Patents Examined by Thanh-Truc Trinh
  • Patent number: 10218013
    Abstract: A flat plate type solid oxide fuel cell stack module is obtained by stacking a plurality of flat plate type solid oxide fuel cell stack units. Each of the cell stack unit comprises an anode plate, a cell unit and a cathode plate. The anode plate has a first flow channel, four corner first fuel input holes and a central first fuel output hole. The cathode plate has a second flow channel, a plurality of lateral second air input grooves and a plurality of lateral second air output grooves. The cell unit includes an anode layer, a cathode plate, four corner third fuel input holes and a central third fuel output hole. An anode mental net and an anode sealing material are disposed between the anode plate and the cell unit, a cathode mental net and a cathode sealing material are disposed between the cathode plate and the cell unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: INSTITUTE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY RESEARCH ATOMIC ENERGY COUNCIL, EXECUTIVE YUAN
    Inventors: Hung-Hsiang Lin, Shih-Wei Cheng, Wen-Hsiu Chung, Szu-Han Wu, Yung-Neng Cheng, Ruey-Yi Lee
  • Patent number: 10181535
    Abstract: Fabrication methods and structures relating to backplanes for back contact solar cells that provide for solar cell substrate reinforcement and electrical interconnects are described. The method comprises depositing an interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes on a backside surface of a semiconductor substrate, forming electrically conductive emitter plugs and base plugs on the interdigitated pattern, and attaching a backplane having a second interdigitated pattern of base electrodes and emitter electrodes at the conductive emitter and base plugs to form electrical interconnects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehrdad M. Moslehi, David Xuan-Qi Wang, Karl-Josef Kramer, Sean M. Seutter, Sam Tone Tor, Anthony Calcaterra
  • Patent number: 10074761
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solar cell assembly comprising at least one first solar cell and at least one discrete protective diode (101) that is connected to the solar cell. The aim of the invention is to comprehensively protect a solar cell, a solar cell composite or a string of cells by means of one or more protective diodes, without resorting to the use of the material of the solar cells. To achieve this, in addition to a front and a rear contact (13, 15), the protective diode comprises an additional contact (14) that is placed at a distance from the front contact and is electrically connected to said contact via a p/n junction. A connector leads from the additional contact to a second solar cell, the latter in turn being connected to the first solar cell in a string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Azur Space Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Just Hilgarth, Dieter Poeck, Paul Uebele
  • Patent number: 10069457
    Abstract: A system and method for a microinverter mounting assembly including a microinverter assembly and a panel direct current (DC) connector. The microinverter assembly having a housing, a microinverter disposed within the housing, and a microinverter DC connector disposed within the housing and electrically coupled to the microinverter, the microinverter DC connector with a bottom panel having a locking recess formed therein and at least one electrical contact disposed within an opening formed in the bottom panel. The panel DC connector having a mounting substrate, a locking tab extending from the mounting substrate, and at least one electrical contact positioned on the mounting substrate. Further, the locking tab of the panel DC connector interfits within the locking recess of the microinverter DC connector to form a locking mechanism that prevents rotation of the microinverter DC connector when in a locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip Michael Cioffi, Mohammed Agamy
  • Patent number: 10032946
    Abstract: A system or device for concentrating the light radiation of the type to be used for converting the solar radiation into electric current and/or thermal energy is disclosed. The device mainly having a primary optics apt to be exposed to the solar radiation and to allow the passage thereof therethrough, the primary optics being positioned on a hollow spacer member, which is perfectly aligned and at the same time locked, by means of a joint member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SOLERGY INC.
