IP Library Granted Patent US 10,672,938
Granted Patent B2
US 10,672,938 · App. 15/627,312 · Granted Jun 2, 2020

Photovoltaic structure cleaving system

Inventors: Pablo Gonzalez (Fremont, CA); Bobby Yang (Los Altos Hils, CA)
Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
H01L31/18B28D5/0052B28D5/0094B32B38/10B32B43/006H01L21/3043H01L21/683H01L21/6838H01L21/68735H01L21/68778Y10T156/1179Y10T156/1184Y10T156/1967Y10T156/1983
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,672,938
App. No.
15/627,312
Granted
Jun 2, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A cleaving system and method are described. The system can include a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform. The system can further include a contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate it into a plurality of strips. During operation, the system can activate an actuator to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips.

Claims (28)

1. An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising:

a first flat surface;

a second flat surface; and

a third flat surface;

wherein the second flat surface is positioned between the first flat surface and the third flat surface;

wherein the first flat surface forms a non-180-degree angle with the second flat surface;

wherein the second flat surface forms a non-180-degree angle with the third flat surface;

wherein a first junction between the first flat surface and second flat surface forms a first fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be separated along the first fulcrum edge;

wherein a second junction between the second flat surface and third flat surface forms a second fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be separated along the second fulcrum edge; and

wherein the first flat surface and third flat surface are each configured to actively eject air towards separated portions of the photovoltaic structure to reduce impact when the separated portions of the photovoltaic structure land on the first flat surface and the third flat surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first and third flat surfaces comprise air jets configured to actively eject the air towards the separated portions of the photovoltaic structure in order to slow down movement of the separated portions of the photovoltaic structure after being separated.

3. A cleaving system comprising:

a contact apparatus configured to make contact with a photovoltaic structure on a cleaving platform;

an actuator configured to move the contact apparatus and the cleaving platform relative to each other causing separation of the photovoltaic structure into two or more strips, and

a side section comprising a buffer mechanism adapted to reduce impact when a strip of the two or more separated strips lands on the side section.

4. The cleaving system of claim 3 , wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of contact tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus.

5. The cleaving system of claim 3 , further comprising a holding apparatus, wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least one air-suction mechanism adapted to maintain a suction hold on the photovoltaic structure.

6. The cleaving system of claim 3 , wherein upon being actuated the contact apparatus is operable to separate the photovoltaic structure into three strips.

7. A method comprising:

activating an actuator to cause a contact apparatus to contact a photovoltaic structure and separate the photovoltaic structure into three portions, comprising a first portion, and second portion, and a third portion, along two fulcrum edges on a cleaving platform,

wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously cleaved from the photovoltaic structure by the contact apparatus, and wherein the first portion and second portion extend from opposite sides of the third portion of the photovoltaic structure.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein activating the actuator comprises lowering the contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein activating the actuator comprises raising a holding apparatus to cause a top surface of the photovoltaic structure to make contact with the contact apparatus.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of cleave tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus; and

wherein activating the actuator comprises causing the cleave tips to contact the photovoltaic structure sequentially.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein a side section of the cleaving platform is sloped from a center section;

wherein the side section of the cleaving platform comprises a plurality of air-emitting jets; and

wherein the method further comprises ejecting air via the jets at the first and second portions after the contact apparatus makes contact with the first portion and second portion.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 6, 2021
From: SOLARCITY CORPORATION
To: TESLA, INC.
Reel/Frame 056172/0062 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 14826129 · Aug 13, 2015
Provisional Application 62143694 · Apr 6, 2015
Provisional Application 62088509 · Dec 5, 2014
Related Publication 20170288084A1 · Oct 5, 2017