JP2010054365A - Solar battery inspecting apparatus, solar battery inspecting method, program and solar battery inspecting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for inspecting solar batteries, which allows a user to readily grasp the location and the type of defects of photovoltaic cells. <P>SOLUTION: The apparatus for inspecting the solar batteries includes an image acquiring section 15 for acquiring a cell image, representing the energized photovoltaic cells; a defect identification section 16 for identifying a part within the cell image, which satisfies each condition prescribed according to the kind of the defect of the photovoltaic cells; and a display control section 19 for changing the part identified within the cell image to a display mod, according to the type of defects. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a solar cell inspection device, a solar cell inspection method, a program, and a solar cell inspection system, and more particularly to display of defects in solar cells.

A solar cell that converts sunlight energy into electric power is generally composed of a semiconductor such as silicon. Such a solar cell is known to emit light when energized, and Patent Document 1 discloses a technique for determining whether a solar cell is good or bad based on the total amount of light of the solar cell during energization. ing.
WO / 2006/059615

  By the way, since there are various defects in the solar cells and the influence on the deterioration of the photoelectric conversion characteristics varies depending on the type, it is required that the user can grasp the position and the type of the defect of the solar cell. It is done.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a solar cell inspection device, a solar cell inspection method, and the like, which allow a user to easily grasp the position and type of a solar cell defect, The main purpose is to provide a program and an inspection system for solar cells.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the solar cell inspection apparatus according to the present invention includes an image acquisition unit that acquires a cell image representing one or a plurality of solar cells in an energized state, and types of defects in the solar cells. Defect specifying means for specifying a portion satisfying each defined condition in the cell image, and display control for changing the specified portion in the cell image to a display mode corresponding to the type of the defect And means.

  Further, the solar cell inspection method of the present invention acquires a cell image representing one or a plurality of solar cells in an energized state, and satisfies each condition defined according to the type of defect of the solar cells. A part is specified in the cell image, and the specified part in the cell image is changed to a display mode corresponding to the type of the defect.

  Further, the program of the present invention includes an image acquisition means for acquiring a cell image representing one or a plurality of solar cells in an energized state, and a portion that satisfies each condition defined according to the type of defect of the solar cells. The computer is caused to function as a defect specifying means for specifying the image in the cell image, and a display control means for changing the specified portion in the cell image to a display mode corresponding to the type of the defect. And The computer is, for example, a personal computer. The program may be stored in a computer-readable information storage medium such as a CD-ROM.

  Furthermore, the solar cell inspection system of the present invention images one or more solar cells in an energized state, generates an image unit that represents the solar cells, and acquires the cell images. An acquisition means; a defect specifying means for specifying a part satisfying each condition determined according to a type of defect of the solar battery cell in the cell image; and the specified part in the cell image, Display control means for changing the display mode according to the type of defect, and a display unit for displaying the cell image in which the display mode of the specified portion is changed in accordance with a display command from the display control unit. .

  According to the present invention, since the portion specified as the defect in the cell image is changed to a display mode corresponding to the type of the defect, the user can easily grasp the position and the type of the defect of the solar battery cell. Can do.

  In the aspect of the invention, the defect specifying unit specifies the portion based on the brightness of each pixel constituting the cell image. Since the amount of light is reduced in a defect of the solar battery cell, it is easy to specify the defect of the solar battery cell based on the brightness as described above.

  Moreover, in this aspect, the defect specifying means may specify a portion representing a crack of the solar battery cell based on a length in which pixels having a predetermined brightness or lower are linearly continuous.

  Moreover, in this aspect, the defect specifying means may specify a portion representing a dark region of the solar battery cell based on an area where pixels having a predetermined brightness or less gather.

  Moreover, in this aspect, the defect specifying unit may specify a portion representing a disconnection of the electrode of the solar battery cell based on a direction and a shape in which pixels having a predetermined brightness or less are continuous.

  In the aspect of the invention, the display control unit changes the specified portion in the cell image to a color corresponding to the type of the defect. According to this, the user can more easily identify the type of defect of the solar battery cell.

  In the aspect of the invention, the display control unit generates a display image by combining an image corresponding to the type of the defect with the specified portion in the cell image.

  In the aspect of the invention, the display control unit may further include a quality determination unit that determines quality for each of the solar cells based on the number of the parts specified in the cell image. A portion corresponding to the solar cell in the image is changed to a display mode corresponding to the quality of the solar cell. According to this, the user can grasp | ascertain the quality of a photovoltaic cell.

