Abstract: In a dielectrophoretic cell having an array of electrodes and means to apply electrical signals to the electrodes. The electrodes include a planar array of serpentine or zig-zag electrodes with their curvatures in register. The serpentine electrodes may be sinusoidal, half sinusoidal, or elongated “C” in shape. The positions of maximum curvature of each serpentine or zig-zag electrode may be arranged in linear alignment, or along a curve. The cell may be used for stationary or traveling wave dielectrophoresis. Particles traveling in opposite directions in traveling wave dielectrophoresis can do so without interference, allowing “traffic control”. Particles can be characterized and separated, and particles at high concentrations, or particles of different types, can be handled.

Abstract: A transparent substrate for a cover for a solar battery and a method for producing the same are presented. Hemispherical concave portions are formed in a surface of light entering side of a cover glass almost over the entire surface wherein the ratio d/D of the depth d of the central portion of each concave portion to the radius D of the opening of the concave portion is from 0.10 to 0.50 and the proportion of area occupied by a flat portion where no concave portion is formed in the surface of light entering side is not more than 40%.

Abstract: A solar cell plate for generating electric current includes a number of individual plates that can be moved in relation to one another to produce a convenient packing size.

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.

Abstract: Sulfur is used to improve the performance of CIGS devices prepared by the evaporation of a single source ZIS type compound to form a buffer layer on the CIGS. The sulfur may be evaporated, or contained in the ZIS type material, or both. Vacuum evaporation apparatus of many types useful in the practice of the invention are known in the art. Other methods of delivery, such as sputtering, or application of a thiourea solution, may be substituted for evaporation.

Abstract: The invention relates generally to framing systems and more particularly is concerned with systems adapted to mount panels or laminates in an array on a supporting roof structure of a building exemplified with the mounting of solar electric photovoltaic (PV) panels. The framing system described uses extruded elongate elements with a sealing element to frame the PV panel as a weatherproof PV solar roof tile. Individual frame element profiles effectively embody the PV building integration, (BiPV) or mounting method, of the solar tile within the frame itself. Only a few additional flashing components are needed to complete the PV tile array as part of the roof, or with minor variations, as a PV wall cladding. Full BiPV panel mounting methods show potential to be used for co-generation (PV/T) of solar thermal energy capture in buildings.

Abstract: A refrigerator oil for use in compressors using therein a hydrogen-containing halogenocarbon as a refrigerant, consisting essentially of as a base oil at least one kind of an ester selected from the group consisting of a specific pentaerythritol ester such as an ester of pentaerythritol with a mono- or dicarboxylic acid, a specific polyol ester such as an ester of trimethylolethane with a mono- or dicarboxylic acid, a specific ester such as an ester of ethylene glycol and a dicarboxylic acid, and a specific polyol ester synthesized from a neopentyl type polyhydric alcohol, a monocarboxylic acid and a dicarboxylic acid; and further comprising at least one kind of an epoxy compound.

Abstract: A portable solar powered unit including a battery with associated electronics and a solar panel on a wheeled frame accommodates a variety of accessories including table tops, mounting poles, overhangs, back racks and a cover for all weather operation.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a solar cell module in which sufficient drainage and ventilation are ensured on the rear side, an output cable can be prevented from being caught during installation, and long term reliability is ensured by preventing bleed of the output cable, and another object of the invention is to provide a solar cell module integrated with building materials in which water leakage into the house and failure due to staying moisture can be avoided by imparting a waterproof function of a verge substrate water drip. A bottomed drain gutter opening to the abutting face of a heat insulating supporting material is provided to communicate with the side of the heat insulating supporting material, and a cable holding groove opening to the abutting face of a leg vertically provided on the heat insulating supporting material and deeper than the diameter of the laid cable is made to communicate with the side of the leg in order to hold the cable without projecting the cable from the opening.

Abstract: A solar cell module 60 has a plurality of solar cells 14 having a plurality of parallel grooves 8 on the individual light-receiving surfaces thereof, each of the grooves having an electrode 5 for extracting output on the inner side face (electrode-forming inner side face) on one side in the width-wise direction thereof; and a support 10, 50 for supporting the solar cells 14 in an integrated manner so as to direct the light-receiving surfaces upward. The annual power output can be increased by adjusting the direction of arrangement of the electrode-forming inner side faces of the grooves 8 while taking the angle of inclination ? of the light-receiving surface of the individual as-installed solar cells 14 relative to the horizontal plane and the latitude ? of the installation site of the solar cell module into consideration.

Abstract: In a photovoltaic element according to the present invention, a first transparent conductive film, a second transparent conductive film, a p-type semiconductor film, an intrinsic semiconductor layer, a n-type semiconductor layer and a backside electrode are stacked in turn on a transparent substrate. Then, an intermediate layer is provided between the second transparent conductive film and the p-type semiconductor layer so as to cover the first transparent conductive film and the second transparent conductive film.

