Patents Examined by Mayla Gonzalez Ramos
  • Patent number: 11728442
    Abstract: A back contact solar cell string includes: at least two cell pieces, where each cell piece comprises positive electrode regions and negative electrode regions alternately disposed with each other; insulation layers, covering the positive electrode regions on one side of the cell piece and the negative electrode regions on another side of the cell piece; and a first bus bar, connected to two adjacent cell pieces and electrically connected to the positive electrode regions and the negative electrode regions in the two adjacent cell pieces that are not covered by the insulation layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG AIKO SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., ZHUHAI FUSHAN AIKO SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., TIANJIN AIKO SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., GUANGDONG AIKO SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wei Dai, Xinqiang Yang, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 11721777
    Abstract: A four junction solar cell and its method of manufacture including an upper first solar subcell composed of a semiconductor material having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said first solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap and being lattice matched with the upper first solar subcell; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a third band gap smaller than the second band gap and being lattice matched with the second solar subcell; a graded interlayer adjacent to the third solar subcell and having a fourth band gap greater than the third band gap; and a bottom solar subcell adjacent to the graded interlayer and being lattice mismatched from the third solar subcell and having a fifth band gap smaller than the fifth band gap, wherein the selection of composition of the subcells and their band gaps maximizes the efficiency of the solar cell at a predetermine
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel Derkacs
  • Patent number: 11711049
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a lightweight, portable solar tracker assembly that has a bottom frame coupled to a rotation drive disc coupled to a rotational linear actuator and a middle frame rotatably coupled to the bottom frame via the rotation drive disc such that when activated, the middle frame rotates. The assembly further has a solar array mounting frame coupled to the middle frame and comprising a vertical linear actuator coupled to the middle frame such than when activated, the solar array mounting frame moves vertically, and when the middle frame rotates, the solar array mounting frame rotates and at least one solar cell fixedly coupled to the solar array mounting frame. In addition, the assembly has a processor configured to determine a position in a sky of a sun, actuate the vertical linear actuator and the rotational linear actuator so that the at least one solar cell is aligned with the sun.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: JBC Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Ralph McGinty
  • Patent number: 11699835
    Abstract: A circuit board and a battery connection module are provided. The circuit board has an insulating substrate and a plurality of circuit traces provided thereto. At least one of the traces is provided with a fuse unit. The fuse unit has a main fuse and at least one spare fuse. The main fuse has two main trace connection end portions respectively positioned at two ends of the main fuse and connected to the trace and a main fuse section connected between the two main trace connection end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Molex, LLC
    Inventor: Shang Xiu Zeng
  • Patent number: 11698416
    Abstract: Described methods and systems provide in-situ leakage current testing of battery cells in battery packs even while these packs operate. Specifically, an external electrical current is discontinued through a tested battery cell using a node controller, to which the tested battery cell is independently connected. Changes in the open circuit voltage (OCV) are then detected by the node controller for a set period time. Any voltage change, associated with taking the tested cell offline, is compensated by one or more other cells in the battery pack. The overall pack current and voltage remains substantially unchanged (based on the application demands), while the in-situ leakage current testing is initiated, performed, and/or completed. The OCV changes are then used to determine the leakage current of the tested cell and, in some examples, to determine the state of health of this cell and/or adjust the operating parameters of this cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Element Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Johannes Fasching, Georgy Zerkalov, Arnaud Devie, Seth Marshall Kahn, Anthony John Stratakos, Corrado Cammi, Anderson Rennie John, Yoosok Saw
  • Patent number: 11688819
    Abstract: A solar cell stack includes a first semiconductor solar cell having a p-n junction made of a first material with a first lattice constant, a second semiconductor solar cell having a p-n junction made of a second material with a second lattice constant, and the first lattice constant being at least 0.008 ? smaller than the second lattice constant, and a metamorphic buffer. The metamorphic buffer is formed between the first semiconductor solar cell and the second semiconductor solar cell. The metamorphic buffer includes a series of at least five layers. The lattice constant increases in the series in the direction of the semiconductor solar cell. The lattice constants of the layers of the metamorphic buffer are larger than the first lattice constant. Two layers of the buffer having a doping and the difference in the dopant concentration between the two layers being greater than 4E17 cm?3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Daniel Fuhrmann, Wolfgang Guter
  • Patent number: 11683985
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element is made of a material with a band structure having Weyl points in the vicinity of Fermi energy. The thermoelectric conversion element has a thermoelectric mechanism for generating electromotive force by the anomalous Nernst effect. A thermoelectric conversion device includes a substrate; and a power generator provided on the substrate and including a plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements. Each of the plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements has a shape extending in one direction, and is made of a material identical to that of the above-mentioned thermoelectric conversion element. The plurality of thermoelectric conversion elements is arranged in parallel to one another in a direction perpendicular to the one direction and electrically connected in series to one another in a serpentine shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO
    Inventors: Satoru Nakatsuji, Akito Sakai
  • Patent number: 11674008
    Abstract: The invention features a hot melt composition in the form of a film including from 40% by weight to 80% by weight of a non-functionalized alkyl acrylate, from 14% by weight to 50% by weight of an olefin polymer, from 2% by weight to 15% by weight of a first functionalized polymer comprising a functional group selected from the group consisting of epoxides and carboxylic anhydrides, and from 2% by weight to 15% by weight of a second functionalized polymer comprising a functional group capable of reacting with the functional group of the first functionalized polymer. The hot melt composition in the form of a film has found utility as an encapsulant for thin film photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: H.B. Fuller Company
    Inventors: Luke A. Strzegowski, Jayesh G. Bokria
  • Patent number: 11659723
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a photovoltaic device includes fabricating a first photovoltaic device portion with a first perovskite material layer having a first face, and fabricating a second photovoltaic device portion with a second perovskite material layer having a second face. Then first photovoltaic device portion and the second photovoltaic device portion are arranged such that the first face is in contact with the second face. Finally, the first photovoltaic device portion and second photovoltaic device portion are compressed at a pressure sufficient to fuse the first perovskite material to the second perovskite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: CubicPV Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Irwin, Michael Holland
  • Patent number: 11658256
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap and positioned for receiving an incoming light beam; a second solar subcell disposed below and adjacent to and lattice matched with said upper first solar subcell, and having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; wherein at least one of the solar cells has a graded band gap throughout its thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Daniel Derkacs, John Hart, Zachary Bittner
  • Patent number: 11652182
    Abstract: A five junction solar cell and its method of manufacture including an upper first solar subcell composed of a semiconductor material having a first band gap; a second solar subcell adjacent to said first solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap and being lattice matched with the upper first solar subcell; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a third band gap smaller than the second band gap and being lattice matched with the second solar subcell; a fourth solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell and composed of a semiconductor material having a fourth band gap smaller than the third band gap and being lattice matched with respect to the third solar subcell; a graded interlayer adjacent to the fourth solar subcell and having a fifth band gap greater than the fourth band gap; and a bottom solar subcell adjacent to the graded interlayer and being lattice mismatc
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Derkacs
  • Patent number: 11653509
    Abstract: A method for constructing a solar rectenna array by growing carbon nanotube antennas between lines of metal, and subsequently applying a bias voltage on the carbon nanotube antennas to convert the diodes on the tips of the carbon nanotube antennas from metal oxide carbon diodes to geometric diodes. Techniques for preserving the converted diodes by adding additional oxide are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: NOVASOLIX, INC.