  In this aspect, the display control means may change the frame portion surrounding the solar battery cell in the cell image to a display mode according to the quality of the solar battery cell. According to this, the user can easily grasp which solar cell quality is expressed.

  In this aspect, the display control means may change a portion corresponding to the solar battery cell in the cell image to a color according to the quality of the solar battery cell. According to this, a user can identify the quality of a photovoltaic cell more easily.

  Further, according to one aspect of the present invention, an operation receiving unit that receives an operation input by a user is further provided, and the display control unit is configured to enlarge the solar battery cell selected in the cell image according to the operation input. An enlarged display image is generated. According to this, the user can enlarge and confirm a desired solar battery cell.

  Moreover, in one aspect of the present invention, the display control unit combines the plurality of cell images representing the respective parts of the plurality of arranged photovoltaic cells based on the arrangement positions of the plurality of photovoltaic cells, and displays them. An image is generated. According to this, the user can grasp | ascertain the positional relationship of an actual some photovoltaic cell from the image for a display.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a solar cell inspection system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In this solar cell inspection system 1, an energization unit 3, a positioning unit 4, an imaging unit 5, an operation unit 8, and a display unit 9 are connected to a control unit 10 (solar cell inspection device) that controls the entire system. Yes.

  The energization unit 3 energizes the solar cell panel as the inspection target in response to a command from the control unit 10. This energization part 3 applies a voltage to the terminal of a solar cell panel by a probe (not shown), and supplies a forward current to each solar cell included in the solar cell panel.

  The imaging unit 5 is configured by a CCD camera or the like, and images a solar cell panel that is energized in response to a command from the control unit 10. The positioning unit 4 moves and positions the imaging unit 5 to a predetermined imaging position in response to a command from the control unit 10.

  Specifically, the imaging unit 5 is moved by the positioning unit 4 and sequentially images each solar battery cell included in the solar battery panel. Moreover, the data of the cell image showing a photovoltaic cell obtained by this are sequentially input into the control part 10.

  In addition, such a solar cell panel is imaged in a dark room. Further, since the EL (electroluminescence) light of the solar battery cell is weak, a camera with relatively high sensitivity is suitable as the imaging unit 5.

  Here, the solar cell panel as an inspection object will be described. FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram showing the solar cell panel 2. FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram showing the solar battery cell 21 included in the solar battery panel 2.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, in the solar cell panel 2, rectangular thin plate-like solar cells 21 made of a semiconductor such as silicon are two-dimensionally arranged, and these solar cells 21 are connected by lead wires 23. They are connected in series. These solar cells 21 are arranged inside a laminate 25 whose light-receiving surface side is a glass plate. The laminated body 25 has a laminated structure in which a filler, solar cells 21, a filler, and a back member are laminated in this order on a glass plate. In addition, the arrangement | sequence and number of sheets of the photovoltaic cell 21 are not restricted to the aspect of the figure. The solar cell panel 2 may be a thin film solar cell panel.

  As shown in FIG. 2B, the light receiving surface 27 of the solar battery cell 21 is formed with a pair of bus bars 28 and a number of fingers 29 for collecting power as electrodes for taking out the power to the outside. Yes. When the direction along the long side of the solar battery cell 21 is the longitudinal direction and the direction along the short side is the short direction, the bus bar 28 is configured in a strip shape extending in the short direction, and is located apart in the longitudinal direction. . The lead wires 23 are connected to the bus bars 28. Further, the fingers 29 are configured in a thin line shape extending in the longitudinal direction, and are arranged in parallel in the lateral direction. In addition, arrangement | positioning of the bus-bar 28 and the finger 29 is not restricted to the aspect of the figure.

  Returning to the description of FIG. 1, the control unit 10 is configured as a computer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a RAM as a work area thereof. The control unit 10 includes a storage unit that stores programs and data necessary for the operation of the CPU. The operation unit 8 includes a keyboard, a mouse, and the like, and sends operation inputs based on user operations to the control unit 10. The display unit 9 is composed of a liquid crystal display or the like, and displays an image corresponding to a display command from the control unit 10.

  FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration example of the control unit 10. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a solar cell inspection method realized by the control unit 10. When the CPU executes a program stored in the storage unit, the control unit 10 performs an energization control unit 13, a position control unit 14, an image acquisition unit 15, a defect identification unit 16, a quality determination unit 17, an operation reception unit 18, and The display control unit 19 is functionally provided.

