IP Library Granted Patent US 9,349,887
Granted Patent B2
US 9,349,887 · App. 13/692,599 · Granted May 24, 2016

Three-dimensional thin-film solar cells

Inventor: Mehrdad M. Moslehi (Los Altos, CA)
Assignee: Solexel, Inc.
H01L31/0352G03G21/203
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,349,887
App. No.
13/692,599
Granted
May 24, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A three-dimensional thin-film solar cell comprising a three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate having a prism array design comprising a plurality dual-aperture unit cells with emitter junction regions and doped base regions. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell comprises emitter metallization regions and base metallization regions.

Claims (35)

1. A three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising:

a three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate having a prism array design comprising emitter junction regions comprising self-aligned emitter junction regions and doped base regions comprising self-aligned doped base regions;

emitter metallization regions comprising self-aligned emitter metallization regions; and

base metallization regions comprising self-aligned base metallization regions,

wherein said three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a plurality of dual-aperture unit cells.

2. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said emitter junction regions and doped base regions comprise selective emitter junction regions and selective doped base regions.

3. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a silicon substrate.

4. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 3 , wherein silicon substrate comprises a crystalline silicon substrate.

5. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises a hexagonal-prism design.

6. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises a polygon-prism design.

7. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising a rear mirror.

8. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said rear mirror comprises an integrated rear mirror.

9. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 7 , wherein said rear mirror comprises a detached rear mirror.

10. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises a square-prism design.

11. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises a triangular-prism design.

12. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently shaped prism designs.

13. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently sized prism designs.

14. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 1 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently shaped prism designs and at least two differently sized prism designs.

15. A three-dimensional thin-film solar cell, comprising:

a three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate having a prism array design comprising emitter junction regions and doped base regions;

emitter metallization regions;

base metallization regions,

wherein said three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a plurality of dual-aperture unit cells; and

a detached rear mirror.

16. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said emitter junction regions and doped base regions comprise selective emitter junction regions and selective doped base regions.

17. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said emitter junction regions comprise self-aligned emitter junction regions, said doped base regions comprise self-aligned doped base regions, said emitter metallization regions comprise self-aligned emitter metallization regions, and said base metallization regions comprise self-aligned base metallization regions.

18. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprises a silicon substrate.

19. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein silicon substrate comprises a crystalline silicon substrate.

20. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises a hexagonal-prism design.

21. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises a polygon-prism design.

22. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises a square-prism design.

23. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises a triangular-prism design.

24. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently shaped prism designs.

25. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently sized prism designs.

26. The three-dimensional thin-film solar cell of claim 15 , wherein said prism array design comprises at least two differently shaped prism designs and at least two differently sized prism designs.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF LOAN DOCUMENTS Recorded Sep 29, 2017
From: OPUS BANK
To: OB REALTY, LLC
Reel/Frame 044062/0383 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 28, 2017
From: SOLEXEL, INC.
To: BEAMREACH SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 043367/0649 →
RECORDATION OF FORECLOSURE OF PATENT PROPERTIES Recorded Jul 27, 2017
From: OB REALTY, LLC
To: OB REALTY, LLC
Reel/Frame 043350/0822 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 26, 2017
From: SOLEXEL, INC.
To: BEAMREACH SOLAR, INC.
Reel/Frame 043342/0439 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 7, 2015
From: MOSLEHI, MEHRDAD M.
To: SOLEXEL, INC.
Reel/Frame 035352/0048 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 7, 2015
From: SOLEXEL, INC.
To: OPUS BANK
Reel/Frame 034731/0001 →
Continuity (9)
Continuation 13355237 · Jan 20, 2012
Continuation 11868489 · Oct 6, 2007
Continuation 13692599
Continuation 13099825 · May 3, 2011
Continuation 11868488 · Oct 6, 2007
Provisional Application 60886303 · Jan 24, 2007
Provisional Application 60828678 · Oct 9, 2006
Related Publication 20130167904A1 · Jul 4, 2013
Related Publication 20160035918A9 · Feb 4, 2016