Dual lasers for removing glass-side debris during the manufacture of thin film photovoltaic devices
US9555502B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 27, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jan 31, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/543
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
Methods and systems for forming a scribe line in a thin film stack on an inner surface of a thin film photovoltaic superstrate are provided via the use of a cleaning laser beam and a scribing laser beam. The cleaning laser beam is focused directly onto the exposed surface of the superstrate such that the cleaning laser beam removes debris from the exposed surface of the superstrate, and the scribing laser beam is focused through the exposed surface of the superstrate and onto the thin film stack such that the scribing laser beam passes through the superstrate to form a scribe within the thin film stack on the inner surface of the superstrate. The method and system can further utilize a conveyor to transport the superstrate in a machine direction to move the superstrate past the cleaning laser source and the scribing laser source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.