  The energization control unit 13 controls the energization unit 3 to execute energization to the solar cells 21 included in the solar cell panel 2. Thereby, each photovoltaic cell 21 emits EL light. Here, data of energization conditions such as a voltage value, a current value, and an energization time are stored in the storage unit of the control unit 10.

  The position control unit 14 controls the positioning unit 4 and executes position control of the imaging unit 5. Specifically, the position control unit 14 sequentially moves the imaging unit 5 to each imaging position where each solar cell 21 can be imaged. Such an imaging position is determined by the size and number of solar cells 21, the arrangement interval, and the like, and is stored as data in the storage unit of the control unit 10.

  Further, the position control unit 14 outputs information on the imaging position where the imaging unit 5 images the solar battery cell 21 to the display control unit 19. The information on the imaging position is used for combining display images as described later.

  The image acquisition unit 15 acquires, from the imaging unit 5, cell image data representing the energized solar battery cell 21 (S1). Then, the image acquisition unit 15 outputs the acquired cell image data to the defect identification unit 16 and the display control unit 19.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of the cell image 30. Since the solar cell 21 emits EL light when energized, defects in the solar cell 21 appear in the cell image 30 as a dark portion with relatively low brightness. Such a portion representing a defect of the solar battery cell 21 can be roughly divided into a crack portion 32, a dark region portion 34, and a disconnection portion 36.

  The crack part 32 is a part representing a crack generated in the solar battery cell 21 and appears as a linear dark part in the cell image 30. Such cracks are caused by heat at the time of soldering the lead wire 23 to the bus bar 28, load or impact at the time of processing or transportation.

  The dark region portion 34 is a portion representing a dark region in which the light emission of the solar battery cell 21 is relatively weak, and appears in the cell image 30 as a dark portion having a certain area or more. Such a dark region is generated when a part of the semiconductor constituting the solar battery cell 21 is separated.

  The disconnection part 36 is a part representing a disconnection of the finger 29 of the solar battery cell 21 and appears as a rectangular dark part along the direction of the finger 29 in the cell image 30.

  Returning to the description of FIGS. 3 and 4, the defect specifying unit 16 performs image analysis on the cell image 30, and based on the brightness of each pixel constituting the cell image 30, the position and type of the defect of the solar battery cell 21. Is identified.

  Specifically, the defect specifying unit 16 first performs a down process of the cell image 30 (S2). As the post-processing of the cell image 30, for example, a scaling process for standardizing the brightness of the EL light of the solar battery cell 21, a cell area extraction process for extracting the area of the solar battery cell 21, and a bus bar 28 portion of the solar battery cell 21. There are a bus bar excluding process, a shading process for correcting a brightness difference caused by the lens of the imaging unit 5, and the like.

  Next, the defect specifying unit 16 binarizes each pixel constituting the cell image 30 into a bright pixel and a dark pixel (S3). This binarization is performed based on a predetermined brightness threshold. Not limited to this, for example, the cell image 30 may be divided into a plurality of sections, and among these, an average brightness may be obtained for a section in which pixels having different brightness are mixed, and the average brightness may be used as a threshold for binarization. .

  Next, the defect specifying part 16 specifies the crack part 32, the dark area part 34, and the disconnection part 36 in the cell image 30 (S4 to S6).

  Among these, when specifying the cracked part 32, the defect specifying part 16 determines that the part satisfying this condition is a cracked part in the cell image 30 on condition that the dark pixels are linearly continuous for a predetermined length or more. 32. Further, when the dark pixels are continuous in a polygonal line shape, it is determined whether or not a predetermined length is exceeded after adding the lengths of the respective linear portions. Moreover, since the crack which arises in the photovoltaic cell 21 is a broken line shape with which the linear part was normally couple | bonded by the obtuse angle, you may add on the conditions that a bond angle is an obtuse angle. Thereby, it can suppress that the crystal | crystallization pattern etc. of the photovoltaic cell 21 are misjudged as the crack part 32. FIG. Furthermore, since the heat generated when soldering the lead wire 23 to the bus bar 28 causes a relatively short crack around the bus bar 28, the length threshold is changed according to the distance from the bus bar 28. Also good.

  Further, when specifying the dark region portion 34, the defect specifying portion 16 determines that the portion satisfying this condition is the dark region portion on the condition that the area where the dark pixels gather in the cell image 30 exceeds a predetermined area. 34.

  Moreover, when specifying the disconnection part 36, the defect specification part 16 disconnects the part which satisfy | fills this condition on condition that the dark pixel continues in a rectangular shape along the direction of the finger 29 in the cell image 30. It specifies as part 36.

