Patents Examined by Bethany L Martin
  • Patent number: 11522493
    Abstract: Disclosed are a reflector for a bifacial solar module and a bifacial photovoltaic system including the same, wherein the reflector includes a reflecting panel configured to reflect sunrays toward back surfaces of a first bifacial solar module and a second bifacial solar module which are located higher than the ground, a mobile cart configured to support the reflecting panel and be movable below and between the first bifacial solar module and the second bifacial solar module, and a control portion configured to control a position of the mobile cart to maximize power generation amounts of the first bifacial solar module and the second bifacial solar module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Jinsung e&c
    Inventor: Yungyun Ryu
  • Patent number: 11508988
    Abstract: Metal electrodes, more specifically lithium-containing anodes, high performance electrochemical devices, such as secondary batteries, including the aforementioned lithium-containing electrodes, and methods for fabricating the same are provided. In one implementation, an anode electrode structure is provided. The anode electrode structure comprises a current collector comprising copper, a lithium metal film formed on the current collector, a copper film formed on the lithium metal film, and a protective film formed on the copper film. The protective film is a lithium-ion conducting film selected from the group comprising lithium-ion conducting ceramic, a lithium-ion conducting glass, or ion conducting liquid crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventor: Subramanya P. Herle
  • Patent number: 11508967
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrolytic copper foil for a secondary battery and a method of producing the same, and more particularly, to an electrolytic copper foil for a secondary battery, which has little change in a physical property of a copper foil before and after vacuum drying in a process of producing an electrolytic copper foil, thereby exhibiting excellent cycle life in a battery test at a high-density negative electrode, and preventing cracking. The electrolytic copper foil for a secondary battery is produced from a plating solution containing Total Organic Carbon (TOC), zinc, and iron by using a drum, in which a ratio of the TOC to the zinc and the iron contained in the electrolytic copper foil follows Formula 1 below: TOC/(zinc+iron)=1.3 to 1.5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ILJIN MATERIALS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sun Hyoung Lee, Tae Jin Jo, Seul-Ki Park, Ki Deok Song
  • Patent number: 11508860
    Abstract: A solar cell can include a built-in bypass diode. In one embodiment, the solar cell can include an active region disposed in or above a first portion of a substrate and a bypass diode disposed in or above a second portion of the substrate. The first and second portions of the substrate can be physically separated with a groove. A metallization structure can couple the active region to the bypass diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Bum Rim, Gabriel Harley
  • Patent number: 11509260
    Abstract: Techniques related to reclamation of energy leaking from waveguides are disclosed. One or more photovoltaic cells may receive light leaking from a waveguide at a first surface of the wave guide. The first surface may be opposite to a second surface at which an in-coupling element is located. The light leaking from the waveguide results from inefficiency in redirecting incoming light for propagation within the waveguide. The one or more photovoltaic cells may generate electric power from the light leaking from the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Nihar Ranjan Mohanty, Ningfeng Huang
  • Patent number: 11509264
    Abstract: Electro-magnetic (EM) energy collected in three dimensions, in layers allows for multiple planes to function operatively with optimized band gap structures whereby integrated variant and overlapping three-dimensional electro-magnetic films permit systems to collect energy across the entire electro-magnetic spectrum, and present systems utilizing both direct and indirect light to be leveraged. The EM-CS captures and contains more energy from EMR than conventional systems addressing global energy needs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: SOLAR CUBED HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventor: Scott Conrad Hohulin
  • Patent number: 11489080
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a passivated contact structure and a solar cell including the same, a cell assembly and a photovoltaic system. The passivated contact structure includes a first passivated contact region on a silicon substrate and a second passivated contact region on the first passivated contact region. The second passivated contact region has an opening connecting a conductive layer to the first passivated contact region. The first passivated contact region includes a first doped layer, a first passivation layer and a second doped layer. The second passivated contact region includes a second passivation layer and a third doped layer. The first passivation layer is a porous structure inlaid with the first doped layer and/or the second doped layer in a hole region. Utilizing the passivated contact structure provided in this invention, mitigates the serious recombination caused by metal directly contacting with silicon substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SOLARLAB AIKO EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Gang Chen, Wenli Xu, Kaifu Qiu, Yongqian Wang, Xinqiang Yang
  • Patent number: 11489100
    Abstract: A heat conversion apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a duct through which cooling fluid passes; a first thermoelectric module disposed on a first surface of the duct; a second thermoelectric module disposed on a second surface, which is disposed in parallel to the first surface, of the duct; and a gas guide member disposed above a third surface disposed between the first surface and the second surface of the duct so as to be spaced from the third surface, wherein the gas guide member includes one end thereof coming in contact with the first thermoelectric module, the other end thereof coming in contact with the second thermoelectric module, and an extended part for connecting the one end and the other end, and the gas guide member can have a form in which the distance thereof from the third surface gradually increases toward the center between the one end and the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Un Hak Lee, Jong Hyun Kang, Seong Jae Jeon
  • Patent number: 11489486
    Abstract: Devices and methods for cleaning an array of solar panels in side-by-side relation employ one or more elongated flexible elements, preferably implemented as translucent strips (14a, 14b, 14c, 14d), anchored at their ends relative to the array of solar panels (12). Each strip spans two or more solar panels, and is wind-displaceable so as to contribute to cleaning of at least two of the solar panels (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: DUSTOSS LTD.
    Inventor: Yoel Sefi
  • Patent number: 11482719
    Abstract: A system for providing oxygen to a fuel cell circuit includes a compressor and a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells. The system also includes a plurality of pipes and a pressure sensor designed to detect pressure at a first location. The system also includes a memory to store a model of the fuel cell circuit and an ECU. The ECU determines a control signal corresponding to desirable operation of the compressor and determines flow values of the gas through each component based on the detected pressure and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also determines pressure values of each component based on the determined flow values and the model of the fuel cell circuit. The ECU also controls operation of the compressor based on the control signal, at least one of the flow values, and at least one of the pressure values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Jared Farnsworth, Daniel Folick, Shigeki Hasegawa, Naoki Tomi
  • Patent number: 11474094
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for long read, label-free, optical nanopore long chain molecule sequencing. In general, the present disclosure describes a novel sequencing technology based on the integration of nanochannels to deliver single long-chain molecules with widely spaced (>wavelength), ˜1-nm aperture “tortuous” nanopores that slow translocation sufficiently to provide massively parallel, single base resolution using optical techniques. A novel, directed self-assembly nanofabrication scheme using simple colloidal nanoparticles is used to form the nanopore arrays atop nanochannels that unfold the long chain molecules. At the surface of the nanoparticle array, strongly localized electromagnetic fields in engineered plasmonic/polaritonic structures allow for single base resolution using optical techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventors: Steven R. J. Brueck, Jeremy Scott Edwards, Alexander Neumann, Yuliya Kuznetsova, Edgar A. Mendoza
  • Patent number: 11466760
    Abstract: A solar tracking system includes a solar array, support beams that support the solar array, a torque tube coupled to the support beams, a base that rotatably supports the torque tube, and an articulation system that rotates the torque tube relative to the base. The articulation system includes an outer tube, a screw rod, and a nut and/or inner tube that rotates and translates along a length of the screw rod as the screw rod rotates. The interior portion of the outer tube includes helical grooves and the exterior portion of the nut or inner tube includes ridges or rollers that mate with the helical grooves, which cause the nut and/or inner tube to rotate as the nut and/or inner tube is translated along a length of the screw rod when the screw rod is rotated by the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Smith
  • Patent number: 11462655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tandem solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same, and more particularly, to a tandem solar cell having a perovskite solar cell stacked on and bonded to a silicon solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. According to the present disclosure, a tandem solar cell embodied by using a homojunction silicon solar cell is provided with a first passivation pattern so that a part of an emitter layer under the first passivation pattern is exposed, thereby protecting, by the first passivation pattern, the emitter layer during high temperature firing for forming a second electrode, reducing surface defects of the emitter layer, and reducing a problem in that characteristics of the perovskite solar cell are degraded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seh-Won Ahn
  • Patent number: 11463043
    Abstract: A solar panel system is assembled into a three-dimensional volume with the solar cell(s) positioned on an inward facing surface to collect sunlight and reflect sunlight from different angles as the sun passes overhead. Embodiments may be mounted into the interior of a building with a top end of the module being positioned on or proximate a roof surface and disposed to collect sunlight into the module interior below the roof line. Some embodiments may be pyramidal shaped. Outdoor mounting of the solar panel module includes embodiments that may be held in a frame and rail mounted system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Inventor: David Lawrence Hammers
  • Patent number: 11462791
