Photovoltaic structure cleaving system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9685579-B2
Application number	US-201514826129-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 13, 2015
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 20, 2017
Grant date	Jun 20, 2017

Abstract

A cleaving system is described. The system can include a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform. The system can further include a contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate it into a plurality of strips. During operation, the system can activate an actuator to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising:
a first surface; and
a second surface connected to the first surface;
wherein the second surface is not parallel to the first surface;
wherein the first surface comprises a holding mechanism adapted to hold the photovoltaic structure;
wherein a junction between the first surface and second surface forms a first fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be held on the first surface and separated along the first fulcrum edge;
wherein the second surface is configured to direct air towards a separated portion of the photovoltaic structure after separation; and

wherein the second surface comprises a buffer mechanism adapted to reduce impact when the photovoltaic structure lands on the second surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the buffer mechanism comprises at least one device adapted to slow down the photovoltaic structure's movement after being separated by creating an air flow.

3. An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface connected to the first surface; and
an edge connected to the second surface and adapted to guide a strip of the photovoltaic structure after being separated to fall into a predetermined position;
wherein the second surface is not parallel to the first surface;
wherein the first surface comprises a holding mechanism adapted to hold the photovoltaic structure;
wherein a junction between the first surface and second surface forms a first fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be held on the first surface and separated along the first fulcrum edge; and
wherein the second surface is configured to direct air towards a separated portion of the photovoltaic structure after separation.

4. An apparatus for separating a photovoltaic structure, the apparatus comprising:
a first surface;
a second surface connected to the first surface; and
a third surface connected to and forming a non-180-degree angle with the first surface, wherein a junction between the first surface and third surface forms a second fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be separated into three strips;
wherein the second surface is not parallel to the first surface;
wherein the first surface comprises a holding mechanism adapted to hold the photovoltaic structure;
wherein a junction between the first surface and second surface forms a first fulcrum edge, thereby facilitating the photovoltaic structure to be held on the first surface and separated along the first fulcrum edge; and
wherein the second surface is configured to direct air towards a separated portion of the photovoltaic structure after separation.

5. A cleaving system comprising:
a holding apparatus adapted to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform;
a contact apparatus adapted to make contact with the photovoltaic structure and separate the photovoltaic structure into a plurality of strips; and
an actuator adapted to move the contact apparatus against the photovoltaic structure, thereby separating the photovoltaic structure into strips,
wherein the holding apparatus comprises side sections sloped from the center section, the side sections comprising air jets to direct air towards the strips after separation from the center section.

6. The cleaving system of claim 5 , wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of contact tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus.

7. The cleaving system of claim 5 , wherein the holding apparatus comprises at least one air-suction mechanism adapted to maintain a suction hold on the photovoltaic structure.

8. The cleaving system of claim 5 , wherein upon being actuated the contact mechanism is operable to separate the photovoltaic structure into three strips.

9. A method comprising:
activating a holding apparatus to retain a photovoltaic structure at a center section of a cleaving platform; and
activating an actuator to cause a contact apparatus to contact the photovoltaic structure and separate the photovoltaic structure into three portions, comprising a first portion, and second portion, and a third portion, along two fulcrum edges on the cleaving platform,
wherein the first portion and the second portion are simultaneously cleaved from the photovoltaic structure by the contact apparatus, the first portion and second portion extending from opposite sides of the third portion of the photovoltaic structure, wherein the first portion and second portion extend in cantilever from the holding apparatus before the contact apparatus makes contact with the first portion and second portion.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the actuator comprises lowering the contact apparatus to make contact with the photovoltaic structure.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein activating the actuator comprises raising the holding apparatus to cause a top surface of the photovoltaic structure to make contact with the contact apparatus.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the contact apparatus comprises a plurality of cleave tips, at least two of which are arranged at different distances from a base of the contact apparatus; and
wherein activating the actuator comprises causing the cleave tips to contact the photovoltaic structure sequentially.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein a side section of the cleaving platform is sloped from the center section;
wherein the side section of the cleaving platform comprises a plurality of air-emitting jets; and
wherein the method further comprises ejecting air via the jets at the first and second portions after the contact apparatus makes contact with the first portion and second portion.

Assignees

• Solarcity Corp

Inventors

• Gonzalez Pablo
• Yang Bobby

Classifications

• H10P72/7622

  characterised by supporting substrates others than wafers, e.g. chips · CPC title

• H10P72/7611

  characterised by edge profile or support profile · CPC title

• H10P72/78

  using vacuum or suction, e.g. Bernoulli chucks · CPC title

• H10P72/70

  for supporting or gripping · CPC title

• H10P52/00

  Grinding, lapping or polishing of wafers, substrates or parts of devices · CPC title