SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING AN ARTICLE AND A MODIFIED ARTICLE
A system and method for modifying an article to increase resistance to crack propagation are disclosed. The method includes providing a system, positioning one or more lasers, and directing a predetermined energy to a topographical feature on a surface of an article.
1 . A method for modifying a glass article for use with a photovoltaic cell, the method comprising:
providing a system, the system comprising:
one or more lasers positioned to direct a predetermined energy to a topographical feature on a surface of the article; and
wherein the predetermined energy modifies the surface of the topographical feature on the surface article;
positioning the one or more lasers; and
directing the predetermined energy to the topographical feature on the surface of the article.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographical feature on the surface of the article is modified by removal of debris.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographical feature on the surface of the article is modified by being repaired, the repairing includes local melting to increase resistance to crack propagation.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising selectively maintaining one or more predetermined distances between the article and the one or more lasers.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the article is a glass substrate for receiving thin film layers.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the glass is an encapsulating glass of the photovoltaic cell.
7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the photovoltaic cell includes a superstrate, a first conductive layer, a buffer layer, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer, and an encapsulating glass.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the glass is a superstrate having high-transmission, low-iron float glass or borosilicate glass.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the topographic feature is selected from the group of three-dimensional structures consisting of a ridge, an edge, a corner, and a groove.
10 . A modified article with increased resistance to crack propagation, the article comprising:
a topographical feature on a surface of the article; and,
wherein the topographical features has been modified by a predetermined energy directed from one or more lasers.
11 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the topographical feature on the surface of the article was modified by removal of debris.
12 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the topographical feature on the surface of the article was modified by being repaired.
13 . The article of claim 12 , wherein the repairing included local melting of the article to increase resistance to crack propagation.
14 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the article is a glass substrate for receiving thin film layers.
15 . The article of claim 14 , wherein the glass is an encapsulating glass of a photovoltaic cell.
16 . The article of claim 15 , wherein the photovoltaic cell includes a superstrate, a first conductive layer, a buffer layer, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a second conductive layer, and an encapsulating glass.
17 . The article of claim 16 , wherein the glass is a superstrate having high-transmission, low-iron float glass or borosilicate glass.
18 . The article of claim 10 , wherein the topographic feature is selected from the group of three-dimensional structures consisting of a ridge, an edge, a corner, and a groove.
19 . A system for modifying an article to increase resistance to crack propagation, the system comprising:
one or more lasers positioned to direct a predetermined energy to a topographical feature on a surface of the article; and,
wherein the predetermined energy modifies the topographical feature on the surface of the article; and,
wherein the system modifies the topographical feature on the surface of the article by one or more of removing debris and repairing a defect, the repairing including local melting of the article to increase resistance to crack propagation.
20 . The system of claim 19 , further comprising a motion system for selectively maintaining one or more predetermined distances between the article and the one or more lasers.