METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE AND SYSTEM FOR PATTERNING AN OBJECT

• Main Authors: LERCHENBERGER AUGUST, PALM JORG
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 17.06.2010
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING,CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING; ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; HAND CUTTING TOOLS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; SEVERING; TRANSPORTING

A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device, which method comprises the steps of providing a first layer structure on an second layer structure so that the first layer structure has an external surface, and an interface with the second layer structure, the first layer structure comprising a thin-film photovoltaic absorber layer; patterning through the first layer structure from the external surface to or into the second layer structure by first mechanically removing material from the first layer structure in a predetermined patterning area, and subsequently removing, by means of laser cleaning, residual material from the mechanical removal in the patterning area; and a system for patterning an object having a first layer structure on an second layer structure, the system comprising a mechanical patterning device and a laser cleaning device, and means for relative movement between the object, and the mechanical patterning device and the laser cleaning device.