Patterned tunnel junction

USH667H · kind H · statutory invention registration

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretaryof the Air · US

Inventors

• Salah M. Bedair · Raleigh, US
• Robert J. Markunas · Chapel Hill, US
• Michael Timmons · Durham, US
• James A. Hutchby · Raleigh, US
• John R. Hauser · Berkeley, US

Key dates

• Grant date: Sep 5, 1989

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

A multijunction solar cell is disclosed which uses a patterned intercell ohmic connection as the tunnel junction to connect a top solar cell in electrical and optical series with a bottom solar cell. By confining this patterned tunnel junction to shadowed areas directly beneath the top surface metallization grid, the tunnel junction is set free from the requirement that it be transparent and have band gaps greater than or equal to those of the top solar cell.