The inspection of solar cells by machine vision has become an essential requirement due to the growing demand for solar energy and renewable energies.
Therefore, the quality control of these is an obligatory process to be able to offer the best conditions in the material.
Solar cells have the property of emitting radiation if they are connected to an electric current, this technique is called electroluminescence (an optical and electrical phenomenon in which a material emits light in response to an electric current) generating sufficient illumination and contrast to be able to evaluate them through machine vision cameras.
Using this technique, the cells generate radiation in the electromagnetic spectrum, focused on the near infrared.
Because cameras that are designed with sensors that have very high quantum efficiency at that wavelength are needed, Photonfocus has a sensor designed to respond to this spectrum band.
This camera is specifically designed for electroluminescence-based applications and consists of a non-refrigerated system with a CMOS sensor that is optimized to work in reduced exposure times. Due to the sensitivity of the sensor it allows obtaining information from the cells such as the presence of cracks and faulty contacts.
Inspection of solar cells - machine vision