Semi-conductor wafers longer than industry standard square

Abstract

A semiconductor wafer is as wide as the industry standard width A (presently 156 mm + / - 1 mm) and is longer than the industry standard A by at least 1 mm and as much as the standard equipment can reasonably accommodate, presently approximately 3-20 mm and potentially longer, thus, gaining significant additional surface area for sunlight absorption. Modules may be composed of a plurality of such larger wafers. Such wafers can be processed in conventional processing equipment that has a wafer retaining portion of industry standard size A and a configuration that also accommodates a wafer with aperpendicular second edge longer than A by at least 1 and typically 3-20 mm. Wet bench carriers and transport and inspection stations can be so used.

Description

[0001] Cross References to Related Applications [0002] The application claims the title of SEMI-CONDUCTOR WAFERS FOR USE INSOLAR CELLS AND MODULES THAT ARE LONGER THAN SIZE OF A SIDE OF THE INDUSTRYSTANDARD SQUARE, AND METHODS OF MAKING AND USING SAME AND SOLAR CELLS ANDMODULES INCORP filed on October 24, 2017 U.S. provisional number 62 / 576,143 for SAME (Semiconductor Wafers with Side Dimensions Longer Than Industry Standard Square for Use in Solar Cells and Modules, and Methods of Making and Using The Same and Solar Cells and Modules Incorporating The Same) priority of the application, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Background technique [0003] Wafers for solar cells and solar modules are generally square. They are manufactured in a square shape, trimmed to final size, and used in that shape. Alternatively, in some cases, they are fabricated in a square shape and then cut into smaller units arranged in such a way that ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, given the geometrical constraints of wafer formation that produce square wafers, and given that the industry has invested heavily in processing equipment that can accommodate these nominally 156mm x 156mm (but actually now 157mm x 157mm) square wafers, any A module maker trying to use wafers larger than the standard upper limit of 157mm x 157mm would be very expensive

Images