Professional Documents
Culture Documents
U.S. Photovol
1991-1993
L. Pohle, Coordinator
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National Renewable Energy Laboratory
1617 Cole Boulevard
Golden, CO 80401-3393
A national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy
Managed by the Midwest Research Institute
for the U.S. Department of Energy
Under Contract No. DE-AC 36-83CH10093
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I
NOTICE
This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government.
Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any
warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness,
or usefulness of any i nformation, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would
not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or
. service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its
endorsement, recommendation , or favoring by the U nited States government or any agency thereof. The
views and opinions of a uthors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the U nited
States government o r a ny agency thereof.
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... iv
1
l Photovoltaic Patents 199 1 -1993 ................................................................................................................... 1
Assignee Index . . . 76
. . ... ..
........................................... ............................... ........ .............. .............................
Inventor Index .. . 82
. . .. . .
............. ................................. ................ .................. . . .......................... ... ........
J
Subject Index .......... ............ . . .
................................ ....................... .................................. ......... 1 02
iii
Introduction
This document contains U.S. patents on terrestrial pho conductive coatings, antireflective coatings)
tovoltaic ( PV) power applications, including systems, Cell Enhancement Techniques (surface and
components, and materials as well as manufacturing and grain-boundary passivation, annealing)
support functions. Materials Production and Processes (puri
fication, deposition, doping)
The patent entries in this document were issued from Characterization and Analysis
1991 to 1993. The entries were located by searching
USPA, the database of the U.S. Patent Office. The final Collectors
search retrieved all patents under the class "Batteries,
Thermoelectric and Photoelectric" and the subclasses Flat-Plate Collectors (design, components,
"Photoelectric," "Testing," and "Applications." The search production)
also l ocated p a t e n t s that contained the words Concentrator Collectors (design, compo
"photovoltaic(s)" or "solar cell(s)" and their derivatives. nents, production)
After the initial list was compiled, most of the patents on Optics and Trackers (lenses, reflectors,
the following subjects were excluded: space photovol tracking devices, and related components)
taic technology, use of the photovoltaic effect for detec
tors, and subjects only peripherally concerned with pho Systems
tovoltaics. Some patents on these three subjects were
included when it appeared that those inventions might Utility-Interactive Systems and Interface
be of use in terrestrial PV power technologies. Technologies (power conditioning)
Utility-Independent Systems and Storage
How to Use This Document Technologies
PV-Hybrid Systems ( PV-thermal, photo
The PV patent entries are arranged according to the electrochemical)
patent number in ascending order, from the earliest to Systems Support (testing, maintenance,
the most recent, and divided according to the year in operation, and control)
which they were issued. The entries for each patent
include the inventor(s), the assignee, the title, the date How to Order a Copy of a U.S. Patent
of issue, and the abstract. Abstracts are reproduced in
this document generally as they are found in the pat Copies of patents can be obtained from the Patent and
ents, except that statements referring to specific dia Trademark Office. A check or money order of $ 1.5 0 per
grams were modified or omitted because the document patent, payable to the Commissioner of Patents and
does not include illustrations. Trademarks, must accompany each order. The request
must include the patent number(s); be sure to write
clearly. Requests should be addressed to:
The patents are indexed in this document by assignee,
by inventor(s), and by subject. The three indexes follow U.S. Department of Commerce
the list of patent entries. Patent and Trademark Office
Washington, D.C. 20231
The subject index is divided according to 17 categories
under three major divisions. Most patents are listed Reference collections o f U.S. patents are available to
under two categories. The divisions and categories are the public in Patent Depository Libraries ( POLs). Your
as follows: local library should be able to refer you to the nearest
POL. The size and scope of these collections vary, and
Cells and Materials the hours that POLs are open to the public vary as well.
You may therefore want to contact the library for spe
Single-Crystal Silicon Cells cific information about its collection and its hours to avoid il
Polycrystalline and Ribbon Silicon Cells
Amorphous Silicon Cells
inconvenience.
J
Cells from 111-V Materials (e.g., GaAs)
Cells from I-III-VI2 or II-VI Materials (e.g.,
CulnSe2 or CdTe)
Other PV Devices and Concepts
Cell Components (metalization, substrates,
(Tl
iv -
Photovoltaic Patents
1991 - 1993
1991 elements adjoining each other with the second back
electrode layer of the other. Accordingly, electrical
connection of these electrode layers in series does not
Des. 317,458 affect the effective area used for photoelectric
Sawada, Masaji; lkuzawa, Yoko, inventors; Sharp conversion. This consstitutionalso improves heat
Corporation, assignee. Electronic Calculator with resistance of the insulative substrate. Electrical
Solar Cell June 1 1 , 1 9 9 1 .
. contact of the transparent light-receiving electrode
layer and the second back electrode layer is achieved via
The ornamental design for an electronic calculator contact holes each having a diameter identical to the
with solar cell. diameter of those of the insulative and semiconductive
layers. As a result, a sufficient insulative distance is
Des. 317,619 provided between the transparent electrode layer and the
Sawada, Masaji; Yoshimura, Youko, inventors; Sharp first back electrode layer so that occurrence of
Corporation, assignee. Electronic Calculator with accidental short circuit can be securely prevented.
Solar Cell. June 1 8, 1 99 1 .
4,982,081
The ornamental design for an electronic calculator Schmidt, Terrence C., inventor; Electrohome Limited,
with solar cell. assignee. Ambient Ught Rejecting Quad Photodiode
Sensor. January 1, 1 99 1 .
Des. 319,252
Sawada, Masaji; Nishida, Kouji, inventors; Sharp An ambient light rejecting quad photodiode sensOr
Corporation, assignee. Electronic Calculator with having compensation diodes connected with reverse
Solar Cell. August 20 , 1 991 . polarity to respective quadrant photodiodes within the
sensor, the compensation diodes being located outside of
The ornamental design for an electronic calculator , the area of illumination. By direct connection of
with solar cell. compensation diodes in reverse polarity to each quadrant
of the quad photodiodes, a large boost in signal to noise
314,523 ratio is achieved for eliminating the effects of ambient
Omura, Makoto, inventor; Hioki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, room light as well as sensor dark current.
assignee. Multimeter. February 12, 199 1 .
4,982,101
4,009,456 Baker, Matt, inventor; Bently Nevada Corporation,
Eck, Berth, inventor; Lasinvast Svenska AB, assignee. assignee. Fiberglass Collar for Data Transfer from
Door Lock Apparatus. April 23, 1 991 . Rotatable Shaft. January 1 , 1 99 1 .
A door lock apparatus includes a latch bolt which can Telemetry apparatus for a rotating machine shaft
be displaced from an operable position by actuating a includes a fixed collar of lightweight composite material
door handle driver against the action of a biasing wrapped on the shaft and having embedded in it telemetry
spring. A displaceable catch is provided for retaining apparatus. Measured data such as torque from a strain
the latch bolt in a retracted position. The catch is gauge sensor is transmitted to a stationary sensor by
biased by a second spring into 1ts catch position from pulses of infrared signals. An array of photovoltaic
which it can be displaced by an electromagnetic actuator, cells receives energy from a stationary source to power
which in turn is connected to a wireless signal receiver. the rotating telemetry apparatus. All rotating
An alarm detector, remotely placed from the lock , electronics is embedded 1n the composite material which
apparatus and connected to a wireless signal transmitter, may be, for example, E-type fiberglass. Such composite
is adapted to be activated when the detector detects a material provides a resistance to centrifugal forces due
state of alarm, sending a signal which is detectable by to rotation of the shaft but has sufficient transparency
the receiver at the lock apparatus for displacing the to allow both the transmission of data and power to and
catch out of its catch position. from the rotating telemetry.
A metallic insulative substrate having its surface Solar powered outdoor lighting and/or alarm systems
coated with an insulative layer; on which a large number are provided and mclude a light source or alarm, a
of photoelectric converter elements are electrically passive 1nfrared (PIA) sensor in conjunction with a
connected to each other in series by connecting the first battery recharged via solar cells, and a control circuit
back electrode layer of one of photoelectric converter coupled to the light source or alarm, the PIA sensor, and
Patents 3
4,989,059 surface at 4ooc to form a visibly transparent,
Michaels, Ronald H.; Valdivia, Percy; Hanoka, Jack 1., electrically conductive, infrared reflective and
inventors; Mobil Solar Energy Corporation, assignee. ultraviolet absorptive film of zinc oxyfluoride. Such
Solar Cell with Trench Through PN Junction. January films are useful in liquid crystal display devices, solar
29, 199 1 . cells, electrochromic absorbers and reflectors,
energy-conserving heat mirrors, and antistatic coatings.
A solar cell fabrication procedure is described in
which a trench is cut in the substrate so as to 4,992,109
electrically isolate front and back regions of a flat Yoshikawa, Masao; Suzuki, Tetsuro; Kojima, Akio;
solar cell. The trench is preferably cut around the Shoshi, Masayuki; Ohta, Masafumi, inventors; Ricoh
perimeter of the rear side of the cell. The trench is Company, Ltd., assignee. Photoelectric Conversion
preferably formed by an excimer laser which may be used Element. February 1 2, 1 991 .
to ablate a trench without diffusing conductive material
deeper into the cell. A photoelectric conversion element has a front
electrode, a rear electrode and a photo-activable layer
4,989,124 sandwiched between these electrodes. The photoactivable
Shappell, Thomas E., inventor. Solar Powered Sign. layer contains a compound selected from a group
January 29, 1 99 1 . consisting of a triphenylamine compound, a
diaminocarbazole compound, an oxazole compound, a
The present invention relates to a n improved solar thiazole compound, and 1 ,3-dithiol compound. The compound
powered sign including one or more solar panels used to contained in the photo-activatable layer improves
charge batteries which power various components of the photoelectric conversion efficiency.
sign. The sign may include a rotary display which is
electrically powered and may also include a lamp. The 4,992,138
sign may tie mounted on a base facilitating easy transport. Jensen, Millard J.; Hotchkiss, Gregory B., inventors;
Texas Instruments Incorporated, assignee. Method and
4,989,600 Apparatus for Constructing a Foil Matrix for a Solar
Collier, Joseph M., inventor. Tanning Pod. February Cell. February 1 2, 1 99 1 .
5, f991 .
Solar spheres are formed of semi-conductor spheres of
A tanning pod for use outdoors includes a body shell P-type interior having an N-type skin are pressed between
of curved configuration and provided with a transparent a pair of aluminum foil members forming the electrical
dome encompassing a majority of the extent of the pod and contacts to the P-type and N-type regions. The aluminum
tapering to the front thereof. A bed within the pod is foils, which comprise 1 .0% silicon by weight, are
tiltable in a forward direction while a motive device is flex1ble and electrically insulated from one another. The
operable to rotate the pod relative an underlying support spheres are patterned in a foil matrix forming a cell.
pedestal. A self-contained climate control system permits Multiple cells can be interconnected to form a module of
maintenance of desired temperature conditions within the solar cell elements for converting sun light into
pod regardless of the outside weather. Consoles adjacent electricity.
the bed are provided with control panels allowing
selective tilting of the bed and rotary displacement of 4,993 , 348
the pod along with regulation of the climate control Wald, Leonard H., inventor. Apparatus for Harvesting
system as well as radiotape player devices. Current for Energy and Other Necessities of Ufe at Sea. February
operation of the pod and associated accessories may be 1 9, 1 99 1 .
supplied from a source of conventional AC power or
alternatively, from attached or adjacent solar cells. A vessel is provided, adapted for operating at the
surface of the ocean, useful for a combination of
4,990, 286 functions, including providing food, fiber for clothing,
Gordon, Roy G., inventor; President and Fellows of living space, fresh water, transportation, and domestic
Harvard College, assignee. Zinc Oxyfluoride energy for at least one person, as well as excess energy,
Transparent Conductor. February 5, 1 99 1 . good, fiber, and fresh I water for sale. The vessel
comprises at least two hulls coupled with streamlined
Transparent, electrically conductive and structs, the upper hull vertically aligned with the lower,
infrared-reflective films of zinc oxyfluoride are the lower hull being fully submerged and the upper hull
produced by chemical vapor deposition from vapor mixtures being fully unsubmerged and both hulls having
of zinc, oxygen and fluorine-containing compounds. The substantially the same volume. The vessel is stabilized
substitution of fluorine for some of the oxygen in zinc by a combination of passive lift and stabilization
oxide results in dramatic increases in the electrical surfaces while the vessel is in motion, and laterally
conductivity. For example, diethyl zinc, ethyl alcohol mounted stabilization reservoirs for use when the vessel
and hexafluoropropene vapors are reacted over a glass is not moving. The vessel is controlled and stabilized
Manufacturing Co., assignee. February 19, 1991. for producing the desired character.
Patents 5
A self-contained photovoltaic powered light which is resin and is plated with metal such as gold, nickel or
a stand alone !Jnit. The solar cells which power the light the like. Each of the carbon particles is melted by a
are assembled and maintained within the top, or upper, heat pressure and brings about an electric conductivity
portion of the self-contained unit. The solar cells are when it is dried and hardened. Thus, the anisotropically
encapsulated within a resiliently deformable material to conductive layer disclosed in this invention does not
provide for contraction and expansion of the solar cells include hard particles at all. Namely, an electronic part
while at the same time providing protection from the such as a solar battery cell or a semiconductor device is
elements for the assembly. not damaged by particles'of the conductive layer. In
addition, the connecting structure ern.ploying the
4,999,308 aforementioned layer improves the security of adherence
Nishiura, Masaharu; Yamada, Katsumi, inventors; Fuji and the reliability of the electric conductivity.
Electric Co., Ltd., assignee. Method of Making Thin
Film Solar Cell Array. March 12, 1991. 5,001,415
Watkinson, Stuart M., inventor. Electrical Power
The present invention pertains to a thin film solar Apparatus for Controlling the Supply of Electrical Power
cell array that has an increased durability to high from an Array of Photovoltaic Cells to an Electrical
temperatures and high humidity. The thin film solar cell Head. March 19, 1991.
includes a transparent insulating substrate on which unit
cells are placed in series. The rear electrodes of the Electrical power transfer apparatus for controlling
unit cells are made of paste material containing the supply of electrical power from an array of
conductive particles which may be applied by printing and photovoltaic cells to an electrical load by means of a
baking at about 150C. Further, the present invention switching power converter. The switching power converter
achieves low contact resistance to the a-Si layer. is controlled by a regulator to maintain the output
voltage from the photovoltaic array at a fixed fraction
4,999,560 of the open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic array,
Morishima, Yoichi; Kobayashi, Kazuo; Suzuki, lsao, the fixed fraction suitably being between 0. 75 and 0.8,
inventors; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, assignee. whereby the power transfer from the photovoltaic array is
Electric Motor Running System Employing Photovoltaic maximized. The open circuit voltage of the photovoltaic
Array. March 12, 1991. array is sensed by inhibiting the operation of the
switching power converter for short sampling periods at
An electric motor running system consists of a regular intervals, and allowing a capacitor to charge to
photovoltaic array, an inverter for inverting output the voltage of the open- circuited photovoltaic array
voltage of the photovoltaic array to AC voltage and during the sampling periods.
automatically controlled so that the frequency is changed
in accordance with the output voltage of the photovoltaic 5,002,617
array, maintaining the ratio of the voltage to the Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda, Koichii
frequency at a constant value, an induction motor Kawakami, Soichiro, inventors; Canon Kabushiki Kaisha,
operated by application of the AC voltage from the assignee. PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements
inverter, and a frequency increasing circuit for with Polycrystal A/As(H,F) Semiconductor Film. March
increasing the output frequency of the inverter . 26, 1991.
instantaneously so that the motor produces the torque
larger than the load starting torque when the motor is A pin heterojunction photovoltaic element which
started and further decreasing the increased output generates photoelectromotive force by the junction of a
frequency of the inverter to the normal running after the p-type semiconductor layer, an i-type semiconductor layer,
increased output frequency is maintained for a and an n-type semiconductor layer, characterized in that
predetermined period of time. This construction allows at least one of said p-type and n-type semiconductor
the motor to be smoothly started even where a load layers comprises a polycrystal semicol')ductor film
connected to the motor is a positive displacement pump comprised of aluminum atoms (AI), arsenic atoms (As),
which has a large static friction torque. hydrogen atoms (H), optionally fluorine atoms (F), and
atoms (M) of a p-type or n-type dopant element, said
5,001,302 polycrystal semiconductor film contains crystal grains of
Atsumi, Yoshinori, inventor; Casio Computer Co., Ltd., an average size in the range of 50 to 800 A, and said
assignee. Connecting Structure for an Electronic polycrystal semiconductor film contains the hydrogen
Part. March 19, 1991. atoms (H) in an amount of 0.5 to 7 atomic %; said i-type
comprises either (a) a non-single crystal semiconductor
A connecting structure for an electronic part employs film containing silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix and at
an improved anisotropic electrically conductive layer. least one kind of atoms selected from the group
The layer includes a hot melt type insulative adhesive, consisting of hydrogen atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F)
heat resilient particles and carbon particles. Each of or (b) a non-single crystal semiconductor film containing
the heat resilient particles is made of thermoplastic silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix, at least one kind of
1
hydrogen atoms (H), optionally fluorine atoms (F), and operates equivalently to the power antenna of an
atoms (M) of a p-type or n-type dopant element, said automobile. The shape-memory alloy is typically
polycrystal semiconductor film contains crystal grains of configured as a spring. The application of electrical
an average size in the range of 50 to 800 A, and said energization to both the light source and to the lift
polycrystal semiconductor film contains the hydrogen mechanism is preferably enabled by a switch that is
atoms (H) in an amount of 0.5 to 6 atomic o/o; said i-type responsive to sensed ambient light conditions. The
comprises either (a) a non-single crystal semiconductor energizing power may be external, or may be provided by
film containing silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix and at an internal battery which is rechargeable from a solar
least one kind of atoms selected from the group array.
consisting of hydrogen atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F)
or (b) a non-single crystal semiconductor film containing 5,003,866
silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix, at least one kind of Ricci, Russell L., inventor. Car Ventilator. April
atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms 2, 1991.
(C) and germanium atoms (Ge), and at least one kind of
atoms selected from the group consisting of hydrogen A ventilator having a housing with first and second
atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F). openings is mounted on structure of a vehicle and
communicates directly with the vehicle cabin to move air
5,002,796 between the vehicle cabin and the outside environment.
Nishida, Shoji, inventor; Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, The ventilator may be nonportably secured onto the
assignee. Process for Forming Functional Zinc Oxide vehicle structure on the windows, panels or the roof and
Films Using Alkyl Zinc Compound and Oxygen-Containing provides a sleek low profile unit having a powered
Gas. March 26, 1991. impeller to positively move air between the external
environment and the vehicle cabin which impeller may be
A functional zinc oxide deposited thin film having powered by a self-contained power supply connected with a
high light permeability and low resistivity can be charging source such as a photovoltaic panel and/or the
obtained at a low temperature of about 2ooc, on an vehicle's own electrical system. The ventilator may also
inexpensive substrate such as glass by a method of be portabty mounted on a ventilator insert placed within
activating a starting material gas by means of activation a partialy rolled down window or a sunroof to
energy, in a space different from a film-forming space ternporly utilize the circulating effects of the
thereby forming a precursor contributing to the formation ventilator.
of a deposited film, activating a starting material gas
in a space different from the film-forming space and the 5,006,082
space just mentioned above by means of activation energy Hwang, Feng-Lin, inventor. Actuating-Device for
thereby forming an active species wherein the starting Small-Type Air-Feeded Water Floaters. April 9, 1991.
material gas for forming the precursor is an alkyl zinc
compound and the starting material for forming the active An actuating device for small inflatable rafts or
species is an oxygen gas or an ozone gas. This enables articles comprising a jaw clip for securing the device to
mass production of photovoltaic devices at high the article, the clip having a top plate with solar cells
efficiency using a PN junction of PIN junction or high mounted on the jaw clip upper rim, and a housing mounted
performance flat display device using liquid crystals, by to the jaw clip bottom.
which practical provision of power sources for domestic
Patents 7
The solar cell plate produces electric currents via kind of atoms selected from the group consisting of
I!Unshine, and a rechargeable battery in the housing is carbon atoms (C) and germanium atoms (Ge), and at least
charged with electricity. The battery serves as a power one kind of atoms selected from the group consisting of
source for an air pump in the housing to generate air hydrogen atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F).
pressure to inflate a raft or other article. The battery
also serves as the power source for a motor in the 5,007,105
'
housing which drives propellers on its output shaft Kudoh, Kazuhiro; Nishiyama, Toshirou; Anma, Sadayuki,
thereby providing a means to propel the inflated raft or inventors; NEC Corporation, assignee. Watch Type
article in the water. Paging Receiver. April 9, 1991.
5,009,243
reaction injection molded elastomer which encapsulates Barker, Owen P., inventor. Solar Harness. April23,
the back, sides, and a portion of the front side of the 1991.
photovoltaic panel.
The present invention is directed to a solar harness
5,008,579 apparatus which includes a plurality of solar cells with
Conley, Jerry J.; Mortensen, Gary B., inventors; E.F. each having an active surface, that is, a surface which
j Johnson Company, assignee. Ught Emitting Polymer absorbs photons to generate electrical power, and these
Electrical Energy Source. April 16, 1991. are arranged in a substantially parallel fashion with the
active surfaces all facing the same direction and with
An electrical energy source is created by the the solar cells being stacked in line behind one another.
combination of a light emitting polymer material having The solar harness includes a plurality of magnets with at
at least one light emitting surface emitting light energy least one magnet being located between each adjacent
of a specified frequency bandwidth and a photovoltaic solar cell in the plurality of solar cells so as to hold
cell having a light collecting surface and a pair of the cells in the stacked arrangement without any further
electrical contacts. The light collecting surface of the support and so as to create solderless contacts
photovoltaic cell is optically coupled with the light therewith. Means is connected to the stack for drawing
emitting surface of the light emitting polymer material. electric current therefrom. Preferably, the magnets are
An open-circuit voltage is generated between the pair of at least partially wrapped or wound in electrically
electrical contacts as a result of the absorption of conductive material so that the conductivity in series is
emitted light energy from the light emitting polymer enhanced. Further, the solar harness apparatus may be
material by the photovoltaic cell. In the preferred employed in conjunction with a parabolic reflector so as
embodiment, the light emitting polymer is a tritiated to work with concentrated solar energy, it may be used in
organic polymer to which at least one organic phosphor or conjunction with means for converting electrical energy
scintillant is bonded. Maximum absorption of the emitted to transmittable wave energy and deployed
light energy is achieved by the intimate optical contact extraterrestrially. Alternatively, the present invention
between the light emitting surface and the light solar harness apparatus may be reversed with power being
collecting surface, by matching the maximum absorption put into it so as to create a wave energy transmission
frequency bandwidth of the photovoltaic cell with the device.
specified frequency bandwidth of the emitted light energy
from the light emitting polymer material, and by the 5,009,719
structural arrangement of the light emitting polymer Yoshida, Susumu, inventor; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
material itself. Kaisha, assignee. Tandem Solar Cell. April23, 1991.
Patents 9
junction and a protective diode section electrically more uniform, symmetrical manner. The masking material
isolated from the photovoltaic section by a p-n junction. may be matte-finish (paint) or highly reflective (a
The photovoltaic and diode sections are connected in metallic deposit), and in either case may be applied by
parallel and reverse polarity. The protective diode the same process (e.g., silk screen). The reflective mask
bypasses current in the solar generator when no light is structure inhibits heat build-up in the panel; and the
incident on the photovoltaic section in parallel with the matte-finish mask structure is generally unobtrusive and
respective diode. aesthetically pleasing, as required for example, in
vehicular applications. A redundant bus structure yields
5,009,721 surprisingly compact interconnects, with increased
Matsumoto, Hideo; Hokuyo, Shigeru, inventors; M itsubishi versatility in arrangement of grid patterns of collector
Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Solar Cell. April electrodes, and is highly compatible with the masking
23, 1 99 1 . structures and techniques.
l
The present invention relates to a semiconductor standard means which converts the light to an electrical
element and a method of forming the same and various signal for processing in a microprocessor to create the
kinds of articles in which said element is used. information as to the movement of the object. In the case
of a unit for monitoring honeybees and other insects, the
Any material selected from the group consisting of transmitting unit weighs less than 50 mg, and has a size
SiH4, Si2H 6 , and SiF4, and GeH4 or no larger than 1 x 3 x 5 millimeters. Also, the preferred
GeF4, are used as raw material gases. H2 is used embodiment provides for the coding of the light to
as a diluent gas if necessary. A photochemical gas phase uniquely identify the particular transmitting unit that
vapor deposition method is used, at a pressure of o.1 to is being monitored. A "wake-up" circuit is provided in
2
20 Torr, an optical intensity of 1 0 to 1 ,000 mW/cm , the preferred embodiment whereby there is no transmission
and a substrate tem Perature of 50 to 250 C. A until the voltage on the capacitor has exceeded a pre-set
semiconductor element formed of a-SiGe:H film having threshold. Various other uses of the motion-detection
superior photOelectric conductivity, a method of forming system are described.
a semiconductor element film containing Ge added thereto
and having high long wave length-sensitivity and superior 5,012,160
film quality can be provided. In addition, various kinds Thompson, Kathleen D. Dunn, inventor; Colorado
of articles such as a solar cell having superior long Instruments, Inc., assignee. Accordion Mount for Solar
wave length-sensitivity in which said element is used in Cells Including Point-of-Purchase Display with LEOS.
a carrier-producing layer, an electrophotographic April 30, 1 991.
sensitive member containing said element in a
carrier-producing layer, and an image sensor, in which A display assembly particularly for the
said element is used in a carrier-producing layer, having point-of-purchase field utilizes a light source to power
superior long wave length-sensitivity can be provided. the display. A solar cell is electrically connected,
through a simple flashing circuit, to an array of light
5,011 ,782 emitting diodes (LEOs). The diodes have a current usage
Lamb, Walter R.; Griffin, Darrell, inventors; Electric of about 2 rna or less; .g., they may be double
Power Research Institute, assignee. Method of Making heterojunction AIGaAs/GaAs material. The circuit has a
Passivated Antireflective Coating for Photovoltaic current drain of about 0.1 rna or less. The solar cell may
Cell. April 30, 1991. be mounted between an artificial light source (such as a
fluorescent bulb) and a surrounding metal housing by
The performance of a silicon photovoltaic cell is sheet material having an undulating (e.g., accordion)
improved while process yield is maintained by first configuration. Transparent UV-inhibited plastic film tape
forming doped regions in a major surface of a silicon may attach the solar cell to a central undulation of the
Patents 11
sheet material while magnets strips attach side edges of lining to eventually form the silicon spheres and
the sheet material to a metal housing, so that the solar simultaneously sizing the silicon spheres.
cell is in close proximity to (e.g., touches) the light
source. 5,013,417
Judd, Jr., Lawrence M., inventor. Water Purifier.
5,012,220 May 7, 1 99 1 .
Miller, Moses, inventor. Solar Powered Paging
Device. April 30, 1 991 . A water purifier including a floating body having two
parallel disk shaped electrodes extending into the water.
A kit for providing solar power to a battery powered The polarity between the disks is alternated at
paging device. The kit includes a pair of mounting posts predetermined intervals to avoid plating. The disks are
which are affixed to the pager and a module having strips preferably made of a copper/silver alloy. Preferably the
of solar cells which is demountably attached to the device is powered by a photovoltaic panel attached to a
mounting posts. The pair of strips of solar cells are skimmer cover. Alternatively, the device can be powered
attached in series to connecting terminal strips by by a photovoltaic panel laminated to the top or the
biasing contact springs. device can be configured for insertion into a pipe plug
unit that can be used in connection with a pipe T.
