Patents by Inventor Gerald R. WOOTTON

Gerald R. WOOTTON 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).

  • Patent number: 9281186
    Abstract: A colored photovoltaic module and method for its production, where the module includes: a photovoltaic cell; and an appearance modifying film, encapsulant or glazing; where the appearance modifying film, encapsulant or glazing includes: a light-control film; graphic material; a phosphor; a dichroic film; nano-particles; micro-dots; metal flakes; paint; an additive material for 3-D printing, Selective Laser Augmentation (SLA) or Selective Laser Sintering (SLS); or any combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Wootton
  • Patent number: 9276152
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell tab including: a front contact portion having a first profile; and a back contact portion having a second profile, wherein the first profile or second profile are complex shapes that may be dissimilar to each other. A system and method for forming photovoltaic cell tabs comprising: a feeding mechanism to feed wire; a first forming tool to trim and shape the wire to tabs; and a placement tool configured to match a profile of the tabs and place and attach the tabs on photovoltaic cells. In the system and method, the tabs may be formed to have a complex profile or shape that will affect incident light and/or mechanical or other characteristics of the tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Wootton
  • Patent number: 8686644
    Abstract: A light generating system comprising: a plurality of solid state emitters (SSEs) and a stability control system for controlling the spectral stability of the SSEs. In a particular case, the stability control system may comprise: a power regulator to regulate power supplied to a sub-set of the plurality of SSEs; a constant current circuit connected to the power regulator to provide a constant current to the sub-set of SSEs; a current regulation set point connected to the constant current circuit; and a controller configured to set the regulation set point based on metrology relating to the state of the SSEs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. Wootton
  • Publication number: 20120251386
    Abstract: There is described a method for sterilizing a device. The method includes: masking a portion of the device from a sterilization protocol using a mask; sterilizing a portion of the device using a first sterilization protocol; and sterilizing a portion of the device using a second sterilization protocol; where the mask shields the masked portion of the device from at least one of the sterilization protocols or attenuates the effect of at least one of the sterilization protocols in the masked portion. There is also described a system for sterilizing a device. The system includes a first sterilant; a second sterilant; and a mask for shielding a portion of the device from at least one of the sterilants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventors: Gerald R. WOOTTON, Catherine THACKER
  • Publication number: 20120247541
    Abstract: A coloured photovoltaic module and method for its production, where the module includes: a photovoltaic cell; and an appearance modifying film, encapsulant or glazing; where the appearance modifying film, encapsulant or glazing includes: a light-control film; graphic material; a phosphor; a dichroic film; nano-particles; micro-dots; metal flakes; paint; an additive material for 3-D printing, Selective Laser Augmentation (SLA) or Selective Laser Sintering (SLS); or any combination thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Gerald R. WOOTTON
  • Publication number: 20120247554
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell tab including: a front contact portion having a first profile; and a back contact portion having a second profile, wherein the first profile or second profile are complex shapes that may be dissimilar to each other. A system and method for forming photovoltaic cell tabs comprising: a feeding mechanism to feed wire; a first forming tool to trim and shape the wire to tabs; and a placement tool configured to match a profile of the tabs and place and attach the tabs on photovoltaic cells. In the system and method, the tabs may be formed to have a complex profile or shape that will affect incident light and/or mechanical or other characteristics of the tabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: ATS AUTOMATION TOOLING SYSTEMS INC.
    Inventor: Gerald R. WOOTTON
  • Publication number: 20110240089
    Abstract: A method for assembling a photovoltaic module with an integrated back box including: applying links to a back side of a photovoltaic module subassembly; forming a connection between the links and an internal bus element of the photovoltaic sub-assembly; connecting external lead wires to the links; applying a housing over the links and a portion of the lead wires; and applying potting material to fill any cavities between the back of photovoltaic module, the lead wires and the housing. A photovoltaic module with integrated back box manufactured according to this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. WOOTTON
  • Publication number: 20110241549
    Abstract: A light generating system comprising: a plurality of solid state emitters (SSEs) and a stability control system for controlling the spectral stability of the SSEs. In a particular case, the stability control system may comprise: a power regulator to regulate power supplied to a sub-set of the plurality of SSEs; a constant current circuit connected to the power regulator to provide a constant current to the sub-set of SSEs; a current regulation set point connected to the constant current circuit; and a controller configured to set the regulation set point based on metrology relating to the state of the SSEs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: ATS Automation Tooling Systems Inc.
    Inventor: Gerald R. WOOTTON