Patents Examined by A. Cannon
  • Patent number: 11784270
    Abstract: A solar module can include a first and second solar cell having front sides which face the sun during normal operation and back sides opposite the front sides. In an embodiment, a first interconnect can be coupled to the back sides of both the first and second solar cell, where the first interconnect comprises an anodized region facing substantially the same direction as the front sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas Pass
  • Patent number: 11784350
    Abstract: The ionic liquids disclosed herein are salts comprising a nitrogen or phosphorus such as a quaternary ammonium ion, a quaternary phosphonium ion, or an N-alkylated nitrogen heterocycle, and which include at least one functional substituent, e.g., a fluoro, cyano, carbonate ester, an alkenyl group, or an alkynyl group bonded to a carbon atom the cation. In a preferred embodiment, the cation is represented by the structure of Formula (I) as described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengcheng Zhang, Qian Liu
  • Patent number: 11777441
    Abstract: A thermoelectric power generation system includes a solar panel array on a first side of a tower to absorb solar radiation and generate electrical energy and waste heat and a panel on a second side, opposite the first side, of the tower. A plurality of thermoelectric elements of the tower are interposed between the solar panel array and the panel. The plurality of thermoelectric elements converts conductive heat flow of the waste heat from the solar panel directed toward the panel to electrical energy. A conductive base supports the tower and to conduct heat away from the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Julie Strickland, Ashley Rose Himmelmann, Samuel Anderson, Jake Rohrig
  • Patent number: 11769851
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for treating a surface portion of a TCO material in a semiconductor device that comprises a structure arranged to facilitate current flow in one direction. To perform the method the surface portion of the TCO is exposed to an electrolyte and a current is induced in the device. The current allows reducing the TCO material in a manner such that the adhesion of a metallic material to the exposed surface portion is improved over the adhesion of the metallic material to a non-exposed surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
    Inventors: Alison Joan Lennon, Vincent Akira Allen
  • Patent number: 11764406
    Abstract: An all-solid battery is formed by laminating a first current collector, a positive-electrode layer, a solid electrolyte layer, a negative-electrode layer, and a second current collector in this order. The positive-electrode fine particle layer contains positive-electrode active material fine particles having a particle diameter smaller than that of the positive-electrode active material and is formed on a side surface of the positive-electrode layer. The negative-electrode fine particle layer contains negative-electrode active material fine particles having a particle diameter smaller than that of the negative-electrode active material and is formed on a side surface of the negative-electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiro Kitamura, Katsuji Sumimoto, Akihiro Horikawa
  • Patent number: 11746252
    Abstract: A composition containing a fluorine-containing polymer having a curable functional group and a pentamethylene diisocyanate-based curing agent. Also disclosed is a coating film obtained from the composition; a laminate including a substrate and a layer obtained from the composition; a back sheet for a solar cell module having a water-impermeable sheet and a coating film obtained from the composition, the coating film being formed on at least one side of the water-impermeable sheet; and a solar cell module having a water-impermeable sheet and a coating film obtained from the composition, the coating film being formed on at least one side of the water-impermeable sheet, and a sealant layer formed above the coating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignees: DAIKIN FLUOROCHEMICALS (CHINA) CO., LTD., DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Weiwei Liu, Hideto Nakagawa, Masaru Nagato
  • Patent number: 11750147
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system includes a collection of photovoltaic modules, a base supporting the collection of photovoltaic modules, and a damper coupled between the collection of photovoltaic modules and the base. The damper resists movement of the photovoltaic modules relative to the base. The damper has a first damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a first rate relative to the base and a second damping ratio when the collection of photovoltaic modules moves at a second rate relative to the base, and the damper passively transitions from the first damping ratio to the second damping ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: FCX Solar LLC
    Inventors: Christopher Thomas Needham, Frank Carl Oudheusden
  • Patent number: 11716052