    Abstract: Provided herein are systems, apparatuses, and methods of providing electrical energy for electric vehicles. A battery pack can be disposed in an electric vehicle to power the electric vehicle. A battery cell can be arranged in the battery pack. The battery cell can have a housing. The housing can define a cavity within the housing. The battery cell can have an electrode structure arranged within the cavity. The electrode structure can include a first polarity electrode plate, a second polarity electrode plate, and at least one separator. First and second polarity tabs are coupled with the first and second polarity electrode plates, respectively. The tabs include a flat surface, an electrode interface surface and at least one intermediate surface that extends therebetween. The at least one intermediate surface forms an acute angle with the electrode interface surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: CHONGQING JINKANG POWERTRAIN NEW ENERGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Scott Quinlan Freeman Monismith, Jeremy Elsberry, Brennan Campbell, Derek Nathan Wong, Ying Liu, Yifan Tang
  • Patent number: 11450859
    Abstract: [Object] To provide a cell, a cell stack, an electrochemical module and an electrochemical apparatus that can suppress decrease in output power. [Solution] A cell includes a solid oxide electrolyte layer 9, a fuel electrode layer 8 on one of the main surfaces of the electrolyte layer 9, and an oxygen electrode layer 10 on the other. The oxygen electrode layer 10 contains a plurality of pores, and the pore size distribution observed at a section of the oxygen electrode layer has at least three peaks (a first peak p1, a second peak p2 and a third peak p3). This structure leads to a cell, a cell stack, an electrochemical module and an electrochemical apparatus that can suppress decrease in output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Nakayama, Tetsuaki Ozaki, Norimitsu Fukami
  • Patent number: 11450817
    Abstract: An organic electroluminescent device having an anode, a cathode, and a light emitting layer between the anode and the cathode, in which the light emitting layer contains a first organic compound, a second organic compound, and a third organic compound that satisfy the following expression (A), the second organic compound is a delayed fluorescent material, and the third organic compound is a light emitting material, is capable of enhancing the light emission efficiency. ES1(A), ES1(B) and ES1(C) represent a lowest singlet excitation energy level of the first, second and third organic compound, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: KYULUX, INC.
    Inventors: Hajime Nakanotani, Chihaya Adachi, Takahiro Higuchi, Taro Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11431032
    Abstract: Provided is a method for manufacturing a mono cell having a sheet-like negative electrode, a sheet-like separator and a sheet-like positive electrode laminated in this order. In this manufacturing method, adhesives are disposed at a plurality of points on an upper surface of the negative electrode, then, the negative electrode is bonded to a lower surface of the separator, and furthermore, adhesives are disposed at a plurality of points on a lower surface of the positive electrode, then the positive electrode is bonded to an upper surface of the separator. When viewed in the lamination direction of the mono cell, the positions of the adhesives and the positions of the adhesives do not overlap each other. Then, adhesives are disposed at a plurality of points on an upper surface of the positive electrode, and a lower surface of a separator is bonded to the upper surface of the positive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Envision AESC Japan Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Yamashita, Kenichi Shirai
  • Patent number: 11424378
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is provided that comprises a photovoltaic active zone being formed of a stack of thin films comprising a first electrode, an absorber film and a metallic electrode. A collection gate is arranged in contact with the first electrode to reduce its electrical resistance and avoid direct physical or electrical contact with the metallic electrode. The photovoltaic active zone includes a plurality of channels, made in the metallic electrode and the absorber film. The collection gate is separated from the metallic electrode and from the absorber film by a dielectric material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Inventors: Philippe Gilbert Frederic Cardi, Sylvain De Vecchi
  • Patent number: 11424423
    Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic cell and method of making are disclosed. The photovoltaic cell may include a transparent substrate and a first active material overlying the substrate. The first active material may have a first absorption peak at a wavelength greater than about 650 nanometers. A second active material is disposed overlying the substrate, the second active material having a second absorption peak at a wavelength outside of the visible light spectrum. The photovoltaic cell may also include a transparent cathode and a transparent anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Vladimir Bulovic, Richard Royal Lunt