Patents Assigned to Solar, Inc.
  • Patent number: 12381509
    Abstract: A frame (101) for at least partially enclosing or supporting a panel (190) is provided. The frame may include at least a first frame section (201-1) including a bottom flange (104) provided at a base of the frame section. A frame sidewall (103) may be provided at an outer portion of the frame section, the frame sidewall characterized by a height H extending from the bottom flange (104). A panel containment structure (101-1) may be provided at an upper portion of the frame sidewall (103), the panel containment structure including a lower shelf (105) extending from the frame sidewall. A support wall (431-1) may be provided at an inner portion of the frame section (201-1), the support wall extending (i) between the bottom flange (104) and the frame sidewall (103), (ii) between the bottom flange (104) and the lower shelf (105), or (iii) both (i) and (ii).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2025
    Assignee: Origami Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Patton, Eric L. Hafter, Tyler Hudson
  • Patent number: 12375027
    Abstract: A solar tracker system includes a support tube, a solar panel assembly connected to the support tube, and an active lock connected to the support tube. The active lock includes a housing defining a chamber and a seal. The seal prevents a flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in a sealed state and allows the flow of fluid through the chamber when the active lock is in an unsealed state. The active lock further includes a locking system motor connected to the seal to transition the active lock between the sealed state and the unsealed state, a battery providing power to the locking system motor, and an antenna for receiving instructions controlling the locking system motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: FTC Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph D. LoBue, Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli, Tamilarasan Mouniandy, Milo Zabala
  • Patent number: 12369426
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a layer stack; and an absorber layer is disposed on the layer stack. The absorber layer comprises selenium, wherein an atomic concentration of selenium varies across a thickness of the absorber layer. The photovoltaic device is substantially free of a cadmium sulfide layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly Ann Blaydes, Kristian William Andreini, William Hullinger Huber, Eugene Thomas Hinners, Joseph John Shiang, Yong Liang, Jongwoo Choi
  • Patent number: 12362647
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system providing both grid-tie and back-up operation comprises an inverter having a first, voltage-controlled output for powering appliances, and a second, current-controlled output for grid back-feed. The second output may have a current-controlled mode when connected to the grid and a voltage-controlled mode otherwise. The first and second outputs comprise independent switching transistors, which however may be driven by the same switching control signals, such that the voltage controlled-output mimics the voltage on the current-controlled output when it is connected to the grid, and therefore tracks the grid voltage. Grid isolation relays disconnect the current-controlled inverter output from the grid if it fails. A connection bypassing the grid isolation relay is monitored by the controller for the presence and stability of the grid supply when it resumes. Both outputs follow the voltage on the voltage-controlled output when the current-controlled output is not connected to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2025
    Assignee: KOOLBRIDGE SOLAR, INC.
    Inventor: Paul Wilkinson Dent
  • Patent number: 12356785
    Abstract: Solar cell modules and methods of fabrication are described. In an embodiment, a pair of tandem solar cells are a step surface or trench within the top subcell of a tandem solar cell is at least partially filled with another material such as an insulator support or electrically conductive support to transfer stress away from the absorber layer of the top subcell of the tandem solar cells when stacked or connected with ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Swift Solar Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Krajewski, Tomas Leijtens
  • Patent number: 12356755
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a photovoltaic device can include an absorber layer. The absorber layer can be doped p-type with a Group V dopant and can have a carrier concentration of the Group V dopant greater than 4×1015 cm?3. The absorber layer can include oxygen in a central region of the absorber layer. The absorber layer can include an alkali metal in the central region of the absorber layer. Methods for carrier activation can include exposing an absorber layer to an annealing compound in a reducing environment. The annealing compound can include cadmium chloride and an alkali metal chloride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongbo Cao, Sachit Grover, William Hullinger Huber, Xiaoping Li, Dingyuan Lu, Roger Malik, Hongying Peng, Joseph John Shiang, Qianqian Xin, Gang Xiong
  • Patent number: 12356732
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, an island in a regular, closed shape is ablated in a first conductive layer. An interconnect is formed through the island, using the island as an alignment fiducial. The island and the interconnect are isolated from the remainder of the first conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil Bhandari, Matthew Davis, Rhett Miller, Charles Wickersham
  • Patent number: 12334863
    Abstract: Tracking systems for adjusting a photovoltaic array are disclosed. In some embodiments, the tracking system includes an actuator that moves one or more links to cause the array to rotate. The tracking system may be disposed below a torque rail of the tracking system. The actuator may be a slew drive that retracts or extends the one or more links to cause the array to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Assignee: FTC Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Nagendra Cherukupalli, Larry Wong, Milo Zabala
  • Publication number: 20250176280
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices with type II-VI semiconductor absorber materials having improved carrier extraction layers are described herein. Methods of treating semiconductor absorber layers and forming improved carrier extraction layers and p-type contact layers are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2023
    Publication date: May 29, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Duyen Cao, Sachit Grover, James Hack, Chungho Lee, Dingyuan Lu, Gang Xiong
