Microsystems Enabled Photovoltaics (MEPV)

Revolutionary micro-solar technology utilizes glitter-sized photovoltaic cells to change how we generate and use solar power. The significantly reduced size and 100 times less silicon used, allows for increased versatility of photovoltaic applications. Traditional solar cells are 6” square wafers which restricts location, performance, and manufacturing. Other unique factors to this technology include solar tracking, self assembly, and power management techniques.

Despite the significantly reduced size, the cells perform comparably to traditional solar cells which can allow for installation in more non-conventional areas such as tents and possibly clothing to recharge small electronics while in the field or outdoor recreation. The glitter-sized cells can also be used on more traditional applications such as roofing.

Benefits
  • 10 times thinner than conventional solar cells
  • More versatility
  • Highly efficient microsolar devices
  • Lower costs in manufacturing and installation
  • Can be fabricated from any size of commercial wafer
  • More resilient and reliable
  • Can be bent or contoured to fit virtually any surface
Applications and Industries
  • Solar energy generation
  • Energy storage
  • Battery charging applications
  • Satellites
  • Remote Sensing
  • Integrated solar on unusual, non-traditional items
  • Solar energy harvesting
  • Mobile electronics
  • Vehicles
R&D100 Video: Microscale Photovoltaics Full Screen
Related IP
Patent Title Patent Number Grant Date
Spreading devices into a 2-D module layout 9,972,736 05/15/2018
Photovoltaic power generation system with photovoltaic cells as bypass diodes 9,831,369 11/28/2017
Fast process flow, on-wafer interconnection and singulation for MEPV 9,748,415 08/29/2017
Customized color patterning of photovoltaic cells 9,496,448 11/15/2016
Photovoltaic cell with light trapping for enhanced efficiency 9,190,542 11/17/2015
Solar photovoltaic reflective trough collection structure 9,190,546 11/17/2015
Microinverters for employment in connection with photovoltaic modules 9,143,053 09/22/2015
Optimized microsystems-enabled photovoltaics 9,141,413 09/22/2015
Photovoltaic solar concentrator 9,126,392 09/08/2015
Method for fabricating pixelated silicon device cells 9,112,100 08/18/2015
Photovoltaic power generation system free of bypass diodes 9,093,586 07/28/2015
Separating semiconductor devices from substrate by etching graded composition release layer disposed between semiconductor devices and substrate including forming protuberances that reduce stiction 9,029,239 05/12/2015
Microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules and systems 9,029,681 05/12/2015
Processes for multi-layer devices utilizing layer transfer 8,946,052 02/03/2015
Method of forming through substrate vias (TSVs) and singulating and releasing die having the TSVs from a mechanical support substrate 8,906,803 12/09/2014
Structured wafer for device processing 8,895,364 11/25/2014
Structured wafer for device processing 8,729,673 05/20/2014
Microscale autonomous sensor and communications module 8,680,810 03/25/2014
Solar cell with back side contacts 8,614,395 12/24/2013
Photovoltaic solar cell 8,592,249 11/26/2013
Photovoltaic solar concentrator 8,329,503 12/11/2012
Technology ID

SD#10496

Published

2/14/2012

Last Updated

8/3/2018