US3943003A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Padded solar cell contacts
Assignee: Comsat Corp
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Filing: 1973-12-04
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Granted: 1976-03-09
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Expires: 1993-12-04
Abstract
Abstract In a solar cell a pad of material is placed between the cell semiconductor surface and the portion of the top electrode which is bonded to an interconnector. The pad prevents destruction of the cell p-n junction during bonding. The pad may be the same as an anti-reflective coating and may be formed simultaneously with the formation of the anti-reflective coating.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert John Dendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 17:42
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/30; H10F77/306; H10F77/311; H10F77/315; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
79 words
A solar cell comprising a semiconductor material having a p-n junction therein, an electrode covering a portion of the top surface of said cell and including a land portion for attachment to an interconnector, a pad of thermally insulating material on said surface beneath said land portion of said electrode, and an anti-reflective coating covering at least those portions of said cell top surface not covered by said electrode, said pad and anti-reflective coating consisting of the identical material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
79 words
A solar cell comprising a semiconductor material having a p-n junction therein, an electrode covering a portion of the top surface of said cell and including a land portion for attachment to an interconnector, a pad of thermally insulating material on said surface beneath said land portion of said electrode, and an anti-reflective coating covering at least those portions of said cell top surface not covered by said electrode, said pad and anti-reflective coating consisting of the identical material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said same material is mostly non-crystalline Ta 2 O 5 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said same material is mostly non-crystalline Nb 2 O 5 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A solar cell as claimed in claim 1 wherein said same material is mostly TiO 2 .
Claim 6
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of making a solar cell comprising, a. forming a p-n junction in a semiconductor layer substantially parallel to a top surface of said semiconductor layer, b. forming a layer of anti-reflective material on said top surface, said layer having a pattern exposing regions of said top surface, and c. depositing a top electrode onto said exposed regions and onto at least a top surface portion of said layer of anti-reflective material, the part of said electrode deposited onto said top surface portion of said layer of anti-reflective material being the land portion of said electrode, whereby said top surface portion thermally insulates said land portion from the semiconductor surface directly thereunder.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
113 words
A method of making a solar cell comprising, a. forming a p-n junction in a semiconductor layer substantially parallel to a top surface of said semiconductor layer, b. forming a layer of anti-reflective material on said top surface, said layer having a pattern exposing regions of said top surface, and c. depositing a top electrode onto said exposed regions and onto at least a top surface portion of said layer of anti-reflective material, the part of said electrode deposited onto said top surface portion of said layer of anti-reflective material being the land portion of said electrode, whereby said top surface portion thermally insulates said land portion from the semiconductor surface directly thereunder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said layer of anti-reflective material is mostly non-crystalline tantalum pentoxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said layer of anti-reflective material is mostly non-crystalline niobium pentoxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein said layer of anti-reflective material is titanium oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
105 words
The method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of forming a layer of anti-reflective material comprises, a. forming a pattern of photoresist on said top surface, said pattern being identical to the pattern of the later formed top electrode except that said photoresist pattern does not include photoresist at positions corresponding to the land portions of said top electrode, b. depositing a layer of metal on said top surface and said photoresist pattern, said metal being the metal constituent of the anti-reflective material, c. removing said photoresist pattern and said metal directly overlaying said photoresist, d. oxidizing said metal to a metal oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said metal is tantalum and the step of oxidizing is carried out by anodically oxidizing said tantalum.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said metal is tantalum and the step of oxidizing is carried out by thermally oxidizing said tantalum.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said metal is niobium and the step of oxidizing is carried out by anodically oxidizing said niobium.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said metal is niobium and the step of oxidizing is carried out by thermally oxidizing said niobium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
82 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 wherein the step of depositing a top electrode comprises, a. forming a photoresist coating on said entire pattern of anti-reflective material except for those portions of said anti-reflective material which will underlie said land portions of said electrode, b. depositing metal to form an electrode on said last mentioned photoresist, said exposed top surface, and said portions of said anti-reflective coating, and c. removing said last mentioned photoresist and the deposited metal overlaying said photoresist.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a solar cell comprising, a. forming a p-n junction, in a semiconductor layer, substantially parallel to the top surface of said layer, b. forming a layer of thermally insulating material on a portion of said top surface, said portion corresponding to the land portion of a top electrode to be placed on said solar cell, c. depositing a layer of metal on said thermally insulating material and the exposed portion of said top surface, said metal being the metal constituent of an anti-reflective coating, d. depositing a metal electrode onto said last mentioned layer of metal, said metal electrode forming a predetermined pattern including land portions directly above said thermally insulating material, and e. oxidizing the portions of said last mentioned layer of metal not covered by said metal electrode pattern to form an anti-reflective coating.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of forming a solar cell comprising, a. forming a p-n junction, in a semiconductor layer, substantially parallel to the top surface of said layer, b. forming a layer of thermally insulating material on a portion of said top surface, said portion corresponding to the land portion of a top electrode to be placed on said solar cell, c. depositing a layer of metal on said thermally insulating material and the exposed portion of said top surface, said metal being the metal constituent of an anti-reflective coating, d. depositing a metal electrode onto said last mentioned layer of metal, said metal electrode forming a predetermined pattern including land portions directly above said thermally insulating material, and e. oxidizing the portions of said last mentioned layer of metal not covered by said metal electrode pattern to form an anti-reflective coating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method as claimed in claim 15 wherein the step of forming a layer of thermally insulating material on a portion of said top surface comprises, a. depositing a metal selected from the group consisting of tantalum, niobium, and titanium onto said portion of said top surface, and b. oxidizing said last mentioned metal to a metal oxide.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said metal is tantalum and said metal oxide is mostly non-crystalline tantalum pentoxide.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said metal is niobium and said metal oxide is mostly non-crystalline niobium pentoxide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein said metal is titanium and said metal oxide is titanium oxide.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-03-09 | 1979-09-08 | 1980-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-03-09 | 1983-09-08 | 1984-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-03-09 | 1987-09-08 | 1988-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |