Light annealing in a cooling chamber of a firing furnace
US10443941B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 18, 2016 |
| Grant date | Oct 15, 2019 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 4, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02P70/50
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
One embodiment is directed to an apparatus comprising a firing furnace comprising a heating chamber configured to fire a metallization layer of photovoltaic devices and a cooling chamber configured to cool the photovoltaic devices that have been heated by the heating chamber. The cooling chamber comprises lights to light anneal the photovoltaic devices to reduce light induced degradation as the photovoltaic devices are cooled in the cooling chamber. The cooling chamber of the firing furnace is configured to use residual heat from heating performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace as heat for the light annealing of the photovoltaic devices. Light annealing is not performed in the heating chamber of the firing furnace.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.