    Inventors: Giovanni Lanzara, Gino D'Ovidio, Francesco Crisi, Carlo Masciovecchio, Massimiliano Viola, Carlo Tulli, Fabrizio Berton, Giuseppe Berducci
  • Patent number: 10026860
    Abstract: A method of forming a multijunction solar cell comprising an upper subcell, a middle subcell, and a lower subcell comprising providing first substrate for the epitaxial growth of semiconductor material; forming a first solar subcell on said substrate having a first band gap; forming a second solar subcell over said first subcell having a second band gap smaller than said first band gap; and forming a grading interlayer over said second sub cell having a third band gap larger than said second band gap forming a third solar subcell having a fourth band gap smaller than said second band gap such that said third subcell is lattice mis-matched with respect to said second subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, Mark A. Stan
  • Patent number: 9978924
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material having a plurality of nanoparticle inclusions. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the nanocomposite thermoelectric material, the material composition including a conductive bulk material and a nanoparticle material. In addition, a range of surface roughness values for the insulating nanoparticle material that can be obtained using current state of the art manufacturing techniques is determined. Thereafter, a plurality of Seebeck coefficients, electrical resistivity values, thermal conductivity values and figure of merit values as a function of the range of nanoparticle material surface roughness values is calculated. Based on these calculated values, a nanocomposite thermoelectric material composition or ranges of compositions is/are selected and manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Takuji Kita
  • Patent number: 9929296
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a bifacial photovoltaic module having an edge reflector. The module includes a plurality of solar cells in an array, each solar cell having a front side and a back side. A reflector is configured on an edge of the array of solar cells, the first reflector being configured to reflect light onto the front side of a row of solar cells adjacent to the edge. Another embodiment relates to a method of reducing non-uniformity of power generation from a bifacial photovoltaic module. Electrical current produced from solar cells along at least one edge of the array is increased by using a reflective strip facing towards the front side of the solar cells along the edge. Another embodiment relates to a bifacial photovoltaic module having an edge refractor. Other embodiments and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Douglas H. Rose
  • Patent number: 9795542
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes: a wavelength converting region that absorbs ambient light to generate electrons and holes, and recombines the generated electrons and holes to generate monochromatic light; and a photoelectric conversion region that has a p-n junction or p-i-n junction, absorbs the monochromatic light generated in the wavelength converting region to generate electrons and holes, and separates and moves the electrons and holes generated by absorption of the monochromatic light. The wavelength converting region includes: a carrier generating region that generates the electrons and holes; a light emitting region that generates the monochromatic light; and a carrier selective transfer region that is disposed between the carrier generating region and the light emitting region and that, of the electrons and holes generated in the carrier generating region, moves those electrons and holes having specific energies difference there between to the light emitting region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tomonori Nagashima, Yasuhiko Takeda, Nicholas John Ekins-Daukes, Daniel James Farrell
  • Patent number: 9783026
    Abstract: A cooling and thermoelectric power generating system for a vehicle may include a low temperature radiator disposed at an ambient air intake which is configured to allow ambient air in front of the vehicle to be introduced to an engine room, a coolant line adapted that coolant passing through the low temperature radiator is circulated again through the low temperature radiator via a water-cooled condenser, a refrigerant line adapted that refrigerant is flowed through the condenser, and a thermoelectric generator adapted that coolant flowing through the coolant line and refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant line are passed therethrough, in which the thermoelectric generator performs thermoelectric generation by using temperature difference between coolant flowing through the coolant line and refrigerant flowing through the refrigerant line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventors: Jongwoo Nam, Hanshin Chung, Joonho Lee, Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 9755128
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a nanocomposite thermoelectric material having a plurality of nanoparticle inclusions. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the nanocomposite thermoelectric material, the material composition including a conductive bulk material and a nanoparticle material. In addition, a range of surface roughness values for the insulating nanoparticle material that can be obtained using current state of the art manufacturing techniques is determined. Thereafter, a plurality of Seebeck coefficients, electrical resistivity values, thermal conductivity values and figure of merit values as a function of the range of nanoparticle material surface roughness values is calculated. Based on these calculated values, a nanocomposite thermoelectric material composition or ranges of compositions is/are selected and manufactured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Debasish Banerjee, Minjuan Zhang, Takuji Kita, Junya Murai
  • Patent number: 9735298
    Abstract: The present invention provides a protective backing sheet for photovoltaic modules. The backing sheet has a layer including fluoropolymer which is cured on a substrate, and the layer includes a hydrophobic silica. The amount of hydrophobic silica contained in the layer is within the range of 2.5 to 15.0% by weight, and preferably in the range of 7.5 to 12.5%. Also, the layer including fluoropolymer may further include a titanium dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: MADICO, INC.
