Patents Examined by Angelo Trivisonno
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Patent number: 11677351Abstract: A grounding clamp is provided. The grounding clamp comprises a body portion having first and second sides, first and second fingers extending from the first side of the body portion, a first set of teeth extending from the first side of the body portion, the first set of teeth positioned between the first and second fingers, and a second set of teeth extending from the second side of the body portion.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: June 13, 2023Assignee: A.K. STAMPING COMPANY, INC.Inventor: Mark Andrews
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Patent number: 11671052Abstract: A solar module mounting bracket assembly includes a rail configured to support a solar module thereon, and a pair of braces. The braces each have a first end portion movably coupled to the rail. The braces are movable relative to the rail between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the expanded configuration, the braces cooperatively define a channel dimensioned for receipt of a frame member.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2022Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLCInventors: Tyler Joseph Watson, Ricardo Delgado-Nanez
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Patent number: 11670724Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell is described herein. The photovoltaic cell may be disposed over a display of an electronic device. The photovoltaic cell may comprise first and second conductive layers and a photovoltaic layer. The first conductive layer may be etched such that a width of the metal layer is less than a width of the photovoltaic layer providing visibility to the display disposed below. In some embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor is disposed between the metal layer and the absorber layer for providing interaction with a user.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2021Date of Patent: June 6, 2023Inventors: Lionel J. Dupuy, John M. Kenkel
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Patent number: 11641751Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device in an embodiment includes a first photoelectric conversion part including a first transparent electrode, a first photoelectric conversion layer, and a first counter electrode and a second photoelectric conversion part including a second transparent electrode, a second photoelectric conversion layer, and a second counter electrode, the first photoelectric conversion part and the second photoelectric conversion part being provided on a transparent substrate. The first counter electrode and the second transparent electrode are electrically connected by a connection part. As for the first photoelectric conversion layer and the second photoelectric conversion layer, adjacent portions of the adjacent first and second photoelectric conversion layers are electrically separated by an inactive region having electrical resistance higher than that of the first and second photoelectric conversion layers.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBAInventors: Akio Amano, Hideyuki Nakao, Kenji Todori, Kenji Fujinaga
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Patent number: 11626528Abstract: The photoelectric conversion layer of an embodiment is based on Cu2O, contains at least one p-type dopant selected from the group consisting of Ge, Ta, and In, and has a band gap of equal to or more than 2.10 eV and equal to or less than 2.30 eV.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2021Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATIONInventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Soichiro Shibasaki, Yuya Honishi, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yoshiko Hiraoka
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Patent number: 11621402Abstract: Provided is a laminate with which an organic thin-film solar cell having excellent output characteristics, even in an LED light irradiation environment, can be obtained. A titanium oxide layer that serves as an electron transport layer and is positioned on a member that serves as an optically transparent electrode layer has a thickness of 1.0 nm to 60.0 nm, inclusive, and satisfies condition 1 or condition 2. Condition 1: The titanium oxide layer contains an indium metal and an indium oxide, wherein, if the content of elemental titanium is denoted as Ti, the content of the indium metal is denoted as InM, and the content of the indium oxide is denoted as InOx, the atomic ratio (InM/Ti) is 0.10 to 0.25, inclusive, and the atomic ratio (InOx/Ti) is 0.50 to 10.00, inclusive.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATIONInventors: Mikito Suto, Hiroyuki Masuoka, Akira Matsuzaki
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Patent number: 11594381Abstract: The present invention provides a novel method for producing a laminate to be used as a light-transmissive electrode layer and an N-type semiconductor layer of a wet or solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell comprising a light-transmissive electrode layer, an N-type semiconductor layer, a P-type semiconductor layer, and a facing electrode in this order. In said method, a member to be used as the light-transmissive electrode layer is cathode-polarized in a treatment solution containing a Ti component so as to form a titanium oxide layer to be used as the N-type semiconductor layer on said member.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2019Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: JFE Steel CorporationInventors: Mikito Suto, Hiroyuki Masuoka, Akira Matsuzaki
