Patents Examined by Andrew J Golden
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Patent number: 10720539Abstract: An improved backsheet used in the construction of solar panels is disclosed. A method of manufacturing the backsheet and solar panel comprising the backsheet, including coextrusion processes are also disclosed. Additionally, a photovoltaic solar panel module comprising the backsheet of the invention is disclosed. The backsheet of the instant invention may comprise an exterior layer having inner and outer surfaces, a middle layer, having inner and outer surfaces, and an interior layer having inner and outer surfaces. In one embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the inner surface of the exterior layer, and the inner surface of the middle layer may be adjoined to the outer surface of the interior layer. The exterior layer, middle layer, and interior layer may be adjoined via a co-extrusion process, thereby eliminating the need for the use of adhesives for bonding the layers of the backsheet together.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 21, 2020Assignee: Tomark-Worthen, LLCInventors: E. David Santoleri, Robert F. Davis
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Patent number: 10686111Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion element including a thermoelectric conversion member formed of a skutterudite-type material containing an element L (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including In, Yb, Eu, Ce, La, Nd, Ga and Sr), an element M (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including Co, Rh, Ir, Fe, Ni, Pt, Pd, Ru and Os), and an element Pn (indicating one or more elements selected from a group including Sb, As, P, Te, Sn, Bi, Ge, Se and Si), an insulator covering the thermoelectric conversion member and a metal layer positioned between the thermoelectric conversion member and the insulator as well as containing the element L.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2017Date of Patent: June 16, 2020Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.Inventor: Junya Tanaka
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Patent number: 10672929Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method include a doped germanium-containing substrate, an emitter contact coupled to the substrate on a first side and a back contact coupled to the substrate on a side opposite the first side. The emitter includes at least one doped layer of an opposite conductivity type as that of the substrate and the back contact includes at least one doped layer of the same conductivity type as that of the substrate. The at least one doped layer of the emitter contact or the at least one doped layer of the back contact is in direct contact with the substrate, and the at least one doped layer of the emitter contact or the back contact includes an n-type material having an electron affinity smaller than that of the substrate, or a p-type material having a hole affinity larger than that of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2016Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATIONInventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Keith E. Fogel, Bahman Hekmatshoar-Tabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
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Patent number: 10672966Abstract: A process for manufacturing a thermoelectric material having a plurality of grains and grain boundaries. The process includes determining a material composition to be investigated for the thermoelectric material and then determining a range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height obtainable for the material composition using current state of the art manufacturing techniques. Thereafter, a range of figure of merit values for the material composition is determined as a function of the range of values of grain size and/or grain boundary barrier height. And finally, a thermoelectric material having the determined material composition and an average grain size and grain boundary barrier height corresponding to the maximum range of figure of merit values is manufactured.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2014Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Debasish Banerjee, Michael Paul Rowe, Li Qin Zhou, Minjuan Zhang, Takuji Kita
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Patent number: 10665800Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a solid solar cells, including the steps of providing a hole collector layer, applying a conductive layer onto the hole collector layer, applying an electron blocking layer onto the conductive layer, applying a sensitizer layer onto the electron blocking layer, applying a hole blocking layer onto the sensitizer layer, and providing a current collector and/or a metal layer or a conductor. The sensitizer layer including an organic-inorganic perovskite is applied by co-deposition of one or more sublimated divalent or trivalent salts and of one or more sublimated organic ammonium salts to obtain the organic-inorganic perovskite. The invention also relates to solid state solar cells, wherein the charge flow is inverted compared to the charge flow in a solar cell of conventional architecture and/or obtained by the above method.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2014Date of Patent: May 26, 2020Assignees: Ecole Polytechnique Federate de Lausanne (EPFL), Universitat de ValenciaInventors: Mohammad Khaja Nazeeruddin, Michael Graetzel, Hendrik Jan Bolink, Olga Malinkiewicz, Alejandra Soriano Portillo
