IP Library Granted Patent US 10,840,394
Granted Patent B2
US 10,840,394 · App. 14/866,843 · Granted Nov 17, 2020

Conductive strip based mask for metallization of semiconductor devices

Inventor: Nils-Peter Harder (San Jose, CA)
Assignee: Total Marketing Services
H01L31/022441H01L31/022425H01L31/18Y02E10/50
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 10,840,394
App. No.
14/866,843
Granted
Nov 17, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of manufacturing a semiconductor device, and resulting semiconductor device are described. In an example, the method for manufacturing a semiconductor device include forming a semiconductor region and forming a metal seed region over the semiconductor region. The method can include placing a conductive strip over a first portion of the metal region, where the conductive strip is formed over the semiconductor region. The method can include bonding a contacting portion of the conductive strip to the first portion the metal region. The method can include etching a second portion of the metal region and where the conductive strip inhibits etching of the first portion of the metal region. In an example, the conductive strip can have a coating. In one example, the semiconductor device can be a solar cell.

Claims (35)

1. A solar cell, comprising:

a first semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate;

a first metal seed region disposed over the first semiconductor region; and

a first conductive wire disposed over, and thermally compressed to, the first metal seed region, wherein a portion the first conductive wire flatly contacts the first metal seed region.

2. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first semiconductor region is formed on a back side of the solar cell.

3. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first semiconductor region is formed on a front side of the solar cell.

4. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first metal seed region comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium, and tungsten.

5. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive wire comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and aluminum.

6. The solar cell of claim 1 , wherein the first conductive wire is placed substantially parallel to the first semiconductor region.

7. The solar cell of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate;

a second metal seed region disposed over the second semiconductor region; and

a second conductive wire disposed over, and thermally compressed to, the second metal seed region, wherein a portion the second conductive wire flatly contacts the second metal seed region.

8. The solar cell of claim 7 , wherein the first semiconductor region is formed on a back side of the solar cell and the second semiconductor region is formed on a front side of the solar cell.

9. The solar cell of claim 7 , wherein the first semiconductor region and second semiconductor region are formed on a back side of the solar cell.

10. A solar cell, comprising:

a first semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate;

a first metal seed region disposed over the first semiconductor region; and

a first coated conductive wire disposed over, and thermally compressed to, the first metal seed region, wherein a portion the first coated conductive wire flatly contacts the first metal seed region and the first coated conductive wire comprises a coating completely surrounding a first conductive wire.

11. The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein the first coated conductive wire comprises an aluminum coating.

12. The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein the coating of the first coated conductive wire and the first metal seed region comprise substantially the same metal.

13. The solar cell of claim 10 , wherein the first semiconductor region is formed on a back side or a front side of the solar cell.

14. A solar cell, comprising:

a first semiconductor region disposed in or above a substrate;

a second semiconductor region disposed in or above the substrate;

a first metal seed region disposed over the first semiconductor region;

a second metal seed region disposed over the second semiconductor region;

a first coated conductive wire disposed over, and thermally compressed to, the first metal seed region, wherein a portion the first coated conductive wire flatly contacts the first metal seed region and the first coated conductive wire comprises a coating completely surrounding a first conductive wire; and

a second coated conductive wire disposed over, and thermally compressed to, the second metal seed region, wherein a portion the second coated conductive wire flatly contacts the second metal seed region and the second coated conductive wire comprises a coating completely surrounding a second conductive wire.

15. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the first semiconductor region is formed on a back side of the solar cell and the second semiconductor region is formed on a front side of the solar cell.

16. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the coating of the first coated conductive wire, second coated conductive wire, first metal seed region and the second metal seed region comprise substantially the same metal.

17. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the first and second coated conductive wire comprises an aluminum coating.

18. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the first and second semiconductors are formed on a back side of the solar cell.

19. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the first and second metal seed regions comprise a metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium, and tungsten.

20. The solar cell of claim 14 , wherein the first and second coated conductive wires are placed substantially parallel to the first and second semiconductor regions, respectively.

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 24, 2025
From: TOTALENERGIES SE
To: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 072946/0828 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067924/0062 →
SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 26, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 071343/0553 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2024
From: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
To: DB TRUSTEES (HONG KONG) LIMITED
Reel/Frame 067637/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 24, 2023
From: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
To: MAXEON SOLAR PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 062699/0875 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2016
From: HARDER, NILS-PETER
To: TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES
Reel/Frame 039459/0878 →