Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7141834 | Method of using a germanium layer transfer to Si for photovoltaic applications and heterostructure made thereby Ge/Si and other nonsilicon film heterostructures are formed by hydrogen-induced exfoliation of the Ge film which is wafer bonded to a cheaper substrate, such as Si. A thin, single-crystal layer of Ge is transferred to Si substrate. The bond at the interface of the G... | 11/28/2006 |
| 7135350 | Use of doped silicon dioxide in the fabrication of solar cells In one embodiment, a method of forming doped regions in a substrate of a back side contact solar cell includes the steps of depositing a first doped oxide layer on a back side of a substrate, depositing a first undoped oxide layer over the first doped oxide layer, d... | 11/14/2006 |
| 6696636 | By-pass rectifier element and terminal housing for solar battery modules using a by-pass rectifier element A by-pass diode includes a first lead plate and a second lead plate respectively arranged on the top face and the bottom face of a rectifier laminate and extending therefrom in opposite directions in parallel relation to each other. The first lead plates ... | 02/24/2004 |
| 6690041 | Monolithically integrated diodes in thin-film photovoltaic devices The present invention relates to the design of and includes monolithically integrated diodes for use in planar, thin-film, photovoltaic devices, such as solar cells.... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6472254 | Integrated photovoltaic switch with integrated power device including etching backside of substrate N+ or P+ diffusions are formed in a lightly doped P type or N type starting wafer. Individual planar and spaced cells or tubs are then formed by etching an array of intersecting trenches between the P+ (or N+) diffusions. The trenches extend through the t... | 10/29/2002 |
| 6243243 | Solar array with ESD protection A solar array having protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD) has a load coupled to the array. The load has a ground terminal that is also coupled to the solar array. A high impedance device is coupled between the array and ground terminal to prevent... | 06/05/2001 |
| 5973257 | Reflector layer for the well surface of a photovoltaic generator A photovoltaic generator device for producing an output sufficient to turn on a MOS-gated device consists of a plurality of planar photogenerator cells connected in series. Each of the photovoltaic generator cells is contained on its own respective insula... | 10/26/1999 |
| 5897715 | Interdigitated photovoltaic power conversion device A photovoltaic power conversion device has a top surface adapted to receive impinging radiation. The device includes at least two adjacent, serially connected cells. Each cell includes a semi-insulating substrate and a lateral conductivity layer of a firs... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5716459 | Monolithically integrated solar cell microarray and fabrication method A monolithically integrated solar cell microarray includes an isolation layer or multiple isolation layers between a substrate and a solar cell layer, and a trench in the solar cell layer that exposes the isolation layer. Together the isolation layer and ... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5549762 | Photovoltaic generator with dielectric isolation and bonded, insulated wafer layers A photovoltaic generator device for producing an output sufficient to turn on a MOS-gated device consists of a plurality of planar photogenerators connected in series. Each of the photovoltaic generators is contained on its own respective insulated tub. T... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5482568 | Micro mirror photovoltaic cells A photovoltaic concentrator module has miniature concentrating mirrors and photovoltaic cells attached to each mirror. A matrix of small thin mirror substrates are formed by coating a preferentially etched irradiation damaged dielectric substrate with a d... | 01/09/1996 |
| 5391236 | Photovoltaic microarray structure and fabrication method A photovoltaic microarray such as a solar cell array is monolithically fabricated, without a supporting substrate, by forming a network of trenches from one side of a substrate to define separate cell areas, filling the trenches with an insulative filler ... | 02/21/1995 |
| 5342451 | Semiconductor optical power receiver A gallium-arsenide optical power receiver of the type having a pn junction formed over a substrate and buffer layer has a window layer of a first alloy of aluminum gallium arsenide (Alx Ga1-x As) and a conductive layer of a second al... | 08/30/1994 |
| 5330918 | Method of forming a high voltage silicon-on-sapphire photocell array A method is provided for forming a multi-cell photovoltaic circuit on an insulating substrate, comprising the steps of: forming a photovoltaic junction between p-type and n-type layers in a silicon wafer; bonding the silicon wafer to an insulating substra... | 07/19/1994 |
| 5322572 | Monolithic tandem solar cell A single-crystal, monolithic, tandem, photovoltaic solar cell is described which includes (a) an InP substrate having upper and lower surfaces, (b) a first photoactive subcell on the upper surface of the InP substrate, (c) a second photoactive subcell on ... | 06/21/1994 |
| 5290367 | Photoelectric element A photoelectric element includes a first region having a light-receiving surface. A second region having a short side length not greater than twice the minority carrier diffusion length of the first region is provided on at least one portion of the first ... | 03/01/1994 |
| 5269852 | Crystalline solar cell and method for producing the same A crystalline solar cell is formed by growing single crystals on respective plural nucleation areas provided on a non-nucleation surface in such a manner that the neighboring single crystals do not have a crystal grain boundary therebetween. The solar cel... | 12/14/1993 |
| 5266125 | Interconnected silicon film solar cell array A plurality of thin polycrystalline silicon solar cells formed on a ceramic substrate and which are electrically series connected to form a monolithically interconnected submodule. Adjacent solar cells are electrically separated by a vertical trench and e... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5261968 | Photovoltaic cell and method An improved photovoltaic panel and method of forming a photovoltaic panel are disclosed for producing a high efficiency CdS/CdTe photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic panel of the present invention is initially formed with a substantially thick CdS layer, a... | 11/16/1993 |
| 5178685 | Method for forming solar cell contacts and interconnecting solar cells Photovoltaic cells with silver-rich thick film electrical contacts having superior thermal aging properties are disclosed. The silver-rich contacts are formed by firing a silver ink or paste wherein substantially all of the silver in the ink or paste befo... | 01/12/1993 |