5,012,457
M itchell, Thomas R.; Landesman, Robert E., inventors. 5,013,972
Aquatic Transducer System. April 30, 1 99 1 . Malkieli, Moshe; Apel, Israel, inventors; Samuel Kaner,
assignee. Dual-Powered Flickering Symbolic or
A n underwater transducer system reproduces Religious Ught (Electronic Yahrzeit). May 7, 1 991 .
high-fidelity audio signals underwater, and detects and
monitors low levels of sound activity, both adjacent to a An eternal symbolic/religious memorial light having a
body of water such as a swimming pool, and in the water. flickering-candle appearance generated electronically by
The system includes an underwater housing for a diaphragm at least a pair of lamps and to the lamps in accordance
that directly contacts the water, a coil assembly movable with the background lighting conditions. Thus, the
within the housing and rigidly connected to the center of flickering appearance is made brighter during daylight
the diaphragm by a tubular member of the coil assembly when this is required in order to see the candle, and at
engaging a cylindrical boss portion of the diaphragm. The nightfall, the brightness is diminished as the candle is
housing can be suspended by an elongated cord member from more easily visible. In another alternative embodiment,
a wall coping, or mounted within a wall fixture the solar cells continuouf!ly run a user-programmed
structure. The system can have a source of illumination, calendar/timer to turn on the lamp units only on
a conduit from the source terminating in the housing on specified memorial/anniversary days.
the coil axis proximate the diaphragm, and an optical
element sealingly protrudes the diaphragm for 5,015,086
transmitting light-amplified illumination into the water. Okaue, Etsuo; Egawa, Masaru; Kasai, Yoshihiko;
A head portion of the optical element that substantially Horaguchi, Nerio, inventors; Seiko Epson Corporation,
fills the boss portion of the diaphragm incorporates a assignee. Electronic Sunglasses. May 1 4, 1 991 .
pair of mirrored surfaces for spreading the illumination
and transmitting it into the water. A control unit Electronic sunglasses of the transmittance-varying
located to one side of the water provides a speaker mode type including liquid crystal panels employing the
and a microphone mode of operating the transducer, the electro-optical effect and a solar cell using as a power
microphone mode having a monitor mode and an alarm mode source. The electronic sunglasses include a voltage
for detecting an alarm condition based on discrimination detecting circuit having such a hysteresis characteristic
of an alarm sound condition occurring in the pool. The so as to output a signal for changing transmittance of
control urit can also interface a closed circuit TV for the liquid crystal panel from a high mode to a low mode
visually monitoring the pool. Also disclosed is a method at at least high predetermined voltage or illumination,
for making the underwater transducer. and changing transmittance from a low mode to a high mode
at at least a low voltage or .illumination. The sunglasses
5,012,619 also include a first switch which operates at at least
Knepprath, Vernon E.; Levine, Jules D., inventors; Texas two switch positions, one switch position having a first
Instruments Incorporated, assignee. Method and stage of illumination at less than 20,000 Lux and a
Apparatus for Forming Spheres. May 7, 1 99 1 . second stage of illumination at 20,000 Lux or greater at
which transmittance is changed from a high mode and
A method and apparatus for forming silicon spheres another switch position disabling the voltage detecting
from irregular-shaped particles for use in solar cells circuit. Also included is a second switch which operates
are disclosed. The apparatus generally creates a gas to change transmittance from a high mode to a low mode
vortex inside the chamber. This vortex induces the independently of the set voltage value in the voltage
repeated collision of the particles against the abrasive detecting circuit according_ to the hysteresis effect.
Patents 13
circuit including a normally open manually actuable 5,021,103
switch and a pair of mercury switches supported within Hamakawa, Yoshihiro; Okamoto, Hiroaki; Hattori, Yutaka,
the body at different fixed orientations relative thereto inventors; Nippon Soken, Inc.; Nippondenso, Co., Ltd.;,
such that one of them closes when the body is assignee. Method of Forming Microcrystalline
horizontally oriented to apply voltage to the LED for the Silicon-Containing Silicon Carbide Film. June 4, 1 99 1 .
horizontal bubble vial, and the other closes when the
body of the level is vertically oriented and connects the A m icrocrystalline silicon-containing silicon carbide
battery to the LED for the bubble vials of the plumbing semiconductor film has an optical energy gap of not less
levels. Thus, the circuit automatically illuminates only than 2.0 eV and a dark electric conductivity of less than
the bubble vial, or vials, that need to be illuminated in 1 0"6 Scm1 The Raman scattering light of the
order to observe the position of the bubble for the microcrystalline silicon-containing silicon carbide
orientation selected by the user. semiconductor film, which shows the presence of silicon
crystal phase, has a peak in the vicinity of 530
5,020,919 cm1 . This microcrystalline silicon-containing
Suomi, Verner K., inventor; Wisconsin Alumni Research, silicon carbide semiconductor film is formed on a
assignee. Heat Flow Sensing Apparatus and Method. substrate by preparing a mixture gas having a hydrogen
June 4, 1 991 . dilution rate y, which is the ratio of the partial
pressure of hydrogen gas to the sum of the partial
An apparatus for determining heat flow at an pressure of a silicon-containing gas and the partial
interface between a water surface and the atmosphere pressure of a carbon-containing gas, of 30, transmitting
comprising a floatable transparent panel member having a microwave of a frequency of not less than 1 00 MHz into
lower surface in contact with the water and an upper the mixture gas near a substrate with an electric power
surface covered with a thin layer of water. A plurality density of not less than 4.4 x 1 0"2, and generating
of thermocouples are carried on both surfaces of the plasma at a temperature of the substrate of not less than
panel member for sensing the temperature of the water and 200C, and under a gas pressure of not less than
the water layer in contact with the atmosphere. 1 0"2 Torr.
Electronic circuit means operatively associated with the
thermocouple means records the temperature readings 5,021,715
whereby the difference between the temperatures provides Smith, Norman D.; Smith, Dresden G., inventors.
a measure of the heat flow at the interface. Ughting System for Roadside Signs. June 4, 1 99 1 .
A multiple cell photovoltaic device includes first Shingles are formed of a top sheet and a bottom sheet
and second serially connected solar cells and a of plastic confining solar energy conversion means
conductive or dielectric selective reflection film therebetween. The sheets are sealed together about a
therebetween. The thickness of the selective reflection perimeter to form flanges for fastening in overlapped
film is chosen to reflect short wavelength light which order to a roof. The contour of the shingles is domed to
may be absorbed by the second solar cell and to transmit provide for better solar energy conversion efficiencies.
long wavelength light which is not absorbed by the second Insulation and support members disposed along an
solar cell and may be absorbed by the first solar cell. underside of the dome structure provide support to the
When the selective reflection film comprises a dielectric assembly and insulate the roof. Decorative structure and
material, apertures are provided in the selective
reflection film for serial electrical connection of the
two cells.
Patents 15
and an n-type semiconductor layer, characterized in that For matching the electrical impedance of a
at least one of said p-type and n-type semiconductor photovoltaic power source and a load, a switching
layers comprises a polycrystal semiconductor film regulator circuit has properties especially suited to the
comprised of aluminum atoms (AI), phosphorus atoms (P), conversion of photovoltaic power to electric power. The
hydrogen atoms (H), optionally fluorine atoms (F), and circuit regulates the source voltage for maximum power
atoms (M) of a p-type or n-type dopant element, said output and supplies a load voltage equal to the regulated
polycrystal semiconductor film contains crystal grains of source voltage. The circuit comprises two branches: one
an average size in the range of 50 to 1 000 A, and said in which a switching transistor, a diode, and filter
polycrystal semiconductor film contains the hydrogen components provide a positive voltage; and the other in
atoms (H) in an amount of 0.5 to 5 atomic %; said i-type which similar components in a different configuration
comprises a either (a) a non-single crystal semiconductor provide a negative voltage. The load voltage is the sum
film containing silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix and at of these and is equal to the input voltage. Since the
least one kind of atoms selected from the group source voltage is substantially constant, the switching
consisting of hydrogen atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F) regulator in effect converts the photovoltaic power
or (b) a non-single crystal semiconductor film containing source to a constant-voltage source. The circuit provides
silicon atoms (Si) as a matrix, at least one kind of improved performance and thus enhances the utility of
atoms selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms photovoltaic power sources.
(C) and germanium atoms (Ge), and at least one kind of
atoms selected from te group consisting of hydrogen 5,028,274
atoms (H) and fluorine atoms (F). Basal, Bulent M . ; Kapur, Vijay K., inventors;
International Solar Electric Technology, Inc., assignee.
5,024,953 Group 1-/11-V/2 Semiconductor Films for Solar Cell
Uematsu, Tsuyoshi; Saitoh, Tadashi, inventors; Hitachi, Application. July2, 1 99 1 .
Ltd., assignee. Method fo r Producing Opto -Bec tric
Transducing Bement. June 1 8, 1 99 1 . This invention relates to an improved thin film solar
cell with excellent electrical and mechanical integrity.
A n opto-electric transducing element and a method for The device comprises a substrate, a Group I-III-V12
producing the same use a corrugated semiconductor semiconductor absorber layer and a transparent window
substrate to produce an opto-electric transducing layer. The mechanical bond between the substrate and the
element. The element has a reduced effective thickness Group I-III-VI2 semiconductor layer is enhanced by an
and an improved opto-electric conversion efficiency, intermediate layer between the substrate and the G roup
while maintaining the mechanical strength. I-III-VI2 semiconductor film being grown. The
intermediate layer contains tellurium or substitutes
5,025,202 therefor, such as Se, Sn, or Pb. The intermediate layer
Ishii, Akihiko; Honda, Yukihiro; Matsui, Toshio, improves the morphology and electrical characteristics of
inventors; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. the Group 1-III-V12 semiconductor layer.
Solar Cell Power System with a Solar Array Bus Lockup
Cancelling Mechanism. June 1 8, 1 99 1 . 5,028,488
Nakagawa, Katsumi; Ishihara, Shunichi; Kanai, Masahiro;
A solar cell power system includes a device which Murakami, Tsutomu; Arao, Kozo; Fujioka, Yasushi,
determines the occurrence of solar array bus lockup by inventors; Canon Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee.
detecting the voltage of the power bus, the discharge Functional ZnSe1.xTe,:H Deposited Film. July
current of the storage battery, and the solar array 2, 1 99 1 .
current (or the load current) and performing a
calculation using these items of data in addition to the A functional ZnSe1 _xTex:H film having a high
regulated bus voltage to emit a lockup signal, by which doping efficiency and with no substantial change in the
the magnitude of the load is reduced, thereby cancelling characteristics upon light irradiation. Said film is
the lockup state. Alternatively, a solar cell system may characterized in that the Se/Te quantitative ratio is in
include a lockup cancelling drive device, which the range from 3:7 to 1 :9 by the atom number ratio,
accumulates in a coil cancelling drive, energy supplied hydrogen atoms are contained in an amount of 1 to 4
from the storage battery and then discharges this energy atomic % and the ratio of the crystal grain domains per
to the power bus, thereby cancelling the lockup stage unit volume is in the range from 65% to 85% by volume.
without reducing the magnitude of the load. There are also provided improved p-type and n-type
ZnSe1 .xTex:H:M films (M stands for a dopant) of
5,027,051 high electroconductivity characterized in the foregoing
Lafferty, Donald L., inventor. Photovoltaic Source way.
Switching Regulato r with Maximum Power Transfer
Efficiency Without Voltage Change. June 25, 1 991 . These deposited films may be efficiently deposited
even on a non-single-crystal substrate made of metal,
glass, or synthetic resin with a high deposition rate.
Patents 17
5,030,743 electrode portion or section by separating a laminate of
McDowell, Mathew E., inventor. Organometallic Solar a semiconductor photoactive layer and a back electrode
Voltaic Storage Cell. July 9, 1991. layer into back electrode and 'lead-out portions by means
of a scanned laser beam. The major part of the lead-out
The present invention provides novel metal complexes electrode portion is elongated and has, at the opposite
and solutions containing the complexes which are useful end, enlarged sections for receiving external lead wires
for converting lightoenergy into electrical energy. The or conductors. Accordingly, the lead-out electrode
complexes are formed by complexing certain metals, such portion occupies only a small area in the substrate and
as iron, with a carboxyl compound, chloride and ammonia can be formed easily by scanning with a laser beam.
to form a complex having carboxyl ligands, chloride
ligands and ammonia ligands. The preferred carboxyl 5.032,71 7
compound is citric acid, acetic acid or salts thereof. Roose, Lars D., inventor; The United States of America as
The invention also provides a solar cell which comprises represented by the United States Department of Energy,
a transparent container which contains a pair of assignee. Remote Control for Anode-Cathode
electrodes immersed in the metal complex. Adjustment. July 16, 1991.
Patents 19
A solar cell comprises a plurality of series radially extending from the one end and having a larger
connected photoelectric conversion structures formed on a width than the one end are formed on the film board. The
substrate. The conversion structure consists of a first IC pellet is bonded to one end portion of the metal foil
semiconductor film on a p-type, an intrinsic leads through bump electrodes. The circuit board unit is
semiconductor film formed on the first semiconductor film fixed to a wiring board by an anisotropically electrical
such that one end thereof extends beyond an end of the conductive adhesive. The other end of each metal foil
first semiconductor film and a second semiconductor film lead is electrically connected to a corresponding
of a second, opposite conductivity type formed on the connecting terminal formed on the wiring board. An
intrinsic semiconductor film such that one end thereof electronic component assembly constituted by the circuit
extends beyond the extended end of the intrinsic board unit and the wiring board is received in upper and
semiconductor film and makes direct electrical contact lower covers, and is adhered by adhesive islands
with an end of the first semiconductor film of the deposited on the covers.
adjacent structure.
5,038,674
5,036,443 Merges, Veit, inventor; Phototronics Solartechnik GmbH,
Humble, Wayne; Spector, George, inventors. Proximity assignee. Solar Ventilation Arrangement for Passenger
Ught. July 30, 1991. Compartments. August 1 3, 1991.
A proximity light is provided and consists of a An arrangement for ventilating the passenger
housing adhesively mounted to a flat surface such as a compartment of a motor vehicle having a hinged roof cover,
wall or the underside of a toilet seat cover. An having one or several electric fans as well as a solar
electrically operated light source is carried within the module integrated into the roof cover. The fans are
housing along with electronic circuitry for supplying constructed as axial-flow fans and are arranged in the
electric current to energize the light source. A sensor area below the rear transverse edge of the roof cover.
switch is also carried within the housing and is The axial-flow fans are coupled kinematically with the
connected between the electronic circuitry and the light roof cover and its frame in such a manner that, when the
source so as to close when it gets dark. roof cover is raised, they are swivelled in a forced
manner into an effective position in the air gaps and,
5,037,043 when the roof cover is closed, are swivelled into an
Roth, Martin; Kiendl, Helmut, inventors; ineffective position inside the roof recess without
M esserschmitt-Boelkow-Biohm, assignee. Locking significantly reducing the headroom. The solar module
Arrangement for Unfolded Solar Generators. August 6, which covers the roof cover for the most part is
1991. constructed in the semiconductor thin-film technique and,
in a locally limited manner, has a transparency for the
A locking arrangement for unfoldable solar generators incident sunlight.
which consist of several panels provides a lockable,
partially unfolded, intermediate position and a lockable, 5,039,352
completely unfolded final position. In the partially Mueller, Helmut F. 0.; Gutjahr, Joerg, inventors.
unfolded position, a panel is pivoted by so so that a External Wall Element for Buildings. August 13, 1991.
lock pin which is acted upon by a radially inwardly
directed spring force and which, at first, slides on an The external wall element has an outer pane with
outer section of a curve of a guiding contour, locks into lens-like holographic elements. On the inner pane,
an opening of a curved slot in a guiding element having radiation receiving elements for generating energy are
the guiding contour. During the transition into the fully arranged in the focal plane of the holographic elements.
unfolded position, a plate cam, which had stopped at The incident light may either be focused on the radiation
first, is rotated so that its driving groove can receiving elements or on translucent portions of the
accommodate the lock pin which can now continue to slide inner pane. The external wall element optionally permits
on an inner section of the curve into the final locking the generation of energy or reflection, transmission of
position. diffuse light being effected in both cases.
5,038,251 5,039,353
Sugiyama, Yoshinobu; Sawada, Shohei; Hinooka, Takashi; Schmitt, Jacques, inventor; Societe Dite: Solems (Societe
Yoshida, Kaoru, inventors; Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Anonyme), assignee. Process for Improving the Spectral
assignee. Bectronic Apparatus and a Method for Response of a Photoconductive Structure, and Improved
Manufacturing the Same. August 6, 1991. Solar Cell and Photoreceptive Structure. August 1 3,
1991.
A thin electronic calculator having a circuit board
unit in which an IC pellet is directly mounted on a film The invention is aimed at improving the spectral
board and allowing easy mass-production is provided. response of a photoconductive structure intended to
Metal foil leads each having one end and the other end receive a luminous radiation and comprising a substrate,
Patents 21
5,041,952 5,044,939
Janda, Rudolph W.; Douglas, Jerald L.; Condon, Jr., Dehlsen, James, G.P., inventor. Reversing Unear Flow
Edward F inventors; lntermatic Incorporated, assignee.
. TPV Process and Apparatus. September 3, 1 99 1 .
Control Circuit for a Solar-Powered Rechargeable Power
Source and Load. August 20, 1 99 1 . A linear combustion emitter regenerator process
capable of operating at high temperatures for sustained
An inexpensive circuit for controlling the recharging periods of time, that includes flowing reactants
of a rechargeable power source by a photovoltaic panel is including fuel and air to a combustion zone; adding
used for powering a load such as the lamp of a walk regenerated heat to at least one of the reactants flowing
light. Using a minimum number of components, the circuit to the zone; combusting the reactants at the zone to
can charge a rechargeable battery anytime sunlight is produce combustion products at high temperature, to heat
sufficient to place a potential across the battery that radiant emitter; operating the emitter to radiate energy
is greater than the present potential of the battery, can from the zone passing selective wavelengths of said
sense a decrease in voltage across the photovoltaic panel radiated energy spectrum through an optical filter and
with diminishing ambient light and energize the load, can converting the radiation from the emitter into
prevent the load from being energized when the ambient photovoltaic-produced electricity; mounting optical
light level is sufficient to recharge the battery, can filter on water-cooled window to act as a heat shield to
provide positive feedback at tum-on of the load, thereby protect photovoltaic cells from overheating; reflecting
hastening turn-on and providing hysteresis, can provide back to the emitter portions of the spectral emission not
for adjusting the hysteresis bands, can shift the turn-on able to activate the photovoltaic cells; extracting heat
and turn-off thresholds, and can provide an adequate absorbed by liquid-cooled window by means of a heat
current to guarantee turn-on when using low leakage solar exchanger to transfer heat to incoming combustion air;
panels. A further embodiment can additionally exhibit extracting heat from the combustion products for return
hysteresis at load turn-off so that the load does not to the at least one of the reactants as the recuperated
cycle on and off and can further raise the load turn-off heat; removing the products of combustion at reduced
threshold above the level where the battery is temperature; and providing a porous bed at and to which
substantially discharged, thereby hastening recharging of the extracted heat is transferred; and periodically
the battery. A still further embodiment provides reversing the direction of flow of at least one of the
temperature compensation for improved performance. reactants, and in heat transfer contact with the bed.
5,043,024 5,045,409
Cammerer, Fritz; Bednarz, Klaus; Riermeier, M anfred, Eberspacher, Chris; Ermer, James H.; Mitchell, Kim W.,
inventors; Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, assignee. Solar inventors; Atlantic Richfield Company, assignee.
Cell Device. August 27, 1 99 1 . Process for Making Thin Film Solar Cell. September 3,
1 99 1 .
Solar cell equipment i s mounted using clamps o f the
present invention. The clamps enable a single !TlOunting A method of making group 1-111-VI compound
which may be employed in conjunction with a frame. The semiconductors such as copper indium diselenide for use
clamps provide electrical contact to the solar cell in thin film heterojunction photovoltaic devices. A
equipment for carrying the solar generated current. composite film of copper, indium, and possibly other
Clamps may also be completely insulated from the solar group lilA elements, is deposited upon a substrate. A
cell equipment. The clamps provide mechanical separate film of selenium is deposited on the composite
stabilization for the solar cell equipment. film. The substrate is then heated in a chamber in the
presence of a gas containing hydrogen to form the
5,043,n2 compound semiconductor material.
Yamazaki, Shunpei, inventor; Semiconductor Energy
Laboratory Co., Ltd., assignee. Semiconductor 5,045,481
Photoelectrically-Sensitive Device. August 27, 1 99 1 . Schilling, Roland; Tentscher, Karl-Heinz, inventors;
TELEFUNKEN electronic GmbH, assignee. Method of
A semiconductor photoelectrically sensitive device Manufacturing a Solar Cell. September 3, 1 99 1 .
including a conductive substrate or a first conductive
layer formed on the substrate, a non-single-crystal The invention relates to a solar cell which consists
semiconductor layer member is disposed on the conductive of a doped semiconductor base body and metallic
substrate or the conductive layer, the non-single-crystal connection contacts on the front and rear sides. For
semiconductor layer member having at least one intrinsic, interconnection with further solar cells to form solar
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer, and a second modules in series or parallel connection, at least one of
conductive layer is disposed on the non-single-crystal the connection contacts comprises a connector contact
semiconductor layer member. The intrinsic which is homogeneously integrated with it, protrudes from
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer contains sodi u m the semiconductor base body and is deformable.
and oxygen i n very low concentrations where each
concentration is 5 x 1 0 1 8 atoms/cm 3 or less.
I n a gaseous glow-discharge process for coating a A photovoltaic cell that includes a transparent
substrate with semiconductor material, a variable substrate, a front conductive layer formed on the
electric field in the region of the substrate and the substrate, a p-type layer formed on the front conductive
pressure of the gaseous material are controlled to layer, an Hayer of amorphous silicon formed on the
produce a uniform coating having useful semiconducting p-layer, a wide band gap n-type layer formed on the
properties. Electrodes having concave and cylindrical Hayer and a back contact layer formed on the n-type
configurations are used to produce a spatially varying structure. The wide banc:J gap n-type layer may be an
electric field. Twin electrodes are used to enable the n-type sandwich structure which includes first, second,
use of an AC power supply and collect a substantial part and third n-layers successively formed on one another.
of the coating on the substrate. Solid semiconductor The first n-layer is formed on the Hayer, the second
material is evaporated and sputtered into the glow n-layer is formed on the first n-layer, and the n-layer
discharge to control the discharge and improve the is formed on the second n-layer. The second n-layer has
coating. Schottky barrier and solar cell structures are an optical band gap wider than the optical band gap of
fabricated from the semiconductor coating. Activated the first and second n-type layers.
nitrogen species is used to increase the barrier height
of Schottky barriers. 5,055,416
Weber, Michael F., inventor; M innesota Mining and
5,053,083 Manufacturing Company, assignee. Electrolytic Etch for
Sinton, Ronald A., inventor; The Board of Trustees of the Preventing Electrical Shorts in Solar Cells on Polymer
Leland Stanford Junior University, assignee. Bilevel Surfaces. October 8, 1 99 1 .
Contact Solar Cells. October 1 , 1 99 1 .
A method for preventing shorts and shunts i n solar
A high efficiency back side contact solar cell is cells having in order, an insulating substrate, a
fabricated using a self-aligning process that reduces the conductive metal layer on the substrate, an amorphous
number of masks and alignments as compared with prior silicon layer and a transparent conductive layer. The
processes. The back surface of the cell is patterned by method includes anodic etching of exposed portions of the
etching into an array of bilevel, interdigitated mesas metal layer after deposition of the amorphous silicon and
and trenches, separated by inclined surfaces. Doping of prior to depositing the transparent conductive layer.
the back surface region produces laterally alternating
and overlapping P and N regions associated with the mesas 5,056,447
and trenches. A metalization layer is deposited over the Labrador, Gaudencio A., inventor. Rein-Deer Kite.
entire back side of the cell. The portions of the October 15, 1 99 1 .
metalization on the inclined surfaces are readily removed
Patents 23
What has been created is a new form of an Polysilicon contacts for silicon devices such as
equipmenVkite that carry weight in mid-air regardless of bipolar junction transistors and silicon solar cells are
fuel and/or wind, which converts the wind energy into fabricated in a two-step anneal process to improve
mechanical energy by acting as a sail in a multi-level contact resistance and emitter saturation current
formation, which is in the form of a large flat air density. After a silicon oxide layer is formed on a
balloon 1 /2 acre to more than 5 acres wide that floats in surface of a silicon substrate, a plurality of openings
the air concave downward against the wind, which are formed there through to expose a plurality of contact
functions as a large kite in the presence of wind -- surfaces on the surface of the silicon substrate. A thin
soaring upward instead of being blown down which may be thermally grown silicon oxide layer is then formed on the
constructed into a multi-level balloon kite from ground contact surfaces after which an undoped layer of
to the highest altitude of wind to carry several rotary polysilicon material is formed over the silicon oxide
blade windmills on each kite or top pull transportation layers. The structure is then annealed at approximately
on land or on water or on aerial cable railway; to carry 1 050C to break the thermally grown silicon oxide layer.
electric wire conductors up into the clouds to collect Thereafter, a first layer of doped glass is formed over
electricity from the clouds; to carry lamps, the silicon oxide surface and selectively etched to
advertisements, and observatory instruments to high remove the first layer of glass from a first group of
altitudes; to serve as sail for large type of windmills contact surfaces. A second layer of doped glass is then
in a configuration similar to the United Sail Windmill formed over the first group of contact surfaces and over
under U.S. Pat No. 4,756,666 and as illustrated herewith the first layer of doped glass. Thereafter, the silicon
showing m ultilevel kites pulling an elongate closed-loop substrate is annealed at a temperature of approximately
Power Chain erected on land or on ocean. C reated also is 9ooc, thereby driving in dopants from said first and
a new control system for said kite in the form of a second layers of glass into said polysilicon layer over
Triple "T" Structure and an Elliptical Monorail Track. said first and second groups of contact surfaces. Finally,
the layers of glass are removed and the polysilicon layer
5,057,162 is patterned to define first and second polysilicon
Nelson, R obert E . , inventor; TPV Energy Systems, Inc., contacts.
assignee. Thermophotovoltaic Technology. October 1 5,
1 99 1 . 5,059,254
Yaba, Susumu; Takigawa, Tomoya; Osada, Koichi; Sate,
A high-output, narrow band thermally energized Katsuhito; Omae, Masaru, inventors; Asahi Glass Company,
radiation source comprises a rare earth oxide radiator Ltd., assignee. Solar Cell Substrate and Solar Panel
member that has a cross-sectional dimension in the range for Automobile. October 22, 1991 .
of 5 to 30 micrometers, the rare earth oxide radiator
member, when heated to about 1 7ooc, having a A glass substrate for a solar cell, comprising a
concentrated radiated flux over the 400-2500 nanometer glass sheet having a curved surface shape and a
wavelength range such that at least 5% of the radiated transparent electroconductive film formed on the concave
flux is within a spectral band that is less than 400 surface side of said glass sheet
nanometers wide.
5,059,296
5,057,1 63 Sherman, Mark, inventor; Floatron, Inc., assignee.
Barnett, Allen M . ; Hall, Robert B.; Rand, James A.; Portable Self-Contained Solar Powered Water Purifier.
Ford, David H., inventors; AstroPower, Inc., assignee. October 22, 1 991 .
Deposited-Silicon Film Solar Cell. October 1 5, 1 991 .
A portable self-contained solar powered water
A thin-film photovoltaic solar cell features a thin purifier for swimming pools, spas, and other bodies of
polycrystalline silicon active semiconductor formed over water is disclosed. The purifier includes a buoyant
a conductive ceramic substrate. Between the substrate and housing for supporting a solar cell array above the
the adjacent active semiconductor layer is a barrier surface of water to be treated and a purification cell
layer which provides for reflection of light, minimizes below the surface of water to be treated. Suitable
back surface recombination and prevents contamination of electrical connections, between the solar cell array and
the active semiconductor. purification cell, are sealed to prevent the entry of
water therebetween which could result in electrical
5,057,439 shorts and corrosion. The purification cell includes a
Swanson, R ichard M.; Gan, Jon-View, inventors; Electric sacrifical anode, having a metal alloy essentially
Power Research Institute, assignee. Method of composed of copper and silver and a cathode which is
Fabricating Polysilicon Emitters for Solar Cells. preferably constructed of stainless steel so as to not
October 1 5, 1 99 1 . react adversely with the sacrificial anode. Metallic
copper and silver ions are released by the sacrificial
anode to prevent algae and bacterial growth. The anode
and cathode are structurally interrelated and secured to
Patents 25
substantial amount of incoming off-axis light onto the conducting members is also disclosed. A pair of contacts,
remainder of the secondary mirror. Thus light which would one to make electrical contact with each electrically
otherwise be lost to the system will be captured by the conducting member are provided and a circuit is formed on
collector. Furthermore, the off-axis sections of the the base. An illuminator on the base is in electrical
secondary mirror may be of a different geometrical shape contact with the circuit. Completion of the circuit by
than the on-axis annular section so as to optimize the the pair of contacts lights the illuminator. A display
amount of off-axis light collected. having a support card to be received on a pair of
electrical conductors is disclosed. Separate contacts on
5,064,477 the card to make contact one with each conductor. A
Delahay, Alan E., inventor. Radiant Energy Sensitive circuit on the card joins the separate contacts. An
Device and Method. November 1 2, 1 99 1 . illuminator is in the circuit so that the separate
contacts on the card can contact the conductors to
A radiant energy sensitive device formed by a radiant complete the circuit to light the illuminator.
energy transmissive conductor of tin oxide with an
overlying radiant energy transmissive layer of zinc oxide, 5,065,291
that, in turn, underlies a radiant energy sensitive layer, Frost, John S.; Erickson, Mark A.; Seegan, Kimberly E.;
with the result that the combination of the two radiant Boyer, Brent P., inventors; Atlantic Richfield Company,
energy transmissive layers improves the performance of assignee. Marking Ught. November 1 2, 1 99 1 .
the radiant energy sensitive structure with respect to
energy passing through the radiant energy transmissive A self-contained solar powered marking light The
layer. marking light may be utilized to delineate certain
predetermined boundaries without effectively illuminating
5,065,1 56 the areas. The marking light automatically illuminates
Bernier, Denis, inventor. Computer Controlled Parkng when output power from the photovoltaic cells contained
Meter. November 1 2 , 1 99 1 . therein fall below a predetermined level and
automatically extinguishes when the voltage from the
A computer-controlled coin parking meter for managing photovoltaic cells reaches a predetermined level. The
the use of a parking lot having up to about ten parking marking light includes a lens which is closely coupled to
spaces. It includes a first display device which a source of light and which includes a textured surface
singularly identifies the parking places and push button for diffusing the light to cause the lens to appear to
switches for operating it; a second display device glow when the source of light is ill1.,1minated. An
indicating the parking time bought for the identified electrical circuit is coupled between the photovoltaic
space; a rotary disk having, along its periphery, visible cells and a battery and includes the source of light and
indicia indicating whether or not parking time has been switching means for automatically illuminating the light
paid for the parking places and a step-motor for rotating dependent upon the relative relationship between the
the disk so as to provide this latter information. The voltage of the photovoltaic cells and the battery voltage.
meter further includes a coin receiving and counting
machine capable of allowing operation of the second 5,066,338
display device so that it indicates the parking time Meyers, Roy D., inventor. Solar Powered Navigation
bought and also capable of allowing rotation of the step Buoy Generator. November 1 9, 1 99 1 .
motor and therefore of the indicia disk to display the
information. Finally, the meter includes a computer A solar electric generating system is provided which
assembly programmed to control sequential operation of directly generates de current from ambient light to
the two devices and of the step motor from signals charge a rechargeable battery through a blocking diode,
received from the push-button switch and from the coin and a wiring harness adaptable to connect to the existing
receiving and counting machine, respectively. internal circuitry of conventional existing navigation
buoys. This invention is designed to be used as an add on
5,065,290 to convert existing navigation buoys that now use
Makar, Marko; Makar, Michael, inventors. Illuminated throw-away batteries to more economical rechargeable
Display. November 1 2, 1 99 1 . batteries at a very low cost
Patents 27
upper cell and a lower cell which each have an i-layer. but with the vowels positioned so that they start and end
The upper and lower cells are stacked so that the upper each row. In addition, certain vowels are repeated both
cell is located on the light incident side. An output end on the left and right sides of the keyboard.
of the upper cell and an output end of the lower cell are
connected in parallel. The thickness of the Hayer of 5,073,698
the lower cell is 300A or less. Because the thickness of Stultz, Timothy J., inventor; Peak Systems, Inc.,
the i layer of the lower cell is 3000A or less, the assignee. Method for Sele ctively Heating a Film on a
amorphous solar cell has a high initial photoelectric Substrate. December 1 7, 1 99 1 .
conversion efficiency and properties which are unlikely
to be degraded by light. A method for selectively heating a film on a
substrate. The film is provided with a different
5,071 ,491 absorption characteristic for light than the absorption
Stein, Karl U.; Cammerer, Fritz, inventors; Siemens characteristic of the substrate. The specimen (combined
Aktiengesellschaft, assignee. Frame far Solar Cell film and substrate) is illuminated by light having a
Devices. December 1 0, 1 991 . maximum intensity at a wavelength which will be
substantially absorbed by the film and substantially not
A frame for securing solar cell equipment in a solar absorbed by the substrate.
generator and carrying solar generated current. The
current carrying frame reduces the number of 5,073,804
interconnections required in the overall device. As a Coleman, John H., inventor; Plasma Physics Corp.,
result, the present invention is simpler and requires assignee. Method of Forming Semiconductor Materials
considerably less outlay than conventional solar and Barriers. December 1 7, 1 99 1 .
generators
I n a I n a gaseous glow-discharge process for coating
5,072,209 a substrate with semiconductor material, a variable
Hori, Toshio; Furuhashi, Kanji; Wakita, Makoto; Ueda, electric field in the region of the substrate and the
Kazuo, inventors; Kawajyuu Gitu Engineering Co., Ltd., pressure of the gaseous material are controlled to
assignee. Data Display System far Vehicles. produce a uniform coating having useful semiconducting
December 1 0, 1 99 1 . properties. Electrodes having concave and cylindrical
configurations are used to produce a spatially varying
This data display system includes a wireless electric field. Twin electrodes are used to enable the
transmitter mounted on a vehicle. The wireless use of an AC power supply and collect a substantial part
transmitter is used for transmitting a signal of the coating of the substrate. Solid semiconductor
representative of data related to operation of the material is evaporated and sputtered into the glow
vehicle. A wireless receiver is mounted on a helmet worn discharge to control the discharge and improve the
by a driver of the vehicle. The receiver receives a coating. Schottky barrier and solar cell structures are
transmitted data signal from the transmitter and fabricated from the semiconductor coating. Activated
generates an output signal. A power supply is mounted on nitrogen species is used to increase the barrier height
the helmet, and comprises a solar cell and a secondary of Schottky barriers.
battery for supplying electric power to the receiver.
Converter circuits are connected to an output stage of 5,074,489
the wireless receiver for converting the output signal of Gamzon, Eliyahu, inventor. Method and System for
the receiver into a light display signal of visible rays. Supporting an Airborne Vehicle in Space. December 24,
A display and mirror are mounted on the helmet for 1 99 1 .
projecting and displaying the display signal from the
converter circuits in a forward visual field of the A method and system for supporting an airborne
driver. vehicle in space over a predetermined location and for an
extensive period, comprises coupling the airborne vehicle
5,073,054 by cables to a plurality of unmanned aircraft each having
McDowell, W. Stuart, inventor. Electronic Dictionary its own propulsion system; controlling the unmanned
with Vertical Keyboard. December 1 7, 1 99 1 . aircraft to fly in circular orbits at equally-spaced
angles around the airborne vehicle while coupled to the
An electronic dictionary or language translator i s in airborne vehicle, to tension the cables and thereby to
the form of a thin electronic device, preferably at least support to airborne vehicle in space over the
3" x 6" in size so that it may be placed in a book and predetermined location; and supplying the unmanned
used during reading. The electronic device has a aircraft with energy from an external source to maintain
relatively large display area and its keys are spread the unmanned aircraft in flight over an extended or
apart so that they may be readily operated by the fingers indefinite period of time.
of either hand. The device utilizes a specially arranged
keyboard with an alphabetical sequence of the letters,
Patents 29
5,077,223 A door-mounted security peephole providing an
Yamazaki, Shunpei, inventor; Semiconductor Energy undistorted view over a relatively large area by use of a
Laboratory Co., Ltd., assignee. Photoelectric beam splitter optical system. The peephole comprises a
Conversion Device and Method of Making the Same. door-mounted housing containing a beam splitter and light
December 31, 1 99 1 . source arranged so that light is reflected from the beam
splitter and toward the area exterior of the door. An
A photoelectric conversion device has a observer behind the door may view the door exterior area
non-single-crystal semiconductor laminate member formed including a visitor at the door entrance. The visitor,
on a substrate having a conductive surface, and a however, cannot see the observer through the beam
conductive layer formed on the non-single-crystal splitter, because of the light reflected therefrom, thus
semiconductor laminate member. The non-single-crystal increasing the overall security aspect The design
semiconductor laminate member has such a structure that a exploits the contrast sensitivity of the human eye as a
first non-single-crystal semiconductor layer having a P function of field brightness.
,pr N first conductivity type, an 1-type second
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer and a third 5,078,803
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer having a second Pier, David N.; Gay, Charles F.; Wieting, Robert D.;
conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type Langeberg, Heidi J., inventors; Siemens Solar Industries,
are laminated in this order. The first (or third) assignee. Solar Cells Incorporating Transparent
non-single-crystal semiconductor layer is disposed on the Electrodes Comprising Hazy Zinc Oxide. January 7, 1 992.
side on which light is incident. and is P-type. The
1-type non-single-crystal semiconductor layer has Transparent conductors for use in a variety of
introduced thereinto a P-type impurity, such as boron different photovoltaic devices are disclosed, comprising
which is distributed so that its concentration decreases at least one ZnO transparent conductor layer having a
towards the third (or first) non-single-crystal predetermined level of haziness achieved, e.g., through
semiconductor layer in the thickwise direction of the appropriate variation in the parameters employed in
1-type layer. formation of the transparent conductor (for example, by
chemical vapor deposition) and/or through treatment of
5,077,796 the transparent conductor subsequent to its formation.
Bellaire, David L., inventor. Cryptograph. December The concentration and/or relative rate of introduction of
31 , 1 99 1 . dopant during the deposition of the transparent conductor
may be adjusted to prepare films having the desired
A n apertured device translatably receives a lottery morphology and/or structure. Alternatively, the
ticket in juxtaposed relationship with the aperture to morphology, composition and/or structure of the
display a set of numbers appearing upon the lottery transparent conductor may be modified by suitable
ticket A panel adjacent the aperture accommodates entry post-formation treatments. A combination of at least two
of a predetermined set of numbers to permit visual transparent layers may also be employed, comprising at
correlation between the displayed set of numbers and the least a first layer designed primarily to maximize the
predetermined set of numbers. optical properties and at least a second layer designed
to maximize the electrical properties.
1 992 5,078,804
Chen, Wen S.; Stewart, John M., inventors; The Boeing
Company, assignee. I-II/-VI2-Based Solar Cell
5,078,151 Utilizing the Structure CulnGaSe2CdZnSIZn0.
Laballery, Vincent, inventor. Medical Auscultation January 7, 1 992.
Device. January 7, 1 992 . .
A thin-film I-III.VI2-based solar cell having a
A medical auscultation device comprising an element first layer of copper indium gallium selenide, a second
intended to be applied to a patient's skin, which is layer of cadmium zinc sulfide, a double layer of zinc
characterized by the fact that it comprises on or in the oxide, and a metallization structure comprised of a layer
vicinity of this element a heating resistance which is of nickel covered by a layer of aluminum. An optional
supplied by a contactor from an electric current source antireflective coating may be placed on said
such as a battery. metallization structure. The cadmium zinc sulfide layer
is deposited by means of an aqueous solution growth
5,078,470 deposition process and may actually consist of two
Milman, Uri, inventor. One-Way Peephole. January 7, layers: a low zinc content layer and a high zinc content
1 992. layer. Photovoltaic efficiencies of 1 2.5% at AM 1 .5
illumination conditions and 1 0.4% under AMO illumination
can be achieved.
This invention relates to a small particle selective By specifically shaping the surface of the substrate
emitter for converting thermal energy into narrow band to produce predetermined surface structures the above
radiation with high efficiency. The small particle disadvantages can be minimized. Previous texturing of
selective emitter is used in combination with a solar cell substrates has relied on the crystalline
photovoltaic array to provide a thermal to electric structure of the substrate to control the surface
energy conversion device. An energy conversion apparatus texture. The surface thus produced does not maximize the
of this type is called a thermo-photovoltaic device. antireflection and absorption properties.
In the first embodiment, small diameter particles of By using a laser scriber and following this with a
a rare earth oxide are suspended in an inert gas enclosed chemical etch, we produce surface shapes which maximize
between concentric cylinders as shown in Figure 1 . The the antireflection and absorption properties of the solar
rare earth oxides are used because they have the desired cell.
property of large emittance in a narrow wavelength band
and small emittance outside the band. However, it should
be emphasized that it is the smallness of the particles
that enhances the radiation property. As shown in Figure
Patents 31
5,081 ,069 5,082,791
Parker, Sidney G.; Wood, Jerry; Turner, Robert T.; M ichaels, Ronald H.; Valdivia, Percy; Hanoka, Jack 1.,
Fischer, Craig A., inventors; Texas Instruments inventors; Mobil Solar Energy Corporation, assignee.
Incorporated, assignee. Method for Depositing a Method of Fabricating Solar Cells. January 2 1 , 1 992.
TI02 Layer Using a Periodic and Simultaneous Tilting
and Rotating Platform Motion. January 14, 1 992. A solar cell fabrication procedure is described in
which an excimer laser is used to cut a trench in a flat
Method and apparatus are disclosed for depositing a solar cell substrate so as to electrically isolate front
uniform layer of material, such as titanium dioxide, on and back regions of the substrate. The trench is cut
the surface of an object, such as a silicon sphere of a around the perimeter of the cell. The advantage of using
solar array. Component gases are injected at an excimer laser is that it will ablate a trench without
predetermined rates into a heated reaction chamber where diffusing conductive material deeper into the cell.
they react Because of the reaction rate and injection
velocities of the gases, the reaction is substantially 5,084;107
completed at a calculated location inside the reaction Deguchi, Mikio; ltagaki, Takushi; Usui, Masaaki,
chamber. The object which is to receive the layer, such inventors; M itsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee.
as the solar array, is placed at the calculated location Solar Cell and Solar Cell Array with Adhered
in the reaction chamber. The platform to which the solar Electrode. January 28, 1 992.
array is attached is simultaneously tilted and rotated
such that all areas of the surface of the array are An electrode structure of a solar cell includes a
uniformly exposed to the titanium dioxide reactant. metal wire fixed to the light incident surface of the
solar cell with an electrically conductive adhesive. An
5,082,505 electrode production method of a solar cell includes
Cota, Albert 0 . ; Reed, John J., inventors. applying an electrically conductive adhesive to at least
Self-Sustaining Power Module. January 2 1 , 1 992. one of a portion of a metal wire and a portion of the
light incident surface of the solar cell, pressing the
A self-sustaining power module that combines the metal wire into a predetermined position of the light
technologies of radioactivity .with photovoltaic cells to incident surface of the solar cell, and solidifying the
produce an electrical power supply having a useful life conductive adhesive to fix the metal wire.
of over ten years. The radioactive source is a tritium
capsule that interfaces with the receptor surface of the 5,084,400
photovoltaic cell. The capsule has inside surfaces that Nath, Pram; Vogeli, Craig, inventors; Energy Conversion
are coated with a phosphor and is filled with tritium Devices, Inc., assignee. Conversion Process for
gas. The tritium gas produces beta particles that bombard Passivating Short Circuit Current Paths in Electronic
the phosphor causing the phosphor to luminesce and Devices Having a Metallic Electrode. January 28, 1 992.
produce photons. The photons, in tum, strike and cause
the photovoltaic cell to generate a current flow that is An electronic device of the type including a thin
then applied, via a pair of electrodes, to an external film body having a superposed metallic electrode has
load. Also disclosed is a power pack that houses a short circuit defects therein passivated by a conversion
plurality of power modules. The power pack includes process in which the electrical resistivity of the
provisions that allow the power modules to be metallic electrode material is increased proximate the
electrically interconnected to provide various series, defect regions. Conversion is accomplished by exposing
parallel and series-parallel power output combinations. the metallic electrode material to a conversion reagent
and activating the reagent proximate the defect regions.
5,082,696 The process may be utilized for a variety of differently
Sharp, Kenneth G., inventor; Dow Corning Corporation, configured devices, and may be readily adapted for use in
assignee. Method of Forming Semiconducting Amorphous a roll-to-roll device fabrication process.
Silicon Films from the Thermal Decomposition of
Dihalosilanes. January 21 , 1 992. 5,084,664
Gali, Carl E., inventor. Solar Powered Lead Acid
The invention relates to the chemical vapor Battery Rejuvenator and Trickle Charger. January 28,
deposition of dihalogenated silanes to form stable, 1 992.
abrasion resistant, photoconductive, dopable
semiconductor amorphous films on substrates. Additional A solar powered lead acid battery rejuvenator circuit
hydrogen and plasma discharge conditions are not is provided that generates fast time very short duration
necessary to practice the invention. pulses on the order of five micro seconds or less with a
five megavolt per second rise time to 1 : 1 to 1 :3 times
the theoretical cell voltage with pulses in the
approximate range of from 2,000 to 1 0,000 times per
second. The circuit is also a trickle charger for lead
Patents 33
An inexpensive circuit for controlling the recharging 5,088,1Z7
"f a rechargeable power source by a photovoltaic panel is Thornock, Del M., inventor. Powered Rotating Display
used for powering a load such as the lamp of a walk in a Hat. February 1 8, 1 992.
light. Using a minimum number of components, the circuit
can charge a rechargeable battery anytime sunlight is A hat having an electric motor driven rotatable
sufficient to place a potential across the battery that display placard affixed to the top exterior of the hat.
is greater than the present potential of the battery, can The driving motor of the placard is powered by a
sense a decrease in voltage across the photovoltaic panel photovoltaic panel attached to the exposed surface of the
with diminishing ambient light and energize the load, can hat. An electrically conductive circuit connects the
prevent the load from being energized when the ambient photovoltaic panel to the motor. The placard is imprinted
light level is sufficient to recharge the battery, can with written or graphic advertisements or symbols, and is
provide positive feedback at tum-on of the load, thereby rotated to attract greater attention.
hastening turn-on and providing hysteresis, can provide
for adjusting the hysteresis bands, can shift the turn-on 5,089,426
and turn-off thresholds, and can provide an adequate Yamazaki, Shunpei; Suzuki, Kunia; Susukida, Masato;
current to guarantee turn-on when using low leakage solar Kinka, Mikio; Fukada, Takeshi; Abe, Masayoshi;
panels. A further embodiment can additionally exhibit Kobayashi, lppei; Shibata, Katsuhiko; Koyanagi , Kaoru;
hysteresis at load. turn-off so that the load does not Nagayama, Susumu, inventors; Semiconductor Energy
cycle on and off and can further raise the load turn-off Laboratory Co., Ltd., assignee. Method for
threshold above the level where the battery is Manufacturing a Semiconductor Device Free from Electrical
substantially discharged, thereby hastening recharging of Shortage Due to Pin-Hole Formation. February 1 8, 1 992.
the battery. A still further embodiment provides
temperature compensation for improved performance. An improved semiconductor device is disclosed which
is free from current leakage due to pin-holes or other
5,087,107 gaps. Also an improved method for processing a
Gumanelli, Giuseppe E., inventor; M.I.B. Elettronica semiconductor device is shown. According to the invention,
S.R.L., assignee. Device and Process for Protecting gaps produced in fabricating process of the semiconductor
and Handling Bank Notes and Valuables. February 1 1 , layer are filled with insulator iri advance of deposition
1 992. of electrodes. By virtue of this configuration, short
current paths do not result even if transparent electrode
A device used for protecting and handling bank notes is provided on the semiconductor layer.
and valuables including, within a housing, a protection
housing, mobile elements having a sliding direction and a 5,090,167
plurality of safety compartments consecutive with one Wassell, Stephen, inventor. Solar Shed. February 25,
another along the sliding direction, locking elements 1 992.
defining as many stop positions of the mobile elements as
there are safety compartments along the sliding direction, A solar shed is disclosed comprising a secure shelter
and a control device driving the locking elements. A for battery-powered electric tools, such as lawnmowers,
process includes the insertion of bank notes and trimmers, and leaf blowers, and of the electric tools in
valuables in various safety compartments and making the interior, so that the batteries are recharged for
gradually accessible the content of compartments later use. The solar shed is marketed in prefabricated
according to prefixed time sequences. components, having a square floor so that the walls and
the roof can be oriented in any of four directions with
5,087,296 respect to each other, in particular, so that the slope
Kondo, Shigeki; Mizutani, Hidemasa, inventors; Canon of the roof can be oriented to face a generally southward
Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Solar Battery and Process direction, regardless of where the user wishes to locate
for Preparing Same. February 1 1 , 1 992. the shed on the site. This will allow for adequate
exposure of the photovoltaic cells to sunlight. The
A solar battery comprises a substrate, a first increase in height in the interior of the solar shed
semiconductor layer of a first conduction type comprising resulting from the sloped roof allows the walls to be
a single crystal singly grown on a nucleation surface shorter and therefore more manageable for easier
(SNod formed on the surface of said substrate at the assembly. Taller users can locate the door so that, upon
base for growing, said nucleation surface (SNod entering the solar shed, the user has more headroom
being comprised of a material which is sufficiently resulting from the sloped ceiling. In addition, the solar
greater in nucleation density (NO) than the material shed has its own battery-powered features, such as
constituting the surface of said substrate and having a lighting, which are recharged by the same photovoltaic
sufficiently fine area such that only a single nucleus cells.
grows, a second semiconductor layer of a second
conduction type different than the conduction type of
said first semiconductor layer and means for taking out
the power.
Patents 35
A superconductor has been disclosed which is formed in electrical contact with the substrate. The solar cell
of high temperature superconducting ceramic oxide is made by forming the plurality of recesses, depositing
particles distributed in a metal superconductor. In an electrically insulating material on the substrate and
another embodiment, the superconducting particles are in the recesses, removing a portion of the electrically
distributed in a dielectric matrix. insulating material to expose the substrate at a
plurality of mutually isolated locations, depositing the
5,098,482 semiconductor film on the electrically insulating
Warfield, Donald 8., inventor; Solarex Corporation, material and the substrate, and depositing the electrodes.
assignee. Vertical Junction Solar Cell. March 24,
1 992. 5,100,480
Hayafuji, Nerio, inventor; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
An improved vertical junction solar cell wherein the Kaisha, assignee. Solar Cell and. Method for
vertical junctions are formed by a plurality of grooves Manufacturing the Same. March 3 1 , 1 992.
etched in the silicon wafer of the solar cell. The
grooves define a plurality of walls having a top surface A solar cell includes an insulating or
and side surfaces and a plurality of groove bottoms semi-insulating substrate having a pair of through holes,
therebetween. In order to increase radiation resistance an n-type semiconductor layer disposed on the front
in such vertical junction solar cells, a focusing surface of the substrate, and a p-type semiconductor
coverslide is provided which retracts or reflects layer disposed on the substrate in the first hole and on
incident light onto only the top surfaces of the walls the n-type semiconductor layer. An n side electrode is
and away from the grooved bottoms. It has been discovered formed on the surface of the n-type semiconductor layer
that the majority of the radiation degradation in in the second hole and also on a part of the back surface
vertical junction solar cells occurs as a result of of the substrate. A p side electrode is formed on the
incident light impinging on the grooved bottoms, which surface of the p-type semiconductor layer in the first
are less resistant to radiation than are the top walls. hold and also on the back surface of the substrate. In
Thus, the present invention provides a vertical junction connecting a plurality of solar cells in a wafer in
solar cell with greatly increased radiation resistivity. series, a trench reaching the substrate is formed between
adjacent solar cells.
5,098,850
Nishida, Shoji; Yonehara, Takao, inventors; Canon 5,100,808
Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Process for Producing Glenn, Gregory S., inventor; Spectrolab, Inc., assignee.
Substrate for Selective Crystal Growth, Selective Crystal Method of Fabricating Solar Cell with Integrated
Growth Process and Process for Producing Solar Battery by Interconnect. March 31 , 1 992.
Use of Them. March 24, 1 992.
A pattern of current collection gridlines is formed
A process for producing a substrate for selective on a surface of a photovoltaic wafer. An ohmic contact
crystal growth, which comprises subjecting a substrate strip is formed adjacent to an edge of the wafer in
having a layer comprising a first material having higher electrical interconnection with the gridlines.
nucleation density and a layer comprising a second Interconnect tabs are integrally formed with the
material having lower nucleation density than the first gridlines and contact strip, extending away from the
material laminated thereon to application of an contact strip external of the edge for series or parallel
electrical field concentrated at a desired region of the intercon nection with other solar cells. The interconnect
layer comprising the second material, thereby removing tabs may have a stress relief configuration, including a
the region whereby the layer comprising the first non-planar bend or loop. The wafer initially has a first
material is exposed. portion and a second portion. A barrier layer of
photoresist or the like is formed on the second portion.
5,1 00,478 The grid and contact strip are formed on the first
Kawabata, Kiyoshi, inventor; M itsubishi Denki Kabushiki portion simultaneously with forming the interconnect tabs
Kaisha, assignee. Solar Ce ll. March 3 1 , 1 992. over the barrier layer on the second portion using
photolithography and metal deposition. The barrier layer
A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate is dissolved away, and the second portion is broken away
having a plurality of recesses at one surface leaving a from the first portion, leaving the interconnect tabs
plurality of mutually isolated areas of the substrate extending from the contact strip external of the
exposed at that surface, an electrically insulating remaining first portion of the wafer.
material filling the recesses, a semiconductor film
disposed on the substrate and the electrically insulating 5,101,260
material forming a plurality of mutually isolated Nath, Pram; Call, John; Hoffman, Kevin; Laarman,
rectifying junctions with the substrate, one electrode in Timothy; DiDio, Gary M., inventors; Energy Conversion
electrical contact with the semiconductor film at a light Devices, Inc., assignee. Multilayer Ught Scattering
incident surface of the solar cell and another electrode
J
light receiving windows of the solar batteries is An amorphous semiconductor solar cell includes an
screened by a hand or other holding means for operating i-type layer which is an at least partially alloyed,
and holding the portable measuring instrument, it is substantially intrinsic semiconductor, an n-type layer
avoided that only a specific light receiving window is formed on one side of the i-type layer, and a p-type
screened, so that a current of the group of solar layer formed on the other side of the i-type layer, and
batteries can be efficiently produced. the i-type layer has its energy band gap varied in a
thickness direction to have a band gap larger than the
5,103,268 band gap of the p-type layer in the vicinity of the
Yin, Ming-Jau; Tanner, David P., inventors; Siemens interface with the p-type layer.
Solar Industries, L.P., assignee. Semiconductor Device
with Interfacial Electrode Layer. April 7, 1 992. 5,104,633
Sakaguchi, Yasuhiko; Aratani, Fukuo; Uchino, Kazuhiro;
A semiconductor device having a thin film Yoshiyagawa, Mitsugi; Miyata, Kunio; lshizaki, Masato;
silicon-containing active layer and a metallic first Kawahara, Tetsuro, inventors. Method for Producing
electrode is provided with an interfacial metallic layer High-Purity Metallic Silicon and Apparatus Therefor.
at an inner surface of a second electrode to increase April 1 4, 1 992. .
electrical resistance and thereby reduce shunts adjacent
pinhole-type defects of the active layer. The interfacial A method and apparatus for producing or manufacturing
layer is preferably made of a metal selected from the a high purity metallic silicon takes a process for
group consisting of tin, gold, titanium, palladium and generating silicon monoxide by causing reaction between a
tantalum. silicon dioxide containing material and molten state
metallic silicon. The silicon monoxide thus generated is
5,103,851 sucked for reduction by means of a reducing agent
Nishida, Shoji; Yonehara, Takao, inventors; Canon including a carbon containing material and a silicon
Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Solar Battery and Method containing material.
of Manufacturing the Same. April 1 4, 1 992.
5,106,492
A solar battery characterized in the following Distinti, John A.; Fonti, Robert G., inventors. Solar
respects of having at least one semiconductor multilayer Powered Swimming Pool Skimmer. April 2 1 , 1 992.
structure having at least an electrode (a1); a
semiconductor crystal (a2) of a first conductivity A swimming pool skimmer includes a paddle wheel that
type formed on the electrode (a1 ); and at least one directs fluid and debris into a debris catcher. The
set of laminate layers consisting of a high resistance paddle wheel is turned by a motor that is powered from an
array of solar cells. A solar concentrator focuses solar
Patents 37
energy onto the solar cells, and an alarm circuit main axis for supporting and balancing the rotary table
includes a strain gauge on the debris catcher. The strain on the base. Each of the drive wheels includes an annular
gauge forms one leg of a bridge circuit that is connected friction surface in contact with both an upper surface of
to a comparator having a feedback loop. The output of the the base and a botto m surface of the display disks for
comparator is connected to an alarm element either rotating the disks in a fixed ratio with rotation of the
directly or remotely. rotary table.
Patents 39
A solar-powered cooling apparatus for a vehicle brake 5,124,610
stem utilizing a solar cell panel mounted within a Conley, Jerry J . ; Mortensen, Gary B., inventors; E.F.
vehicle front bumper to selectively actuate a blower Johnson Company, assignee. Tritiated Ught Emitting
motor located within an air duct housing. The air duct Polymer Electrical Energy Source. June 23, 1 992.
housing is connected to the front bumper of which has a
plurality of forward openings with filtering screens so An electrical energy source is created by the
as to direct cool air flowing from the openings to the combination of a light emitting polymer material having
associated disk brake rotor. A plurality of openings are at least one light emitting surface emitting light energy
also formed on the top panel of the bumper of which the of a specified frequency bandwidth and a photovoltaic
solar panel is operatively associated and where the cell having a light collecting surface and a pair of
openings can be adjusted via a slide plate operative electrical contacts. The light collecting surface of the
through a push-pull cable located in a passenger photovoltaic cell is optically coupled with the light
compartment of the vehicle. emitting surface of the light emitting polymer material.
An open-circuit voltage is generated between the pair of
5,123,968 electrical contacts as a result of the absorption of
Fraas, Lewis M.; Avery, James E.; Girard, Gerald R., emitted light energy from the light emitting polymer
inventors; The Boeing Company, assignee. Tandem material by the photovoltaic cell. The light emitting
Photovoltaic Solar Cell with 111- V Diffused Junction polymer comprises a mixture of a polymer labelled with a
Booster Cell. June 23, 1 992. tritium and an organic compound which emits light energy
when subjected to radiation generated by the tritium. The
A photovoltaic cell array involving rows and columns organic compound is at least partly bonded to the polymer
of tandem or stacked solar cell units composed of and the mixture is .translucent at the specified frequency
GaSa/GaSb associated with a radiation collector have bandwidth of the light energy. Maximum absorption of the
produced measured energy conversion efficiencies of 3 1 % emitted light energy is achieved by the intimate optical
AMO. The booster GaSb cell i s manufactured by a process contact between the light emitting surface and the light
which produces a p-type diffusion region within an n-type collecting surface, by matching the maximum absorption
substrate, has improved energy conversion efficiencies frequency bandwith of the photovoltaic cell with the
and can be mounted as part of a four terminal stacked specified frequency bandwith of the emitted light energy
solar cell unit. from the light emitting polymer material, and by the
structural arrangement of the light emitting polymer
5,124,269 material itself.
Kobayashi, Kanji; Tsuge, Kazunori; Tawada, Yoshihisa,
inventors; Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo, assignee. Method 5,1 25,608
of Producing a Semiconductor Device Using a Wire Mask McMaster, Harold A.; Nicholson, Robert D.; Kaaka,
Having a Specified Diameter. June 23, 1 992. Steven A. F., inventors; 700 Solar Club, Inc., assignee.
Photovoltaic Panel Support Assembly. June 30, 1 992.
A semiconductor device producing method wherein a
patterned transparent electrode, a patterned amorphous Provided is a support assembly for mounting an array
silicon semiconductor layer and a patterned backside of photovoltaic panels to a support surface such as the
electrode are formed on a substrate sequentially in this ground. According to the invention there is provided a
order, and the patterning of at least one of the plurality of front and rear support posts, each post
amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the backside having an anchor portion to be driven into the support
electrode is carried out in a step of forming at least surface and a leg portion which is nested therein and
one of the amorphous silicon semiconductor layer and the longitudinally adjustable to raise or lower corresponding
backside electrode with a wire mask being brought into front and rear horizontal supports. Photovoltaic panels
substantially close contact with a surface subjected to are mounted lengthwise across the horizontal supports in
film forming and a step of removing a thin film formed at a predetermined position to minimize the stress thereon
a region between the wire mask and the surface subjected caused by wind load. The horizontal supports further
to film forming in the forming step; and a film forming comprise wiring raceways to support wiring harnesses
apparatus used in the producing method comprising a originating from the photovoltaic panels and terminating
holder which holds a substrate having a surface subjected at the end of each row of photovoltaic panels in the
to film forming, a mechanism for fixing and positioning array.
the substrate on the holder and a plurality of wires
which are disposed on the film forming surface side of 5,1 25,983
the substrate and are to be brought into substantially Cummings, Richard D., inventor; Electric Power Research
close contact with the film forming surface. The method Institute, assignee. Generating Electric Power from
and the apparatus enable the film forming operation and Solar Radiation. June 30, 1 992.
the patterning operation to be carried out simultaneously
without lowering the characteristics of a solar cell.
Patents 41
made of metal extend over the first antireflection layer on an insulating transparent substrate plate, forming an
at right angles to the window openings. The contact amorphous semiconduclor layer over the spaced transparent
fingers make electrical contact with the silicon body electrode layer regions, forming a patterned conductive
through the window openings. A second antireflection printed electrode layer over the amorphous semiconductor
layer is deposited on top of the contact fingers and the layer to form a plurality of photovoltaic regions, and
first antireflection layer. The second antireflection then irradiating the photovoltaic regions with a laser
layer reduces reflection losses at the window openings, beam from the substrate plate side to heat and melt the
in addition to providing further reflection protection transparent electrode, amorphous semiconductor, and
where it overlaps the first antireflection layer. Highly conductive printed electrode in each photovoltaic region,
doped zones can be provided in the silicon body beneath thereby forming in each photovoltaic region a conductive
the window openings. path made of an alloy formed by the melting, thus
electrically connecting the photovoltaic regions in
5,131,954 series.
Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Prem, inventors; United Solar
Systems Corporation, assignee. Monolithic Solar Cell 5,133,810
Array and Method for Its Manufacturing. July 2 1 , 1 992. Morizane, Masashi; Okada, Koichi; Murata, Kanji; Inoue,
Hiroshi; Kishi, Yasuo, inventors; Sanyo Electric Co.,
Large area. thin-film body of photovoltaic material Ltd., assignee. Flexible Photovoltaic Device and
is subdivided into a plurality of small area devices. Manufacturing Method Thereof. July 28, 1 992.
Through a selective etching process, a portion of the
bottom electrode of each small area device is exposed. A A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device
metallic contact member is deposited upon the exposed includes the steps of: preparing a plurality of
portion of the electrode and a series connection between photovoltaic elements each including an insulator film, a
adjoining cells is established by interconnecting the first electrode, an amorphous semiconductor film for
metallic contact member of a first cell with the top photoelectric conversion and a second electrode stacked
electrode of an adjoining cell, so as to provide a in this order on a supporting substrate; electrically
large-area photovoltaic device including a plurality of connecting the photovoltaic elements with each other;
interconnected sub-cells. attaching a common protection film onto the second
electrodes of the photovoltaic elements; and removing the
5,131,956 supporting substrate from the photovoltaic elements,
Oohara, Takahiko; Usui, Masaaki; Ogasawara, Nobuyoshi; wherein the protection film mechanically couples the
Mitsui, Kotara, inventors; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki plurality of photovoltaic elements with each other.
Kaisha; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation,
assignee. Photovoltaic Semiconductor Device. July 5,135,581
2 1 , 1 992. Tran, Nang T.; Gilbert, James A., inventors; Minnesota
Mining and Manufacturing Company, assignee. Ught
A photovoltaic semiconductor device includes a first Transmissive Electrically Conductive Oxide Electrode
conductivity type silicon substrate having a first main Formed in the Presence of a Stabilizing Gas. August 4,
surface, a first conductivity type compound semiconductor 1 992.
layer disposed on a first, major portion of the first
main surface of the silicon substrate, a second A light transmissive, electrically conductive oxide
conductivity type compound semiconductor layer disposed is doped with a stabilizing gas such as H2 and
on the first conductivity type compound semiconductor H20. The oxide is formed by sputtering a light
layer, a first electrode connected to the second transmissive, electrically conductive oxide precursor
conductivity type compound semiconductor layer, a portion onto a substrate at a temperature from 2oc to 3ooc.
of the first electrode being disposed on a second, minor Sputtering occurs in a gaseous mixture including a
portion of the first main surface of the silicon sputtering gas and the stabilizing gas.
substrate with an intervening insulating film, and a
second electrode disposed on a third, minor portion of 5,1 36,351
the first main surfac,e of the silicon substrate. Inoue, Yasumi; Nakata, Yukihiko; ltoh, Manabu; Yokota,
Akitoshi; Sannomiya, Hiloshi; Moriuchi, Sota, inventors;
5,133,809 Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Photovoltaic Device
Sichanugrist, Porponth; Suzuki, Hirohisa; Nishi, with Porous Metal Layer. August 4, 1 992.
Hirofumi, inventors; Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., assignee.
Photovoltaic Device and Process for Manufacturing the A photovoltaic device includes a semi-continuous
Same. July 28, 1 992. metal layer having an uneven surface, which is not
uniform, formed on a substrate, a reflective continuous
A photovoltaic device and a process for manufacturing metal layer having a substantially uniform thickness
a photovoltaic device which includes providing a formed to cover the semi-continuous metal layer, a
plurality of spaced transparent electrode layer regions semiconductor film for photoelectric conversion formed on
l
A method for producing a solar cell having a 5,142,331
semiconductor layer of copper gallium diselenide covered Yoshida, Susumu, inventor; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
with a window layer of copper aluminum diselenide by Kaisha, assignee. Photoelectric Conversion
first producing a semiconductor material of one type of Semiconductor Device. August 25, 1 992.
conductivity by forming either a copper gallium
diselenide or a copper aluminum diselenide and then A first conductivity type first semiconductor layer
exchanging metal ions in the upper portion of the layer is formed on an insulation substrate and a second
to provide an opposite type of conductivity by exchanging conductivity type second semiconductor layer is formed on
metal ions of the layer for another type. The exchange the first semiconductor layer in order to provide a
can include exchanging both the copper and gallium ions semiconductor device having a highly reliable electrode
with the zinc ion to form a zinc diselenide window or structure. In order to accomplish this electrode
replacing the gallium ions with aluminum ions to form a structure, a first electrode which is insulated from the
copper aluminum diselenide window or, if a copper first semiconductor layer with an insulation film, is
aluminum diselenide layer had been provided, forming an formed on an area extending from a part of the second
absorbing layer by replacing the aluminum ions with the semiconductor layer to an exposed surface of the
gallium ions to form the absorbing layer. insulation substrate which is not covered with the first
semiconductor layer. A second electrode, which is
5,138,403 separate from the second semiconductor layer, is formed
Spitzer, Mark B., inventor; Kopin Corporation, assignee. on a part of the first semiconductor layer which is not
High Temperature Schottky Barrier Bypass Diodes. covered with the second semiconductor layer. Usi n g this
August 1 1 , 1 992. construction, a solar battery cell can be realized.
Additionally, the first electrode has a connection region
A high temperature Schottky barrier diode utilizing a on the exposed surface of the insulation substrate in
refractory metal with a p-type gallium arsenide wafer can order to provide connection with an external terminal.
be used as a bypass diode for solar cell arrays. The This enables welding or bonding with an external terminal
diode structure can be integrally formed with a solar on this particular connection region.
cell having a high temperative metallized contact grid.
5,143,556
5,1 39,578 Matlin, Ronald W., inventor. Support for Photovoltaic
Valley, Charles R., inventor. Uquid Crystal Arrays. September 1 , 1 992.
Covers/ides for Solar Cells. August 1 8 , 1 992.
A supported photovoltaic array and method in which
A liquid crystal coverslide for both protecting and support elements are in rows spaced from one another and
concealing solar cells and solar cell arrays is are bi-directionally spanned by members which mount
disclosed. A conventional construction of an emulsion of photovoltaic modules that are separated from one another
encapsulated liquid crystal droplets is sandwiched and are slidably clipped to the spanning members by
between two pieces of polyester or silica to form a cushioned load-spreading fasteners.
coverslide which is in turn mounted over a solar cell or
solar cell arrays. The liquid crystal coverslide is 5,145,442
electrically switched between transparent and opaque Zan, Ja D., inventor. Multi-Purpose Solar Energy
operating modes in order to achieve full light Operated Toy Vehicle. September 8, 1 992.
transmission, full power output or protection concealment
A multi-purpose solar energy operated toy vehicle
5,141,564 generally has a plate resembling a ship to be placed on a
Chen, Wen S.; Stewart, John M., inventors; The Boeing ship body, while a pair of paddles are connected to the
Company, assignee. Mixed Ternary Heterojunction Solar ship body with a motor. A solar cell panel is installed
Cell. August 25, 1 992. to provide electrical energy by way of photoelectric
effect, so that a battery disposed in a housing on the
A thin film heterojunction solar cell and a method of place can be electrically charged and the motor can be
making it has a p-type layer of mixed ternary driven to move the vehicle. A pair of front wheels can be
HII-VI2 semiconductor material in contact with an rotatably attached on the front portion of the ship body
n-type layer of mixed binary II-VI semiconductor and a pair of rear wheels can replace the paddles to
allow the vehicle to run on the ground.
Patents 43
5,145,793 and the photovoltaic panels and the light element to
Oohara, Takahiko; Ohmachi, Yoshiro; Kadota, Yosihaki; determine when the light element should be actuated and
M itsui, Kotara; Ogasawara, Nobuyoshi; Nishimura, deactuated based upon amperage produced by the
Takashi, inventors; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha; photovoltaic panels. The vertical support has a U-shaped
Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, assignee. cross member which can engage poles with circular cross
Manufacturing a Gallium Arsenide Solar Cell on a section or poles with external side flats. Threaded
Silicon Substrate. September 8, 1 992. fasteners fix the vertical support onto the pole member.
Patents 45
A dish reflector and method for concentrating electrode is formed in contact with the semiconductor
moderate solar flux uniformly on a target plane on a . layer region of the other conductivity type located over
solar cell array, the dish having a stepped reflective said aperture regions.
surface that is characterized by a plurality of ring-like
segments arranged about a common axis, and each segment 5,155,565
having a concave spherical configuration. Wenz, Robert P.; Tran, Nang T., inventors; Minnesota
Mining and Manufacturing Company, assignee. Method for
5,154,810 Manufacturing an Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cell
Kamerling, Marc.A.; Beauchamp, William T.; Klinger, and Schottky Barrier Diode on a Common Substrate.
Robert E.; Lehan, John P ., inventors; Optical Coating October 1 3 , 1 992.
Laboratory, Inc., assignee. Thin Film Coating and
Method. October 1 3, 1 992. A thin-film p-i-n solar cell and Schottky barrier
diode are fabricated adjacent one another on a common
A system and process for forming optical quality, flexible polyimide substrate. A titanium nitride
protective, relatively thick, thin film coatings on diffusion barrier prevents contaminants of an aluminum
workpieces such as detectors or solar cells. The contact layer on the substrate from reacting with the
apparatus includes a rotary cylindrical sputtering system semiconductor body of the solar cell and diode during
which incorporates separate deposition devices and at subsequent fabrication. An n -type hydrogenated
least one chemical reaction device for simultaneously ( 1 ) amorphous silicon layer overlies the layer of titanium
depositing materials which form tensile and compressive nitride and forms an ohmic contact with the solar cell
oxides and (2) oxidizing the deposited materials. The and diode. The diode includes a n-type layer of silicon
18
system also includes a stressometer system, preferably a doped with phosphorus to a concentration of 1 0 to
cantilevered beam stressometer system which monitors the 1 020 atoms per cubic centimeter to increase its
stress of the depositing film in-situ. The monitored forward current density. The solar cell and diode are
stress levels are used to control the relative amounts of separated from one another by an epoxy strip. A top
compressive and tensile materials which are deposited and, conducting oxide layer forms a Schottky barrier with the
thus, control stress in the thin film coatings. In a semiconductor body of the diode.
preferred embodiment for forming protective covers on
solar cells, the deposition devices are linear magnetron 5,155,668
sputter cathode devices having silicon and aluminum Tanner, David P.; Erickson, M ark R.; Frost, John S.,
targets, and the reaction device is a linear magnetron inventors; Siemens Solar Industries, L.P., assignee.
ion source oxidizer device. Film stress in the thin film Solar Powered Lamp Utilizing Cold Cathode Fluorescent
coating is controlled by controlling power to the silicon Illumination and Method of Facilitating Same. October
and aluminum targets. 1 3, 1 992.
l
S., inventors; Mobil Solar Energy Corporation, assignee. plant for producing freshwater from seawater, an
Method of Fabricating Solar Cells. October 20, 1 992. artificial freshwater lake, and an irrigation canal for
supplying the freshwater to a projected irrigation area.
A method and apparatus for producing crystalline A solar-cell power generation plant is constructed for
substrate for use in fabricating solid state electronic supplying electric power to operate the irrigation
devices. A hollow crystalline body is grown from a melt system. The irrigation including the artificial seawater
containing a dopant and a P-N junction is formed in said lake is formed in an inland area in a comparatively short
crystalline body as it is being grown. Then the hollow time, and freshwater is produced from the seawater stored
body is severed to provide individual solar cell in the artificial seawater lake. Therefore, freshwater
substrates. can be supplied to a projected irrigation area at an
early stage of the construction of the irrigation system.
5,158,618
Rubin, Leoind B.; Osipov, Alexandr S.; Sizganov, Jury 5,160,920
G.; Untila, Gennady G.; Kharitonov, Andrei L.; Harris, Richard H., inventor; International Business
Rakhimov, Alexandr T., inventors; BioPhotonics, Inc., Machines Corporation, assignee. Fail Safe Display for
assignee. Photovoltaic Cells for Converting Ught Shelf Labels. November 3, 1 992.
Energy to Electric Energy and Photoelectric Battery.
October 27, 1 992. Described is an electronic shelf label LCD device
having a segmented liquid crystal (LC) film disposed on a
A solar photovoltaic cells with a conductive current plurality of segmented and non- segmented photovoltaic
collecting contacts embedded in a block of optical cells which provide power for driving the LCD device and
transparent polymer material between the semiconductor electrical signals which are used to indicate
wafer and protective cover in such a manner that at least malfunctioning LCD segments.
the section thereof which are in contact with the surface
of the semiconductor wafer protrude from the polymer 5,162,239
block. This provides for a reliable ohmic contact between Winer, Kris A .; Thornton, R obert L., inventors; Xerox
the current collecting contacts and the semiconductor Corporation, assignee. Laser Crystallized Cladding
wafer. The disclosed geometry of the solar cell reduces Layers for Improved Amorphous Silicon Ught-Emitting
the shadowing area of the semiconductor wafer by up to Diodes and Radiation Sensors. November 1 0, 1 992.
90%.
Scanning laser crystallization of p- and n-type
5,159,191 hydrogenated amorphous silicon alloy cladding layers
Mankovitz, Roy J . , inventor. Apparatus and Method for enhances the doping efficiency of such layers without
Using Ambient Ught to Control Electronic Apparatus. changing the luminescence or other important properties
October 27, 1 992. of the middle i-layer in a p-i-n device. The de dark
conductivity of the doped layers increases by a factor of
A broadcast receiver is disclosed which is powered by about 1 00 to about 1 0,000 above a sharp laser energy
a solar cell in combination with a rechargeable battery density thrshold whose magnitude increases with
mounted within a waterproof housing which is adapted for decreasing impurity concentration. In one method, a doped
attachment to a lounge chair used for suntanning. The amorphous silicon alloy layer is deposited on an
control of power, tuning, and volume functions is amorphous glass substrate, scanned with laser irradiation,
accomplished using photodetectors mounted within and and then an intermediate i-layer is formed over this
adjacent transparent areas of the housing. User operated layer. Another doped amorphous silicon alloy layer is
shutters mounted external to the housing shield selective deposited on this layer, doped oppositely from the first
photodetectors from ambient light A separate data entry doped layer. The second doped layer is then crystallized
shutter is used to enable memory circuits which store by scanning laser irradiation, leaving the underlying
control signals corresponding to the shielded i -layer virtually unchanged in optical and electronic
photodetectors. The stored control signals are used to properties.
control the operating functions of the receiver. Audio
signals are inductively coupled through the housing to
external headphones.
Patents 47
5,1 64,01 9 5,167,724
Sinton, Ronald A., inventor; SunPower Corporation, Chiang, Clement J., inventor; The United States of
assignee. Monolithic Series-Connected Solar Cells America as represented by the United States Department of
Having Improved Cell Isolation and Method of Making Energy, assignee. Planar Photovoltaic Solar
Same. November 1 7, 1 992. Concentrator Module. December 1 , 1 992.
Series connected cells of a solar array formed in a A planar photovoltaic concentrator module for
monolithic semiconductor substrate are electrically producing an electrical signal from incident solar
isolated by forming grooves in a first major surface radiation includes an electrically insulating housing
partially through the substrate between cells and then having a front wall, an opposing back wall and a hollow
fracturing the substrate from the bottom of the grooves interior. A solar cell having electrical terminals is
to an opposing major surface. Metallization positioned within the interior of the housing. A planar
interconnecting to cells provides physical integrity of conductor is connected with a terminal of the solar cell
the cell array after the fracturing of the substrate. The of the same polarity. A lens forming the front wall of
grooves can be formed prior to completion of fabrication the housing is operable to direct solar radiation
of the cells or after fabrication of the cells. In an incident to the lens into the interior of the housing. A
array embodiment where each cell extends from one major refractive optical element in contact with the solar cell
surface to the opposing major surface, the grooves can be and facing the lens receives the solar radiation directed
formed in both major surfaces. into the interior of the housing by the lens and directs
the solar radiation to the solar cell to cause the solar
5,1 64,020 cell to generate an electrical signal. An electrically
Wagner, Erich; Twesme, Edward N.; Hidalgo, Craig, conductive planar member is positioned in the housing to
inventors; Solarex Corporation, assignee. Solar rest on the housing back wall in supporting relation with
Panel. November 1 7, 1 992. the solar cell terminal of opposite polarity. The planar
member is operable to dissipate heat radiated by the
A solar panel for use in a roof-mounted array of solar cell as the solar cell generates an electrical
solar panels, each panel having ridges protruding signal and further forms a solar cell conductor connected
outwardly and adjacent to the side edges for receiving a with the solar cell terminal to permit the electrical
stariding se cap between side-adjacent panels. Each signal generated by the solar cell to be measured between
solar panel is formed as an integral structure having a the planar member and the conductor.
photovoltaic module, an edge of which is sealed by a base
substrate. The base substrate is configured to have 5,169,456
lipped top and bottom edges which interlock to form a Johnson, Kenneth C., inventor. Two -Axis Tracking Solar
watertight seal between top-adjacent and bottom-adjacent Collector Mechanism. December 8, 1 992.
solar panels. The solar panel array can be mounted on a
roof, in place of shingles or the like, to provide This invention is a novel solar tracking mechanism
environmental protection for the interior of a building. incorporating a number of practical features that give it
superior environmental resilience and exceptional
5,1 64,654 tracking accuracy. The mechanism comprises a lightweight
Bertram, Leo; Schemmann, Hugo; Husgen, Theodor, space frame assembly supporting an array of point-focus
inventors; U.S. Philips Corporation, assignee. Solar Fresnel lenses in a two-axis tracking structure. The
Energy Operated Automatic Charge Device for Electric system is enclosed under a glass cover which isolates it
Appliances. November 1 7, 1 992. from environmental exposure and enhances tracking
accuracy by eliminating wind loading. Tracking accuracy
A charging device for accumulator-operated small is also enhanced by the system's broadbased tracking
electrical appliances, for example, electric dry-shavers, support. The system's primary intended application would
which are energized by rechargeable accumulators which be to focus highly concentrated sunlight into optical
can be charged by means of a charging device including fibers for transmission to core building illumination
solar cells. The charging device includes an energy zones, and the system may also have potential for
buffer which is connected parallel to the solar cells for photovoltaic or photothermal solar energy conversion.
buffering the solar energy when the charge capacity of
the solar cells is below the charge current threshold of 5,1 69,791
the accumu lator. The buffered solar energy is supplied to Muenzer, Adolf, inventor; Siemens Aktiengesellschaft,
the accumulator when a discharge current of the energy assignee. Method for the Passivation of Crystal
buffer exceeds the charge current threshold of the Defects in Polycrystalline Silicon Material. December
accumulator and flows until the discharge current falls 8, 1 992.
below the charge current threshold.
A method for the passivation of crystal defects in
polycrystalline or amorphous silicon material using a
temperature treatment step in a hydrogen-containing
Patents 49
addressed by a beam of light that illuminates the pixel 5,180,441
area and operates to activate a corresponding areas of Cornwall, Mickey; Peterson, David M.; Stern, Theodore
the light sensitive layer. The voltage/current that is G., inventors; General Dynamics Corporation/Space Systems
generated in this area of the light sensitive film causes Division, assignee. Solar Concentrator Array.
a current to flow through the shorting circuit element, January 1 9, 1 993..
to thereby activate, switch or charge the corresponding
area of the liquid crystal layer. Transmission mode and A solar concentrator panel having an array of
reflection mode spatial light modulators are described. off-axis cylindrical parabolic mirrors with an optical
design of relatively short focal length solar cells
5,178,685 arranged in line that converts sunlight to electricity.
Borenstein, Jeffrey T.; Gonsiorawski, Ronald C., The back surface of the mirrors are used as the solar
inventors; Mobil Solar Energy Corporation, assignee. cell mount and the heat sink for the adjacent mirror. By
Method for Forming Solar Cell Contacts and appropriate positioning of the adjacent mirror so that
Interconnecting Solar Cells. January 1 2, 1 993. the focal line of the parabola falls within the boundary
or rim of .the mirror reflected solar light can be
Photovoltaic cells with silver-rich thick film directed to the solar cell mounted on the back of the
electrical contacts having superior thermal aging adjacent mirror and converted to electricity.
properties are disclosed. The silver-rich contacts are
formed by firing a silver ink or paste wherein 5,180,442
substantially all of the silver in the ink or paste Elias, Eric, inventor. Integration System for Solar
before firing is in the form of spherical particles. Modules. January 1 9, 1 993.
Preferably inter-cell connections to the contacts are
accomplished using a tin and silver solder paste Photovoltaic solar modules are efficiently assembled
comprising between about 96% tin/4% silver and 98% tin/2% into an array by the use of a lattice and
silver. Solar cells having contacts incorporating the mounting-conducting electrodes. The lattice consists of
present invention exhibit the capability of withstanding parallel conducting strips spaced apart by a distance
temperatures in the range of 1 50C, with little or no equal to the width of a module, secured to a supporting
thermal degradation of contact peel strength in the frame. The electrodes are attached to busbars fabricated
region of the solder bonds. on the modules which are environmentally sealed with the
ends of the electrodes protruding. The protruding ends
5,180,434 fit into slots punched into the conducting strips, ,both
DiDio, Gary M.; Jones, Kermit; Hoffman, Kevin; Laarman, securing the modules and electrically connecting them to
Timothy; Call, John; Nath, Pram, inventors; United the lattice. A large array of series and parallel
Solar Systems Corporation, assignee. Interfacial connected modules can thus be formed.