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Patent number: 10651323Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include CdS/CdTe PV devices (100) having a back contact (110,112) with oxygen gettering capacity. Also disclosed are back contact structures (110, 112) and methods of forming a back contact in a CdS/CdTe PV device (100). The described contacts and methods feature a contact having a contact interface layer (100) comprising a contact interface material, a p-type dopant and a gettering metal.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLCInventor: Timothy A. Gessert
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Patent number: 10644178Abstract: A solar cell includes: first conductivity-type layers and second conductivity-type layers each provided on a rear surface of a semiconductor substrate; first electrodes provided on the first conductivity-type layers; and second electrodes provided on the second conductivity-type layers. The first electrodes and the second electrodes are spaced apart from each other, and the first electrodes include a plurality of regions isolated from one another by the second electrodes disposed therebetween. Each of the plurality of regions of the first electrodes includes a non-mounting electrode section and a wiring-mounting electrode section having a larger electrode height than the non-connection electrode section. In two adjacent first electrode regions, an imaginary line connecting the top of the wiring-mounting electrode section of one of the regions and the top of the wiring-mounting electrode section of the other region does not cross the second electrode disposed between the two regions.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2017Date of Patent: May 5, 2020Assignee: KANEKA CORPORATIONInventors: Kunta Yoshikawa, Kunihiro Nakano, Hayato Kawasaki, Katsunori Konishi
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Patent number: 10637394Abstract: A thin support structure for solar collectors is provided. The support structure includes service lines, such as fluid lines and electrical signal lines, disposed within an interior cavity of the support structure. The movement and flexing of the service lines is accounted for by a pulley assembly having a rotating element, without the need for complex and expensive swivel joints and slip rings.Type: GrantFiled: February 4, 2016Date of Patent: April 28, 2020Assignee: Focal Line Solar LLCInventor: John C. Ingram
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Patent number: 10622409Abstract: There is provided a photovoltaic device that comprises a photoactive region, the photoactive region comprising a perovskite material of general formula A1?xA?xBX3?yX?y wherein A is a formamidinium cation ((HC(NH2)2)+), A? is a caesium cation (Cs+), B is at least one divalent inorganic cation, X is iodide and X? is bromide, and x is greater than 0 and equal to or less than 0.4 and y is greater than 0 and less than or equal to 3. There is also provided a method of producing a photovoltaic device comprising a photoactive region comprising the perovskite material, and formulations for use in the formation of the perovskite material.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2016Date of Patent: April 14, 2020Assignee: OXFORD PHOTOVOLTAICS LIMITEDInventors: Brett Akira Kamino, Laura Miranda Perez
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Patent number: 10615301Abstract: A system and method for a diffusing concentrator for efficient extraction of power from a beam of light. The diffusing concentrator may include an optical concentrator, the optical concentrator configured to receive beams of light and focus them towards a defined area at a defined distance, and an optical diffuser, the optical diffuser configured to receive the focused beams of light and spread the focused beams of light substantially uniformly over the defined area. The diffusing concentrator may also include a reflective surface configured to reflect stray light from the diffusing concentrator toward the defined area such as a photovoltaic array.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2009Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Brian Tillotson
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Patent number: 10566477Abstract: Provided are a method of manufacturing a flexible device and the flexible device, a solar cell, and a light emitting device. The method of manufacturing a flexible device includes providing a device layer on a sacrificial substrate, contacting a flexible substrate on one side surface of the device layer, and removing the sacrificial substrate. A large area device may be transferred onto the flexible substrate with superior alignment to realize and manufacture the flexible device. In addition, since mass production is possible, the economic feasibility may be superior. Also, when a large area solar cell having a thin thickness is manufactured, since a limitation such as twisting of a thin film of a solar cell may be effectively solved, the economic feasibility and stability may be superior.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignees: SK Siltron Co., Ltd., Korea Advanced Institute of Science TechnologyInventors: Keon Jae Lee, Sang Yong Lee