| 5164019 | Monolithic series-connected solar cells having improved cell isolation and method of making same Series connected cells of a solar array formed in a monolithic semiconductor substrate are electrically isolated by forming grooves in a first major surface partially through the substrate between cells and then fracturing the substrate from the bottom of... | 11/17/1992 |
| 5155051 | Method of manufacturing photovoltaic device A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, wherein an amorphous semiconductor layer of one conductivity type doped with impurities which determine the conductivity type is formed on a substrate having a conductive surface, an insulating film is form... | 10/13/1992 |
| 5145793 | Manufacturing a gallium arsenide solar cell on a silicon substrate A method for manufacturing a solar cell which includes at least a first GaAs layer of a first conductivity type and a second GaAs layer of a second conducitivity type sequentially formed on a first main surface of an Si substrate of the first conductivity... | 09/08/1992 |
| 5130103 | Method for forming semiconductor crystal and semiconductor crystal article obtained by said method Semiconductor crystals are formed by applying a semiconductor crystal forming treatment on a substrate having a free surface on which a deposition surface (SNDS) with a small nucleation density and a deposition surface (SNDL) with me... | 07/14/1992 |
| 5103851 | Solar battery and method of manufacturing the same A solar battery characterized in the following respects of having at least one semiconductor multilayer structure (A) having at least, an electrode (a1); a semiconductor crystal (a2) of a first conductivity type formed on the electro... | 04/14/1992 |
| 5100480 | Solar cell and method for manufacturing the same A solar cell includes an insulating or semi-insulating substrate having a pair of through holes, an n type semiconductor layer disposed on the front surface of the substrate, and a p type semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate in the first hole and... | 03/31/1992 |
| 4982096 | Multi-element radiation detector In a radiation detector, scintillation material flouoresces and the produced light is converted to electrical energy in an adjacent converter, separators are provided in spaces between the adjacent scintillators and converters. The separators may have a g... | 01/01/1991 |
| 4933021 | Monolithic series-connected solar cells employing shorted p-n junctions for electrical isolation Electrical isolation between cells in a dual metal layer contact solar cell or an interdigitated contact solar cell structure is provided by forming a plurality of p-n junctions in the semiconductor substrate of the structure between cells and shorting th... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4933022 | Solar cell having interdigitated contacts and internal bypass diodes A solar cell structure having dual metal layer contacts or interdigitated metal contact fingers on one surface is provided with internal bypass diodes in each cell. Each bypass diode comprises doped regions in contact with the metal spaced from the doped ... | 06/12/1990 |
| 4873202 | Solid state relay and method of manufacturing the same A solid state relay includes a MOS FET receiving a photovoltaic output generated across a photovoltaic diode array responsive to a light signal from a light-emitting element, and a normally ON driving transistor connected to the MOS FET, the driving trans... | 10/10/1989 |
| 4804866 | Solid state relay A solid state relay includes a MOS FET receiving a photovoltaic output generated across a photovoltaic diode array responsive to a light signal from a light-emitting element, and a normally ON driving transistor connected to the MOS FET, the driving trans... | 02/14/1989 |
| 4766087 | Electrical contacts containing thallium (III) oxide prepared at relatively low temperature Electronic semiconductor devices are prepared having contacts forming rectifying and non-rectifying junctions between thallium (III) oxide and semincoductors. Such contacts may be formed at relatively low temperatures during preparation of bipolar, unipol... | 08/23/1988 |
| 4706104 | Electrical contacts containing thallium (III) oxide Electronic semiconductor devices are prepared having contacts forming rectifying and non-rectifying junctions between thallium (III) oxide and semiconductors. Such contacts may be formed at relatively low temperatures during preparation of bipolar, unipol... | 11/10/1987 |
| 4697042 | Solar generator The invention relates to a solar generator comprising separate and spaced semiconductor solar cells having surfaces provided for light incidence and electrically interconnected connection contacts for the surfaces and opposite rear faces, and having separ... | 09/29/1987 |
| 4665277 | Floating emitter solar cell Front surface contact floating emitter solar cell "transistors" having a semiconductor body (n-type) and floating emitter sections (p-type) diffused or implanted in the front surface are provided with sections diffused or implanted in the front surface be... | 05/12/1987 |
| 4644638 | Photovoltaic device prepared by electroless deposition A heterojunction photovoltaic device, containing a highly conductive coating material having a band gap greater than 0 to about 3.0 e.V. on a substrate containing a semiconductor material, is utilized in highly efficient photovoltaic cells and radiometric... | 02/24/1987 |
| 4638110 | Methods and apparatus relating to photovoltaic semiconductor devices A solar concentrator-photovoltaic module having a matrix of miniaturized photovoltaic cells is formed by using a laser beam to form the miniaturized photovoltaic cell sites in situ. A laminated sheet is formed by a light-transmissive lens sheet having a m... | 01/20/1987 |
| 4626322 | Photoelectrochemical preparation of a solid-state semiconductor photonic device A solid-state semiconductor photonic device is prepared by a photoelectrochemical deposition method. The device contains a highly conductive coating material including one or more metals and/or semiconductors on a substrate containing a semiconductor mate... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4626613 | Laser grooved solar cell Grooved solar cells are manufactured by scribing the surface of the substrate with a laser scribing tool, and optionally etching the surface to more accurately determine the surface profile, before performing the remainder of the processing steps involved... | 12/02/1986 |
| 4614835 | Photovoltaic solar arrays using silicon microparticles The disclosure relates to a photovoltaic solar array which is provided with a matrix having spherical photovoltaic diode particles embedded therein in an ordered array, the P-type region of each particle extending to one matrix surface and the N-type regi... | 09/30/1986 |
