Patents Assigned to Konarka Technologies, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20080121281
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells with thiazole-containing polymers, as well as related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Richard Kingsborough, Xiaobo Shi, David Waller, Zhengguo Zhu
  • Publication number: 20080087324
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells with silole-containing polymers, as well as related systems, methods and components are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Richard Kingsborough, Xiaobo Shi, David Waller, Zhengguo Zhu
  • Patent number: 7351907
    Abstract: A flexible photovoltaically powered display, which may be utilized in a wide variety of display contexts including retail shelf systems, is described. The photovoltaic cell is preferably activated by ambient light (e.g., fluorescent or incandescent).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Alan Montello
  • Patent number: 7329709
    Abstract: The present invention relates to fullerene derivatives including a pendant group that may be reacted to prepare a composition including a plurality of covalently bound fullerenes. The pendant group may be a cyclic ether, such as an epoxide. The present invention also relates to compositions including reaction products of these fullerene derivatives and photovoltaic devices including such polymeric compositions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Savvas Hadjikyriacou, David Waller, Zhengguo Zhu
  • Publication number: 20080011352
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprising, a cathode layer, an electron donating layer, and an electron accepting anode structure comprising a collection region including one or a plurality of secondary collection regions attached to the collection region. The secondary collection regions of the anode preferably are in the shape of dispersed rod shaped branches extending within a continuous phase of the electron donating layer. The collection region is preferably located at a central point with respect to the secondary collection regions, to thereby provide a photovoltaic cell structure with improved charge collection and efficiency of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Applicant: KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Eitan Zeira
  • Publication number: 20070289626
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells containing electrically conductive particles in a electrode, as well as related components, systems, and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2007
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Eitan Zeira
  • Patent number: 7306968
    Abstract: The invention relates to an organically based photovoltaic element, in particular a solar cell comprising a photovoltaically active layer whose absorption maximum can be shifted into the longer wavelength region and/or whose efficiency can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Pavel Schilinsky, Christoph Waldauf
  • Patent number: 7304361
    Abstract: The present invention proposes an organic photovoltaic component, particularly an organic solar cell, whose electrode is implemented as unstructured and is provided with a passivation layer, so that the passivated electrode layer acts functionally as a structured electrode or electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Pavel Schilinsky, Christoph Waldauf
  • Publication number: 20070193621
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells containing a plurality of electrically conductive lines, as well as related systems, methods, modules, and components, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2007
    Publication date: August 23, 2007
    Applicant: KONARKA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Jens Hauch, Pavel Schilinsky
  • Patent number: 7259324
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell comprising, a cathode layer, an electron donating layer, and an electron accepting anode structure comprising a collection region including one or a plurality of secondary collection regions attached to the collection region. The secondary collection regions of the anode preferably are in the shape of dispersed rod shaped branches extending within a continuous phase of the electron donating layer. The collection region is preferably located at a central point with respect to the secondary collection regions, to thereby provide a photovoltaic cell structure with improved charge collection and efficiency of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Eitan C. Zeira
  • Patent number: 7220914
    Abstract: Zwitterionic compounds, photovoltaic cell charge carrier layers containing such compounds, photovoltaic cells including such charge carrier layers, and related methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni G. Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou, David Waller
  • Patent number: 7205473
    Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic cell integrated onto an active card, such as a greeting card or “smart” card, may be fabricated separately and then integrated with additional electronics on the active card. Alternatively, the photovoltaic cell may be fabricated on the active card itself, constituting, if desired, part or all of its surface design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lian Li, Edmund Montello
  • Patent number: 7186911
    Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to a method of scoring the coating of a first coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and melt at least a portion of the first base material. In a further embodiment, the invention is directed to a method of forming a photovoltaic module by scoring a coating of a first coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and melt at least a portion of the first base material; scoring a coating of a second coated base material at a temperature sufficiently elevated to part the coating and at least a portion of the second base material; and joining the first and second base materials to form a photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Ryan
  • Publication number: 20060278890
    Abstract: The invention relates to an organic solar cell comprising a photoactive layer consisting of two molecular components, namely an electron donator and an electrode acceptor, and comprising two electrodes provided on both sides of the photoactive layer, whereby an intermediate layer having an asymmetric conductivity is placed between at least one of the electrodes and the photoactive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Christoph Waldauf
  • Patent number: 7094441
    Abstract: A polymeric linking agent enables the manufacture of photovoltaic cells on flexible substrates, including, for example, polymeric substrates. Photovoltaic cells may be fabricated by a relatively simple continuous manufacturing process, for example, a roll-to-roll process, instead of a batch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni G. Chittibabu, Russell Gaudiana, Bill Beckenbaugh, Lian Li, Michael Lee
  • Patent number: 7022910
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides photovoltaic cells that utilize a mesh electrode on at least one exposure side of the photovoltaic cell. Preferably, the mesh electrode is a metallic mesh. In one embodiment, the invention provides dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) having a wire mesh exposure side electrode and a photovoltaic material comprising a photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle layer. In one embodiment, the wire mesh electrode functions as the cathode of the DSSC. In another embodiment, the wire mesh electrode functions as the anode of the DSSC. In addition, embodiments are provided where wire mesh electrodes are used for the anode and the cathode of a DSSC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell A. Gaudiana, Robert D. Eckert, Alan J. Montello, Edmund R. Montello
  • Publication number: 20050211292
    Abstract: Zwitterionic compounds, photovoltaic cell charge carrier layers containing such compounds, photovoltaic cells including such charge carrier layers, and related methods are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Publication date: September 29, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou, David Waller
  • Patent number: 6949400
    Abstract: An ultrasonic slitting device cuts and seals the edges of photovoltaic cells and modules to encapsulate the photoactive components in an environment substantially impervious to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Ryan
  • Publication number: 20050189014
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells with spacers, as well as related compositions, systems, and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello
  • Patent number: 6924427
    Abstract: The invention, in one embodiment, is directed to various aspects of the use of one or more wires in conjunction with an adhesive strip to serve as an electrically conductive connector between the photoactive layers of a photovoltaic cell or module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eckert, Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello