IP Library Granted Patent US 10,084,098
Granted Patent B2
US 10,084,098 · App. 15/283,251 · Granted Sep 25, 2018

Metallization of conductive wires for solar cells

Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell (Los Altos, CA); David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse (Menlo Park, CA); Nils-Peter Harder (San Jose, CA); Douglas Rose (San Jose, CA)
Assignees: SunPower Corporation; Total Marketing Services and Total Energies Nouvelles Activities USA
H01L31/02008H01L31/0504H01L31/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,084,098
App. No.
15/283,251
Granted
Sep 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods of fabricating a solar cell, and system for electrically coupling solar cells, are described. In an example, the methods for fabricating a solar cell can include placing conductive wires in a wire guide, where conductive wires are placed over a first semiconductor substrate having first doped regions and second doped regions. The method can include aligning the conductive wires over the first and second doped regions, where the wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions. The method can include bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions. The bonding can include applying a mechanical force to the semiconductor substrate via a roller or bonding head of the wire guide, where the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding.

Claims (35)

1. A method of fabricating a solar cell, the method comprising:

placing conductive wires in a wire guide, wherein the placing positions the conductive wires over a first semiconductor substrate having first doped regions and second doped regions, wherein placing conductive wires in the wire guide comprises placing conductive wires in a plurality of tubes;

aligning conductive wires over the first and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions to form a pairing of the semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires; and

bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions by force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires, wherein the mechanical force is applied via a roller, and wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing conductive wires in the plurality of tubes comprises placing conductive wires having a diameter less than or equal to a diameter of the plurality of tubes.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing conductive wires in the plurality of tubes comprises placing conductive wires in a plurality of tubes having a half-tube extension.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions of a first substrate comprises performing thermocompression process or an ultrasonic bonding process.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

aligning the conductive wires to first and second doped regions of a second semiconductor substrate, wherein the wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions of the second semiconductor substrate to form a pairing of the second semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires; and

bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions of the second semiconductor substrate by applying a mechanical force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires, wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing conductive wires into a wire guide comprises the placing conductive wires over a solar cell.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein aligning the conductive wires to first doped regions and second doped regions of a first substrate comprises aligning the conductive wires to n-type doped regions and p-type doped regions of a solar cell.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein aligning the conductive wires comprises positioning the conductive wires at approximately 12 degree angle from the first semiconductor substrate.

9. A method of fabricating a solar cell, the method comprising:

placing conductive wires in a wire guide, wherein the placing positions the conductive wires over a first semiconductor substrate having first doped regions and second doped regions;

aligning conductive wires over the first and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions to form a pairing of the semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires; and

bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions by force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires, wherein the mechanical force is applied via a roller, and wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding, wherein placing conductive wires in the wire guide comprises placing conductive wires in a plurality of closed grooves.

10. A method of fabricating a solar cell, the method comprising:

placing conductive wires in a wire guide, wherein the placing positions the conductive wires over a first semiconductor substrate having first doped regions and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide comprises a plurality of tubes or a plurality of closed grooves;

aligning conductive wires over the first and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions to form a pairing of the semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires; and

bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions by applying a mechanical force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires, wherein the mechanical force is applied via a bonding head of the wire guide, and wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein applying a mechanical force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires comprises applying a mechanical force to the pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires using a roller coupled to the bonding head of the wire guide.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein applying a mechanical force to pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires comprises applying an ultrasonic vibration to pairing of the first semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

aligning the conductive wires to first and second doped regions of a second semiconductor substrate, wherein a wire guide aligns the conductive wires substantially parallel to the first and second doped regions of the second semiconductor substrate to form a pairing of the semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires; and

bonding the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions by applying a mechanical force to the pairing of the second semiconductor substrate and the conductive wires, wherein the mechanical force is applied via a bonding head of the wired guide, wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires during the bonding.

14. A system for electrically coupling solar cells, the system comprising:

a wire guide to align conductive wires substantially parallel with first and second doped regions of a first semiconductor substrate, wherein the wired guide comprises a plurality of tubes; and

a roller to bond the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires in contact with the roller.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the conductive wires have a diameter less than or equal to a diameter of the plurality of tubes.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of tubes comprises a plurality of tubes having a half-tube extension.

17. A system for electrically coupling solar cells, the system comprising:

a wire guide to align conductive wires substantially parallel with first and second doped regions of a first semiconductor substrate; and

a roller to bond the conductive wires to the first and second doped regions, wherein the wire guide inhibits lateral movement of the conductive wires in contact with the roller, wherein the wire guide comprises a plurality of grooves to align conductive wires substantially parallel with first and second doped regions of a semiconductor substrate.

18. The system of claim 14 , wherein the roller is a heated roller.

Assignments (8)
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 Mar 28, 2018
From: SEWELL, RICHARD HAMILTON; BARKHOUSE, DAVID AARON RANDOLPH; ROSE, DOUGLAS
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 045370/0942 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: SEWELL, RICHARD HAMILTON; BARKHOUSE, DAVID AARON RANDOLPH
To: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044411/0598 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 15, 2017
From: HARDER, NILS-PETER
To: TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES AND TOTAL ENERGIES NOUVELLES ACTIVITES USA
Reel/Frame 044411/0586 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20180097125A1 · Apr 5, 2018
Cited By (2)
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