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Applied Materials backs solar inspection and quality-control startup

Publish Date: 24/08/2010
By Author: Pangea
In Category: Photovoltaics

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Applied Materials backs solar inspection and quality-control startup

Applied Materials is in the middle of restructuring its solar strategy. It recently called it quits on its SunFab line of equipment for thin-film solar cell manufacturing, cutting 500 jobs in the process.

But now it’s sinking money into a new business : solar inspection and quality control. The company’s investment arm, Applied Ventures, joined a $3.8 million first round of funding for BT Imaging, a startup that does just that.

The core of BT’s business is its photoluminescence technology, which makes it possible to electronically inspect mass amounts of solar wafers and cells on an individual basis as they make their way down the assembly line. Lasers are used to illuminate the material and the light is captured by a specialized camera — dark parts of the wafers and cells will not produce as much electricity. The process ensures high efficiencies and manufacturing yields — essentially lowering bottom-line costs for photovoltaic makers.

For more on this article: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS42110333420100823

Source: Reuters

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