Plasma Bars for Photovoltaic Deposition Apparatus.
January 1 9, 1 993. 5,180,686
Banerjee, Arindam; Guha, Subhendu, inventors; Energy
In continuous apparatus for the glow discharge Conversion Devices, Inc., assignee. Method for
deposition of amorphous silicon alloy solar cells of Continuously Depositing a Transparent Oxide Material by
p-i-n type configuration in a plurality of interconnected, Chemical Pyrolysis. January 1 9, 1 993.
dedicated deposition chambers, a plasma bar operatively
disposed between at least the plasma regions in which the A method of depositing a layer of doped or undoped
layer pairs of amorphous silicon alloy material defining wide band gap oxide material by chemical spray pyrolysis,
the major semiconductor junction of the solar cell are upon a continuously advancing, elongated web of substrate
deposited. The plasma bar is adapted to initiate a plasma material in a continuous, roll-to-roll process.
so as to prevent chemically adsorbed contaminants from
deleteriously affecting the surface of the first 5,181,968
deposited of the layer pair, thereby improving the open Nath, Pram; Vogeli, Craig, inventors; U nited Solar
circuit voltage of the solar cell. In a similar manner, Systems Corporation, assignee. Photovoltaic Device
the plasma bar may also be provided between the layer Having an Improved Collector Grid. January 26, 1 993.
pairs of amorphous silicon alloy material which combine
to define the minor semiconductor junction of the solar An improved photovoltaic device in which an
cell. Finally, a plasma bar may be disposed between the electrically conductive adhesive is employed to affix the
oxide-based layer of a back reflector for reducing oxygen grid structure to the upper electrode thereof. By
contamination of the silicon alloy material deposited appropriately selecting the resistivity of the conductive
thereupon. adhesive, normal photogenerated current flow is readily
accommodated, while shunted current flow, through patent
or latent defects is substantially eliminated.
Patents 51
5,192,400 section, and the stopper section is larger than the main
Parker, Sidney G.; Hammerbacher, M ilfred D.; Levine, rod section.
Jules D.; Hotchkiss, Gregory B., inventors; Texas
Instruments Incorporated, assignee. Method of Also, an apparatus for preparing the monocrystal rod
Isolating Shorted Silicon Spheres. March 9, 1 993. has a safety member for supporting upward the stopper
section of the falling monocrystal rod.
Solar cells are formed of semiconductor spheres of
Ptype interior having an N-type skin are pressed between Further, a method of preparing the monocrystal rod
a pair of aluminum foil members forming the electrical includes the steps as follows. The seed crystal is pulled
contacts to the P-type and N-type regions. The aluminum out from a melt in a crucible while rotating it. The
foils, which comprise 1 .0% silicon by weight, are speed of pulling the seed crystal is at first increased
flexible and electrically insulated from one another. The to grow the neck section whose diameter is smaller than
spheres are patterned in a foil matrix forming a cell. the seed crystal, and then is gradually decreased to grow
M ultiple cells can be interconnected to form a module of the shoulder section. Subsequently, the pulling speed is
solar elements for converting sun light into electricity. increased again so as to prevent further increase in
diameter to grow the stopper section at the lower end of
5,192,991 the shoulder section or at the top portion of the main
Hosokawa, Makoto, inventor; Semiconductor Energy rod section, and then is decreased again to grow the main
Laboratory Co., Ltd., assignee. Crystallized rod section whose diameter is equal to a required
Polycrystalline Semiconductor Device. March 9, 1 993. diameter.
Patents 53
polarized portions of the surface of said dielectric indicating . surface to the reflecting surface. Since the
substrate, having a polarization direction oriented in reflecting member of the present invention is provided
one direction, and having photovoltaic effect so as to with an electric unit and a removable connecting portion,
generate a voltage between said electrodes; (d) a it can be easily replaced by another type of reflecting
dielectric and transparent prism having "electro-optic member. Furthermore, by providing a solar cell at the
effect" through which a light beam to be deflected is rear surface of the reflecting member, the lowered
passed and deflected, provided on the surface of said electromotive force caused by self-discharge of batteries
substrate, having a second couple of electrodes provided loaded on the vehicle can be somehow compensated.
on a couple of the surfaces of the prism, which surfaces
are parallel to the optic axis; and a polarizer provided 5,205,782
on the surface through which said beam enters; (e) leads Ohba, Shunji, inventor. Car Ventilating System.
electrically connecting said first electrodes to said April 27, 1 993.
second electrodes; the light beam to be deflected enters
through said polarizer into said prism through which the An exhaust path penetrating through a portion of a
light beam passes to be deflected; and said prism being vehicle's body to exhaust air-in a cabin of a vehicle
operated directly by the photovoltage generated by said with an air-flow activating means and a valve which opens
photo-driving element(s). only when the fresh-air activating means works, a
fresh-air conducting path penetrating through a portion
5,204,272 of said vehicle's body to conduct fresh air into the
Guha, Subhendu; Banerjee, Arindam; Yang, Chi C., cabin with an air-flow activating means and a valve which
inventors; United Solar Systems CorpOration, assignee. opens only when the air-flow activating means works, and
Semiconductor Device and Microwave Process for Its an electric circuit which drives each of said air-flow
Manufacture. April 20, 1 993. activating means and each of said values with electricity
supplied from solar cells mounted on an extemal face of
Open circuit voltage of photovoltaic devices said vehicle's body to receive sunlight and generate
manufactured by a microwave deposition process is electricity.
increased by disposing a bias wire in the microwave
energized plasma and applying a positive voltage of 5,206,180
approximately 1 00 volts to the wire during only a portion Yoshida, Takashi, inventor; Fuji Electric Corporation
of the time in which the intrinsic semiconductor layer is Research and Development, Ltd., assignee. Process for
being deposited. Producing an Amorphous Photoelectric Transducer. April
27, 1 993.
5,204,586
Moore, Fred A., inventor; Siemens Solar Industries, An amorphous photoelectric transducer of the type
assignee. Solar Powered Lamp Having a Circuit for that converts light energy to electric energy using a p-n
Providing Positive Turn-On at Low Light Levels. April or p-i-n junction in an amorphous semiconductor having a
20, 1 993. p-type film on the light entrance side is disclosed. The
p-type amorphous semiconductor film is formed with
A solar powered lamp having a circuit for providing gaseous boron trifluoride (BF3) as a dopant, the film
positive turn-on at low light levels causes a light containing boron atoms at a concentration in the range of
2 2 3
source thereof to undergo a discrete transition to an 1 x 1 0 0 - 2 x 1 0 1 atoms/cm , and the
"on" condition and prevents unnecessary drain on a concentration of fluorine atoms in the film being no more
battery thereof. The circuit comprises a positive than one half of the concentration of boron atoms. A
feedback loop which amplifies current flow rapidly to a process for producing an amorphous photo-electric
predetermined level at which the light source is transducer is also disclosed, wherein the p-type
illuminated. In doing so, it causes a plurality of solar amorphous semiconductor film is formed by a pulse
powered lamps to illuminate at substantially the same discharge-assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
time. technique which decomposes a feed gas including gaseous
boron trifluoride (BF3) as a dopant.
5,204,667
Inoue, Tai, inventor; Yazaki Corporation, assignee. 5,206,523
Indication Display Unit for Vehicles. April 20, 1 993. Goesele, U lrich M.; Lehmann, Volker E., inventors.
Microporous Crystalline Silicon of Increased Band Gap
An indication display unit for a vehicle has a for Semiconductor Applications. April 27, 1 993.
reflecting member having an electric unit, a supporting
member having a connecting portion electrically A process is disclosed for producing microporous
connectable with and disconnectable from the electric crystalline silicon which has a band gap substantially
unit. The support member removably holds the reflecting increased relative to that of normal crystalline silicon.
member at a position of reflecting surface so as to This process involves the preparation of quantum wires of
project various operational information indicated on the silicon by means of a chemical attack method carried out
Patents 55
5,212,385 photovoltaic cells which are arranged floatir:lgly at the
Jones, Barbara L., inventor. Diamond alpha Particle flexible surface of the arrangement.
Detector. May 18, 1 993.
5,213,626
A radiation detector element which is optimized for Paetz, Werner, inventor; Webasto-Schade GmbH, assignee.
the detection of alpha particles comprises a layer of Transparent Pane for Vehicles. May 25, 1 993.
diamond or diamond-like carbon with first and second
electrical contacts applied to the surface of the layer. Transparent pane for vehicles, in particular, a
The layer is formed on a silicon substrate, together with transparent cover for sliding roofs, lifting roofs, and
an electronic circuit. Each of the contacts defines a the like, with a transparent outer layer and a solar
rectifying junction with the layer, thus defining a laminate lying flat against the inside of this outer
back-to-back diadic structure, having junction layer. The active part of the solar laminate is formed of
characteristics which are responsive to the intensity of a first subsection lying in the outer edge area of the
radiation incident on the detector element. The pane which is made of crystalline semiconductor material,
electronic circuit is powered by a battery or a solar and a second subsection that is made of an amorphous
cell, and activates an LCD indicator if the intensity of semiconductor material.
the incident radiation exceeds a predetermined level. The
radiation detector element and the electronic circuit are 5,213,627
housed on a card which is sized similarly to a Marquardt, Reinhold; Bohmer, Walter; Harzheim, Horst;
conventional identification card. Jager, Wolfgang; Chehab, Oussama; Rosendahl, Reiner,
inventors; Flachglas-Solartechnik GmbH, assignee.
5,212,395 Structural Element, in Particular Facade Element.
Berger, Paul A.; Cho, Alfred Y.; Dutta, Niloy K.; May 25, 1 993.
Lopata, John; O'Bryan, Henry M.; Sivco, Deborah L.;
Zydzik, George J., inventors; AT&T Bell Laboratories, In a structural element, in particular a facade
assignee. P-1-N Photodiodes with Transparent element with an outside plate sandwich, in which solar
Conductive Contacts. May 1 8, 1 993. cells are arranged between an outer plate and an inner
plate, and with another internal plate, which is provided
This invention pertains to a p-i-n at a distance from the plate sandwich by means of a
ln0.53Gao.47As photodiode having an optically spacing frame defining the interior, the solar cells are
transparent composite top electrode consisting of a thin embedded in a layer of casting resin; furthermore, the
semitransparent metal layer from 1 0 to 40 nm thick and a inner plate recedes in its pimensions in the region of at
transparent cadmium tin oxide (CTO) layer from 90 to 600 least one edge at least partially with respect to the
nm thick. The metal layer makes a non-alloyed ohmic corresponding edge of the outer plate and forms thus a
contact to the semiconductor surface, acts as a barrier recess that also reaches over the layer of casting resin
between the semiconductor and the CTO preventing and through which the necessary electrical lines are
oxidation of the semiconductor from the 02 in the guided, whereby the recess in the direction of the
plasma during reactive magnetron sputtering of the CTO interior of the structural element is covered by the
layer, and prevents formation of a p-n junction between spacing frame. As an alternative, the outer plate can
the semiconductor and CTO. The CTO functions as the n or recede with respect to the inner plate.
p contact, an optical window and an anti-reflection
coating. The top electrode also avoids shadowing of the 5,213,628
active layer by the top electrode, thus allowing greater Noguchi, Shigeru; I wata, Hiroshi; Sano, Keiichi,
collection of incident light. Since the top electrode is inventors; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., assignee.
non-alloyed, interdiffusion into the i-region is not Photovoltaic Device. May 25, 1 993.
relevant, which avoids an increased dark current.
A photovoltaic device includes a monocrystalline or
5,212,916 polycrystalline semiconductor layer of one conductivity
Dippel, Hans-Jurgen; Raupach, Peter, inventors; Peter type, a substantially intrinsic substantially amorphous
Raupach, assignee. Device for Shading Spaces. May semiconductor layer having. a predetermined thickness
25, 1 993. small enough to avoid producing carriers therein. The
substantially intrinsic, substantially amorphous layer is
In an arrangement having a surface for accommodating formed on the one conductivity type semiconductor layer,
photovoltaic cells which are adapted to be connected to a and a substantially amorphous semiconductor layer of the
current collector or the like, in particular in the case opposite conductivity type is formed on the intrinsic,
of a roof skin which is stretched over frame members, the semiconductor layer.
arrangement is formed in the manner of a net from cables
and the photovoltaic cells are disposed at or between the
junctions of the cables. The invention also includes the
Patents 57
compound components being arranged in communicating 5,217,296
relation to form walls and roofs having multiple internal Tanner, David P.; Frost, John S.; Erickson, Mark R.;
cavities and passages between cavities which permit light Moore, Fred A., inventors; Siemens Solar Industries,
and air to flow freely within the matrix, allowing light assignee. Solar Powered Ught. June 8, 1 993.
incident from any angle to be reflected from cavity
sidewalls toward posterior portions to form overlapping A solar powered light adapted to be mounted under the
incidence on translucent conversion surfaces and to pass eaves of a building, a wall or the like for use in
through tinted conversion means for direct gain, and security applications. In a preferred embodiment of the
allowing air in each cavity to expand freely in any present invention, the solar powered light comprises an
direction from sunlit to shaded portions and through adjustable configuration having a lamp with an infrared
apertures toward shaded portions of adjacent cavities, to detector or sensor rotatably mounted thereto and a
thereby form a dynamic airstream passing over translucent photovoltaic or solar cell array rotatably disposed at a
conversion surfaces and non-transparent conversion remote end of an extension arm movably attached to the
surfaces, seeking equilibrium surface temperatures lamp. Such a flexible arrangement allows the photovoltaic
throughout the matrix and removing energy developed in array to be positioned to receive direct sunlight. The
each cavity, the temperature of the air stream being sensor activates the solar powered light upon sensing
modified by the thermal properties of the material of infrared to illuminate the surrounding areas when a
fabrication of the matrix and coatings and devices placed presence is sensed and turn it off when a presence is no
in matrix cavities, all cavities forming a single vessel, longer sensed. In accordance with a second embodiment,
chambered manifold extending about the periphery of a the solar powered light does not include an infrared
building and performing all functions of a solar detector and provides continuous illumination for a given
collector, e.g., retention, conversion, and distribution period of time. In accordance with a third embodiment,
of incident energy while also providing the structural the solar powered light does not include an infrared
walls and light transmissive skin of the building. detector, but includes a battery having a higher capacity
configured to provide illumination for extended periods
5,217,285 of time. In accordance with a fourth embodiment, the
Sopori, Shushan L., inventor; The United States of solar powered light is configured to be used directly
America as represented by the United States Department of with a user's battery. The solar powered light utilizes a
Energy, assignee. Apparatus for Synthesis of a Solar compact fluorescent bulb and circuitry for providing
Spectrum. June 8, 1 993. longer lamp life, instantaneous illumination and
eliminating flickering during start up.
A xenon arc lamp and a tungsten filament lamp provide
light beams that together contain all the wavelengths 5,21 7,539
required to accurately simulate a solar spectrum. Fraas, Lewis M.; Sundaram, Veeravana S.; Avery, James
Suitable filter apparatus selectively direct visible and A.; Gruenbaum, Peter E.; Malocsay, Eric, inventors; The
ultraviolet light from the xenon arc lamp into two legs Boeing Company, assignee. 111- V Solar Cells and Doping
of a trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable. Infrared Processes. June a, 1 993.
light selectively filtered from the tungsten filament
lamp is directed into the third leg of the fiber optiC Zinc diffusion procedures applicable for large scale
cable. The individual optic fibers from the three legs manufacture of GaAs and GaSb cells used in tandem solar
are brought together in a random fashion into a single cells having a high energy conversion efficiency. The
output leg. The output beam emanating from the output leg zinc doping and carrier concentration are restricted to
of the trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable is be less than about 1 0 1 9/cm3 to obtain good light
extremely uniform and contains wavelengths from each of generated carrier collection and hence good short circuit
the individual filtered light beams. This uniform output currents. The amount of zinc that is available for
beam passes through suitable collimation apparatus before diffusion during a drive-in heating step is restricted.
striking the surface of the solar cell being tested. Confinement of zinc and arsenic vapors during the heating
Adjustable aperture apparatus located between the lamps step may be effected by use of a proximity source wafer
and the input legs of the trifurcated fiber optic cable or by an encapsulant layer. The zinc diffusion of GaSb is
can be selectively adjusted to limit the amount of light obtained by a homogeneous light diffusion that is
entering each leg, thereby providing a means of "fine followed by a patterned heavy diffusion to give low ohmic
tuning or precisely adjusting the spectral content of contact with the grid lines. Texture etching of the GaSb
the output beam. Finally, an adjustable aperture solar cell is also compatible with this diffusion process.
apparatus may also be placed in the output beam to adjust
the intensity of the output beam without changing the 5,217,540
spectral content and distribution of the output beam. Ogura, Hiroshi, inventor; Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha,
assignee. Solar Battery Module. June 8, 1 993.
.
Patents 59
5,221,365 and turn-off thresholds, and can provide an adequate
Noguchi, Shigeru; Iwata, Hiroshi; Sana, Keiichi, current to guarantee turn-on when using low leakage solar
inventors; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., assignee. panels. A further embodiment can additionally exhibit
Photovoltaic Cell and Method of Manufacturing hysteresis at load turn-off so that the load does not
Polycrystalline Semiconductor Film. June 22, 1 993. cycle on and off and can further raise the load turn-off
threshold above the level where the battery is
A thin film transistor and a photovoltaic cell substantially discharged, thereby hastening recharge of
wherein a polycrystalline semiconductive film, having a the battery. A still further embodiment provides
large grain size and high carrier mobility obtained by temperature compensation for improved performance.
heat treatment of a polycrystalline semiconductive film,
an amorphous semiconductive film, a microcrystalline 5,223,043
semiconductive film or the like on a substrate with a Olson, Jerry M.; Kurtz, Sarah A., inventors; The United
textured surface, is used as a channel layer or a States of America as represented by the United States
photoactivation layer, the textured surface being formed Department of Energy, assignee. Current-Matched
by etching one surface of the substrate or forming a High-Efficiency, Multijunction Monolithic Solar Cells .
textured thin film on the substrate. June 29, 1 993.
5,221,854 5,223,044
Banerjee, Arindam; Guha, Subhendu; Yang, Chi C., Asai, Masahito, inventor; Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha,
inventors; U nited Solar Systems Corporation, assignee. assignee. Solar Cell Having a Bypass Diode. June 29,
Protective Layer for the Back Reflector of a 1 993.
Photovoltaic Device. June 22, 1 993.
A solar cell having a bypass diode includes a second
A protective layer is disposed between a silver conductivity type layer and a second conductivity type
reflective electrode and a layer of transparent well formed on the front surface of a first conductivity
conductive oxide in a photovoltaic device so as to type semiconductor substrate, and a first conductivity
prevent oxidation of the silver. The protective layer may type layer formed in a second conductivity type well. A
be continuous or discontinuous and may be fabricated from comb-shaped front electrode is forrTied over the front
MgF2, SixN y or T;xN y where x and y surface of the substrate and includes a plurality of
are positive numbers. narrow grid fingers and a bus portion to which the grid
fingers are connected. At least a part of the bus portion
5,221 ,891 of the electrode covers the entire first conductivity
Janda, Rudolph W.; Douglas, Jerald L.; Condon, Jr., type layer. A back electrode is formed on the back
Edward F., inventors; lntermatic I ncorporated, assignee. surface of the substrate. The first conductivity type
Control Circuit for a Solar-Powered Rechargeable Power substrate and the second conductivity type layer
Source and Load. J une 22, 1 993. constitute the solar cell, and the second conductivity
type well and the first conductivity type layer
An inexpensive circuit for controlling the recharging constitute the bypass diode. The solar cell and the
of a rechargeable power source by a photovoltaic panel is bypass diode are electrically connected in parallel
used for powering a load such as the lamp of a walk between the front electrode and the back electrode with
light. Using a minimum number of components, the circuit their polarities being opposite to each other.
can charge a rechargeable battery anytime sunlight is
sufficient to place a potential across the battery that 5,225,71 2
is greater than the present potential of the battery, can Erdman, William L., inventor; U . S. Windpower, Inc.,
sense a decrease in voltage across the photovoltaic panel assignee. Variable Speed Wind Turbine with Reduced
with diminishing ambient light and energize the load, can Power Fluctuation and a Static VAR Mode of Operation.
prevent the load from being energized when the ambient July 6, 1 993.
light level is sufficient to recharge the battery, can
provide positive feedback at turn-on of the load, thereby A wind turbine power converter is disclosed herein
hastening turn-on and providing hysteresis, can provide that smooths the output power from a variable speed wind
for adjusting the hysteresis bands, can shift the turn-on turbine, to reduce or eliminate substantial power
I
the underside of a floating housing and are powered from
A solar energy power source is provided comprising at solar cells located on the topside of the housing.
least two flat photovoltaic panels disposed in co-planar
side-by-side relation and an improved support structure
for supporting the panels for pivotal movement on a pivot
axis that extends transversely of the panels, the
Patents 61
_j
5,229,624 portions through which the adjacent light transmissive
Marks, Alvin M., inventor. Ught-Polarizing and light reflecting conductive layers are conductively
Electrically Conducting Film. July 20, 1 993. connected. For example, the intermediate layer can be
provided as a thin layer of substantially only a
A new composition of matter is described comprising a dielectric material or as a cermet.
stretch oriented electrically conducting light-polarizing
film. An improved light-electric power converting film 5,230,753
uses molecular diodes (diads) in this film composition Wagner, Sigurd, inventor; Princeton University, assignee.
aligned head-to-tail by light and an electric field. The Photostable Amorphous Silicon-Germanium Alloys. July
area of the film is utilized more efficiently by 27, 1 993.
reversing the head-to-tail directions of the diads in
adjacent areas. This film is laminated to an electrode Alloys of hydrogenated amorphous silicon and
structure connected to busbars on a substrate sheet germanium are disclosed that exhibit unexpectedly low
Current flow through the film is unidirectional between saturated defect densities, particularly relative to the
pairs of adjacent electrodes, and is summed on busbars initial defect densities of the alloys, so as to render
connected to an external load. Two such films arranged them substantially resistant to Staebler-Wronski
orthogonally convert about 72% of the incident light degradation. The alloys are producible using conventional
power to electric power. A manufacturing device is equipment, but glow-discharge methods are preferred. The
disclosed. Critical ranges of parameters are derived and preferred amount of germanium in the alloy is about 1 5
experimental data presented. at. o/o to about 50 at. o/o. The alloys are particularly
useful for making photovoltaic cells. The alloys can be
5,229,649 used as intrinsic semiconductors and doped for use as " n"
Nielsen, Wyn Y.; Luck, Jonathan M., inventors; Solatrol, or p" materials. Methods for making the alloys are also
n,.J
source leaves the capacitor power storage recharged at direct ambient air in response to motor rotation. When
the conclusion of each communication episode. The powered by photovoltaic cell fragrance is dispensed in an
irrigation controller electronics, save for a real time economic and safe manner in proportion to room lighting.
clock that is updated, are not provided with a timing
signal, and thereby consume almost no energy, save for 5,231 ,781
brief millisecond sporadic time intervals of scheduled Dunbar, Bret A., inventor; Bret Allen Dunbar, assignee.
irrigation control. Capacitor power storage is Illuminated Float. August 3, 1 993.
approximately 6.5 mWH. Worse case photovoltaic energy
production is 7.5 mWH daily. The sporadically operative An illuminated float comprises a plurality of solar
irrigation controller uses less than 6.4 mWH per day, generators, a storage battery for storing therein the
with remaining energy expended on up to 1 28 electrical energy generated by the solar generator, a
ultra-low-power valve actuations per day. light-emitting element which emits the light by the
energy supplied from the storage battery, a homing device n
5,230,746 which emits a high-frequency beacon displayed on the
u
Wiedeman, Scott; Jackson, Frederick R., inventors; Amoco ships display screen, and an energy control means which
Corporation, assignee. Photovoltaic Device Having permits the supply of electrical energy from the storage
Enhanced Rear Reflecting Contact. July 27, 1 993. battery to the light-emitting element and the homing
device only when ambient illumination drops below a
A photovoltaic device includes a rear reflecting predetermined level.
conductive contact layer adjacent an active semiconductor
layer. The rear layer is composed of a light transmissive 5,232,1 05
conductive layer formed on the active layer, an G regg, Stephen R . , inventor. Solar Powered Crystal
intermediate layer formed on the light transmissive Display Rack. August 3, 1 993.
conductive layer, and a layer of light reflecting
conductive material formed on the intermediate layer. The
intermediate layer includes a dielectric material and 0
62 U.S. Photovoltaic Patents: 1 988-1 990
l
'
A solar powered crystal display is disclosed. The
device is used to display various crystal forms in a
window. A series of friction drive wheels and a solar
substrate. On the inorganic first protective film, a
first electrode, an amorphous silicon photovoltaic layer,
a second electrode, and a second protective film are
powered electric motor are used to rotate the crystals, formed in that order. Then the supporting substrate and
which are suspended under a plate. The plate is formed the inorganic separation layer are separated. The
into any design desired. For example the plate can be inorganic separation layer is a material that bonds
shaped like a cloud, the sun, a star, animals, rainbows, weakly with both the supporting substrate and the
etc. The purpose of the plate is to conceal the drive inorganic first protective film.
mechanism from view. The plate is hung from a flange
attached to the drive mechanism. The device can also be 5,235,232
operated without the plate. An auxiliary drive unit is Conley, Jerry J.; Mortensen, Gary B . , inventors; E. F.
also disclosed that permits additional crystals to be Johnson Company, assignee. Adjustable-Output
suspended from the original device. The device can be Electrical Energy Source Using Ught-Emitting Polymer.
placed against a window using suction cups or can be August 1 0, 1 993.
suspended from hooks placed into the window casing. As
. the crystals are rotated, the sunlight will refract A long-life, electrical energy source having an
r
through the crystals, producing aesthetical pleasing, adjustable output is comprised of a light emitting
) colorful patterns in a room. phosphor activated by a radioisotope and coupled to a
plurality of photovoltaic cells that have their outputs
5,232,518 electrically connected together. The output power of the
Nath, Pram; Laarman, Timothy; Singh, Avtar, inventors; electrical energy source is effectively regulated by
United Solar Systems Corporation, assignee. selectively changing the connections of the outputs of
Photovoltaic Roof System. August 3, 1 993. the photovoltaic cells in response to the progression of
time.
A photovoltaic roofing system includes a plurality of
roofing panels each having a photovoltaic device 5,235,266
thereupon and each including an electrical connector Schaffrin, Christian, inventor; Schottei-Werft Josef..
engageable with a connector on another panel. The panels Becker GmbH & Co. KG, assignee. Energy-Generating
include upstanding flanges and a batten and seam roof Plant, Particularly Propeller-Type Ship's Propulsion
construction may be readily configured by interconnecting Plant, Including a Solar Generator. August 1 0, 1993.
the panels, fastening them to the roof and covering
adjoining flanges with the battens. An energy-generating plant including a solar
generator, having solar cells, for producing electrical
5,232,51 9 energy. The electrical energy is supplied to a direct
Glatfelter, Troy; Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Pram, inventors; current converter, the output power of which may be used
United Solar Systems Corporation, assignee. Wireless to charge an energy storage system, such as batteries.
Monolithic Photovoltaic Module. August 3, 1 993. The input resistance of the direct current converter is
adapted, such as by a microcomputer, to the maximum power
A wireless, monolithic photovoltaic module. The point (MPP) of the solar generator, the MPP being
ll module includes top and bottom, rectangular electrodes dependent upon the solar insolation and the temperature
with a photovoltaic body and an adjacent insulating strip of the solar cells. At start up of the plant, or when
sandwiched in between the electrodes, the insulating there is a change of power at the output of the direct
\'
strip being disposed proximate the edge of the bottom current converter, a search process is carried out to
electrode. A bus bar overlies the insulating strip, but attain the MPP of the solar generator. The energy storage
not the photovoltaic body, and is connected to a net of system may be used to energize an electric motor for
current carrying grid lines which overlie the driving the propeller of a ship.
photovoltaic body to form a current collector. A top
I
encapsulating layer has diffractive grooves formed 5,236,378
J
therein which overlie the grid lines to minimize shading Newman, Edwin, inventor. Storage of Photovoltaic
effects otherwise caused by shadows from the grid lines. Arrays on a Ship. August 1 7, 1 993.