    Inventors: Jyotsna Iyer, Laurence H. Cooke
  • Patent number: 11646388
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least one layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 11646383
    Abstract: A back contact solar cell assembly and methods for its manufacture and assembly onto a panel for use in space vehicles are described. The solar cell assembly includes a compound semiconductor multijunction solar cell having a contact at the top surface of the solar cell, a conductive semiconductor element extending from the contact on the top surface to the back surface of the assembly where it forms a first hack contact of a first polarity type, and a second back contact of a second polarity at the back surface of the assembly electrically coupled to the back surface of the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Lei Yang, Daniel McGlynn
  • Patent number: 11621451
    Abstract: A battery assembly includes a battery that has a top surface surrounded by a circumferential edge; and a removable tab attached to the top surface. The removable tab includes a first tab end and an oppositely disposed second tab end; a gripping region disposed adjacent to the first tab end; and a battery cell attachment region disposed adjacent to the second tab end and attached to the top surface of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: DURACELL U.S. OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Jean Mary Methe, David Goldfarb, David N. Klein
  • Patent number: 11611007
    Abstract: A special-figure design ribbon for connecting back contact cells includes a body, a plurality of first solder joints, and a plurality of second solder joints. The plurality of first solder joints and the plurality of second solder joints are respectively located on two sides of the body in a width direction. Each of the first solder joints stretches outward from a first side of the body. Each of the second solder joints stretches outward from a second side of the body. A shape of each first solder joint is different from a shape of each second solder joint. Center lines of at least one set of the first solder joint and the second solder joint adjacent to each other are staggered from each other in the width direction of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SOLARLAB AIKO EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Wenhua Chen, Bao'an Wu, Xian Li, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 11605748
    Abstract: A solar cell, a method for producing a solar cell, and a solar module are provided. The solar cell includes: an N-type substrate and a P-type emitter formed on a front surface of the substrate; a first passivation layer, a second passivation layer and a third passivation layer sequentially formed over the front surface of the substrate and in a direction away from the P-type emitter, and a passivated contact structure disposed on a rear surface of the substrate. The first passivation layer includes a first Silicon oxynitride (SiOxNy) material, where x>y. The second passivation layer includes a first silicon nitride (SimNn) material, where m>n. The third passivation layer includes a second silicon oxynitride (SiOiNj) material, where a ratio of i/j?[0.97, 7.58].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD., JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenqi Li, Jie Yang, Xinyu Zhang, Hao Jin
  • Patent number: 11600731
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is provided, which includes a substrate; a first passivation layer and a first anti-reflection layer disposed on a front surface of the substrate; and a second passivation layer, a PPW layer and at least one silicon nitride layer SiuNv (1<u/v<4) disposed on a rear surface of the substrate. The at least one silicon nitride layer has a refractive index and a thickness in respective ranges of 1.9 to 2.5 and 50 nm to 100 nm. The second passivation layer includes at least one aluminum oxide layer AlxOy (0.8<y/x<1.6), a refractive index and a thickness of which are respectively in ranges of 1.4 to 1.6 and 4 nm to 20 nm. The PPW layer includes at least one silicon oxynitride layer SirOsNt (r>s>t), a refractive index and a thickness of which are respectively in ranges of 1.5 to 1.8 and 1 nm to 30 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD., JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ruifeng Li, Yankai Qiu, Ning Zhang, Bin Li
  • Patent number: 11600733
    Abstract: A solar device includes a first string of first solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the first string. Additionally, the solar device includes a second string of second solar wafers, wherein a plurality of the second solar wafers each overlap with at least one vertically adjacent solar wafer from the second string, wherein a plurality of the first solar wafers overlap with one or more of the plurality of second solar wafers to electrically connect horizontally adjacent solar wafers in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nathaniel Caswell
  • Patent number: 11597352
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides glass, and a manufacturing method and a control method thereof. The glass includes a first glass layer, a plurality of transparent conductive strips and a second glass layer. The plurality of transparent conductive strips are between the first glass layer and the second glass layer, and are configured to generate heat when being supplied with power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignees: BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Long, Yong Song