  Thereafter, the defect specifying unit 16 outputs information regarding the positions and numbers of the cracked portion 32, the dark region portion 34, and the disconnected portion 36 specified in the cell image 30 to the quality determining unit 17 and the display control unit 19.

  The quality determination unit 17 determines the quality of the solar cells 21 represented in the cell image 30 based on the number of cracks 32, dark region parts 34, and disconnection parts 36 specified in the cell image 30, and class Dividing is performed (S7). Information on the quality class is output to the display control unit 19. Here, for the determination of quality, a simple sum of the number of cracked portions 32, dark region portions 34, and disconnected portions 36 may be used, or a weighted sum corresponding to these types may be used. You may use the weighted sum according to the magnitude | size of. In addition, when the cell image 30 represents the several photovoltaic cell 21, quality is determined about each photovoltaic cell 21. FIG.

  The display control unit 19 generates a display image that identifies and displays the crack portion 32, the dark region portion 34, and the disconnection portion 36 specified in the cell image 30 (S 8), and displays the display image on the display portion 9. Display control is performed (S9). FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of the display image 40. The display control unit 19 synthesizes the crack identification image 42, the dark region identification image 44, and the disconnection identification image 46 corresponding to the crack portion 32, the dark region portion 34, and the disconnection portion 36 in the cell image 30. Thus, the display image 40 is generated.

  The crack identification image 42, the dark region identification image 44, and the disconnection identification image 46 are images for identifying the crack portion 32, the dark region portion 34, and the disconnection portion 36 in the cell image 30, and have different display modes. The In the present embodiment, the crack identification image 42, the dark area identification image 44, and the disconnection identification image 46 have different colors. Here, the crack identification image 42 is formed in a line shape corresponding to the crack portion 32 and is superimposed on the crack portion 32. The dark area identification image 44 is formed in a closed line shape corresponding to the outline of the dark area 34 and is superimposed on the outline of the dark area 34. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a planar dark region identification image 44 corresponding to the shape of the dark region portion 34 may be superimposed on the dark region portion 34. Further, the disconnection identification image 46 is formed in a closed line shape corresponding to the outline of the disconnection portion 36 and is superimposed on the outline of the disconnection portion 36. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a planar disconnection identification image 46 corresponding to the shape of the disconnection portion 36 may be superimposed on the disconnection portion 36.

  In addition, the display control unit 19 generates a combined display image by arranging and combining the display images 40 sequentially obtained in this manner based on the imaging position of the imaging unit 5 obtained from the position control unit 14. Then, this combined display image is displayed on the display unit 9. Here, since the imaging position of the imaging unit 5 corresponds to the arrangement position of the solar battery cells 21 in the solar battery panel 2, the arrangement position of each solar battery cell 21 is reflected in the combined display image.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a display example of the display unit 9. A display window 90 displayed on the screen of the display unit 9 is provided with a first image display frame 95, in which a combined display image 50 in which a plurality of display images 40 are combined is displayed. .

  In addition, the display control unit 19 identifies and displays the quality class of each solar battery cell 21 based on the information from the quality determination unit 17. Specifically, the display control unit 19 synthesizes quality identification images 61 and 63 corresponding to the quality class of the solar cells 21 at the position of each display image 40 included in the combined display image 50. These quality identification images 61 and 63 are images for identifying the quality class of the solar battery cells 21 and are configured in a frame shape surrounding the display image 40 and have different display modes. In the present embodiment, the quality identification images 61 and 63 have different colors. Here, the quality identification images 61 and 63 are added to those in which the quality of the solar battery cell 21 is relatively inferior.

  In addition, the display control unit 19 displays a cursor 71 that moves according to the operation input received by the operation receiving unit 18 on the combined display image 50 displayed in the first image display frame 95 of the display window 90. To do. The cursor 71 moves in units of the display image 40. Further, the display control unit 19 displays an enlarged display image 80 in which the display image 40 selected by the cursor 71 is enlarged in the second image display frame 98 of the display window 90. In addition to the enlarged display image 80, information related thereto, for example, information such as the number of types of defects, a class of quality, and a manufacturing number may be displayed in the vicinity.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art.

