IP Library Granted Patent US 8,749,256
Granted Patent B2
US 8,749,256 · App. 12/874,247 · Granted Jun 10, 2014

Measurement system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,749,256
App. No.
12/874,247
Granted
Jun 10, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention discloses a contacting device for a thin film solar cell, comprising a positioning plane for positioning the solar cell thereon, a contact element for electrically contacting the solar cell and a suction element, wherein the solar cell is arrangeable on the top side of the positioning plane, the contact element is arranged slideably in a direction orthogonal to the positioning plane and arranged slideably through an opening of the positioning plane, and the suction element is arranged on the bottom side of the positioning plane for sucking air through the opening. The contacting device allows for obtaining improved measurement accuracy.

Claims (33)

1. Contacting device for a thin film solar cell, comprising:

a positioning plane for positioning the solar cell thereon;

a contact element for electrically contacting the solar cell, the contact element being arranged in a direction orthogonal to the positioning plane and arranged slideably through an opening of the positioning plane, the contact element comprising a tip configured to electrically contact the solar cell, the tip being arranged in a first position between a top side and a bottom side of the positioning plane when the solar cell is not arranged on the top side of the positioning plane, the tip being arranged in a second position within the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane; and

a suction element arranged on the bottom side of the positioning plane for sucking air through the opening of the positioning plane.

2. Contacting device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact element is adapted for contacting the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane and when the suction unit sucks air through the opening.

3. Contacting device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact element comprises a golden pin for contacting the solar cell.

4. Contacting device according to claim 1 , comprising a cover configured to light-tightly cover the solar cell when arranged on the top side of the positioning plane.

5. Contacting device according to claim 1 , wherein the contact element is configured to contact the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane and when the suction unit sucks air through the opening and wherein the contacting device comprises a cover configured to light-tightly cover the solar cell when arranged on the top side of the positioning plane.

6. Contacting device according to claim 1 , comprising a temperature element configured to cool and/or heat the contacting device and a peltier element configured to measure a temperature of the contacting device, wherein the temperature element is controlled by the peltier element.

7. Measurement system for a thin film solar cell, comprising a contacting device according to claim 1 , a light source and a rotating table, wherein the contacting device is arranged on the rotating table such that the top side of the positioning plane of the contacting device is rotatable into the optical path of the light source.

8. Measurement system according to claim 7 , wherein the contact element is configured to contact the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane and when the suction unit sucks air through the opening.

9. Measurement system according to claim 7 , comprising a cover configured to light-tightly cover the solar cell when arranged on the top side of the positioning plane.

10. Measurement system according to claim 7 , wherein the contact element is configured to contact the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane and when the suction unit sucks air through the opening and wherein the contacting device comprises a cover configured to light-tightly cover the solar cell when arranged on the top side of the positioning plane.

11. Measurement system according to claim 7 , comprising a filter, wherein the filter is arranged in the optical path of the light source.

12. Measurement system according to claim 7 , comprising a reference cell and/or a photo diode array, wherein the reference cell and/or the photo diode array, respectively, is arranged on the rotating table such that the reference cell and/or the photo diode array, respectively, is rotatable into the optical path of the light source.

13. Measurement system according to claim 7 , comprising a magnetic positioning holder configured to position the rotating table such that the contacting device is arranged in the optical path of the light source.

14. Measurement system according to claim 7 , comprising a low current switching element configured to measure current and/or voltage of the solar cell.

15. Measurement system for a thin film solar cell, comprising:

a contacting device for a thin film solar cell, the contacting device comprising a positioning plane, a contact element, and a suction element, the positioning plane being configured to position the solar cell thereon, the contact element being arranged slideably in a direction orthogonal to the positioning plane and arranged slideably through an opening of the positioning plane, the contact element comprising a tip configured to electrically contact the solar cell, the tip being arranged in a first position between a top side and a bottom side of the positioning plane when the solar cell is not arranged on the top side of the positioning plane, the tip being arranged in a second position within the solar cell when the solar cell is arranged on the top side of the positioning plane, the suction element being arranged on the bottom side of the positioning plane, the suction element being configured to suck air through the opening;

a second contacting device for a second thin film solar cell, the second contacting device comprising a second positioning plane, a second contact element, and a second suction element, the second positioning plane being configured to position the second solar cell thereon, the second contact element being configured to electrically contact the second solar cell, the second contact element being arranged slideably in a direction orthogonal to the second positioning plane and arranged slideably through a second opening of the second positioning plane, the second contact element comprising a second tip configured to electrically contact the second solar cell, the second tip being arranged in a first position between a top side and a bottom side of the second positioning plane when the second solar cell is not arranged on the top side of the second positioning plane, the second tip being arranged in a second position within the second solar cell when the second solar cell is arranged on the top side of the second positioning plane, the second suction element being arranged on the bottom side of the second positioning plane, the second suction element being configured to suck air through the second opening;

a light source; and

a rotating table, the contacting device being arranged on the rotating table such that the top side of the positioning plane of the contacting device is rotatable into an optical path of the light source, the second contacting device being arranged on the rotating table such that the top side of the second positioning plane of the second contacting device is rotatable into the optical path of the light source.

16. A contacting device for a thin film solar cell, comprising:

a positioning plane configured to position the solar cell thereon, the solar cell being arranged on a top side of the positioning plane;

a contact element configured to electrically contact the solar cell, the contact element being arranged slideably in a direction orthogonal to the positioning plane and arranged slideably through an opening of the positioning plane;

a suction element arranged on a bottom side of the positioning plane, the suction element being configured to suck air through the opening of the positioning plane; and

a cover configured to light-tightly cover the solar cell.

17. A contacting device for a thin film solar cell, comprising:

a positioning plane configured to position the solar cell thereon, the solar cell being arranged on a top side of the positioning plane;

a contact element configured to electrically contact the solar cell, the contact element being arranged slideably in a direction orthogonal to the positioning plane and arranged slideably through an opening of the positioning plane;

a suction element arranged on a bottom side of the positioning plane, the suction element being configured to suck air through the opening of the positioning plane;

a temperature element configured to cool and/or heat the contacting device; and

a peltier element configured to measure a temperature of the contacting device, the temperature element being controlled by the peltier element.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 25, 2013
From: OERLIKON SOLAR AG, TRUBBACH
To: TEL SOLAR AG
Reel/Frame 030078/0628 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 16, 2010
From: APOLLONI, MARCO; RANDHAHN, JEAN
To: OERLIKON SOLAR AG, TRUBBACH
Reel/Frame 025508/0751 →