductive layers, said first and second semiconductor layers defining a junction at an interface therebetween, wherein each of said modules includes separate electrical contacts connected to their respective conductive layers.
22 . The laminate film of claim 21 wherein said modules are light emitting diodes.
23 . The laminate film of claim 21 wherein said modules are segmented.