Patents 63
J
5,236,516 Apparatus for simultaneously laminating thin
Noguchi, Shigeru; Iwata, Hiroshi; Sana, Keiichi, polymeric sheets onto at least one surface of a plurality
inventors; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., assignee. of spacedly disposed substrates, such as photovoltaic
Photovoltaic Apparatus. August 1 7, 1 993. modules. By simultaneously accommodating the lamination
of a plurality of modules, the cost of the back-end :1
A photovoltaic apparatus for directly converting fabrication of those modules is substantially reduced. u
light energy into electric energy, comprising a light The apparatus includes a plurality of diaphragms adapted
shielding substrate, at least one surface of the light to forcibly and simultaneously urge the polymeric sheets
shielding substrate being a metal; a light transmitting against at least one surface of each of the respective
insulating layer on the above surface; and a photovoltaic modules to be laminated. The force is preferably
body on a surface of the insulating layer, the generated by a pump which creates a vacuum between the
photovoltaic body including a light transmitting first diaphragm and the substrate surface.
electrode, an amorphous or microcrystal semiconductive
layer, and a light transmitting second electrode 5,238,879
laminated in this order, with the first electrode being Plaettner, Rolf, inventor; Siemens Aktiengesellschaft,
in contact with the insulating layer. assignee. Method for the Production of Polycrystalline
Layers Having Granular Crystalline Structure for
5,237,490 Thin-Film Semiconductor Components Such as Solar Cells.
Ferng, Shing-Lai, inventor. Solar Power Operated, August 24, 1 993.
Construction Work Warning Lamp with Focusing Device for II
Intensifying the Intensity of Ught. August 1 7, 1 993. A method for producing polycrystalline layers having u
granular crystalline structure is provided. Pursuant to
A solar power operated, construction work warning the method, a thin intermediate layer of amorphous is
lamp which is consisted of a base secured inside a lamp deposited before the deposition of the polycrystalline
guard and covered by a top cover and a bottom cover to layer in order to avoid crystal structure influence
hold a solar cell assembly and a light emitting assembly, proceeding from the structure of the substrate is
wherein a light intensifier is fastened to the base on prevented by the amorphous intermediate layer. Pursuant
the top and secured in place by a framed seal and an
enclosing wall, to intensify the intensity of light given
by the solar cell assembly. The light intensifier is
to the present invention, the thin-film technology can
also be utilized for polycrystalline silicon layers, this
being especially desirable in the manufacture of solar
consisted of two symmetrical condenser lens assemblies cells.
connected into a cylindrical shape covered around the
light emitting assembly to hold a plurality of condenser 5,240,510
lens for intensifying the intensity of light given by the Goldade, Victor A.; Markov, Evgeny M.; Pinchuk, Lenoid
light emitting elements on the light emitting assembly. S.; Kestelman, Vladimir N . ; Girin, Andrey M., inventors;
Development Products, Inc., assignee. Photovoltaic
5,237,764 Cell. August 31 , 1 993.
Gray, Jay C., inventor. Solar Driven Novelty Device.
August 24, 1 993. A solar cell having an active zone made of a polar
polymeric film material is disclosed. The electric
The present invention comprises a solar driven contacts on the surfaces of the active zone are made of
novelty device including a frame having a first side and metals differing in electrochemical potentials. At least
a second side; a solar panel attached to the frame and in one of the electric contacts has a coating that absorbs
an adjustable relationship thereto; a rotatable disk solar radiation. The absorbent coating is preferably
disposed on the frame; a motor in operative connection applied to the electric contact in the form of a
with the solar panel and also in operative connection polymeric material whose shape approximates a hemisphere.
with the disk, wherein the motor causes the disk to The active zone surface and the electric contact surface
rotate in response to electricity generated by the solar free of hemispherical portions are provided with an
panel and transmitted to the motor; and suction cups for absorbent coating made of a material whose absorbing
attaching the frame to the surface, the suction cups capability is different from that of the material of the
being adjustable to permit either the first side of the hemispherical portions. r l
frame or the second side of the frame to be adjacent to
the surface. 5,240,647
j
' i"
ji
Ashley, Carol S.; Brinker, C. Jeffrey; Reed, Scott;
5,238,51 9 Walko, Robert J., inventors. Process for Making
Nath, Prem; Whelan, Kenneth J., inventors; United Solar Solid-State Radiation-Emitting Composition. August 31 ,
Systems Corporation, assignee. Solar Cell Lamination 1 993.
Apparatus. August 24, 1 993.
I
formed. The hydrolyzed aerogel is then subjected to increasing the number of spontaneous nucleations in the
tritium exchange employing, for example, a material. The result is a region of relatively larger
tritium-containing gas, whereby tritium atoms replace H crystalline grains within the doped region which extend
atoms of surface OH groups. OH and/or CH groups of approximately 1 11m into the undoped region by the time
j
5,242,504 to fewer grain boundaries at the electrical junctions.
Iwamoto, Masayuki; Minami, Kouji; Yamaoki, Toshihiko, One fabrication technique can result in single crystal
if inventors; Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., assignee. devices. Another implementation shows a method for
Photovoltaic Device and Manufacturing Method fabricating improved polycrystalline vertical diodes such
Therefor. September 7, 1 993. as solar cells.
Patents 65
,{
i
q'1
disposed on said base member so as to cover the entire of A laminate has at least two layers, at least one of "
said irregularities at the surface of said base member, which comprises a polymer having more than one
said buffer layer being composed of a substantially perfluorocyclobutane group. Such polymers impart
transparent or translucent and conductive. material, said . qualities of environmental or protection, chemical and
J
.
buffer layer being provided with irregularities at the solvent resistance, hydrolytic stability, lubricity, low .
. .
surface thereof, and said irregularities at the surface dielectric, hydrostatic stability, weatherability, flame
of said buffer layer comprising a plurality of thickened resistance, chemical resistance, hydrolytic stability,
convex portions and a plurality of thinned concave lubricity, environmental protection, scratch resistance,
portions, said portions being alternately arranged. The solvent resistance, surface passivation, water repellancy,
reflective solar cell substrate reflects light reaching lower surface refractive index, lower surface coefficient
the substrate without being absorbed by the optically of friction, fluid barrier properties, oil repellancy,
active layer at an effective angle, whereby the solar thermal stability, and/or reduced moisture pick-up.
cell exhibits improved photovoltaic characteristics. Additionally , the coatings are optically clear, easy to
apply either neat, in a solvent or otherwise, have
5,246,350 relatively low cure temperatures for their temperature
Lackstrom, David; Raghunathan, Kidambi, inventors; resistance, and exhibit insulating and planarizing
I nternational Product and Technology Exchange, Inc., capabilities.
assignee. High Efficiency Solar Powered Pumping
System. September 2 1 , 1 993. 5,247,349
Olego, Diego J.; Baumann, John A.; Schachter, Rozalie;
A high efficiency solar powered water pumping system Serreze, Harvey B.; Spicer, William E.; Raccah, Paul M.,
includes a solar collector for heating and vaporizing a inventors; Stauffer Chemical Company, assignee.
working fluid. The vaporized working fluid is passed to a Passivation and Insulation of 111- V Devices with
motor and valve assembly that alternatively delivers the Pnictides, Particularly Amorphous Pnictides Having a
working fluid to a power unit and exhausts the working Layer-Uke Structure. September 2 1 , 1 993.
fluid from the power unit to a condenser. The power unit
has a driving member that moves up and down driving a Pnictide thin films, particularly phosphorus, grown
sucker rod of a sucker rod assembly which raises water on 111-V semiconductors, particularly lnP, GaP, and GaAs,
from a well in the earth. The water pumped from the are amorphous and have a novel layer-like, puckered
ground passes through a tube in the condenser. The sheet-like local order. The thin films are typically 400
working fluid which has been exhausted from the power A thick and grown preferably by molecular beam
unit into the condenser, condenses to a liquid. The deposition, although other processes such as vacuum
liquid working fluid is then pumped from the condenser by evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapor deposition, and
a positive displacement pump and is returned to the solar deposition from a liquid melt may be used. The layers are
collector to repeat the cycle. grown on the < 1 00 > < 1 1 0 > and < 1 1 1 > surfaces of the 111-V
crystals. The pnictide layer reduces the density of
5,246,506 surface states, and allows the depletion layer to be
Arya, Rajeewa R.; Catalano, Anthony W., inventors; modulated, the surface barrier reduced, the electron
Solarex Corporation, assignee. Multijunction concentration at the surface increased, and there is a
Photovoltaic Device and Fabrication Method. September decrease in the surface recombination velocity and an
2 1 , 1 993. increase in the photoluminescence intensity. The layers
may be utilized in MIS and metal-semiconductor (Schottky)
A multijunction photovoltaic device includes first devices for example to insulate and passivate MISFETS, to
and second amorphous silicon PIN photovoltaic cells in a passivate MESFETS, to reduce the surface current
stacked arrangement. An interface layer, composed of a component of the reverse bias dark current in P-1-N and
doped silicon compound, is disposed between the two cells avalanche diodes, and to improve performance of
and has a lower band gap than the respective n- and opto-electronic devices such as light emitting diodes,
p-type adjacent layers of the first and second cells. The lasers, solar cells, photo cathodes and photo detectors.
interface layer forms an ohmic contact with the one or The pnictide layer may be applied to intermetallic and
the adjacent cell layers of the same conductivity type, compound semiconductors having a pnictide component. The
and a tunnel junction with the other of the adjacent cell pnictides may be phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, or
layers. The disclosed device is fabricated by a glow bismuth, or combinations thereof.
discharge process.
5,248,278
5,246,782 Fuerst, Arpad; Schreiter, Thomas; Reinsch, Burkhard;
Kennedy, Alvin P.; Bratton, Larry D.; Jezie, Zdravko; Paetz, Werner, inventors; Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik,
Lane, Eckel R.; Perettie, Donald J.; Richey, W. Frank; assignee. Ventilator Roof for Vehicles. September
Babb, David A.; Clement, Katherine S., inventors; The 28, 1 993.
Dow Chemical Company, assignee. Laminates of Polymers
Having Perfluorocyclobutane Rings and Polymers Containing
Perfluorocyclobutane Rings. September 21 , 1 993.
5,248,345 5,248,349
Sichanugrist, Porponth; Tanaka, Norimitsu, inventors; Foote, James B.; Kaaka, Steven A. F.; Meyers, Peter V.;
Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K., assignee. Integrated Nolan, James F., inventors; Solar Cells, Inc., assignee.
Photovoltaic Device. September 28, 1 993. Process for Making Photovoltaic Devices and Resultant
Product. September 28, 1 993.
An integrated photovoltaic device which comprises a
plurality of amorphous silicon based solar cells each A process and apparatus for making a large-area
comprising on the light-receiving side of a common photovoltaic device that is capable of generating
transparent substrate, a transparent electrode, a metal low-cost electrical power. The apparatus for stations
electrode on the transparent electrode, and an amorphous provide heated vapors of semiconductor material within
semiconductor layer interposed between the metal the oven for continuous elevated temperature deposition
electrode and the transparent electrode, said plurality of semiconductor material whose main layer is cadmium
of solar cells being interconnected in a series or telluride is deposited on an upwardly facing surface of
series-parallel fashion by means of said transparent the substrate by each deposition station from a location
electrode and said metal electrode, said metal electrode within the oven albove the roller conveyor. A cooling
being formed of a metal film comprising, in superposition station rapidly cools the substrate after deposition of
in order from the amorphous semiconductor layer side, the semiconductor material thereon to strengthen the
layers of aluminum, an additive metal for aluminum bronze, glass sheet of the substrate.
and copper.
5,248,519
5,248,347 Steakley, Diane M.; St. Clair, Anne K., inventors; The
Ochi, Seiji, inventor, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha, United States of America as represented by the
assignee. Solar Cell. September 28, 1 993. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration, assignee. Process for Preparing an
In a semiconductor device having a metal electrode on Assembly of an Article and a Soluble Polyimide Which
a crystalline semiconductor surface, the metal electrode Resists Dimensional Change, Delamination, and Debonding
includes first portions electrically and mechanically When Exposed to Changes in Temperature. September 28,
connected to the surface and second portions mechanically 1 993.
separated from the surface and having configurations that
easily deform. These first and second portions are An assembly of an article and a polyimide is
alternatingly arranged on the surface. Accordingly, prepared. The assembly resists dimensional change,
stress applied to the semiconductor beneath the electrode delamination, or debonding when exposed to changes in
is reduced and deformation of the semiconductor element temperature. An article is provided. A soluble polyimide
due to thermal stress is prevented, thereby preventing resin .solution having a low coefficient of thermal
deterioration of element characteristics. expansion (CTE) was prepared by dissolving the polyimide
in solvent and adding a metal ion-containing additive to
5,248,348 the solution. Examples of this additive are:
Miyachi, Kenji; Koyama, Masato; Ashida, Yoshinori; Ho(OOCCH3l J, Er(NPPA)3, TmCI3, and
Fukuda, Nobuhiro, inventors; Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Er(C5H702lJ . The soluble polyimide resin
Inc., assignee. Amorphous Silicon Solar Call and is combined with the article to form the assembly.
Method for Manufacturing the Same. September 28, 1 993.
Patents 67
5,248,621 A deodorizer which comprises a deodorant member, an
Sano, Masafumi, inventor; Ganon Kabushiki Kaisha, electric motor, a fan fixed to the electric motor, a
assignee. Method for Producing Solar Cell Devices of receptacle having these members accommodated therein, and
Crystalline Material. Sep1ember 28, 1 993. a solar cell provided in the receptacle and adapted to
,!-. .
supply a driving electric power to the electric motor, 11. .
A solar cell device is produced by forming at least whereby, owing to the blowing action of the fan, air is
one semiconductor layer of single crystalline material caused to enter the interior the receptacle from an air
having an uneven surface on a substrate. A photovoltaic suction port and pass therethrough and is blown out from
element utilizing the semiconductor layer is formed and an air blowout port to outside the receptacle, and the
bonded to another substrate. The produced solar cell air is caused to flow around a portion of the receptacle
device has a large area, high conversion efficiency and where the solar cell is intalled.
may be mass produced at low cost.
5,252,139
5,248.931 Schmitt, Jacques; Ricaud, Alain; Siefert, Jean-Marie,
Flesner, Larry D.; Dubbelday, Wadad B., inventors; The inventors; Solems S.A., assignee. Photovoltaic Thin
United States of America as represented by the Secretary Layers Panel Structure. October 1 2, 1 993.
of the Navy, assignee. Laser Energized High Voltage
Direct Current Power Supply. September 28, 1 993. Panel structure suitable for forming a photovoltaic
device, comprising an electrically insulating transparent
A light energized high voltage direct current power support substrate; photosensitive elements constituted by
supply comprises a light source including solid-state thin layers stacked on a first face of the said substrate
laser diodes powered by electrical current at a voltage and comprising an opaque electrically conducting layer,
level V 1 for generating light a photocell array openings being formed through this opaque layer in order
positioned to receive the light and fabricated with to allow a portion of the light received by the structure
silicon-on-sapphire for providing electrical power having to traverse the said photosensitive elements; an
an output voltage V2, where V2 >V1 , where the electrically insulating transparent potting layer
photocell array includes serially connected photovoltaic covering the same photoactive conversion elements; and,
cells; and a voltage regulator operably coupled to the over the top, a protecting plate. This plate may be
light source and the photocells array for controlling the curved. In this case, the potting layer will be
output of the power supply to a predetermined voltage constituted by an adhesive sheet.
level.
5,252,140
5,250,1 20 Kobayashi, Shigeyoshi; Yaba, Susumu; Kikugawa, Shinya;
Takada, Jun; Nakajima, Akihiko; Hayashi, Katsuhiko; Muhl, Stephen; Madan, Arun, inventors. Solar Cell
Asaoka, Keizo; Tawada, Yoshihisa, inventors; Kanegafuchi Substrate and Process for Its Production. October 1 2,
Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., assignee. Photovoltaic 1 993.
Device. October 5, 1 993.
A solar cell substrate comprising a glass plate, and
This invention relates to a photovoltaic device, such a transparent electrically conductive layer formed
as a solar cell or a photosensor, which comprises an thereon, wherein said glass plate is tempered.
amorphous silicon semiconductor photosensitive layer and,
as disposed on respective sides thereof, a transparent 5,252,141
electrode and a rear electrode. The rear electrode is a Inoue, Yuji; Yamamoto, Hiroshi, inventors; Canon
multi-layer structure constructed by alternately Kabushiki Kaisha, assignee. Modular Solar Cell with
successive depositions, each in a thickness of 0.3 to 50 Protective Member. October 1 2, 1 993.
nm, of two or more metals selecled from the group
consisting of Cu, Ag, and Au. In using such a Cu/Ag A solar cell module including at least one
multi-layer structure or an Au/Ag multi-layer structure photovoltaic device, covering material for covering the
as the rear electrode, the thickness of each Cu or Au at least one photovoltaic device, and a frame for
layer is controlled at 0.3 to 20 rvn and that of each Ag covering the end portions of the covering materials. The
layer at 1 to 50 nm. The thickness of the rear covering materials are provided, in the end portions
electrode is 20 nm to 1 1Jm. This construction insures thereof, with a recess or a penetrating hole. The frame
improved photoelectric conversion efficiency and improved is provided with a projection adapted to engage with the
reliability of the device. recess or penetrating hole.
5,250,265
Kawaguchi, Kiyoshi; ltoh, Norihisa; Yamashita, Kouji;
Matsui, Kazuma, inventors; Nippondenso Co., Lid.,
assignee. Automotive Solar-operated Deodorizer with
Solar Cell Cooling and Automated Operational Control.
October 5, 1 993.
)j
fused silicon is produced continuously, or in phases, and
A warning light is provided that includes a base zonally cast into a mold in which it is caused to
member having at least one electroluminescent panel solidify zonally. The temperature conditions in the
mounted thereon that is enclosed by an upper housing solidification zone are controlled with the aid of a
secured to base member and of which at least a portion movable heating zone, by means of which the
comprises a lens member preferably in the form of at crystallization front is adjusted to the rising level
least one panel section that includes fluorescent that fills up the mold, this level being in turn
material operative to fluoresce upon exposure to light controlled by the fusion rate of the silicon.
incident thereupon emitted by electroluminescent panel. Polycrystalline silicon blocks can be obtained in which,
The warning light is preferably powered by a rechargeable because of the flat shape of the crystallization front,
battery that is charged by at least one solar cell the columnar single-crystal domains within the blocks
mounted on upper housing in a manner operative to enable extend almost vertically and which represent an excellent
solar energy to be incident thereupon. solar cell base material having high diffusion lengths
and lifetimes of the minority charge carriers, from which
5,253,300 solar cells of correspondingly high efficiencies can be
Knapp, Herbert C., inventor; H.C. Knapp Sound Technology, produced.
Inc., assignee. Solar Powered Hearing Aid. October
1 2, 1 993. 5,254,481
Nishida, Shoji, inventor; Canon Kabushiki Kaisha,
Hearing aids include rechargeable batteries and assignee. Polycrystalline Solar Cell Manufacturing
contacts accessible from outside of the hearing aid Method. October 1 9, 1 993.
casing for the battery. A charging case includes solar
cells mounted on the charging case for outputting energy A solar cell has a polycrystalline layer formed on a
for charging the batteries in the hearing aids. The metal substrate. The crystal orientation of the crystal
charging case may include silos for supporting an grains of the silicon layer is regulated in the film
over-the-ear hearing aid or a recess for receiving a thickness direction.
volume control on the hearing aid.
Patents 69
I
5,255,666 5,258,077
Curchod, Donald B., inventor. Solar Electric Shahryar, lshaq, inventor; Solec International, Inc.,
Conversion Unit and System. October 26, 1 993. assignee. High Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells and
Method of Fabrication. November 2, 1 993.
A solar electric conversion unit and system includes
substantially increased efficiency with reduced losses A very inexpensive, uncomplicated, and high
and increased acceptance angles. The system employs a throughput manufacturing process for fabrication of high
short focal length fresnel lens extruded to further efficiency silicon solar cells is disclosed. The
include depending side walls. The free edges of the sides manufacturing process begins with a low resistivity
carry a heat sink supporting a photovoltaic cell. The Czochralski wafer. Then the wafer's front surface is
extruded side walls function as light pipes for carrying texturized and a lightly doped N type junction is formed
light directly to the photovoltaic cell. The walls are in the front surface. Next, silicon dioxide is thermally
reflective inwardly of the unit to further avoid loss of grown on the wafer's front and back surfaces. Then a
stray light. computer driven laser beam cuts the front surface oxide
to form the grooves needed for the fabrication of the
5,256,576 topside electrical contacts. The next step is to diffuse
Guha, Subhendu; Yang, Chi C.; Banerjee, Arindam, phosphorus deeply in the silicon under the groove areas,
inventors; United Solar Systems Corporation, assignee. where the oxide has been eliminated by the laser beam.
Method of Making PIN Junction Semiconductor Device with Thereafter, electroless plating of gold, nickel, and
RF Deposited Intrinsic Buffer Layer. October 26, 1 993. copper in the groove areas is performed to form the
topside ohmic contacts. Subsequently, junction edges at
A method for manufacturing thin film, photovoltaic the wafer edges are plasma etched to remove any
devices of the type having an intrinsic semiconductor electrical shunts. Finally, rear ohmic contacts are
layer disposed between two oppositely charged doped screen printed and sintered.
semiconductor layers. A buffer layer of intrinsic
semiconductor material is RF deposited at the junction 5,261,968
between a microwave deposited, base intrinsic layer and a J ordan, John F., inventor; Photon Energy, Inc., assignee.
layer of doped material. The cell produced by the method Photo voltaic Cell and Method. November 1 6, 1 993.
of the present invention has enhanced performance
characteristics over cells having microwave deposited An improved photovoltaic panel and method of forming
intrinsic layers with no barrier layers. a photovoltaic panel are disclosed for producing a high
efficiency CdS/CdTe photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic
5,256,887 panel of the present invention is initially formed with a
Yang, Liyou, inventor; Solarex Corporation, assignee. substantially thick CdS layer, and the effective
Photovoltaic Device Including a Boron Doping Profile in thickness of the CdS layer is substantially reduced
an 1-Type Layer. October 26, 1 993. during regrowth to both form large diameter CdTe crystals
and substantially reduce the effective thickness of the
A photovoltaic cell for use in a single junction or CdS layer by diffusion into the CdTe layer such that a
multijunction photovoltaic device, which includes a majority of sunlight having a wavelength less than 520 nm
p-type layer of a semiconductor compound including passes through the CdS layer to the photovoltaic
silicon, an i-type layer of an amorphous semiconductor junction. Shorting of individual cells is substantially
compound including silicon, and an n-type layer of a minimized by providing a conductive layer which is formed
semiconductor compound including silicon formed on the from two tin oxide layers, each having substantially
i-type layer. The i-type layer including an undoped first dissimilar electriCal conductivity, such that an
sublayer formed on the p-type layer, and a boron-doped electrically conductive tin oxide layer interconnects the
second sublayer formed on the first sublayer. plurality of photovoltaic cells, while the comparatively
high resistivity tin oxide layer prevents shorting of a
5,258,076 cell. The electron density of the high resistivity tin
Wecker, Reinhard, inventor; MWB Messwandler-Bau AG, oxide layer may be adjusted to be within a magnitude of
assignee. Arrangement for Covering Doors, Windows or approximately three orders of the presumed electron
Uke Type Room Closure. November 2, 1 993. density of the CdTe layer, such that a energy-producing
junction is formed in any area of flaws in the CdS layer
An arrangement for covering doors, windows or like by the CdTe layer and tin oxide layer. The photovoltaic
type room closure devices having translucent regions, in panel of the present invention has a low material and
particular a curtain or a roller blind, is provided, at manufacturing cost, yet produces a surprisingly high
the side thereof which faces towards the room closure efficiency to produce a low cost per output watt
device, with photovoltaic cells or a photovoltaic layer photovoltaic panel.
and the same is connected to a current storage means.
l
isolation layer between the cells. In one version of this by application of heat and, optionally, pressure.
embodiment of the invention, the n-regions of the upper Optionally, the coated part(s) may be stored at a low
J and lower cells are located closest to the isolation temperature for a long period of time prior to the
layer. In one method of manufacture, the upper cell bonding process. This invention is particularly useful
structure is initially epitaxially grown on a wafer, the for bonding a solar cell cover to a solar cell or for
isolation layer is grown over the upper cell structure, bonding solar cells to an underlying substrate.
the lower cells are formed over the isolation layer, the
entire structure is separated from the wafer and inverted, 5,264,376
the upper cell is formed from the upper cell structure, Abbott, Donald C.; Mahendra, Bawa S.; Frechette,
and the upper cell is metallized to connect it to the Raymond A., inventors; Texas Instruments Incorporated,
lower cells. assignee. Method of Making a Thin Film Solar Cell.
November 23, 1 993.
5,261 ,970
Landis, Geoffrey A.; Jenkins, Phillip P., inventors; A method is provided of making a thin film solar cell
Sverdrup Technology, Inc., assignee. Optoelectronic comprising depositing solar cell material on a substrate
and Photovoltaic Devices with Low-Reflectance Surfaces. using an ionized gas stream for transporting and applying
r
November 1 6, 1 993. solar cell material to the substrate.
Patents 71
preferably applied to solar cells or thin film A simple connection for a solar cell module is
transistors. composed of a soldered-on, stud-shaped terminal element
that is fixed with a retainer element plugged thereover
5,266, 125 and glued to the back side of the solar module. The
Rand, James A.; Barnett, Allen M.; Hall, Robert B., projection of the end of the terminal element comprises a
inventors; AstroPower, !nc., assignee. Interconnected connection for a cable.
Silicon Film Solar Cell Array. November 30, 1 993.
5,268,039
A plurality of thin polycrystalline silicon solar Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Prem, inventors; U nited Solar
cells formed on a ceramic substrate and which are Systems Corporation, assignee. Photovoltaic Device
electrically series connected to form a monolithically Including Shunt Preventing Layer and Method for the
interconnected submodule. Adjacent solar cells are Deposition Thereof. December 7, 1 993.
electrically separated by a vertical trench and
electrically connected by interconnects located below the A photovoltaic device which is resistant to shunt and
light receiving surface of each solar cell. The short circuit defects developing between the opposed
submodules are provided with external electrical contacts electrodes thereof. The photovoltaic device comprises an
for electrically connecting into a photovoltaic module electrically conductive substrate, a semiconductor body
assembly. including a photogenerative region, a layer of
transparent conductive material, and means for collecting
5,266, 126 photogenerated current. In particular, a layer of
Deguchi, M i kio, inventor; Mitsubishi Denki Ka,b ushiki low-conductivity material is operatively positioned
Kaisha, assignee. Semiconductor Device and Method for between the layer of transparent conductive material and
Manufacturing the Same. November 30, 1 993. the collecting means, thereby resistively restricting the
flow of electric current through short circuit portions.
A semiconductor device includes a porous, A method of fabricating such a shunt-resistant
electrically insulating substrate, a semiconductor film photovoltaic device is also disclosed.
disposed on the substrate, and a metal filling the pores
of the substrate, the metal contacting the semiconductor 5,268,832
film at the interface of the substrate and the Kandatsu, Yukio, inventor; Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba,
semiconductor film. assignee. DCIAC Inverter Controller for Solar Cell,
Including Maximum Power Point Tracking Function.
5,268,037 December 7, 1 993.
