Case study on machine vision enabled Middle of line inspection for Solar Cells
How Apex Vision doubled the throughput per hour
The client, an established solar cell manufacturing company, was grappling with the adverse effects of highly defected solar cells on subsequent processes. With a pressing need to mitigate these challenges, the company sought solutions to discard low-yield films efficiently, analyze diverse defects, and initiate yield improvement projects. Our innovative approach addressed these critical business needs, paving the way for enhanced efficiency and productivity in solar cell production.
Business Needs
- Highly defected cells affecting chemistry of subsequent process
- Discard low yield films
- Analyze various defects for yield improvement projects
Solution
- Devised a comprehensive solution for the development of an advanced optical imaging system equipped with high-resolution image capture capabilities
- Developed intelligent defect identification algorithms, enabling rapid and accurate detection of defects in solar cells.
- Engineered utility tools tailored for image analysis, featuring overlays and visualization enhancements, to facilitate in-depth defect analysis for yield improvement projects.
Imapct
- Enhanced stabilization of the client's manufacturing processes by effectively identifying and mitigating the adverse effects of defected solar cells
- Remarkably improved imaging step efficiency, doubling the throughput from 120 to 240 units per hour; leading to accelerated production timelines, and tangible cost savings for the client
- Application of the data so generated for yield improvement projects resulting in comprehensive defect analysis and other actionable insights