Patents by Inventor Franklin N. Gonzalez

Franklin N. Gonzalez 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).

  • Method of making quasi-grain boundary-free polycrystalline solar cell structure and solar cell structure obtained thereby
    Patent number: 4431858
    Abstract: A new solar cell structure is provided which will increase the efficiency of polycrystalline solar cells by suppressing or completely eliminating the recombination losses due to the presence of grain boundaries. This is achieved by avoiding the formation of the p-n junction (or other types of junctions) in the grain boundaries and by eliminating the grain boundaries from the active area of the cell.This basic concept can be applied to any polycrystalline material; however, it will be most beneficial for cost-effective materials having small grains, including thin film materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1984
    Assignee: University of Florida
    Inventors: Franklin N. Gonzalez, Arnost Neugroschel