Patents by Inventor Alex C. Mayer
Alex C. Mayer has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11495703Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer in cooperation with a photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer converts photons having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic materiaL The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic materiaL The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response to the photovoltaic materiaL The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2020Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun-Ho Park, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20210242358Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2020Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun-Ho Park, Georgeta Masson
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Patent number: 10840403Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2017Date of Patent: November 17, 2020Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun Ho Park, Georgeta Masson
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Patent number: 10396228Abstract: A solar concentrator module (80) employs a luminescent concentrator material (82) between photovoltaic cells (86) having their charge-carrier separation junctions (90) parallel to front surfaces (88) of photovoltaic material 84 of the photovoltaic cells (86). Intercell areas (78) covered by the luminescent concentrator material (82) occupy from 2 to 50% of the total surface area of the solar concentrator modules (80). The luminescent concentrator material (82) preferably employs quantum dot heterostructures, and the photovoltaic cells (86) preferably employ low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic materials (84), such as silicon-based photovoltaic materials.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2016Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: OSRAM Opto Semiconductors GmbHInventors: Alex C. Mayer, Shawn R. Scully, Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Oun-Ho Park, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20180138340Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2017Publication date: May 17, 2018Inventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun Ho Park, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20170084768Abstract: A solar concentrator module (80) employs a luminescent concentrator material (82) between photovoltaic cells (86) having their charge-carrier separation junctions (90) parallel to front surfaces (88) of photovoltaic material 84 of the photovoltaic cells (86). Intercell areas (78) covered by the luminescent concentrator material (82) occupy from 2 to 50% of the total surface area of the solar concentrator modules (80). The luminescent concentrator material (82) preferably employs quantum dot heterostructures, and the photovoltaic cells (86) preferably employ low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic materials (84), such as silicon-based photovoltaic materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Alex C. Mayer, Shawn R. Scully, Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Oun Ho Park, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Patent number: 9525092Abstract: A solar concentrator module (80) employs a luminescent concentrator material (82) between photovoltaic cells (86) having their charge-carrier separation junctions (90) parallel to front surfaces (88) of photovoltaic material 84 of the photovoltaic cells (86). Intercell areas (78) covered by the luminescent concentrator material (82) occupy from 2 to 50% of the total surface area of the solar concentrator modules (80). The luminescent concentrator material (82) preferably employs quantum dot heterostructures, and the photovoltaic cells (86) preferably employ low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic materials (84), such as silicon-based photovoltaic materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2011Date of Patent: December 20, 2016Assignee: Pacific Light Technologies Corp.Inventors: Alex C. Mayer, Shawn R. Scully, Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Oun Ho Park, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20130206219Abstract: Photovoltaic cells (22) of different materials may be integrated at the network (20) or panel level to optimize independent and cooperative efficiencies and manufacturing techniques of the different materials. The sizes and numbers of the photovoltaic cells (22) in the separate photovoltaic networks (20) may differ. Separate fabrication of the different photovoltaic networks (20) permits optimization of an interlayer material (110), which can be insulating or noninsulating and can include one or more of light-scattering or light-emitting particles, photonic crystals, metallic materials, an optical grating, or a refractive index grading. For example, adaptations of increased emitter layer thickness, lower sheet resistance, increased gridline spacing, smoother photovoltaic material surface, and/or increased AR coating thickness are made to a multicrystalline silicon photovoltaic cell (20) for optimization as a bottom network (20b) of a tandem solar module.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 27, 2011Publication date: August 15, 2013Inventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Alex C. Mayer, Shawn R. Scully, Steven M. Hughes, Oun-Ho Park, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20120305860Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2012Publication date: December 6, 2012Inventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun Ho Park, Shawn R. Scully, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20120222723Abstract: A solar concentrator module (80) employs a luminescent concentrator material (82) between photovoltaic cells (86) having their charge-carrier separation junctions (90) parallel to front surfaces (88) of photovoltaic material 84 of the photovoltaic cells (86). Intercell areas (78) covered by the luminescent concentrator material (82) occupy from 2 to 50% of the total surface area of the solar concentrator modules (80). The luminescent concentrator material (82) preferably employs quantum dot heterostructures, and the photovoltaic cells (86) preferably employ low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic materials (84), such as silicon-based photovoltaic materials.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2011Publication date: September 6, 2012Applicant: Spectrawatt, Inc.Inventors: Alex C. Mayer, Shawn R. Scully, Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Oun Ho Park, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson
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Publication number: 20110220194Abstract: The light conversion efficiency of a solar cell (10) is enhanced by using an optical downshifting layer (30) in cooperation with a photovoltaic material (22). The optical downshifting layer converts photons (50) having wavelengths in a supplemental light absorption spectrum into photons (52) having a wavelength in the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The cost effectiveness and efficiency of solar cells platforms (20) can be increased by relaxing the range of the primary light absorption spectrum of the photovoltaic material. The optical downshifting layer can be applied as a low cost solution processed film composed of highly absorbing and emissive quantum dot heterostructure nanomaterial embedded in an inert matrix to improve the short wavelength response of the photovoltaic material. The enhanced efficiency provided by the optical downshifting layer permits advantageous modifications to the solar cell platform that enhances its efficiency as well.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2010Publication date: September 15, 2011Applicant: Spectrawatt, Inc.Inventors: Juanita N. Kurtin, Alex R. Guichard, Steven M. Hughes, Alex C. Mayer, Oun Ho Park, Shawn R. Scully, Paul-Emile B. Trudeau, Colin C. Reese, Manav Sheoran, Georgeta Masson