Abstract: A nonrotating adjustable solar panel for optimizing cell charging of a portable message sign, comprising a movable frame, a message sign, a solar panel, a support post attached to the underside of the solar panel by a universal joint, and a mechanism for adjusting the angle and position of the solar panel comprising a pair of outwardly extending arms, a pair of threaded support rods, each rod extending through an aperture in the arm, and a handle for turning the rod. Each rod is coupled to the underside of the solar panel by a ball or universal joint. As each rod is turned, it raises or lowers a portion of the solar panel, providing tilting and pivoting, but not rotating motion for adjustment of the solar panel angle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a foil segment for a thermoelectric generator comprising a top plate disposed in spaced relation above a bottom plate. An array of the foil segments is perpendicularly disposed in side-by-side arrangement between and in thermal contact with the bottom and top plates. Each foil segment comprises a substrate having a thickness of about 7.5-50 microns, opposing front and back substrate surfaces and a series of spaced alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs disposed in parallel arrangement on the front substrate surface. Each of the n-type and p-type legs is formed of a bismuth telluride-based thermoelectric material having a thickness of about 5-100 microns, a width of about 10-100 microns and a length of about 100-500 microns. The alternating n-type and p-type thermoelectric legs are electrically connected in series and thermally connected in parallel such that a temperature differential between the bottom and top plates results in the generation of power.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for solar energy production comprises a multi-layer solid-state structure including a photosensitive layer, a thin conductor, a charge separation layer, and a back ohmic conductor, wherein light absorption occurs in a photosensitive layer and the charge carriers produced thereby are transported through the thin conductor through the adjacent potential energy barrier. The open circuit voltage of the solar cell can be manipulated by choosing from among a wide selection of materials making up the thin conductor, the charge separation layer, and the back ohmic layer.

Abstract: A generally toroidal counterflow heat exchanger is the main element of a combustor that operates at a micro scale. The combustor includes a central combustion region with openings to a reactant gas channel and an exhaust gas channel. The reactant channel and exhaust channels are coiled around each other in a spiral configuration that reduces heat loss. An electric current microgenerator is similar and also includes a thermoelectric active wall composed of n-type and p-type thermoelectric elements as part of a channel wall of the microcombustor. The thermoelectric active wall includes fins configured to increase the temperature differential across the thermoelectric elements relative to the temperature difference between the thermoelectric elements and the reactant and exhaust gases. A method of monolithically fabricating such microdevices by electrodepositing multiple layers of material is also provided.

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.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices, such as solar cells, and methods for their manufacture are disclosed. A device may be characterized by an architecture where two more materials having different electron affinities are regularly arrayed such that their presence alternates within distances of between about 1 nm and about 100 nm. The materials are present in a matrix based on a porous template with an array of template pores. The porous template is formed by anodizing a layer of metal. A photovoltaic device may include such a porous template disposed between a base electrode and a transparent conducting electrode. A first charge-transfer material fills the template pores, A second (complementary) charge-transfer material fills additional space not occupied by the first charge-transfer material.

Abstract: Tunneling-effect converters of thermal energy to electricity with an emitter and a collector separated from each other by a distance that is comparable to atomic dimensions and where tunneling effect plays an important role in the charge movement from the emitter to the collector across the gap separating such emitter and collector. At least one of the emitter and collector structures includes a flexible structure. Tunneling-effect converters include devices that convert thermal energy to electrical energy and devices that provide refrigeration when electric power is supplied to such devices.

Abstract: An inexpensive sheet with excellent evenness and a desired uniform thickness can be obtained by cooling a base having protrusions, dipping the surfaces of the protrusions of the cooled base into a melt material containing at least one of a metal material and a semiconductor material for crystal growth of the material on the surfaces of the protrusions. In addition, by rotating a roller having on its peripheral surface protrusions and a cooling portion for cooling said protrusions, the surfaces of the cooled protrusions can be dipped into a melt material containing at least one of a metal material and a semiconductor material for crystal growth of the material on the surfaces of the protrusions. Thus, a sheet with a desired uniform thickness can be obtained without slicing process.

Abstract: A photovoltaic roofing assembly comprises a roofing membrane (102), a plurality of photovoltaic modules (104, 106, 108) disposed as a layer on top of the roofing membrane (102), and a plurality of pre-formed spacers, pedestals or supports (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) which are respectively disposed below the plurality of photovoltaic modules (104, 106, 108) and integral therewith, or fixed thereto. Spacers (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122) are disposed on top of roofing membrane (102). Membrane (102) is supported on conventional roof framing, and attached thereto by conventional methods. In an alternative embodiment, the roofing assembly may have insulation block (322) below the spacers (314, 314?, 315, 315?). The geometry of the pre-formed spacers (112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 314, 314?, 315, 315?) is such that wind tunnel testing has shown its maximum effectiveness in reducing net forces of wind uplift on the overall assembly.