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Patent number: 11594648Abstract: Methods of fabricating solar cell emitter regions with differentiated P-type and N-type regions architectures, and resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a solar cell can include a substrate having a light-receiving surface and a back surface. A first doped region of a first conductivity type, wherein the first doped region is disposed in a first portion of the back surface. A first thin dielectric layer disposed over the back surface of the substrate, where a portion of the first thin dielectric layer is disposed over the first doped region of the first conductivity type. A first semiconductor layer disposed over the first thin dielectric layer. A second doped region of a second conductivity type in the first semiconductor layer, where the second doped region is disposed over a second portion of the back surface. A first conductive contact disposed over the first doped region and a second conductive contact disposed over the second doped region.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2020Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Seung Bum Rim, Michael C. Johnson
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Patent number: 11588061Abstract: A photoelectric conversion module (10) comprises a photoelectric conversion cell (12) and a grid electrode (31) provided in the photoelectric conversion cell (12) on a substrate. The photoelectric conversion cell (12) includes a first electrode layer (22), a second electrode layer (24), a photoelectric conversion layer (26) between the first electrode layer (22) and the second electrode layer (24). The second electrode layer (24) is formed of a transparent electrode layer located on opposite side of the photoelectric conversion layer (26) to the substrate (20). The grid electrode (31) is provided between the photoelectric conversion layer (26) and the transparent electrode layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2018Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: IDEMITSU KOSAN CO., LTD.Inventors: Nobutaka Yoneyama, Mikio Hamano, Yoshihide Miyagawa, Toshiaki Yamaura, Akihiko Asano, Manabu Tanaka
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Patent number: 11581453Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a method for scribing a layer stack of a photovoltaic device can include directing a laser scribing waveform to a film side of a layer stack. The laser scribing waveform can include pulse groupings that repeat at a group repetition period of greater than or equal to 1.5 ?s. Each pulse of the pulse groupings can have a pulse width of less than or equal to 900 fs.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2019Date of Patent: February 14, 2023Assignee: First Solar, Inc.Inventors: Nikhil Bhandari, Charles Wickersham
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Patent number: 11575347Abstract: A method of passive cooling for a high concentrating photovoltaic, the high concentrating photovoltaic, includes a photovoltaic receiver, a parabolic dish reflector and a plurality of thermally conductive heat pipes having a direct thermal contact between the receiver and the reflector to transfer excessive heat. The method includes receiving sunlight by the parabolic dish reflector, reflecting the sunlight towards the photovoltaic receiver that converts the sunlight into electricity and heat, transferring the heat through the thermally conductive heat pipes and absorbing the heat by the reflector serving a dual purpose as a heat sink. A reduction in weight and cost is accomplished by incorporating the flat heat pipes.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2022Date of Patent: February 7, 2023Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityInventor: Fahad G. Al-Amri
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Patent number: 11557440Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a perovskite material comprising negatively charged layers alternated with and neutralized by positively charged layers; the negatively charged layers having a general formula selected from the list consisting of: Ln?1MnX3n+1, LnMnX3n+2, and Ln?1M?nX3n+3, and the positively charged layers comprising: one or more organic ammonium cations independently selected from monovalent cations Q and divalent cations Q?, or a polyvalent cationic conjugated organic polymer Z, wherein Q, Q? and Z comprise each a ?-conjugated system in which at least 8 and preferably at least 10 atoms participate, L is a monovalent cation, Mn are n independently selected metal cations averaging a valence of two, M?n are n independently selected metal cations averaging a valence equal to 2+2/n, X is a monovalent anion, and n is larger than 1.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignees: IMEC vzw, Universiteit HasseltInventors: Laurence Lutsen, Dirk Vanderzande
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Patent number: 11557689Abstract: An integrated tandem solar cell includes a first solar cell including a rear electrode, a light absorption layer disposed on the rear electrode, and a buffer layer disposed on the light absorption layer; a recombination layer including a first transparent conductive layer disposed on the buffer layer; a nanoparticle layer that is transparent and conductive, that is disposed on the first transparent conductive layer, and that planarizes the first solar cell; and a second transparent conductive layer disposed on the nanoparticle layer; and a second solar cell that is a perovskite solar cell including a perovskite layer and that is disposed on and bonded to the second transparent conductive layer of the recombination layer. The recombination layer electrically joins the first and second solar cells and planarizes the first solar cell so that the second solar cell is uniformly deposited in all regions thereof.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 17, 2023Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and TechnologyInventors: Doh Kwon Lee, Yoon Hee Jang, In Ho Kim, Thi Kim Cuc Mai, Wan Soo Son, Jeung hyun Jeong
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Patent number: 11552593Abstract: A method of passive cooling for a high concentrating photovoltaic, the high concentrating photovoltaic, includes a photovoltaic receiver, a parabolic dish reflector and a plurality of thermally conductive heat pipes having a direct thermal contact between the receiver and the reflector to transfer excessive heat. The method includes receiving sunlight by the parabolic dish reflector, reflecting the sunlight towards the photovoltaic receiver that converts the sunlight into electricity and heat, transferring the heat through the thermally conductive heat pipes and absorbing the heat by the reflector serving a dual purpose as a heat sink. A reduction in weight and cost is accomplished by incorporating the flat heat pipes.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 2020Date of Patent: January 10, 2023Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal UniversityInventor: Fahad G. Al-Amri