  • Publication number: 20250169199
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate, a semiconductor stack and a transparent tunnel junction. The semiconductor stack includes an n-type layer selected from a first transparent conductive oxide layer, or a window layer, or both; and a p-type absorber layer disposed on the n-type layer, wherein the absorber layer consists essentially of CdSexTe(1-x), wherein x is from 1 to about 40 at. %. The transparent tunnel junction comprises a transparent interface layer of CdyZn(1-y)Te doped to be p+type, and a transparent contact layer doped to be n+type, and the interface layer is disposed between the p-type absorber layer and the transparent contact layer. In bifacial embodiments, the tunnel junction forms a transparent back contact and electrode; and in multi-junction embodiments, the tunnel junction forms a diode-like connector between top and bottom cells. The transparent contact layer may comprise tin oxide or zinc oxide doped with aluminum, fluorine or indium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2025
    Publication date: May 22, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Markus Gloeckler, Fang Mei, Wei Zhang
  • Publication number: 20250160041
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device is presented. The photovoltaic device includes a layer stack; and an absorber layer is disposed on the layer stack. The absorber layer comprises selenium, wherein an atomic concentration of selenium varies across a thickness of the absorber layer. The photovoltaic device is substantially free of a cadmium sulfide layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Holly Ann Blaydes, Kristian William Andreini, William Hullinger Huber, Eugene Thomas Hinners, Joseph John Shiang, Yong Liang, Jongwoo Choi
  • Publication number: 20250160034
    Abstract: Embodiments of a photovoltaic device are provided herein. The photovoltaic device can include a layer stack and an absorber layer disposed on the layer stack. The absorber layer can include a first region and a second region. Each of the first region of the absorber layer and the second region of the absorber layer can include a compound comprising cadmium, selenium, and tellurium. An atomic concentration of selenium can vary across the absorber layer. The first region of the absorber layer can have a thickness between 100 nanometers to 3000 nanometers. The second region of the absorber layer can have a thickness between 100 nanometers to 3000 nanometers. A ratio of an average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region of the absorber layer to an average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region of the absorber layer can be greater than 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2025
    Publication date: May 15, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian William Andreini, Holly Ann Blaydes, Jongwoo Choi, Adam Fraser Halverson, Eugene Thomas Hinners, William Hullinger Huber, Yong Liang, Joseph John Shiang
  • Patent number: 12292075
    Abstract: A twist-lock clamp to attach a solar module to a rail system includes a spring between a top clamp and a t-nut, with features on the spring and top clamp to restrict rotation relative to each other. The t-nut includes features allowing rotation of about 90 degrees when the t-nut is inserted in a rail, but restrict rotation beyond about 90 degrees. The spring serves to hold the top clamp and t-nut apart while allowing the twist-lock clamp to resist sliding in the rail during installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2025
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC
    Inventors: Erich Kai Stephan, Glenn Harris, Peter Wilke, Nicholas Wenzel, James Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20250142978
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell can include an interfacial layer in contact with a semiconductor layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2024
    Publication date: May 1, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: David Eaglesham, Peter V. Meyers
  • Patent number: 12286704
    Abstract: A thermal evaporation sources are described. These thermal evaporation sources include a crucible configured to contain a volume of evaporant and a vapor space above the evaporant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: JLN Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Birkmire, Gregory M. Hanket
  • Patent number: 12281750
    Abstract: Apparatuses for clamping rails and methods for rail installation are provided. A clamp apparatus may include a first grip body that includes a first groove and a second grip body that includes a second groove. Alignment of the first groove and the second groove may form a groove pair configured to couple to one or more flanges of a rail. The clamp apparatus may further include a fastener, as well as a flange spring that extends from the first grip body and that flexibly engages with the second grip body. Flexing the flange spring may allow the first grip body to move away from the second grip body along a length of the fastener.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: PEGASUS SOLAR INC
    Inventor: Erich Kai Stephan
  • Publication number: 20250120219
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a photovoltaic device can include a buffer layer adjacent to an absorber layer doped p-type with a group V dopant. The buffer layer can have a plurality of layers compatible with group V dopants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2024
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Applicant: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Le Chen, Sachit Grover, Jason Kephart, Sergei Kniajanski, Chungho Lee, Xiaoping Li, Feng Liao, Dingyuan Lu, Rajni Mallick, Wenming Wang, Gang Xiong, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 12261231
    Abstract: According to the embodiments provided herein, a method for forming a photovoltaic device can include depositing a plurality of semiconductor layers. The plurality of semiconductor layers can include a doped layer that is doped with a group V dopant. The doped layer can include cadmium selenide or cadmium telluride. The method can include annealing the plurality of semiconductor layers to form an absorber layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Sachit Grover, Chungho Lee, Xiaoping Li, Dingyuan Lu, Roger Malik, Gang Xiong
  • Patent number: D1077463
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: Blackboard Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: David M. Wilson, Malcolm S. Townes, Aislynn Clark
  • Patent number: D1077608
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Friedrich Hittner, Evan Nichols