    Inventors: Marina Temchenko, David William Avison, Frank Anthony Mannarino, Samuel Lim, Shogo Sugiura
  • Patent number: 9728701
    Abstract: A thermoelectric generation apparatus includes a heat absorbing surface configured to absorb heat from an internal combustion engine, a heat generating surface bonded to the heat absorbing surface by a semiconductor and configured to discharge the heat to the outside, and a conductive converting part interposed between the heat absorbing surface and the internal combustion engine. The conductive converting part is configured to allow the heat to be conducted from the internal combustion engine to the heat absorbing surface when a temperature of the internal combustion engine is equal to or greater than a specific value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Jin Woo Kwak, In Woong Lyo, Kyong Hwa Song, Han Saem Lee, Hong Kil Baek, In Chang Chu, Gyung Bok Kim, Su Jung Noh, Seung Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 9728658
    Abstract: A first solar cell is electrically connected to a second solar cell electrically and arranged in an array direction. Each of the first and second solar cell comprises: a light-receiving surface; a rear surface; a plurality of n-type side electrodes and p-type side electrodes both formed in the array direction on the rear surface; a wiring member electrically connecting the first solar cell and the second solar cell and arranged over the plurality of n-type side electrodes and the plurality of p-type side electrodes; an n-type side electrode insulating member that is arranged over the wiring member and covers a part of the plurality of n-type side electrodes, the part facing the wiring member; and a p-type side electrode insulating member that is arranged over the wiring member and covers a part of the plurality of p-type side electrodes, the part facing the wiring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Mishima, Hitoshi Sakata
  • Patent number: 9722165
    Abstract: A thermoelectric pixel includes a micro-platform and a device layer having one or more support layers suspended at a perimeter thereof. The pixel includes structures which reduce thermal conductivity and improve platform planarity. In embodiments providing an infrared sensor, carbon nanotubes are used to enhance infrared absorption into the sensor pixel. In other embodiments, the pixel provides a thermoelectric energy harvester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventor: William N. Carr
  • Patent number: 9722119
    Abstract: A plurality of solar cell assembly series of a solar cell panel are so arranged that any two adjacent solar cells in the plurality of solar cell assembly series have a potential difference which does not exceed V volts which is a maximum output voltage of the plurality of solar cell assembly series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI DENKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hideaki Koakutsu
  • Patent number: 9711671
    Abstract: System and method of providing a photovoltaic (PV) cell with a complex via structure in the substrate that has a primary via for containing a conductive material and an overflow capture region for capturing an overflow of the conductive material from the primary via. The conductive filling in the primary via may serve as an electrical contact between the PV cell and another PV cell. The overflow capture region includes one or more recesses formed on the substrate back surface. When the conductive material overflows from the primary via, the one or more recesses can capture and confine the overflow within the boundary of the complex via structure. A recess may be a rectangular or circular trench proximate to or overlaying the primary via. The recesses may also be depressions formed by roughening the substrate back surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ALTA DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Linlin Yang, Gang He, Dan Patterson, Paul Goddu, Liguang Lan, Gregg Higashi
  • Patent number: 9634165
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for restoring efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. An illumination module illuminates photovoltaic cells so the cells receive a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 5 hours of solar illumination. After illumination, an annealing module anneals the photovoltaic cells at a temperature above 90 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 10 minutes. In one embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 20 hours of solar illumination. In another embodiment, the illumination module illuminates the photovoltaic cells for a time integrated irradiance equivalent to at least 16 hours of solar illumination while being heated to at least 50 degrees Celsius. In another embodiment, a solar concentrator irradiates the photovoltaic cells in sunlight for at least 10 hours and increases the irradiance of solar illumination on the cells by a factor of 2 to 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Lawrence A. Clevenger, Rainer Krause, Zhengwen Li, Gerd Pfeiffer, Kevin Prettyman, Brian C. Sapp
  • Patent number: 9613814
    Abstract: A solar cell has a metal contact formed to electrically contact a surface of semiconductor material forming a photovoltaic junction. The solar cell includes a surface region or regions of heavily doped material and the contact comprises a contact metallisation formed over the heavily doped regions to make contact thereto. Surface keying features are located in the semiconductor material into which the metallisation extends to assist in attachment of the metallisation to the semiconductor material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: NEWSOUTH INNOVATIONS PTY LIMITED
    Inventors: Alison Maree Wenham, Martin Andrew Green, Stuart Ross Wenham
  • Patent number: 9607301
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells, facilities, systems and methods, as well as related compositions, are disclosed. Embodiments involve providing a sensor in association with a photovoltaic facility to form a sensor-pv facility; and providing the sensor-pv facility in a kit adapted for purchase by a consumer to be deployed in a home environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Daniel Patrick McGahn, Charles H. Cella