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Combing in the energy
Combing in the energy
by Maureen McHale, Advanced Solar Photonics, Lake Mary, Florida, USA
The first solar cell was built in 1883 when technology has emerged as the technology
Advanced Solar Photonics
Charles Fritts coated the semiconductor of choice for manufacturers that want to
recently launched the
selenium with an extremely thin layer of support 24/7 manufacturing environments
LaserComb™ series
gold to form the junction. The device with high throughput and fast repetition
into production for solar
had a one percent efficiency. By 1954, the rates. Solid state laser systems feature a
manufacturers. This new
modern age of solar power technology compact design and provide narrow pulse
manufacturing tool is a thin
arrived with the discovery of the first widths of less than 20 ns ensuring that
practical photovoltaic device boasting the peak power is well above the material
film photovoltaic (TFPV) solid
a six percent efficiency. Since then, the ablation threshold even at very high
state laser scribing system that
science and technology of manufacturing repetition rates. The exceptional beam
creates a plurality of scribe lines
photovoltaic (PV) cells and systems have quality and pulse-to-pulse stability of these
to process substrates. Featuring
undergone revolutionary advancements. new systems are also very important in
multiple wavelengths and While panel efficiency has been steadily ensuring a clean, reliable, and repeatable
multiple beams, this new system
increasing, manufacturing costs have scribe process.
can rapidly and accurately scribe
continued to fall steadily, driven These solid state laser scribing systems
solar panels in just one pass.
downwards by continuous technological come complete with a Class I laser
innovation and process improvements, and enclosure and can be easily configured to
profit margins have increased dramatically meet the customers’ specific needs. These
for manufacturers. tools have the ability to handle miniature
Keywords: Laser Scribing, Thin
substrates and macro displays on standard
Film Photovoltaic, Thin Film
laser technology wafer frames. Processing various substrates
Scribing
Focusing on not only increasing panel in a variety of sizes, from scribing small
efficiency, manufacturers constantly look coupon size samples up to Generation 8,
for new technology and processes to 2.2 x 2.6 meters, and larger makes this
increase production and increase profit solid state laser tool the most advanced
margins. One specific collection of solar laser scribing system on the market.
processing equipment that has improved The machines platforms are configurable
through technological advancements with different lasers and optical systems to
throughout the years, opening the door to address a broad range of materials, panel
many previously unexplored applications, handling, and processing requirements.
is solid state laser systems. This series offers operators optional
Highly efficient solid state laser systems configurations to process various substrates
use less energy than conventional lasers at different wavelengths and in a variety of
and require virtually no maintenance sizes dependent on the applications and
(no lamps to replace or mirrors to clean). materials being processed. The tool can be
Having been found to be a cost-effective, equipped with either a single or multiple
reliable, high throughput means to process wavelength configurations and also
solar modules, these lasers represent a real multiple beams to enable the widest range
improvement in technology for a variety of of scribing applications of most TFPV
applications, and are rapidly becoming the materials using a single tool, therefore
new industry standard. providing unmatched flexibility and variety
of choices.
New processing equipment The thin film scribing systems are
Advanced Solar Photonics recently equipped with a new laser head specially
launched the LaserComb™ series into designed for cold evaporation of different
production for solar manufacturers. This coatings from brittle and semiconductor
new manufacturing tool is a thin film materials. The laser emits a specific
photovoltaic (TFPV) solid state laser frequency and operated in a special Super
scribing system, which creates a plurality of Pulsed mode that enhances the coating
scribe lines to process substrates. Featuring removal process.
multiple wavelengths and multiple beams, In addition to creating precise
this new system can rapidly and accurately scribe lines in thin film materials, these
scribe solar panels in just one pass. photovoltaic solid state laser scribing
Solid state laser scribing systems are the systems are capable of edge deletion
most advanced on the market today. This scribing around the full perimeter of
16 – Global Solar Technology – May/June 2009
www.globalsolartechnology.com
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