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for melting snow from a surface of a power source. The power source may be a photovoltaic (PV) module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Solaredge Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Roy Shkoury, Gideon Eitan
  • Patent number: 11697170
    Abstract: A solar-powered portable housing for a tool is also disclosed herein. The solar-powered portable housing for a tool can comprise a battery, one or more solar panels, a plug, a top enclosure, a bottom enclosure, a first slideable wall, and a first solar panel. The solar panels can be connectable to the battery. The solar panels can provide power source to the battery. The plug can allow the battery be charged through an electric power source. The top enclosure can be capable of housing a tool. The bottom enclosure can be capable of housing the battery. The battery can be capable of providing power to the tool. The first slideable wall can be mounted to one side of the housing. The first solar panel can be mounted to the first slideable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Inventor: Curtis Lee Trichell
  • Patent number: 11695086
    Abstract: Solar devices and methods for producing solar devices are disclosed. In some examples, a solar device includes solar cells arranged in a shingled manner such that adjacent long edges of adjacent ones of the solar cells overlap. The adjacent long edges have a non-linear shape that has protruding portions. The solar device includes contact pads arranged in the protruding portions of the adjacent long edges such that the contact pads of the adjacent ones of the solar cells are electrically connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Nathaniel Alexis Caswell, Maritza Ruiz, Tamir Lance, Nathan Beckett, David DeGraaff
  • Patent number: 11695367
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a day-night photovoltaic system. More specifically, power supplied to a solar panel from a DC power supply part is output as a final output power PV together with power produced by the solar panel during the daytime, and is output as the final output power together with an ultra-high frequency wavelength generated by the sun explosion and induced to the solar panel during the night time. This provides the effects of stably supplying the power not only during the daytime but also during the night time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: BOLTIER R&D, ADC Energy Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon Deuk Lee, Hun Yong Choe
  • Patent number: 11695089
    Abstract: A solar cell module is provided. The solar cell module includes a first substrate, a second substrate opposite the first substrate, a cell unit disposed between the first and second substrates, a first thermosetting resin layer disposed between the cell unit and the first substrate, a first thermoplastic resin layer disposed between the cell unit and the first thermosetting resin layer, a second thermosetting resin layer disposed between the cell unit and the second substrate, and a second thermoplastic resin layer disposed between the cell unit and the second thermosetting resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Min-Tsung Kuan, Wen-Hsien Wang, Yi-Chun Liu, Hsin-Hsin Hsieh, Chiou-Chu Lai
  • Patent number: 11689153
    Abstract: A lead assembly includes at plurality of drop line joined to a feeder cable at joints each having a compression lug that is preferably surrounded by undermolding and overmolding. In use, each drop line is connected to a solar array, and the feeder cable is connected to an inverter. In this manner a plurality of solar arrays are electrically coupled together, with a common feeder cable connecting them all to the inverter. A system of the present invention doesn't require a combiner box which is conventionally employed directly upstream of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: SHOALS TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, LLC
    Inventor: Dean Solon
  • Patent number: 11690294
    Abstract: A system, a thermoelectric generator, and a method for generating electricity are provided. The system includes a thermoelectric generator, a cooling system, and a heating system. The cooling system includes a cold side module configured to hold a predetermined volume of air, a subterranean heat exchanger including an underground conduit, the underground conduit having a first end configured to receive ambient air and a second end coupled to the inlet of the cold side module, and an air exhaust coupled to the outlet of the cold side module and having one or more valves configured to control an airflow from the subterranean heat exchanger towards the air exhaust. The heating system includes a first solar concentrator to collect light rays, a hot side module, and a fiber optic cable to transport the collected light rays to the hot side module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University
    Inventor: Mahbubunnabi Tamal
  • Patent number: 11688868
    Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell unit configured to generate an amount of electrical power for supply to a varying electrical load and a fuel cell controller configured to receive a first indication that the varying electrical load is at a local maximum within a predetermined period, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with an operational parameter having a first value such that the fuel cell unit produces a limited maximum amount of electrical power that is a predetermined percentage of a maximum rated power output of the fuel cell unit. The fuel cell controller is also configured to receive an indication that the varying electrical load has reduced, and, in response, operate the fuel cell unit with the operational parameter having a second value such that the fuel cell unit produces an amount of electrical power below the limited maximum amount of electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: FUEL CELL ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: George P. Berntsen, Ramakrishnan Venkataraman, Mohammad Farooque
  • Patent number: 11680204
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to down-shifting nanophosphors, a method for preparing the same, and a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) using the same. The down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure include a core including NaYF4 nanocrystals doped with neodymium (Nd) and ytterbium (Yb), and further include a neodymium (Nd)-doped crystalline shell surrounding the core, or further include a NaYF4 crystalline shell surrounding the crystalline shell. Therefore, the down-shifting nanophosphors efficiently absorb near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 700-900 nm and efficiently emit near infrared rays with a wavelength range of 950-1050 nm. In addition, the down-shifting nanophosphors according to an embodiment of the present disclosure has a size of 60 nm or less, and thus can be applied to manufacture transparent LSC films with ease and can realize transparent solar cell modules having high near infrared ray shifting efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ho Seong Jang, Hyungduk Ko, Gumin Kang, So Hye Cho, Seung Yong Lee, A Ra Hong
  • Patent number: 11680732
    Abstract: A solar powered water heating assembly for supplying hot water from an exterior faucet or pipe includes a heating unit and a solar panel. The heating unit is integral to, or can be engaged to, a pipe that is in fluidic communication with water piping of a structure. The pipe extends externally from the structure. The heating unit is positioned to heat water flowing through the pipe. The solar panel converts electromagnetic radiation into an electrical current. The solar panel is operationally engaged to the heating unit and thus is positioned to power the heating unit to heat the water flowing through the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Bill Thanh Ly
  • Patent number: 11658609
    Abstract: A photovoltaic renewable energy system utilizes a light source and one or more reflectors to produce power via photovoltaic cells. An exemplary photovoltaic renewable energy system utilizes a light source, such as Light Emitting Diodes (LED), to provide light to photovoltaic cells that therein produce electrical power. The photovoltaic cells may be arranged in a photovoltaic array to ensure maximum power conversion from the incident light. A reflector, such as a prism may be used to direct light from the light source onto the photovoltaic cells. A cell reflector, which may also be a prism, may be configured proximal to the photovoltaic cell surfaces to reflect light onto the photovoltaic surface to increase power conversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Abron Arrington
  • Patent number: 11658610
    Abstract: The invention provides a photoelectric energy conversion device applied to a power conversion circuit to replace a magnetic component which is widely used in a power conversion circuit. The photoelectric energy conversion device includes a shell, at least one light generator, and at least one photovoltaic generator, wherein the at least one light generator and the at least one photovoltaic generator are packaged in the shell. The at least one photovoltaic generator receives light generated in the shell by the at least one light generator and generates electric energy based on the light, and the at least one photovoltaic generator serves as a power supply source for a back-end circuit of the photoelectric energy conversion device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: SEA SONIC ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hsiu-Cheng Chang, Sheng-Chien Chou
  • Patent number: 11637231
    Abstract: Disclosed are an organic thermoelectric material and a thermoelectric generator including the same. More particularly, the thermoelectric generator includes an ionically conductive active layer containing a polyanion including an anionic group and a counter cation in a repeat unit thereof; a conductive polymer; and a polyvalent crosslinking agent as a single molecule including a plurality of acid functional groups. First and second electrodes are disposed to be connected to the ionically conductive active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignees: KOOKMIN UNIVERSITY INDUSTRY ACADEMY COOPERATION FOUNDATION, UNIST (Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology)
    Inventors: Ju-Won Jeon, Sung-Yeon Jang