Solar panel edge deletion module

US8231431B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Applied Materials, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Dhruv Gajaria · Sunnyvale, US
• Zhiyong Li · Foster City, US
• Gopalakrishna B. Prabhu · San Jose, US
• Yacov Elgar · Sunnyvale, US
• John Visitacion · Newark, US
• Yong Liu · San Jose, US
• Jeffrey S. Sullivan · Rexford, US
• Salvador P. Umotoy · Pittsburg, US
• Tai T. Ngo · Dublin, US
• Michael Marriott · معلمی نژاد, US
• Peter Reginald Crundwell · Eastbourne, GB
• Vinay Shah · San Mateo, US
• Ho Gene Choi · Petaluma, US
• Dennis C. Pierce · Pleasanton, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 23, 2009
• Grant date: Jul 31, 2012
• Expiry date: Jan 24, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P70/50
• WIPO field: Semiconductors
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to an edge deletion module positioned within an automated solar cell fabrication line. The edge deletion module may include a grinding wheel device for removing material from edge regions of a solar cell device and cleaning the edge regions of the solar cell device after removing the material. The edge deletion module may also include an abrasive element, a portion of which is ground as it is periodically, laterally advanced toward the grinding wheel device. A controller is provided for controlling the operation and function of various facets of the module.