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Patent number: 11532788Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for laminating solar cell modules comprising a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Assignee: Epishine ABInventors: Thomas Österberg, Jonas Bergqvist
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Patent number: 11522542Abstract: A high-voltage switch is adapted for use as a medium-voltage direct current circuit breaker, which provides a low-cost, small-footprint device to mitigate system faults. In one example, a method for operating a wideband optical device includes illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with a light within a first range of wavelengths and a first average intensity, allowing a current to propagate therethrough without substantial absorption of the current, illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within the first range of wavelengths and a second average intensity that is lower than the first average intensity to allow a sustained current flow though the wide bandgap optical device, and illuminating the wide bandgap optical device with light within a second range of wavelengths to stop or substantially restrict propagation of the current through the wide gap material.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2019Date of Patent: December 6, 2022Assignee: LAWRENCE LIVERMORE NATIONAL SECURITY, LLCInventors: Lars F. Voss, Adam M. Conway
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Patent number: 11515440Abstract: A thin-film solar module with a substrate and a layer structure applied thereon comprising a rear electrode layer, a front electrode layer, and an absorber layer arranged between the back electrode layer and the front electrode layer. Serially connected solar cells are formed in the layer region by patterning zones, having a rear electrode layer section. The layer region has at least one linear decoating region. The decoating region has an alternating sequence of optically transparent zones and electrode zones. The optically transparent zones are rear-electrode-layer-free and the electrode zones are absorber-layer-free and have a rear electrode layer section. The rear-electrode-layer-sections of at least one pair made up of one solar cell of one solar cell string and one solar cell of the other solar cell string are areally connected to one another by the rear-electrode-layer-section of at least one electrode zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2018Date of Patent: November 29, 2022Assignee: CNBM RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED GLASS MATERIALS GROUP CO., LTD.Inventors: Andreas Heiss, Joerg Palm, Helmut Vogt
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Patent number: 11502210Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes: a first photoelectric conversion layer including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion layer; and a top electrode; and a second photoelectric conversion part including: a bottom electrode; a photoelectric conversion part; and a top electrode. A conductive layer is formed on the bottom electrode. The top electrode and the bottom electrode are electrically connected by a conductive portion and the conductive layer. The conductive portion is formed of a part of the top electrode filled in a first groove that makes a surface of the conductive layer exposed and separates a photoelectric conversion layer and a photoelectric conversion layer from each other. The top electrodes are physically separated by a second groove provided to make a step surface of a stepped portion provided in the photoelectric conversion layer exposed and have a bottom surface thereof overlap the surface of the conductive layer.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions CorporationInventors: Haruhi Oooka, Kenji Todori, Kenji Fujinaga
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Patent number: 11482654Abstract: A thermoelectric composition is provided that includes a nanocomposite comprising a copper selenide (Cu2Se) matrix having a plurality of nanoinclusions comprising copper metal selenide (CuMSe2) distributed therein. M may be selected from the group consisting of: indium (In), aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), and combinations thereof. The thermoelectric composition has an average figure of merit (ZT) of greater than or equal to about 1.5 at a temperature of less than or equal to about 850K (about 577° C.). Methods of making such a thermoelectric nanocomposite material by a sequential solid-state transformation of a CuSe2 precursor are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGANInventors: Pierre Ferdinand Poudeu-Poudeu, Alan Olvera
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Patent number: 11469339Abstract: A solar cell module, which is easily coordinated with the color of an exterior member at the installation position, comprises a solar cell; a light receiving side sealing material and a light receiving side protection member laminated and disposed in this order on a light receiving side with reference to the solar cell; and a back-side sealing material and a back-side protection member laminated and arranged in this order on a back side on the opposite side from the light receiving side. A value computed from a measured value of the color of reflected light combining positive reflected light and diffused reflected light which are based on light that has become incident on an object to be measured, and a measured value of the color only of the diffused reflected light based on the light that has become incident on the object to be measured, satisfies a specific condition.Type: GrantFiled: February 7, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Kohei Kojima, Toru Terashita, Gensuke Koizumi, Junichi Nakamura