Composition control for photovoltaic thin film manufacturing

Semiconductor device manufacturing: process – Including control responsive to sensed condition – Optical characteristic sensed

Reexamination Certificate

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C438S016000, C438S093000, C257SE21530, C257SE21531

Reexamination Certificate

active

07736913

ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing composition control to thin compound semiconductor films for radiation detector and photovoltaic applications. In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the molar ratio of the elements in a plurality of layers are detected so that tuning of the multi-element layer can occur to obtain the multi-element layer that has a predetermined molar ratio range. In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method in which the thickness of a sub-layer and layers thereover of Cu, In and/or Ga are detected and tuned in order to provide tuned thicknesses that are substantially the same as pre-determined thicknesses.

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