Patents Assigned to Konarka Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 6913713
    Abstract: Photovoltaic materials and methods of photovoltaic cell fabrication provide a photovoltaic cell in the form of a fiber. These fibers may be formed into a flexible fabric or textile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Robert Eckert, Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello, Paul Wormser
  • Patent number: 6900382
    Abstract: Replacing liquid electrolytes with solid or quasi-solid electrolytes facilitates the production of photovoltaic cells using continuous manufacturing processes, such as roll-to-roll or web processes, thus creating inexpensive, lightweight photovoltaic cells using flexible plastic substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou
  • Publication number: 20050067006
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 31, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Eckert, Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello
  • Publication number: 20050045851
    Abstract: Polymer catalysts for photovoltaic cells, as well as related compositions and methods, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-An He, Savvas Hadjikyriacou
  • Publication number: 20050040374
    Abstract: Photovoltaic materials and methods of photovoltaic cell fabrication provide a photovoltaic cell in the form of a fiber. These fibers may be formed into a flexible fabric or textile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Robert Eckert, Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello, Paul Wormser
  • Publication number: 20050039790
    Abstract: Replacing liquid electrolytes with solid or quasi-solid electrolytes facilitates the production of photovoltaic cells using continuous manufacturing processes, such as roll-to-roll or web processes, thus creating inexpensive, lightweight photovoltaic cells using flexible plastic substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou
  • Patent number: 6858158
    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: January 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Russell Gaudiana
  • Patent number: 6706963
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention provides photovoltaic modules. In one embodiment, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, at least two of which include a photosensitized nanomatrix layer and a charge carrier media. Preferably, the cells further include a catalytic media layer. The photovoltaic cells are disposed between a first electrical connection layer and a second electrical connection layer. In one embodiment, the cells are interconnected in series and the electrical connections layers each include conductive and insulative regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Lian Li
  • Publication number: 20040031520
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Ryan
  • Publication number: 20040025933
    Abstract: Replacing liquid electrolytes with solid or quasi-solid electrolytes facilitates the production of photovoltaic cells using continuous manufacturing processes, such as roll-to-roll or web processes, thus creating inexpensive, lightweight photovoltaic cells using flexible plastic substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Savvas Hadjikyriacou
  • Publication number: 20040025934
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kethinni Chittibabu, Russell Gaudiana
  • Publication number: 20030192585
    Abstract: The invention, in one aspect, provides a photovoltaic cell including a charge carrier material and a photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material including nanoparticles linked by a polymeric linking agent, both disposed between first and second rigid, significantly light-transmitting substrates. In one embodiment, the charge carrier material and the photosensitized interconnected nanoparticle material are disposed between a first and second flexible, significantly light-transmitting substrate that are themselves disposed between the first and second rigid, significantly light-transmitting substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Beckenbaugh, Russell Gaudiana
  • Publication number: 20030192584
    Abstract: The invention, in various embodiments, is directed to photovoltaic cells, modules and methods for making the same, wherein a plurality of discrete portions of metal foil having an interconnected nanoparticle material formed thereon are disposed, preferably as strips having a controlled size and relative spacing, between first and second flexible substrates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Bill Beckenbaugh, Russell Gaudiana, Alan Montello, Edmund Montello
  • Publication number: 20030192583
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Ryan
  • Publication number: 20030189402
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Alan Montello
  • Publication number: 20030188776
    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: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lian Li, Edmund Montello
  • Publication number: 20030188777
    Abstract: Co-sensitizers that co-adsorb with a sensitizing dye to the surface of an interconnected semiconductor oxide nanoparticle material increase the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by improving their charge transfer efficiency and reducing the back transfer of electrons from the interconnected semiconductor oxide nanoparticle material to the sensitizing dye.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2003
    Publication date: October 9, 2003
    Applicant: Konarka Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Gaudiana, Savvas Hadjikyriacou, Jin-An He, David Waller, Zhengguo Zhu