Sinton Instruments has released a next generation production cell tester for accurate and cost effective cell qualification at 2400 units per hour
BOULDER, COLORADO – Today, Sinton Instruments, a leader in photovoltaic process control testing and measurement systems, is announcing the FCT-750: a next generation production cell tester. As a market leader in n-type, high capacitance production module testing, Sinton Instruments is taking its unique measurement and analysis to the cell line.
Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, the FCT-750 is an in-line cell test measurement instrument with the capability to test one cell every 1.5 seconds. The FCT-750 is incorporated with Sinton Instruments’ patented voltage modulation technique to accurately measure high capacitance cells in addition to conventional cells with no compromise in throughput.
According to Ron Sinton, president and CEO of Sinton Instruments, existing production cell testers rate the power and current from the cell in order to optimize module manufacture. Without compromising these key parameters, this next-generation cell-test instrument supplements this standard information with detailed process-control parameters enabling the advanced optimization of high-efficiency cells and modules.
The next-generation SingleFlash production technology introduced in this product fully characterizes a solar cell in a single flash-pulse, with one head. The full characterization includes conventional cell measurements (Isc, Voc, Pmp, FF, and efficiency), a true Rs measurement, a direct dark Rsh measurement, a full SunsVoc analysis to obtain all of the pseudo cell parameters (without the effect of series resistance), and lifetime parameters (emitter saturation current density and bulk lifetime). In addition, a new and unique substrate doping measurement has been included which allows for previously unavailable in-depth process control and cell-design optimization.
About Sinton Instruments
Originally established in 1992 by Ron Sinton as Sinton Consulting, Sinton Instruments is dedicated to developing and applying new tools and analysis to R&D and manufacturing in silicon solar cells and integrated circuits. Our goal is to enable the routine use of state-of-the-art device physics and measurements.
We develop solutions to practical problems in R&D and manufacturing process control by providing physically-rigorous, simple, and cost-effective measurement tools and analysis.
About the SunShot Initiative
The U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort that aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy fully cost-competitive with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade. Through SunShot, the Energy Department supports efforts by private companies, universities, and national laboratories to drive down the cost of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. Learn more at energy.gov/sunshot.
For more information, contact:
Cassidy Sainsbury, Engineer
cassidy@sintoninstruments.com
