Patent · US Expired

Stacked multijunction photovoltaic converters

US4338480A · kind A · utility

120Cited by
5References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 29, 1980
Grant dateJul 6, 1982
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 29, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/50

Abstract

Solar cells with different bandgaps are stacked to form a multijunction photovoltaic converter with a high conversion efficiency. By stacking the cells mechanically rather than by growing them all at one time, the most convenient combination of materials may be selected for the cells. The stacking is completed by means of a glass sealing layer with moats containing inter-cell contacts which are bonded to the cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.