Glatfelter, Troy, inventor; United Solar Systems
Corporation, assignee. Monolithic, Parallel Connected A DC/AC inverter controlling system controls a DC/AC
Photovoltaic Array and Method for Its Manufacture. inverter so as to continuously output maximum AC power
December 7, 1 993. thereof, taking account of solar energy generated from a
solar cell. The DC/AC inverter controlling system
A monolithic array of photovoltaic devices includes a comprises: a DC/AC inverter unit for inverting DC (direct
plurality of subcells electrically interconnected in a current) power derived from the solar cell power source
parallel relationship. The subcells are disposed upon a into AC (alternating current) power to be supplied to an
common, electrically conductive substrate and each AC power line; a power variation judging unit for judging
includes an insulating region disposed upon the substrate whether or not a variation measured during a
and an electrode body disposed upon the insulating predetermined time period and occurring in the AC power
region. The subcells each include a photovoltaic outputted from the DC/AC inverter unit, exceeds a
semiconductor body disposed upon the electrode body and predetermined value, thereby producing a power variation
the array includes a continuous body of top electrode judging signal; and a power controlling unit for
material disposed so as to cover each of the controlling the DC/AC inverter unit so as to reduce the
semiconductor bodies and to fill the space therebetween power variation to substantially zero in response to the
and establish electrical communication between the power variation judging signal, while the power variation
substrate and the semiconductor bodies. The substrate does not exceed the predetermined value. As a result, the
forms one terminal of the array and the conductive bodies AC power outputted from the DC/AC inverter unit becomes a
are in electrical communication with a bus bar which maximum value thereof.
forms the other terminal of the array. Also disclosed
herein is a method for the fabrication of the array. 5,269,851
Horne, William E., inventor; United Solar Technologies,
5,268,038 Inc., assignee. Solar Energy System. December 1 4,
Riermeier, Mfred; Zinke, Gerhard; Muenzer, Adolf, 1 993.
inventors; Siemens Solar GmbH, assignee. Electrical
Terminal Element for Solar Modules. December 7, 1 993.
Patents 73
A process for increasing the minority carrier memory device and the associated read/write device. A
recombination lifetime in a silicon body contaminated plurality of batteries in the solid state memory device
with transition metals, especially iron. The silicon body provide power for the memory retention capability
.
is stored at a temperature and for a period sufficient to required of the volatile solid state memory devices. The
cause metal to diffuse from the bulk of the silicon body batteries are recharged by the use of a pair of power
to the surface of the silicon body to measurably increase rails that are incorporated into the exterior housing of
the minority carrier recombination lifetime. the 3480 form factor cartridge. Thus, the associated
read/write device applies power to the solid state memory
5,273,608 via these power rails when the 3480 form factor cartridge
Nath, Prem, inventor; United Solar Systems Corporation, is placed in the associated read/write device. Likewise,
assignee. Method of Encapsulating a Photovoltaic an associated manual or automated cartridge storage
Device. December 28, 1 993. system supplies power when the cartridge is offline, in
storage.
A flexible encapsulated photovoltaic device is
prepared by disposing photovoltaic devices on a sheet of
thermoplastic material, disposing a front encapsulant
material atop the devices, and disposing a bottom
encapsulant layer so as to provide a multi-layered
structure. The multi-layered structure is rolled under
tension so as to compress the layers and the roll is
heated to activate the thermoplastic material and bond
the layers together. Additional layers may be interposed
prior to rolling.
5,273,91 1
Sasaki, Hajime; Morikawa, Hiroaki; Satoh, Kazuhiko;
Deguchi, M ikio, inventors; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki
Kaisha, assignee. Me tho d of Producing a Thin-Film
Solar Cell. December 28, 1 993.
5,274,584
Henderson, Watson R.; Kelly, Michael S.; Leonhardt,
Michael L.; Paurus, Floyd G.; Smith, Archibald W.;
Szerlip, Stanley R., inventors; Storage Technology
Corporation, assignee. Solid State Memory Device
Having Optical Data Connections. December 28, 1 993.
.,
I
y
j
ASSIG NEE
.,
.(]
' '
\;
Agency of Industrial Science & Technology, 5,030,476
Ministry of International Trade & Industry 5,039,354
1 991 : 4,994,879 5,06 1 , 5 1 1 r
.I' :
I.
Lemrich and Cie S. A.
Hitachi, Ltd. 1 993: 5,243,578
1 991 : 5,024,953
1 992: 5, 1 51 ,385 Lockheed Missiles & Space Company
1 993: 5,221 ,363
Hughes Aircraft Company
1 993: 5,264,285 M.I.B. Elettronica S.R. L.
1 992: 5,087, 1 07
lntermatic Incorporated
1 991 : 5,041 ,952 Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
1 992: 5,086,267 1 991 : 5,0 1 2, 1 1 3
1 993: 5,221 ,891
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
International Business Machines Corporation 1 991 : 5,047,090
1 992: 5,1 60,920
Mazda Motor Corporation
International Product and Technology 1 991 : 5,040,455
Exchange, Inc.
1 993: 5,246,350 MEMC Electronic Materials, SpA.
1 993: 5,272, 1 1 9
International Solar Electric Technology, Inc.
1 991 : 5,028,274 Messerschmitt-Boelkow-Biohm
1 991 : 5,037,043
K-2 Industries, Inc.
1 992: 5, 1 09,989 Micron Technology, Inc.
1 993: 5,270,263
Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
1 991 : 5,061 ,578 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co.
1 991 : 4,993,868
Assignee I ndex 77
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company 1 992: 5,082,791
1 99 1 : 5, 055,41 6 5, 1 06,763
1 992: 5,085,939 5, 1 1 0,369
5 , 1 35,581 5, 1 5 1 ,377
5 , 1 55,565 5 , 1 5 1 ,386
1 993: 5,21 6,543 5, 1 56,978
1 993: 5, 1 78,685
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha 5,228,924
1 991 : 4,997,491 5,270,248
5,009,71 9
5,009,720 MWB Messwandler-Bau AG
5,009,721 1 993: 5,258,076
5,01 7,243
5,02 1 , 1 00 N EC Corporation
5,025,202 1 99 1 : 5,007, 1 05
1 992: 5, 084, 1 07
5 , 1 00,478 Nippon Soken, Inc.; Nippondenso, Co. , Ltd.;
5 , 1 00,480 Yoshihiro Hamakawa
5, 1 21 , 1 83 1 991 : 5,021 , 1 03
5 , 1 42,331
5, 1 47,468 Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
5 , 1 51 ,373 1 993: 5,250,265
1 993: 5,21 1 ,762
5,248,347 Nukem GmbH
5,266, 1 26 1 99 1 : 5,053,355
5,273,91 1
Olympic Machines, Inc.
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha; Nippon 1 99 1 : 5,074,706
Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
1 992: 5, 1 31 ,956 Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.
5 , 1 45,793 1 992: 5, 1 54,81 0
J
5,069,727 1 993: 5,204,586
1 992: 5,085, 71 1 5,21 1 ,470
5,1 33,81 0 5,21 7,296
5,1 55,051 5,228,772
1 993: 5,202,271
5,21 1 , 761 Siemens Solar Industries, L.P.
5,21 3,628 1 991 : 4,999,060
5,21 5,598 1 992: 5, 1 03,268
5,21 7, 921 5, 1 55,668
5,221 ,365
5,232,860 Societe Dite: Solems (Societe Anonyme)
5,236,51 6 1 991 : 5,039,353
5,242,504
Solar Cells, Inc.
y
Schottei-Werft Josef Becker GmbH & Co. KG 1 993: 5,248,349
1 993: 5,235,266
Solar Outdoor Lighting, Inc.
Seiko Epson Corporation 1 992: 5, 1 49, 1 88
1 991 : 5,01 5,086
Solarex Corporation
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. 1 991 : 5,006, 1 79
1 991 : 4,988,642 5,01 1 ,544
5,035,753 5,055, 1 41
5,039,928 1 992: 5,098,482
5,043,772 5, 1 64,020
5,077,223 1 993: 5,246,506
1 992: 5,089,426 5,256,887
1 993: 5,1 92,991
Solatrol, Inc.
Sharp Corporation 1 993: 5,229,649
1 991 : Des. 3 1 7,458
Des. 3 1 7,61 9
Des. 31 9,252
Assignee I ndex 79
Solec International, Inc. The Boeing Company
1 993: 5,258,077 1 991 : 5,02 1 ,099
1 992: 5,078,804
Solems S.A. 5,09 1 ,0 1 8
1 993: 5,252,1 39 5,096,505
5,254, 1 79 5, 1 1 8,361
5, 1 23,968
Spectrolab, Inc. 5, 1 41 ,564
1 99 1 : 5,034,068 1 993: 5,21 7,539
1 992: 5,1 00,808 5,26 1 , 969
Unisearch Limited
1 992: 5,080,725
5,081 ,049
University of Delaware
1 992: 5,085,885
Webasto AG Fahrzeugtechnik
1 993: 5,248,278
Webasto-Schade GmbH
1 993: 5,21 3,626
Xerox Corporation
1 992: 5 , 1 62,239
Yazaki Corporation
1 993: 5,204,667
Assignee Index 81
l
INVENTOR
1.
1 993: 5,1 80,686 1 992: 5, 1 5 1 ,386
'
5,204,272
5,221 ,854 Boyer, Brent P.
5,256,576 1 99 1 : 5,065,291
1 993: 5,21 1 ,470
.I
Barker, James M .
1 993: 5,228,924 Brandhorst, Jr., Henry W.
1 99 1 : 5,0 1 9, 1 76
Barker, Owen P.
1 991 : 5,009,243 Bratton, Larry D .
I
1 993: 5,246, 782
Barnett, Allen M.
1 991 : 5,057, 1 63 Brinker, C. Jeffrey
1 993: 5,266, 1 25 1 993: 5,240, 647
Bellaire, David L.
I
1 991 : 5,077,796
.)
Inventor Index 83
_j!
I
Cammerer, Fritz Condon, Jr., Edward F.
1 991 : 5,043,024 1 991 : 5,041 ,952
5,071 ,491 1 992: 5,086,267
1 993: 5,221 ,891
Cao, Yang
1 993: 5, 1 96, 1 44 Conley, Jerry J.
1 991 : 5,008,579
Carasso, Meir 1 992: 5, 1 24,61 0
1 992: 5, 1 53,780 1 993: 5,235,232
1 992: 5,080,724 u
Dehlsen, James G . P .
Clement, Katherine S. 1 991 : 5,044,939
1 993: 5,246, 782 5,066,339
(].;;
84 U.S. Photovoltaic Patents: 1 988 - 1 990 '-
f
Dippel, Hans-Jurgen Emeraud, Thierry
1 993: 5,21 2,9 1 6 1 993: 5,254, 1 79
l
f
Dirksen, Alfred Enders, Stephan
1 992: 5,090,770 1 992: 5,090,770
I nventor I ndex 85
Foote, James B. Gali, Carl E.
1 993: 5,248,349 1 992: 5,084,664
Inventor Index 87
Hinooka, Takashi Humble, Wayne
1 991 : 5,038,251 1 991 : 5,036,443
Hughes, Harold
1 992: 5, 1 06,495
\
Kamerling, Marc.A.
Janda, Rudolph W. 1 992: 5, 1 54,81 0
1 99 1 : 5,041 ,952
1 992: 5,086,267 Kanai, Masahiro
1 993: 5,221 ,891 1 99 1 : 5,002,6 1 7
5,002,61 8
Jenkins, Phillip P. 5,006, 1 80
1 993: 5,261 ,970 5,007,971
5,008,726
Jensen, Millard J. 5,024,706
1 99 1 : 4,992,1 38 5,028,488
5,069,740 1 993: 5,220,1 81
1 992: 5,091 ,3 1 9
Kanamori, Hideto
Jezie, Zdravko 1 992: 5, 1 51 ,385
1 993: 5,246,782
Kandatsu, Yukio
Johnson, Kenneth C. 1 993: 5,268,832
1 992: 5,1 69,456
Kapur, Mridula
1 993: 5,242,505
Inventor Index 89
Kapur, Vijay K. Kikugawa, Shinya
1 991 : 5,028,274 1 993: 5,252, 1 40
Inventor Index 91
Muller, Hermann-Frank Matsuda, Akihisa
1 99 1 : 5,076,634 1 99 1 : 5,01 7,308
Inventor I ndex 93
Nakajima, Akihiko Nishimura, Kunio
1 993: 5,250, 1 20 1 991 : 5,032,884
Inventor I ndex 95
Rand, James A. Sahira, Kensho
1 991 : 5,057, 1 63 1 992: 5, 1 73,270
.1 993: 5,266, 1 25 1 993: 5,1 96,086
I
Satoh, Kazuhiko Shannon, John
1 993: 5,273,91 1 1 991 : 5,020, 1 50
Inventor Index 97
1
}
Sopori, Shushan L. Suzuki, Hirohisa
1 993: 5,21 7,285 1 992: 5, 1 33,809
Inventor Index 99
Usui, Masaaki Wanlass, Mark W.
1 992: 5,084, 1 07 1 99 1 : 5,01 9,1 77
5, 131 , 956
5,1 51 ,373 Warfield, Donald B.
1 992: 5,098,482
Valdivia, Percy
1 99 1 : 4,989,059 Wassell, Stephen
1 992: 5,082, 791 1 992: 5,090, 1 67
Inventor I ndex 1 01
SUBJECT
Shahryar, lshaq
CELLS AND MATERIALS Solec International, Inc.
Subject Index 1 03
Schmitt, Jacques 5,091 ,764
Societe Dite: Solems (Societe Anonyme) Semiconductor Device Having a Transparent
Electrode and Amorphous Semiconductor
5,043,772 Layers.
Semiconductor Photoelectrically-Sensitive Asaoka, Keizo;. Tsuge, Kazunori; Tawada,
Device. Yoshihisa .
Yamazaki , Shunpei Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
5,1 04,455
5,055, 1 41 Amorphous Semiconductor Solar Cell.
Enhancement of Short-Circuit Current by Yokota, Akitoshi; Nakata, Yukihiko;
Use of Wide Band Gap N-Layers in P-1-N Sannomiya, Hitoshi; Moriuchi, Sota; Inoue,
A morphous Silicon Photovoltaic Cells. Yasumi; ltoh, Manabu
Arya, Rajeewa R.; Catalano, Anthony W. Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Solarex Corporation
5, 1 1 0,370
5,061 ,322 Photovoltaic Device with Decreased
Method of Producing P-Type Amorphous Gridline Shading and Method for Its
Silicon Carbide and Solar Cell Including Manufacture.
Same. Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Prem
Asano, Akihiko United Solar Systems Corporation
Fuji Electric Corporation Research and
Development Ltd. 5, 1 24,269
Method of Producing a Semiconductor Device
5,064,477 Using a Wire Mask Having a Specified
Radiant Energy Sensitive Device and Diameter.
Method. Kobayashi, Kenji; Tsuge, Kazunori; Tawada,
Del ahoy, Alan E. Yoshihisa
Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo
5,071 ,490
Tandem Stacked Amorphous Solar Cell 5, 127,964
Device. Flexible Photovoltaic Device.
Yokota, Akitoshi; Nakata, Yukihiko Hamakawa, Yoshihiro; Tawada, Yoshihisa;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha Tsuge, Kazunori; lzumina, Masanobu
Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
5,073,804
Method of Forming Semiconductor Materials 5,1 36,351
and Barriers. Photovoltaic Device with Porous Metal
Coleman, John H. Layer.
Plasma Physics Corp. Inoue, Yasumi; Nakata, Yukihiko; ltoh,
Manabu; Yokota, Akitoshi; Sannomiya, Hitoshi ;
5,077,223 Moriuchi, Sota
Photoelectric Conversion Device and Method Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
of Making the Same.
Yamazaki, Shunpei 5, 151 ,255
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. , Ltd . Method for Forming Window Material for
Solar Cells and Method for Producing
1 992 Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell.
Fukuda, Nobuhiro; Kobayashi, Sadao;
5,085,7 1 1 Miyachi, Kenji; Takenouchi, Hidemi; Kawahara,
Photovoltaic Device. Yoji ; Teramoto, Takayuki
Iwamoto, Masayuki; Minami, Koji; Watanabe, Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.
Kaneo
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. 1993
5,085,939 5, 1 80,434
Thin Film-Coated Polymer Webs. Interfacial Plasma Bars for Photovoltaic
Wenz, Robert P.; Weber, Michael F.; Arudi, Deposition Apparatus.
Ravindra L.
M i nnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
Subject Index 1 05
5,246,506 Yamagishi, Hideo; Hiroe, Aki hiko; Nishio,
Multijunction Photovoltaic Device and Hitoshi; Miki, Keiko; Tsuge, Kazunori;
Fabrication Method. Tawada, Yoshihisa
Arya, Rajeewa R.; Catalano, Anthony W. Kanegafuchi Kagaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
Solarex Corporation
5,268,037
5,248,345 Monolithic, Parallel Connected
Integrated Photovoltaic Device. Photovoltaic Array and Method for Its
Sichanugrist, Porponth; Tanaka, Norimitsu Manufacture.
Showa Shell Sekiyu K. K. Glatfelter, Troy
United Solar Systems Corporation
5,248,348
Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell and Method 5,268,039
for Manufacturing the Same. Photovoltaic Device Including Shunt
Miyachi, Kanji; Koyama, Masato; Ashida, Preventing Layer and Method for the
Yoshinori; Fukuda, Nobuhiro Deposition Thereof.
Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc. Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Pram
United Solar Systems Corporation
5,248,349
Process for Making Photovoltaic Devices 5,273,608
and Resultant Product. Method of Encapsulating a Photovoltaic
Foote, James B . ; Kaaka, Steven A. F.; Device.
Meyers, Peter V.; Nolan, James F. Nath, Pram
Solar Cells, Inc. United Solar Systems Corporation
5,250,1 20
Photovoltaic Device. Cells from 1 1 1-V M aterials (e.g.,
Takada, Jun; Nakajima, Akihiko; Hayashi, GaAs)
Katsuhiko; Asaoka, Keizo; Tawada, Yoshihisa
Kanegafuchi Chemical Industry Co. , Ltd.
1 991
5,252,142
PIN Junction Photovoltaic Element Having 4,997,491
an 1-Type Semiconductor Layer with a Solar Cell and a Production Method
Plurality of Regions Having Different Graded Therefor.
Band G aps. Hokuyo, Shigeru; Oda, Takao; Matsumoto,
Matsuyama, Jinsho; Murakami, Tsutomu; Hideo
Matsuda, Koichi; Yamamoto; Hiroshi; Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Yamashita, Toshihiro
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha 5,019, 1 n
Monolithic Tandem Solar Cell.
5,256,576 Wanlass, Mark W.
Method of Making PIN Junction The United States of America as
Semiconductor Device with RF Deposited represented by the United States Department
Intrinsic Buffer Layer. of Energy
Guha, Subhendu; Yang, Chi C . ; Banerjee,
Arindam 1 992
United Solar Systems Corporation
5,091 ,018
5,256,887 Tandem Photovoltaic Solar Cell with 111-V
Photovoltaic Device Including a Boron Diffused Junction Booster Cell.
Doping Profile in an 1-Type Layer. Fraas, Lewis M . ; Avery, James E . ; Girard,
Yang, Liyou Gerald R.
Solarex Corporation The Boeing Company
5,142,331
Photoelectric Conversion Semiconductor Cells from 1-11 1-VI 2 or II-VI Materials
Device. (e.g., CulnSe2 or CdTe)
Yoshida, Susumu
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
1 991
5,145,793
Manufacturing a Gallium Arsenide Solar 5,028,274
Cell on a Silicon Substrate. Group l-lll-V12 Semiconductor Films
Oohara, Takahiko; Ohmachi , Yoshiro; Kadota, for Solar Celt Application.
Yosihaki; Mitsui, Kotara; Ogasawara, Basol, Bulent M.; Kapur, Vijay K.
Nobuyoshi; Nishimura, Takashi International Solar Electric Technology,
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha; Nippon Inc.
Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
5,045,409
1 993 Process for Making Thin Film Solar Cell.
Eberspacher, Chris; Ermer, James H . ;
5,212,395 Mitchell, Kim W.
P-1-N Photodiodes with Transparent Atlantic Richfield Company
Conductive Contacts.
Berger, Paul R.; Cho, Alfred Y. ; Dutta, 1 992
Niloy K.; Lopata, John; O' Bryan, Henry M . ;
Sivco, Deborah L.; Zydzik, George J. 5,078,804
AT&T Bell Laboratories 1-lii-VI2-Based Solar Cell Utilizing
the Structure CulnGaSe2CdZnS!Zn0.
5,21 7,539 Chen, Wen S.; Stewart, John M .
1/1-V Solar Cells and Doping Processes. The Boeing Company
Fraas, Lewis M.; Sundaram, Veeravana S.;
Avery, James A.; Gruenbaum, Peter E.; 5,125,984
Malocsay, Eric Induced Junction Chalcopyrite Solar Cell.
The Boeing Company Kruehler, Wolfgang; Grabmaier, Josef
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
5,223,043
Current-Matched High-Efficiency, 5,137,835
Multijunction Monolithic Solar Cells. Method for Manufacturing a Chalcopyrite
Olson, Jerry M.; Kurtz, Sarah R. Solar Cell.
The United States of America as Karg, Franz
represented by the United States Department Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
of Energy
Subject Index 1 07
5,1 41 ,564 5,007,971
Mixed Ternary Heterojunction Solar Cell. PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements
Chen, Wen S.; Stewart, John M. with Po/ycrystal B P(H,F) Semiconductor
The Boeing Company Film.
Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda,
1 993 Koichi; Kawakami, Soichiro
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,261 ,968
Photovoltaic Cell and Method. 5,008,579
Jordan, John F. Light Emitting Polymer Electrical Energy
Photon Energy, Inc. Source.
Conley, Jerry J . ; Mortensen, Gary B.
E . F. Johnson Company
Other PV Devices and Concepts
5,008,726
PIN Junction Photovoltaic Element with P
1991 or N-Type Semiconductor Layer Comprising
Non-Single Crystal Material Containing Zn,
4,992,1 09 Se, Te, H in Amount of 1 to 4 Atomic % and a
Photoelectric Conversion Element. Dopand and 1-Type Semiconductor Layer
Yoshikawa, Masao; Suzuki, Tetsuro; Kojima, Comprising Non-Single Crystal Si(H,F)
Akio; Shoshi, Masayuki; Ohta, Masafumi Material.
Ricoh Company, Ltd. Nakagawa, Katsumi; Ishihara, Shunichi ;
Kanai, Masahiro; Murakami, Tsutomu; Arao,
4,997,491 Kozo; Fujioka, Yasushi; Sakai, Akira
Solar Cell and a Production Method Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Therefor.
Hokuyo, Shigeru; Oda, Takao; Matsumoto, 5,009,71 9
Hideo Tandem Solar Cell.
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Yoshida, Susum u
M itsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
5,002,61 7
PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements 5,021 , 1 00
with Po/ycrystal A/As(H,F) Semiconductor Tandem Solar Cell.
Film. Ishihara, Takashi; Sasaki, Hajime; Aiga,
Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda, Masao
Koichi; Kawakami, Soichiro Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,024,706
5,002,618 PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements
PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements with Polycrystal A LP(H, F) Semiconductor
with Polycrystal BaS(H,F) Semiconductor Film.
Film. Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda,
Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda, Koichi; Kawakami, Soichiro
Koichi; Kawakami , Soichiro Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,030,743
5,006, 1 80 Organometallic Solar Voltaic Storage
PIN Heterojunction Photovoltaic Elements Cell.
with Polycrystal Gap (H,F) Semiconductor McDowell, Mathew E.
Film.
Kanai, Masahiro; Aoike, Tatsuyuki; Matsuda, 5,032,472
Koichi; Kawakami, Soichiro Films of Catenated Phosphorus Materials,
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Their Preparation and Use, and Semiconductor
and Other Devices Employing Them.
Michel, Christian G . ; Schachter, Rozalie;
Kuck, Mark A. ; Baumann, John A. ; Raccah,
Paul M.
Stauffer Chemical Company
5,044,939 5,098,1 78
Reversing Linear Flow TPV Process and Superconducting Matrix.
Apparatus. Ortabasi , Ugur
Dehlsen, James, G.P.
5,1 00,478
5,047,090 Solar Cell.
Semiconductor Device. Kawabata, Kiyoshi
Hayashi, Yutaka; Tomonari, Shigeaki; Sakai, Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Jun; Kakite, Keizi
Agency of Industrial Science & Technology 5,1 03,851
Solar Battery and Method of Manufacturing
5,057,1 62 the Same.
Thermophotovoltaic Technology. Nishida, Shoji; Yonehara, Takao
Nelson, Robert E. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
TPV Energy Systems, Inc.
5, 124,61 0
5,061 ,578 Tritiated Light Emitting Polymer
Electrolyte Circulation Type Secondary Bectrical Energy Source.
Battery Operating Method. Conley, Jerry J.; Mortensen , Gary B.
Kozuma, lchiro; Fujii, Toshinobu E.F. Johnson Company
Kabushiki Kaisha Meidensha
5,130,1 03
5,066,339 Method for Forming Semiconductor Crystal
Rotary Radiating Bed Thermophotovoltaic and Semiconductor Crystal Article Obtained
Process and Apparatus. by Said Method.
Dehlsen, James G.P. Yamagata, Kanji; Kumomi, Hideya; Tokunaga,
Hiroyuki; Arao, Kozo
5,066,340 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Photovoltaic Device.
Iwamoto, Masayuki; Minami, Kouji; Yamaoki, 5,147,468
Toshihiko Photovoltaic Semiconductor Device and
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Method for Manufacturing the Same.
Deguchi, Mikio
5,076,857 Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Photovoltaic Cell and Process.
Nowlan, Michael J. 5,1 71 ,373
Spire Corporation Devices Involving the Photo Behavior of
Fullerenes.
1 992 Hebard, Arthur F.; Miller, Barry;
Rosamilia, Joseph M.; Wilson, William L.
5,080,724 AT&T Bell Laboratories
Selective Emitters.
Chubb, Donald L. 1993
The United States of America as
represented by the Administrator of the 5,1 92,400
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Method of Isolating Shorted Silicon
Spheres.
5,082,505 Parker, Sidney G.; Hammerbacher, Milfred
Self-Sustaining Power Module. D.; Levine, Jules D . ; Hotchkiss, Gregory B.
Cota, Albert 0.; Reed, John J. Texas Instruments Incorporated
5,1 96,690
Optically Powered Photomultiplier Tube.
Subject I ndex 1 09
Flesner, Larry D . ; Miller, Stephen A. ; 5,235,232
Dubbelday, Wadad B. Adjustable-Output Electrical Energy Source
The United States of America as Using Light-Emitting Polymer.
represented by the Secretary of the Navy Conley, Jerry J . ; Mortensen, Gary B.
E.F. Johnson Company
5,20 1 ,961
Photovoltaic Device Containing Organic 5,240,51 0
Material Layers and Having High Conversion Photovoltaic Cell.
Efficiency. Goldade, Victor A.; Markov, Evgeny M . ;
Yoshikawa, Masao; Suzuki, Tetsurou Pinchuk, Lenoid S . ; Kestelman, Vladimir N . ;
Ricoh Company, Ltd. Girin, Andrey M .
Development Products, Inc.
5,206,523
Microporous Crystalline Silicon of 5,240,647
Increased Band Gap for Semiconductor Process for Making Solid-State
Applications. Radiation-Emitting Composition.
Goesele, Ulrich M . ; Lehmann, Volker E . Ashley, Carol S . ; Brinker, C. Jeffrey;
Reed, Scott; Walko, Robert J .
5,21 1 ,762
Photoresponsive Element Utilizing a 5,242,504
Molecular Heterojunction. Photovoltaic Device and Manufacturing
lsoda, Satoru; Ueyama, Satoshi; Kawakubo, Method Therefor.
Hiroaki; Maeda, Mitsuo Iwamoto, Masayuki; Minami, Kouji; Yamaoki,
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Toshihiko
Sanyo Electric Co. , Ltd.
5,21 3,628
Photovoltaic Device. 5,248,621
Noguchi, Shigeru; Iwata, Hiroshi; Sano, Method for Producing Solar Cell Devices of
Keiichi Crystalline Material.