  For example, the positioning unit 4 is omitted from the solar cell inspection system 1, and the imaging unit 5 is arranged at an imaging position where the plurality of solar cells 21 included in the solar cell panel 2 can be collectively imaged. A cell image representing the battery cell 21 may be obtained. Even in this case, since the area of each solar battery cell 21 is extracted in the above-described bottom processing (S2), the quality determination for each solar battery cell 21 is possible. Furthermore, the combined display image 50 can be obtained by combining images obtained by extracting regions of the respective solar battery cells 21.

It is a block diagram showing the example of a structure of the inspection system of the solar cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram showing a solar cell panel. It is a schematic diagram showing a photovoltaic cell. It is a block diagram showing the functional structural example of the inspection apparatus of the solar cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart showing the inspection method of the solar cell which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure showing the example of a cell image. It is a figure showing the example of the image for a display. It is a figure showing the example of a display of a display part.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Solar cell inspection system, 2 Solar cell panel, 3 Current supply part, 4 Positioning part, 5 Imaging part, 8 Operation part, 9 Display part, 10 Solar cell inspection apparatus (control part), 13 Current supply control part, 14 Position Control unit, 15 Image acquisition unit, 16 Defect identification unit, 17 Quality determination unit, 18 Operation reception unit, 19 Display control unit, 21 Solar cell, 23 Lead wire, 25 Laminate, 27 Light receiving surface, 28 Busbar, 29 Finger 30 cell image, 32 crack part, 34 dark area part, 36 disconnection part, 40 display image, 42 crack identification image, 44 dark area identification image, 46 disconnection identification image, 50 combined display image, 61 quality identification image, 63 quality identification image, 71 cursor, 80 enlarged display image, 90 display window, 95 first image display frame, 98 second image display frame.

Claims (15)

Image acquisition means for acquiring a cell image representing one or more solar cells in an energized state;
Defect identifying means for identifying a portion satisfying each condition defined according to the type of defect of the solar battery cell in the cell image;
Display control means for changing the specified portion in the cell image to a display mode according to the type of the defect;
A solar cell inspection apparatus comprising: The defect identifying means identifies the portion based on the brightness of each pixel constituting the cell image;
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The defect specifying means specifies a portion representing a crack of the solar battery cell based on a length in which pixels having a predetermined brightness or less are linearly continuous.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 2. The defect specifying means specifies a portion representing a dark region of the solar battery cell based on an area where pixels having a brightness equal to or lower than a predetermined value are gathered.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 2. The defect specifying means specifies a portion representing a disconnection of an electrode of the solar battery cell based on a direction and a shape in which pixels having a predetermined brightness or less are continuous.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 2. The display control means changes the specified portion in the cell image to a color corresponding to the type of the defect,
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The display control means generates an image for display by synthesizing an image corresponding to the type of the defect with the specified portion in the cell image.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. Based on the number of the parts specified in the cell image, further comprising a quality determination means for determining the quality of each solar cell,
The display control means changes a portion corresponding to the solar battery cell in the cell image to a display mode according to the quality of the solar battery cell,
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The display control means changes the frame portion surrounding the solar battery cell in the cell image to a display mode according to the quality of the solar battery cell,
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 8. The display control means changes a portion corresponding to the solar battery cell in the cell image to a color according to the quality of the solar battery cell,
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 8. It further comprises operation accepting means for accepting an operation input by the user,
The display control means generates an enlarged display image in which the solar cell selected in the cell image is enlarged according to the operation input.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. The display control means generates a display image by combining a plurality of the cell images representing each part of the plurality of arranged photovoltaic cells based on the arrangement position of the plurality of photovoltaic cells.
The solar cell inspection apparatus according to claim 1. Obtaining a cell image representing one or more energized solar cells,
A portion that satisfies each condition determined according to the type of defect of the solar battery cell is identified in the cell image,
Changing the identified part in the cell image to a display mode according to the type of the defect;
Solar cell inspection method. Image acquisition means for acquiring a cell image representing one or a plurality of solar cells in an energized state;
Defect identification means for identifying a portion satisfying each condition determined according to the type of defect of the solar battery cell in the cell image, and the identified portion in the cell image as the defect type Display control means for changing to a corresponding display mode,
A program characterized by causing a computer to function. An imaging unit that images one or more solar cells in an energized state and generates a cell image representing the solar cells;
Image acquisition means for acquiring the cell image;
Defect identifying means for identifying a portion satisfying each condition defined according to the type of defect of the solar battery cell in the cell image;
Display control means for changing the specified portion in the cell image to a display mode according to the type of the defect;
In accordance with a display command from the display control means, a display unit that displays the cell image in which the display mode of the specified portion is changed,
A solar cell inspection system comprising:

Images