IP Library Granted Patent US 8,431,427
Granted Patent B2
US 8,431,427 · App. 13/035,594 · Granted Apr 30, 2013

Photovoltaic module manufacture

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,431,427
App. No.
13/035,594
Granted
Apr 30, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module including a laminating step.

Claims (32)

1. A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module comprising:

heating a photovoltaic module to a temperature above 100 degrees C.; and

applying an electrical bias to the heated photovoltaic module,

wherein the step of heating the photovoltaic module occurs during a lamination process further comprising:

placing a photovoltaic module interlayer in contact with a photovoltaic module substrate before heating the photovoltaic module; and

pressing the interlayer and the substrate together.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an electrical bias to the photovoltaic module takes place during the lamination process.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein applying an electrical bias to the photovoltaic module takes place after the lamination process.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the lamination process has a duration of 1 to 60 minutes.

5. A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module comprising:

heating a photovoltaic module to a temperature above 100 degrees C.; and

applying an electrical bias to the heated photovoltaic module,

wherein applying an electrical bias to the photovoltaic module takes place after heating the photovoltaic module.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying an electrical bias has a duration substantially the same as that of heating the photovoltaic module.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying the electrical bias includes supplying constant current.

8. The method of claim 5 , wherein applying the electrical bias includes supplying constant voltage.

9. The method of claim 5 , wherein the electrical bias generates a current that is in the range of 0.3-5 times of the short circuit current of the photovoltaic device.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein heating the photovoltaic module comprises heating the photovoltaic module to a temperature in the range of 100 to 220 degree C.

11. The method of claim 5 , wherein the step of applying the electrical bias comprises applying the electrical bias for 1 to 60 minutes.

12. A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic module comprising:

heating a photovoltaic module to a temperature above 100 degrees C.; and

applying an electrical bias to the heated photovoltaic module,

wherein applying an electrical bias has a duration longer or shorter than that of heating the photovoltaic module.

13. A system for manufacturing a photovoltaic module comprising:

a conditioning station including a heater configured to heat a photovoltaic module to a temperature greater than 100 degrees C.;

a power source configured to apply an electrical bias to the photovoltaic module;

a laminator configured to press a photovoltaic module interlayer and photovoltaic module substrate together after a photovoltaic module is heated; and

a conveyor to transport a photovoltaic module from the laminator.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the power source is configured to apply the electrical bias to a photovoltaic module subsequent to the heater heating the photovoltaic module or is configured to apply the electrical bias to a photovoltaic device simultaneous to the heater heating the photovoltaic module.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the power source is set at a constant current or is set at a constant voltage.

16. The system of claim 13 , further comprising a photovoltaic module including one or more of thin film photovoltaic device, cadmium telluride photovoltaic device, CIGS photovoltaic device, or amorphous silicon photovoltaic device.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the interlayer comprises a thermoplastic material.

Assignments (7)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 13, 2026
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 074858/0364 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 10, 2023
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 064237/0462 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 058132/0566 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Nov 15, 2021
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 058132/0261 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 12, 2017
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 043177/0581 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE PATENT APPLICATION 13/895113 ERRONEOUSLY ASSIGNED BY FIRST SOLAR, INC. TO JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. ON JULY 19, 2013 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030832 FRAME 0088. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT PATENT APPLICATION TO BE ASSIGNED IS 13/633664. Recorded Sep 19, 2014
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 033779/0081 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 19, 2013
From: FIRST SOLAR, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 030832/0088 →