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. Sano, Masafumi
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,21 5,599
Advanced Solar Cell. 5,248,931
Hingorani, Narain G.; Mehta, Harshad Laser Energized High Voltage Direct
Electric Power Research Institute Current Power Supply.
Flesner, Larry D . ; Dubbelday, Wadad B.
5,21 8,21 3 The United States of America as
SOl Wafer with SiGe. represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Gaul , Stephen J.; Rouse, George V.
Harris Corporation 5,261 ,969
Monolithic Voltage-Matched Tandem
5,220 , 1 81 Photovoltaic Cell and Method for Making
Photovoltaic Element of Junction Type with Same.
an Organic Semiconductor Layer Formed of a Stanbery, Billy J.
Polysilane Compound. The Boeing Company
Kanai, M asahiro; Tanaka, Hisami; Sakou ,
Harumi 5,261 ,970
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Optoelectronic and Photovoltaic Devices
with Low-Reflectance Surfaces.
5,221 ,364 Landis, Geoffrey A.; Jenkins, Phillip P .
Lightweight Solar Cell. Sverdrup Technology, Inc.
Hotaling, Steven P.
The United States of America as 5,270,248
represented by the Secretary of the. Air Force Method (or Forming Diffusion Junctions in
Solar Cell Substrates.
5,229,624 Rosenblum, Mark D . ; Hanoka, Jack I .
Light-Polarizing Electrically Conducting Mobil Solar Energy Corporation
Film.
Marks, Alvin M.
5,023,1 44
1 991 Silver Alloy Foil for lnterconnector for
Solar Cell.
4,990,286 Yamamoto, Shigeru; Mori, Satoru; Hayashi,
Zinc Oxyfluoride Transparent Conductor. Akira
Gordon , Roy G. Mitsubishi Metal Corporation
President and Fellows of Harvard College
5,024,953
4,994,879 Method for Producing Opto-Bectric
Photoelectric Transducer with Light Path Transducing Element.
of lncreaed Length. Uematsu, Tsuyoshi; Saitoh, Tadashi
Hayashi, Yutaka Hitachi, Ltd.
Agency of Industrial Science & Technology,
Ministry of International Trade & Industry 5,028,488
Functional ZnSe 1 _xTex:H Deposited
5,001 ,302 Film.
Connecting Structure for an Electronic Nakagawa, Katsumi; Ishihara, Shunichi;
Part. Kanai, Masahiro; Murakami, Tsutomu; Arao,
Atsumi, Yoshinori Kozo; Fujioka, Yasushi
Casio Computer Co. , Ltd. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,002,796 5,030,295
Process for Forming Functional Zinc Oxide Radiation Resistant Passivation of Silicon
Films Using Alkyl Zinc Compound and Solar Cells.
Oxygen-Containing Gas. Swanson, Richard M . ; Gan, Jon-Yiew;
Nishida, Shoji Gruenbaum, Peter E.
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Electric Power Research Institute
5,006, 1 79 5,057,439
Interconnect for Electrically Connecting Method of Fabricating Polysilicon Emitters
Solar Cells. for Solar Cells.
Gaddy, Edward M . Swanson, Richard M . ; Gan, Jon-Yiew
Solarex Corporation Electric Power Research Institute
5,009,721 5,074,920
Solar Cell. Photovoltaic Cells with Improved Thermal
Matsumoto, Hideo; Hokuyo, Shigeru Stability.
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Gonsiorawski, Ronald C.; Borenstein,
Jeffrey T. ; Kardauskas, Michael J .
5,01 1 ,706 Mobil Solar Energy Corporation
Method of Forming Coatings Containing
Amorphous Silicon Carbide. 5,075,763
Tarhay, Leo; Sharp, Kenneth G. High Temperature Metallization System for
Dow Corning Corporation Contacting Semiconductor Materials.
Spitzer, Mark B . ; Dingle, Jason E.
Kopin Corporation
5,228,926 5,264,285
Photovoltaic Device with Increased Light Method of Bonding Using Polycarborane
Absorption and Method for Its Manufacture. Siloxane Polymers.
Glatfelter, Troy; Vogeli, Craig; Call, Jon; Dougherty, Thomas K.
Hammond, Ginger Hughes Aircraft Company
United Solar Systems Corporation
5,270,263
5,230,746 Process for Depositing Aluminum Nitride
Photovoltaic Device Having Enhanced Rear (AIN) Using Nitrogen Plasma Sputtering.
Reflecting Contact. Kim, Sung C.; Yu, Chris C.; Doan, Trung T.
Wiedeman, Scott; Jackson, Frederick R. Micron Technology, Inc.
Amoco Corporation
Subject Index 1 13
Weber, Michael F. Materials Production and Processes
Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company (purification, deposition, doping)
1992
1 991
5,084,400
Conversion Process for Passivating Short 5,01 2,6 1 9
Circuit Current Paths in Bectronic Devices Method and Apparatus for Forming Spheres.
Having a Metallic Bectrode. Knepprath, Vernon E . ; Levine, Jules D.
Nath, Prem; Vogeli, Craig Texas Instruments Incorporated
Energy Conversion Devices, Inc.
5,030,476
5,1 62,239 Process and Apparatus for the Formation of
Laser Crystallized Cladding Layers for a Functional Deposited Film on a Cylindrical
Improved Amorphous Silicon Light-Emitting Substrate by Means of Microwave Plasma
Diodes and Radiation Sensors. Chemical Vapor Deposition.
Winer, Kris A.; Thornton, Robert L. Okamura, Ryuji; Otoshi, Hirokazu; Takei,
Xerox Corporation Tatsuya
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
5,169,791
Method for the Passivation of Crystal 5,049,523
Defects in Polycrystalline Silicon Method of Forming Semiconducting Materials
Material. and Barriers.
Muenzer, Adolf Coleman, John H.
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Plasma Physics Corp.
1 993 5,053,355
Method and Means for Producing a Layered
5,192,400 System of Semiconductors.
Method of Isolating Shorted Silicon von Campe, Hilmar
Spheres. Nukem GmbH
Parker, Sidney G.; Hammerbacher, Milfred
D.; Levine, Jules D . ; Hotchkiss, Gregory B. 5,061 ,51 1
Texas Instruments Incorporated Method for Forming Functional Deposited
Films by Means of Microwave Plasma Chemical
5,242,507 Vapor Deposition Method.
Impurity-Induced Seeding of Saitoh, Keishi; Hashizume, Junichiro; lida,
Polycrystalline Semiconductors. Shigehira; Takei, Tetsuya; Arai, Takayoshi
Iverson, Ralph B. Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
Boston University
5,069,740
5,247,349 Production of Semiconductor Grade Silicon
Passivation and Insulation of 111-V Spheres from Metallurgical Grade Silicon
Devices with Pnictides, Particularly Particles.
Amorphous Pnictides Having a Layer-Like Levine, Jules D.; Jensen, Millard J .
Structure. Texas Instruments Incorporated
Olego, Diego J . ; Baumann, John A.;
Schachter, Rozalie; Serreze, Harvey B.; 5,073,698
Spicer, William E. ; Raccah, Paul M. Method for Selectively Heating a Film on a
Stauffer Chemical Company Substrate.
Stultz, Timothy J .
5,272,1 1 9 Peak Systems, Inc.
Process for Contamination Removal and
Minority Carrier Lifetime Improvement in 1 992
Silicon.
Falster, Robert 5,082,696
MEMC Electronic Materials, SpA. Method of Forming Semiconducting Amorphous
Silicon Films from the Thermal Decomposition
of Dihalosilanes.
5, 1 1 0,531 5,214,002
Process and Apparatus for Casting Multiple Process for Depositing a Thermal CVD Film
Silicon Wafer Articles. of Si or Ge Using a Hydrogen Post-Treatment
Nanis, Leonard Step and an Optional Hydrogen Pre-Treatment
SRI International Step.
H ayashi, Yutaka; Yamanaka, Mitsuyuki
5, 1 54,810 Agency of Industrial Science and Technology
Thin Film Coating and Method.
Kamerling, Marc.A.; Beauchamp, William T.; 5,230,753
Klinger, Robert E.; Lehan, John P. Photostable Amorphous Silicon-Germanium
Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. A lloys.
Wagner, Sigurd
5, 1 56,978 Princeton University
Method of Fabricating Solar Cells.
Bathey, Balakrishnan R.; Cretalla, Mary C.; 5,238,879
Taylor, Aaron S. Method for the Production of
Mobil Solar Energy Corporation Polycrystalline Layers Having Granular
Crystalline Structure for Thin-Film
5, 1 73,270 Semiconductor Components Such as Solar
Monocrystal Rod Pulled from a Melt. Cells.
Kida, Michie; Sahira, Kensho; Nozoe, Plaettner, Rolf
Akikuni Simens Aktiengesellschaft
Mitsubishi Materials Corporation
5,242,505
1 993 Amorphous Silicon-Based Photovoltaic
Semiconductor Materials Free From
5, 1 82,091 Staebler- Wronski Effects.
Method and Apparatus for Purifying Lin, Guang H . ; He, Mu Z.; Kapur, Mridula;
Silicon. Bockris, John O'M.
Yuge, Noriyoshi; Saba, Hiroyuki; Aratani , Electric Power Research Institute
Fukuo
Kawasaki Steel Corporation 5,254,300
Process for Casting Silicon Blocks of
5,1 87, 1 1 5 Columnar Structure.
Method of Forming Semiconducting Materials Priewasser, Georg; Huber, Lothar; Spatzier,
and Barriers Using a Dual Enclosure Gerhard
Apparatus. Wacker-Chemitronic Gesellschaft fur
Coleman, John H. Elektronik -Grundstoffe mbH
Plasma Physics Corp.
4,992,138 5,019,176
Method and Apparatus for Constructing a Thin Solar Cell and Lightweight Array.
Foil Matrix for a Solar Cell. Brandhorst, Jr. , Henry W.; Weinberg, Irving
Jensen, Millard J . ; Hotchkiss, Gregory B. The United States of America as
Texas Instruments Incorporated represented by the Administrator of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
4,999,308
Method of Making Thin Film Solar Cell 5,021 ,099
Array. Solar Cell Interconnection and Packaging
Nishiura, Masaharu; Yamada, Katsumi Using Tape Carrier.
Fuji Electric Co. , Ltd. Kim , Namsoo P.; Stanbery, Billy J.
The Boeing Company
5,008,062
Method of Fabricating Photovoltaic 5,022,381
Module. Barrel-Shaped Solar Roofing Element and
Anderson, A. Jerome; Beze, Norman L. Method for Its Assembly.
Siemens Solar Industries Allegro, Joseph
5,009,720 5,022,930
Solar Cell. Thin Film Photovoltaic Panel and Method.
Hokuyo, Shigeru; Oda, Takao; Matsumoto, Ackerman, Bruce; Albright, Scot P.; Jordan,
Hideo John F.
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha Photon Energy, Inc.
5,089,426 5,155,051
Method for Manufacturing a Semiconductor Method of Manufacturing Photovoltaic
Device Free from Bectrical Shortage Due to Device.
Pin-Hole Formation. Noguchi, Shigeru; Iwata, Hiroshi; Sano,
Keiichi
Sanyo Electric Co. , Ltd.
5,176,758 5,228,926
Translucent Photovoltaic Sheet Material Photovoltaic Device with Increased Light
and Panels. Absorption and Method for Its Manufacture.
Nath, Prem ; Vogeli, Craig Glatfelter, Troy; Vogeli, Craig; Call, Jon;
United Solar Systems Corporation Hammond, Ginger
United Solar Systems Corporation
5,180,434
Interfacial Plasma Bars for Photovoltaic 5,232,519
Deposition Apparatus. Wireless Monolithic Photovoltaic Module.
DiDio, Gary M . ; Jones, Kermit; Hoffman, Glatfelter, Troy; Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Prem
Kevin; Laarman, Timothy; Call, John; Nath, United Solar Systems Corporation
Prem
United Solar Systems Corporation 5,232,860
Method of Flexible Photovoltaic Device
5,1 80,442 Manufacture.
Integration System for Solar Modules. Kawanishi, Yasuyoshi; Takahashi, Osamu ;
Elias, Eric Otsuki, Masatoshi; Sawada, Kenzi
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd .
5,185,042
Generic Solar Cell Array Using a Printed 5,236,378
Circuit Substrate. Storage of Photovoltaic Arrays on a Ship.
Ferguson, David L. Newman, Edwin
TRW, Inc.
5,236,516
5,202,271 Photovoltaic Apparatus.
Manufacturing Method of Photovoltaic Noguchi, Shigeru; Iwata, Hiroshi; Sana,
Device. Keiichi
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
5,248,348 5,264,376
Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell and Method Method of Making a Thin Film Solar Cell.
for Manufacturing the Same. Abbott, Donald C.; Mahendra, Bawa S.;
Miyachi, Kanji; Koyama, Masato; Ashida, Frechette, Raymond A
Yoshinori; Fukuda, Nobuhiro Texas Instruments Incorporated
Mitsui Toatsu Chemicals, Inc.
5,266,125
5,248,349 Interconnected Silicon Film Solar Cell
Process for Making Photovoltaic Devices Array.
and Resultant Product. Rand, James A.; Barnett, Allen M . ; Hall,
Foote, James B.; Kaaka, Steven A. F.; Robert B.
Meyers, Peter V.; Nolan, James F. AstroPower, Inc.
Solar Cells, Inc.
5,268,037
5,252,139 Monolithic, Parallel Connected
Photovoltaic Thin Layers Panel Structure. Photovoltaic Array and Method for Its
Schmitt, Jacques; Ricaud, Alain; Siefert, Manufacture.
Jean-Marie Glatfelter, Troy
Solems S.A. United Solar Systems Corporation
5,252,140 5,268,038
Solar Cell Substrate and Process for Its Bectrical Terminal Element for Solar
Production. Modules.
Kobayashi, Shigeyoshi; Yaba, Susumu; Riermeier, Manfred; Zinke, Gerhard;
Kikugawa, Shinya; Muhl, Stephen; Madan, Arun Muenzer, Adolf
Siemens Solar GmbH
5,252,141
Modular Solar Cell with Protective 5,268,039
Member. Photo voltaic . Device Including Shunt
Inoue, Yuji; Yamamoto, Hiroshi Preventing Layer and Method for the
Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Deposition Thereof.
Vogeli, Craig; Nath, Prem
5,254,179 United Solar Systems Corporation
Photovoltaic Device and Solar Module
Having a Partial Transparency.
5, 1 53,780 4,994,941
Method and Apparatus for Uniformly Sign of Character and Figure.
Concentrating Solar Flux for Photovoltaic Wen, Hung-Sheng
Applications.
Jorgensen, Gary J.; Carasso, Meir; 1993
Wendelin, Timothy J.; Lewandowski, Allan A.
The United States of America as 5,230,837
represented by the United States Department Fragrance Dispenser and Method for
of Energy Fragrance Dispensing.
Babasade, Wolfgang W.
5,1 69,456
Two-Axis Tracking Solar Collector 5,232,51 8
Mechanism. Photovoltaic Roof System.
Johnson, Kenneth C. Nath, Prem; Laarman, Timothy; Singh, Avtar
United Solar Systems Corporation
1993
5,191 ,876 Utility-Independent Systems and
Rotatable Solar Collection System. Storage Tech nologies
Atchley, Curtis L.
5,228,924 1991
Photovoltaic Panel Support Assembly.
Barker, James M.; Underwood, John C . ; Des 31 7,458
.
Article and a Soluble Polyimide Which Bectronic Calculator with Solar Cell.
Resists Dimensional Change, Delamination, Sawada, Masaji; Yoshimura, Youko
and Debonding When Exposed to Changes in Sharp Corporation
Temperature.
Steakley, Diane M.; St. Clair, Anne K. Des. 31 9,252
The United States of America as Electronic Calculator with Solar Cell.
represented by the Administrator of the Sawada, Masaji; Nishida, Kouji
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sharp Corporation
5,252,139 31 4,523
Photovoltaic Thin Layers Panel Structure. Multimeter.
Schmitt, Jacques; Ricaud, Alain; Siefert, Omura, Makoto
Jean-Marie Hioki Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
Solems S.A.
4,009,456
Door Lock Apparatus.
Eck, Berth
SYSTEMS Lasinvast Svenska AB
4,982,081
Utllltv-lnteractlve Systems and Ambient Light Rejecting Quad Photodiode
Interface Technologies (power Sensor.
conditioning) Schmidt, Terrence C.
Electrohome Limited
1991
4,982, 1 01
4,989,600 Fiberglass Collar for Data Transfer from
Tanning Pod. Rotatable Shaft.
Collier, Joseph M. Baker, Matt
Bently Nevada Corporation
5,003,441 5,020,232
Pop-Up Light Fixture. Illuminated Level.
Crowe, John R.; Cheatham, Gregory A. Whiteford, Carlton L.
5,003,866 5,020,919
Car Ventilator. Heat Flow Sensing Apparatus and Method.
Ricci, Russell L. Suomi, Verner K.
Wisconsin Alumni Research
5,006,082
Actuating-Device for Small-Type Air-Feeded 5,021 ,71 5
Water Floaters. Lighting System for Roadside Signs.
Hwang, Fang-Lin Smith, Norman D.; Smith, Dresden G.
5,007,1 05 5,023,595
Watch Type Paging Receiver. Mail Arrival Signal System.
Kudoh, Kazuhiro; Nishiyama, Toshirou; Anma, Bennett, Charles S.
Sadayuki
N EC Corporation
5,029,342 5,039,928
Welder's Helmet and Photovoltaic Power Accumulator for Portable Computers.
Transmission Circuit Therefor. Nishi, Kazuo; Suzuki, Kunia; Kinka, Mikio;
Stein, Marc F.; O' Mara, Bradley Satake, Akemi; Kugawa, Shuichi
Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co. , Ltd.
5,029,428
Solar Cell Panel Assembly for Driving 5,040,455
Motor-Driven Screen Device. Ventilation Device for Automobiles.
Hiraki, Yoshiharu Doi, Shigetoshi; Kajimoto, Shinshi;
Yoshida Kogyo K. K. Kuroiwa, M utsutoshi
Mazda Motor Corporation
5,032,71 7
Remote Control for Anode-Cathode 5,040,585
Adjustment. Solar Cell Panel Assembly for Driving a
) Roose, Lars D. Motor-Driven Screen Apparatus.
The United States of America as Hiraki, Yoshiharu
represented by the United States Department Yoshida Kogyo K. K.
of Energy
5,041 ,762
5,032,961 Luminous Panel.
Ground Light System for a Landing Strip. Hartai, Julius
Pouyanne, Marc; Mace, Roger; Blanc,
Jean-Loup 5,056,447
Territoire de Ia Polynesia Francaise, a Rein-Deer Kite.
I' Energie Atomique Commissariat; Agence Labrador, Gaudencio A.
Francaise Pour Ia Maitrise de I'Energie
5,059,254
5,034, 1 1 0 Solar Cell Substrate and Solar Panel for
Pool Chlorinators. Automobile.
Gore, Rodney L. ; Glore, Herbert F. Yaba, Susumu; Takigawa, Tomoya; Osada,
Sai-Chlor Pty. Ltd. Koichi; Sato, Katsuhito; Omae, Masaru
Asahi Glass Company, Ltd.
5,034,658
Christmas-Tree, Decorative Artistic and 5,059,296
Ornamental Object Illumination Apparatus. Portable Self-Contained Solar Powered
Hiering, Roland; llberg, Vladimir Water Purifier.
Sherman, Mark
5,035,on Floatron , Inc.
Apparatus and Method for Improved Plant
Growth. 5,062,028
Palmer, Sharon-Joy Self-Contained Solar Powered Lamp.
Frost, John S . ; Wallace, Lloyd V. ;
5,036,443 Erickson, Mark R.; Felder, Bethanne
Proximity Light. Atlantic Richfield Company
Humble, Wayne; Spector, George
5,065, 1 56
5,038,251 Computer Controlled Parking Meter.
Electronic Apparatus and a Method for Bernier, Denis
Manufacturing the Same.
Sugiyama, Yoshinobu; Sawada, S hohei; 5,065,290
Hinooka, Takashi; Yoshida, Kaoru Illuminated Display.
Casio Computer Co., Ltd. Makar, Marko; Makar, Michael
5,038,674 5,065,291
Solar Ventilation Arrangement for Marking Light.
Passenger Compartments. Frost, John S . ; Erickson, Mark R . ; Seegan,
Merges, Veit Kimberly E.; Boyer, Brent P.
Phototronics Solartechnik GmbH Atlantic Richfield Company
Subject I ndex 1 23
5,066,338 5,084,664
Solar Powered Navigation Buoy Generator. Solar Powered Lead Acid Battery
Meyers, Roy D. Rejuvenator and Trickle Charger.
Gali, Carl E.
5,072,209
Data Display System for Vehicles. 5,085,753
Hori, Toshio; Furuhashi, Kanji; Wakita, Water Purifier.
Makoto; Ueda, Kazuo Sherman, Mark
Kawajyuu Gifu Engineering Co. , Ltd. Floatron, Inc.
5,073,054 5,087,1 07
Electronic Dictionary with Vertical Device and Process for Protecting and
Keyboard. Handling Bank Notes and Valuables.
McDowell, W. Stuart Gumanelli, Giuseppe E.
M . I . B. Elettronica S.R. L.
5,074,489
Method and System for Supporting an 5,088,127
Airborne Vehicle in Space. Powered Rotating Display in a Hat.
Gamzon, Eliyahu Thornock, Del M .
5,074,706 5,090,1 67
Raised Depressible Pavement Marker. Solar Shed.
Paulos, Harry, D. Wassell, Stephen
Olympic Machines, Inc.
5,090,689
5,074,81 1 Solar Carousel.
Solar Powered Trolling Motor. Petz, Peter
Crisman, Dusty S.
5,090,770
5,075,857 Electrical Seat Adjustment Device.
Unmanned Compliance Monitoring Device. Heinrichs, Heinz-Josef; Enders, Stephan;
Maresca, Joseph S. Wagner, Udo; Dirksen, Alfred
Stabilus GmbH
5,076,634
Sun Visor for Motor Vehicles. 5,1 02,471 '
Muller, Hermann-Frank; Pflanz, Tassilo Portable Measuring Instrument with Solar
Batteries.
5,077,796 Sasaki, Koji
Cryptograph. Mitutoyo Corporation
Bellaire, David L.
5,1 06,492
1 992 Solar Powered Swimming Pool Skimmer.
Distinti, John A.; Fonti, Robert G .
5,078, 151
Medical Auscultation Device. 5,1 06,495
Laballery, Vincent Portable Water Purification Device.
Hughes, Harold
5,078,470
One- Way Peephole. 5,1 07,637
Milman, Uri Transit Shelter with Self-Contained
Illumination System.
5,079,645 Robbins, Steven
Solar Powered Diffractor. B & E Energy Systems, Inc.
Ritter, Carl A.
5,1 09,989
5,079,726 Rotary Display.
Response Speed and Accuracy Measurement Kremmin, Klaus; Kremmin , Thomas R . F.
Device. K-2 Industries , Inc.
Keller, Lloyd E .
Subject Index 1 25
5,204,586 5,21 7,296
Solar Powered Lamp Having a Circuit for Solar Powered Light.
Providing Positive Turn-On at Low Light Tanner, David P.; Frost, John S.; Erickson,
Levels. Mark R.; Moore, Fred A.
Moore, Fred A. Siemens Solar Industries
Siemens Solar Industries
5,21 7,540
5,204,667 Solar Battery Module.
Indication Display Unit for Vehicles. Ogura, Hiroshi
Inoue, Tai Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
Yazaki Corporation
5,221 ,363
5,205,782 Solar Cell Window Fitting.
Car Ventilating System. Gillard, Calvin W.
Ohba, Shunji Lockheed Missiles & Space Company
5,208,578 5,228,772
Light Powered Chime. Solar Powered Lamp Having a Cover
Tury, Jon M.; Tury, Edward L. Containing a Fresnel Lens Structure.
Mitchell, Kim W. ; Stizema, Jr., Ronald L.
5,209,012 Siemens Solar Industries
Method for Improved Plant Growth.
Palmer, Sharon-Joy 5,228,925
Photovoltaic Window Assembly.
5,21 0,804 Nath, Pram; Singh, Avtar
Solar Powered Hearing Aid and Reenergizer United Solar Systems Corporation
Case.
Schmid, Guenther W. 5,228,964
Chlorinating Apparatus.
5,21 1 ,470 Middleby, Samuel R.
Self-Contained Solar Powered Light.
Frost, John S.; Erickson, Mark R . ; Seegan, 5,229,649
Kimberly E.; Boyer, Brent P. Light-Energized Bectronics Energy
Siemens Solar Industries Management System.
Nielsen, Wyn Y.; Luck, Jonathan M.
5,212,385 Solatrol, Inc.
Diamond alpha Particle Detector.
Jones, Barbara L. 5,230,837
Fragrance Dispenser and Method for
5,212,91 6 Fragrance Dispensing.
Device for Shading Spaces. Babasade, Wolfgang W.
Dippel, Hans-Jurgen; Raupach, Peter
Peter Raupach 5,231 ,781 .
Illuminated Float.
5,213,626 Dunbar, Bret A.
Transparent Pane for Vehicles. Bret Allen Dunbar
Paetz, Werner
Webasto-Schade GmbH 5,232,1 05
Solar Powered Crystal Display Rack.
5,21 6,972 Gregg, Stephen R.
Lighted Cleat.
Dufrene, John K.; Deed, John 5,232,5 1 8
Photovoltaic Roof System.
5,217,000 Nath, Prem; Laarman, Timothy; Singh, Avtar
Compound Solar Collector Building United Solar Systems Corporation
Construction.
Pierce-Bjorklund, Patricia
5,258,076 5,235,266
Arrangement for Covering Doors, Windows or Energy-Generating Plant, Particularly
. Like Type Room Closure. Propeller-Type Ship 's Propulsion Plant,
Wecker, Reinhard Including a Solar G enerator.
MWB Messwandler-Bau AG Schaffrin , Christian
Schottei-Werft Josef Becker GmbH & Co. KG
5,262,756
Solar Powered Warning Light. 5,246,350
Chien, Tseng L. High Efficiency Solar Powered Pumping
System.
5,271 ,225 Lackstrom, David; Raghunathan, Kidambi
Multiple Mode Operated Motor with Various International Product and Technology
Sized Orifice Ports. Exchange, Inc.
Adamides, Alexander
Subject Index 1 27
5,269,851 1 992
Solar Energy System.
Horne, William E. 5,086,267
United Solar Technologies, Inc. Control Circuit for a Solar-Powered
Rechargeable Power Source and Load.
Janda, Rudolph W. ; Douglas, Jerald L. ;
Systems SupP.ort (testing, maintenance Condon, Jr., Edward F.
operation, ani::l control) lntermatic Incorporated
5, 1 1 8,945
1991 Photothermal Test Process, Apparatus for
Performing the Process and Heat Microscope.
4,982,569 Winschuh, Erich; Petry, Harald
Parallel Hybrid System for Generating Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Power.
Bronicki, Lucien Y. 5,1 50,043
Ormat Turbines, Ltd. Apparatus and Method for Non-Contact
Surface Voltage Probing by Scanning
5,001 ,41 5 Photoelectron Emission.
Bectrical Power Apparatus for Controlling Flesner, Larry D.
the Supply of Electrical Power from an Array The United States of America as
of Photovoltaic Cells to an Bectrical represented by the Secretary of the Navy
Head.
Watkinson, Stuart M . 5, 1 53,497
Circuit for Regulating Charging of a
5,025,202 . Storage Battery by a Photovoltaic Array.
Solar Cell Power System with a Solar Array Eiden, Glenn E.
Bus Lockup Cancelling Mechanism.
Ishii, Akihiko; Honda, Yukihiro; Matsui, 1 993
Toshio
Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha 5,21 7,285
Apparatus for Synthesis of a Solar
5,027,051 Spectrum.
Pho.tovoltaic Source Switching Regulator Sopori, Shushan L.
with Maximum Power Transfer Efficiency The United States of America as
Without Voltage Change. represented by the United States Department
Lafferty, Donald L. of Energy