Patents by Inventor Nigel Alley

Nigel Alley 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).

  • Publication number: 20140342098
    Abstract: A process of fabricating the waterproof coating may include selecting a substrate, utilizing a sol-gel comprising a silane or silane derivative and metal oxide precursor to coat the substrate, and optionally coating the substrate with a hydrophobic chemical agent and/or other chemical agents to create a surface with nanoscopic or microscopic features. The process may utilize an all solution process or controlled environment for fabricating self-cleaning and waterproof coating that prevent wetting or staining of a substrate, or may utilize a controlled environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2014
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: University of Houston
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Kang-Shyang Liao, Nigel Alley, Amrita Haldar, Alexander Wang, Renat Tatarin
  • Publication number: 20110253614
    Abstract: A versatile solar deployment system may provide one or more scalable solar deployment units. A solar deployment unit may include a chassis, a panel support provided by the chassis, and one or more solar panels coupled to the panel support, wherein the solar panels are folded together in an undeployed position, and the solar panels are unfolded in a deployed position. Alternatively, a solar deployment unit may include a rolling mechanism providing a rotating shaft and a flexible panel. One end of the flexible panel is secured to the rotating shaft, the flexible panel is rolled around the rotating shaft to retract the flexible panel into an undeployed position, and the flexible panel is unrolled to deploy the flexible panel into a deployed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Applicant: University of Houston
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Nathaniel Morgan, Nigel Alley
  • Publication number: 20110146755
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, the present invention provides a novel photovoltaic solar cell system from photovoltaic modules that are vertically arrayed in a stack format using thin film semiconductors selected from among organic and inorganic thin film semiconductors. The stack cells may be cells that are produced in a planar manner, then vertically oriented in an angular form, also termed herein tilted, to maximize the light capturing aspects. The use of a stack configuration system as described herein allows for the use of a variety of electrode materials, such as transparent materials or semitransparent metals. Light concentration can be achieved by using fresnel lens, parabolic mirrors or derivatives of such structures. The light capturing can be controlled by being reflected back and forth in the photovoltaic system until significant quantities of the resonant light is absorbed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: University of Houston
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Sampath Dias, Kang-Shyang Liao, Soniya Devi Yambem, Amrita Haldar, Nigel Alley
  • Publication number: 20100313944
    Abstract: In various embodiments, optoelectronic devices are described herein. The optoelectronic device may include an optoelectronic cell arranged so as to wrap around a central axis wherein the cell includes a first conductive layer, a semi-conductive layer disposed over and in electrical communication with the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer disposed over and in electrical communication with the semi-conductive layer. In various embodiments, methods for making optoelectronic devices are described herein. The methods may include forming an optoelectronic cell while flat and wrapping the optoelectronic cell around a central axis. The optoelectronic devices may be photovoltaic devices. Alternatively, the optoelectronic devices may be organic light emitting diodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: University of Houston
    Inventors: Seamus Curran, Sampath Dias, Nigel Alley, Amrita Haldar, Soniya Devi Yambem, Liao Kang-Shyang, Prajakta Chaudhari