Abstract: A stacking spacer for a photovoltaic module frame comprises a main body, extending in a longitudinal direction, a connecting member, extending in the longitudinal direction and protruding from the main body, adapted for being inserted in at least one lateral profile groove of the photovoltaic module frame, and two opposed support members, arranged on respective opposed longitudinal sides of the main body, extending in the longitudinal direction, wherein the two opposed support members have complementary forms, whereby at least two stacking spacers can be securely stacked on top of each other. Photovoltaic module frames and tracking device assemblies may include photovoltaic modules comprising such stacking spacers.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 11, 2016
Date of Patent:
October 25, 2022
Assignee:
SAINT-AUGUSTIN CANADA ELECTRIC INC.
Inventors:
Christoph Schmidt, Gerrit Lange, Wolfgang Aipperspach
Abstract: A compound of Chemical Formula 1, and an organic photoelectric device, an image sensor, and an electronic device including the same are disclosed: In Chemical Formula 1, each substituent is the same as described in the detailed description.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 29, 2021
Date of Patent:
October 18, 2022
Assignee:
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Inventors:
Norihito Ishii, Katsunori Shibata, Takkyun Ro, Ohkyu Kwon, Sang Mo Kim, Kyung Bae Park, Sung Young Yun, Dong-Seok Leem, Youn Hee Lim, Yong Wan Jin, Yeong Suk Choi, Jong Won Choi, Taejin Choi, Hyesung Choi, Chul Joon Heo
Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell including a semiconductor substrate, a conductive region on or at the semiconductor substrate, and an electrode electrically connected to the conductive region. The electrode includes a plurality of finger lines formed in a first direction and parallel to each other and a bus bar electrically connected to the plurality of finger lines and formed in a second direction crossing the first direction. The bus bar includes a plurality of pad portions positioned in the second direction, and the bus bar has a plurality of regions, which are different from each other in at least one of an arrangement and an area of the plurality of pad portions, in the second direction.
Abstract: A system comprises a thermoelectric device, and a baseplate coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device. The system also comprises a band coupled to the baseplate and a container. The band may be adjustable in a circumference and configured to thermally couple the baseplate and the container.
Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material has a composition represented by the chemical formula Li3-aBi1-bGeb, in which the range of values a and b is: 0?a?0.0003, and ?a+0.0003?b?0.108; 0.0003?a?0.003, and 0?b?0.108; or 0.003?a?0.085, and 0?b?exp[?0.157×(ln(a))2?2.22×ln(a)?9.81], and in which the thermoelectric conversion material has a BiF3-type crystal structure and has a p-type polarity.
Abstract: One embodiment can provide a solar roof tile. The solar roof tile can include a front cover, a back cover, one or more photovoltaic structures positioned between the front cover and the back cover, and an optical filter positioned between the front cover and the photovoltaic structures. The optical filter is configured to block light within a predetermined spectral range, thereby preventing the light from reflecting off surfaces of the photovoltaic structures to exit the solar roof tile.
Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material includes a sintered body including a main phase including a plurality of crystal grains including Ce, Mn, Fe, and Sb and forming a skutterudite structure, and a grain boundary between crystal grains adjacent to each other. The grain boundary includes a sintering aid phase including at least Mn, Sb, and O. Thus, with respect to a skutterudite-type thermoelectric conversion material including Sb, which is a sintering-resistant material, it is possible to improve sinterability while maintaining a practical dimensionless figure-of-merit ZT, and to reduce processing cost.
Abstract: The present embodiments provide a semiconductor element comprising a first electrode, an active layer, a second electrode comprising a homogeneous metal layer, and further a barrier layer comprising a transparent metal oxide. The barrier layer is placed between the active layer and the second electrode. The present embodiments also provide a method for manufacturing said semiconductor element.
Abstract: An electrode film includes a first electrode pattern having a first set of parallel conductive electrodes and a second electrode pattern having a second set of parallel conductive electrodes disposed on a surface of a transparent film. The conductive electrodes in the first and second electrode patterns are conductive mesh patterns including a pattern of open areas and are arranged in an interlaced pattern. The first and second electrode patterns are configured to be connected to respective sources of electrical power supplying respective waveforms to generate a time-varying electric field pattern above a surface of the electrode film.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 21, 2018
Date of Patent:
August 2, 2022
Assignee:
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Inventors:
Thomas Nathaniel Tombs, Todd Mathew Spath, Christopher B. Liston, Douglas Edward Garman
Abstract: Disclosed is a tandem solar cell according to an aspect including: a silicon lower cell; a perovskite upper cell disposed on the silicon lower cell; and a bonding layer for bonding the silicon lower cell and the perovskite upper cell between the silicon lower cell and the perovskite upper cell, wherein the front surface portion of the silicon lower cell being in contact with the bonding layer includes a texture structure, the bonding layer includes a first transparent electrode layer formed on the sidewall of the texture structure, a buried layer filling concave portions of the texture structure on the first transparent electrode layer, and a second transparent electrode layer on top surfaces of the buried layer, the first transparent electrode layer and the texture structure.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
September 30, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 26, 2022
Assignee:
SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY R&DB FOUNDATION
Inventors:
Jin Young Kim, Ik Jae Park, Su Geun Ji, You Jin Ahn
Abstract: A modular solar panel assembly includes a pair of mounting rails that extend parallel to each other along a longitudinal direction. First and second handle members extending laterally between the mounting rails are provided at longitudinal end portions of the mounting rails. One or more cross members that extend laterally between the mounting rails are also provided. A plurality of solar panels are attached to the pair of mounting rails. A gap is defined between each of the handle member and the closest corresponding edge of the plurality of solar panels. A vertical thickness of the first and second handle members is less than a vertical thickness of the pair of mounting rails.
Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including a metamorphic layer, and particularly the design and specification of the composition, lattice constant, and band gaps of various layers above the metamorphic layer in order to achieve reduction in “bowing” of the semiconductor wafer caused by the lattice mismatch of layers associated with the metamorphic layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
January 7, 2020
Date of Patent:
July 5, 2022
Assignee:
SolAero Technologies Corp.
Inventors:
Zachary Bittner, John Hart, Samantha Whipple, Nathaniel Miller, Daniel Derkacs
Abstract: In an embodiment, a composition is provided that includes an indenofluorene moiety; an alkyl radical, an aryl radical, or a heteroaryl radical chemically bound to the indenofluorene moiety; and an electron donor moiety bound to the indenofluorene moiety. In another embodiment, a device is provided that includes compositions described herein. In another embodiment, a method of forming a donor-acceptor small molecule or a donor-acceptor copolymer is provided that includes forming an indenofluorene moiety; forming an electron donor moiety; and reacting the indenofluorene moiety with the electron donor moiety in a cross-coupling reaction.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
December 14, 2018
Date of Patent:
June 28, 2022
Assignee:
International Business Machines Corporation
Inventors:
Brandon M. Kobilka, Jacob T. Porter, Scott B. King, Jason T. Wertz
Abstract: Local metallization of semiconductor substrates using a laser beam, and the resulting structures, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a plurality of semiconductor regions disposed in or above the substrate. A plurality of conductive contact structures is electrically connected to the plurality of semiconductor regions. Each conductive contact structure includes a locally deposited metal portion disposed in contact with a corresponding a semiconductor region.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
SunPower Corporation
Inventors:
Pei Hsuan Lu, Benjamin I. Hsia, David Aaron R. Barkhouse, Lee Gorny
Abstract: Photovoltaics configured to be manufactured without epitaxial processes and methods for such manufacture are provided. Methods utilize bulk semiconducting crystal substrates, such as, for example, GaAs and InP such that epitaxy processes are not required. Nanowire etch and exfoliation processes are used allowing the manufacture of large numbers of photovoltaic cells per substrate wafer (e.g., greater than 100). Photovoltaic cells incorporate electron and hole selective contacts such that epitaxial heterojunctions are avoided during manufacture.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 2, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
California Institute of Technology
Inventors:
Phillip R. Jahelka, Harry A. Atwater, Wen-Hui Cheng, Rebecca D. Glaudell
Abstract: Local patterning and metallization of semiconductor structures using a laser beam, e.g., micro-electronic devices, semiconductor substrates and/or solar cells, are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes providing a substrate having an intervening layer thereon. The method also includes locating a metal foil over the intervening layer. The method also includes exposing the metal foil to a laser beam, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms openings in the intervening layer and forms a plurality of conductive contact structures electrically connected to portions of the substrate exposed by the openings.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
April 5, 2019
Date of Patent:
June 14, 2022
Assignee:
SunPower Corporation
Inventors:
Pei Hsuan Lu, Benjamin I. Hsia, Taeseok Kim
Abstract: An optoelectronic component on a substrate includes a first and a second electrode. The first electrode is arranged on the substrate and the second electrode forms a counter electrode. At least one photoactive layer system is arranged between these electrodes. The at least one photoactive layer system including at least one donor-acceptor system having organic materials.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
July 2, 2013
Date of Patent:
June 7, 2022
Assignee:
HELIATEK GMBH
Inventors:
Martin Pfeiffer, Christian Uhrich, Ulrike Bewersdorff-Sarlette, Jan Meiss, Karl Leo, Moritz Riede, Sylvio Schubert, Lars Mueller-Meskamp
Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a method for forming a photovoltaic device can include depositing a plurality of semiconductor layers. The plurality of semiconductor layers can include a doped layer that is doped with a group V dopant. The doped layer can include cadmium selenide or cadmium telluride. The method can include annealing the plurality of semiconductor layers to form an absorber layer.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 27, 2018
Date of Patent:
May 24, 2022
Assignee:
First Solar, Inc.
Inventors:
Sachit Grover, Chungho Lee, Xiaoping Li, Dingyuan Lu, Roger Malik, Gang Xiong
Abstract: A monolithic multiple solar cell includes at least three partial cells, with a semiconductor mirror placed between two partial cells. The aim of the invention is to improve the radiation stability of said solar cell. For this purpose, the semiconductor mirror has a high degree of reflection in at least one part of a spectral absorption area of the partial cell which is arranged above the semiconductor mirror and a high degree of transmission within the spectral absorption range of the partial cell arranged below the semiconductor mirror.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 23, 2021
Date of Patent:
May 10, 2022
Assignee:
AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
Inventors:
Matthias Meusel, Gerhard Strobl, Frank Dimroth, Andreas Bett
Abstract: A series of photovoltaic panels (PV) arranged on a planar, horizontal support platform so as to form a PV array that is pivotally connected to a PV array support structure that can pivotally raise, angle and support the PV array above agricultural fields at heights that allow the passage of large mechanized farm equipment to pass beneath. The PV array support structure pivotally raises its PV array into its operating elevation and positional range with a system of motorized pivot arms operationally positioned between its array columns and the members of the support frame. Once in place, these PV arrays may be horizontally moved by tilting or angling the array columns within a specified operating range (by computer positioning known as dynamic shifting). At the same time, the PV panels may all be optimally tilted for sun sharing and sun shading for both the generation of electricity and to increase the agricultural efficiency of the underlying land.