Photovoltaic Cell Probe Layout for Alignment-Tolerant IV Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing photovoltaic wafer measurement devices face challenges in ensuring reliable electrical contact with all collecting electrodes and are not tolerant to variations in charge collector positioning, leading to non-reliable measurements and increased device rejection during production.
Innovation Solution
A measurement apparatus with a support member featuring a repetitive pattern of electrically separate contact electrodes and a vacuum sealing mechanism to ensure firm contact and alignment tolerance, allowing for robust testing of photovoltaic cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If continuous contact tracks are used in measurement devices, then the device structure is simple, but the measurement reliability deteriorates due to poor contact firmness and floating potential effects
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous contact track is segmented into multiple electrically separate contact electrodes arranged in a repetitive pattern. Each contact electrode is electrically isolated from others, transforming a single continuous structure into multiple discrete elements that can independently establish reliable contacts with charge collectors, thereby eliminating floating potential effects while maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member with its repetitive pattern of contact electrodes serves as an intermediary structure between the measurement device and the photovoltaic cell. This intermediary provides multiple discrete contact points that mediate the electrical connection, ensuring firm contact with charge collectors while maintaining alignment tolerance through the distributed electrode arrangement.
2Device complexity
If a single contact track is used, then the device complexity is low, but the adaptability to different polarity arrangements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The single contact track is divided into multiple electrically separate contact electrodes that can be independently configured. This segmentation allows the measurement device to adapt to different polarity arrangements by selectively activating appropriate contact electrodes, enabling measurement of various cell structures without increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The repetitive pattern of electrically separate contact electrodes creates a universal contact structure that can accommodate different polarity arrangements and cell configurations. The same support member with distributed electrodes can measure various photovoltaic cell types by adjusting which electrodes are activated, providing multi-functionality without increasing device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If contact electrodes are positioned precisely, then measurement precision is high, but the tolerance to positioning variations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the contact system into multiple electrically separate contact electrodes arranged in a repetitive pattern, the system achieves measurement precision through proper contact establishment while simultaneously gaining tolerance to positioning variations. The distributed electrodes ensure that even with alignment deviations, sufficient contact points are maintained for reliable measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
Each contact electrode in the repetitive pattern has optimized local characteristics for firm contact establishment, while the overall distributed arrangement provides global tolerance to positioning variations. The local quality of each electrode ensures precise measurement, while the spatial distribution across the support member accommodates manufacturing tolerances in charge collector positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides reliable electrical contact and improved alignment tolerance, reducing device rejection and fabrication costs by ensuring consistent measurement accuracy across varying charge collector positions.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum between the support member and the cell is provided to prevent displacement of the cell with respect to the contact electrodes
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a measurement apparatus (200) for measuring the current and voltage characteristics of a photovoltaic cell (100). The apparatus (200) comprises a support member (202) that comprises, arranged on said front surface (201), in the direction of a lateral axis (X), a repetitive pattern (2000) of groups (210, 220, 230) of electrically separate probing tracks (212, 214, 216, 222, 224, 226, 232, 234, 236) that extend over a length (L1, L2, L3). Each group (210, 220, 230) comprises at least two probing tracks (212, 214, 222, 224, 232, 234), possibly at least three probing tracks (212, 214, 216, 222, 224, 226, 232, 234, 236). The invention relates also to a measurement apparatus (200) wherein the support member (202) comprises, along said lateral axis (X), a repetitive pattern (3000) of groups (310, 320, 330) of separate probing tracks (312, 314, 322, 324, 332, 334), each group (310, 320, 330) extending over a length (L1, L2, L3) and comprising in the longitudinal direction (Y) a series of at least two electrically isolated probing tracks (312, 314),(322, 324), (332, 334). The invention relates also to a test system (1) comprising a photovoltaic cell (100) and a measurement apparatus (200), and also relates to a method to measure photovoltaic cells (100) with such measurement apparatus (200).