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Patent number: 10566472Abstract: A solar cell includes a substrate having a textured surface, the textured surface including a plurality of jagged portions; an emitter region forming a p-n junction with the substrate; a plurality of first electrodes connected to the emitter region; and a second electrode connected to the substrate, wherein each of the plurality of jagged portions has a diameter and a height that are equal to or less than 1 ?m, and each of the plurality of first electrodes has a width of about 20 ?m to about 80 ?m.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2010Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.Inventors: Giwon Lee, Jonghwan Kim, Juwan Kang, Kyoungsoo Lee, Manhyo Ha, Daehee Jang
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Patent number: 10559703Abstract: The present invention provides a thick-film paste for printing the front side of a solar cell device having one or more insulating layers. The thick-film paste comprises an electrically conductive metal and a lead-tellurium-boron-oxide dispersed in an organic medium.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: February 11, 2020Assignee: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Alan Frederick Carroll, Kenneth Warren Hang, Brian J. Laughlin, Kurt Richard Mikeska, Carmine Torardi, Paul Douglas Vernooy
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Patent number: 10550321Abstract: Proposed is a phosphor capable of effectively inhibiting the occurrence of adverse influence of a sulfur-based gas while improving water resistance of the phosphor and effectively inhibiting the corrosion of a metallic member. A phosphor is proposed, which includes particles or a layer provided on the surface of a sulfur-containing phosphor, which contains sulfur in a host material, and containing a crystalline metal borate containing an IIA-Group element, boron, and oxygen.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2015Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masaaki Inamura, Haruka Shimizu, Takayoshi Mori, Masanori Sato, Jun-ichi Itoh
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Patent number: 10547270Abstract: Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) systems provide for solar panel arrays that can be aesthetically pleasing and appear seamless to an observer. BIPV systems can be incorporated as part of roof surfaces as built into the structure of the roof, flush or forming a substantively uniform plane with roof panels or other panels mimicking a solar panel appearance. Pans supporting BIPV solar panels can be coupled by standing seams, in both lateral and longitudinal directions, to other photovoltaic-supporting pans or pans supporting non-photovoltaic structures, having both functional and aesthetic advantages. In some configurations, adjacent photovoltaic modules may be oriented so that a boundary between an up-roof photovoltaic module and a down-roof photovoltaic module is not noticeable by observers positioned at typical viewing angles of the roof.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2016Date of Patent: January 28, 2020Assignee: SolarCity CorporationInventors: Tyrus Hawkes Hudson, Charles Almy, Martin Seery, Daniel Preston Flanigan, Jack Raymond West, Garret Anthony Bautista, William Paul Buchanan, Johann Fritz Karkheck, Ethan Ely
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Patent number: 10541349Abstract: A method of manufacturing an inverted metamorphic multijunction solar cell is disclosed herein. The method includes forming a lattice constant transition material positioned between a first subcell and a second subcell using a metal organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor. The solar cell further includes at least one distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) layer directly adjacent a back surface field (BSF) layer.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2013Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.Inventors: Mark A. Stan, Arthur Cornfeld
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Patent number: 10508324Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material having excellent thermoelectric performance over a wide temperature range, and a thermoelectric conversion module providing excellent junctions between thermoelectric conversion materials and electrodes. An R-T-M-X-N thermoelectric conversion material has a structure expressed by the following formula: RrTt-mMmXx-nNn (0?r?1, 3?t?m?5, 0?m?0.5, 10?x?15, 0?n?2), where R represents three or more elements selected from the group consisting of rare earth elements, alkali metal elements, alkaline-earth metal elements, group 4 elements, and group 13 elements, T represents at least one element selected from Fe and Co, M represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Ni, Pd, Pt, Cu, Ag, and Au, X represents at least one element selected from the group consisting of P, As, Sb, and Bi, and N represents at least one element selected from Se and Te.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2009Date of Patent: December 17, 2019Assignee: FURUKAWA CO., LTD.Inventors: Junqing Guo, Shunichi Ochi, Huiyuan Geng, Takahiro Ochi, Satoru Ito
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Patent number: 10490624Abstract: A process for manufacturing colloidal nanosheet, by lateral growth, on an initial colloidal nanocrystal, of a crystalline semiconductor material represented by the formula MnXy, where M is a transition metal and X a chalcogen. The process includes the following steps: The preparation of a first organic solution, non or barely coordinating used as a synthesis solvent and including at least one initial colloidal nanocrystal; The preparation of a second organic solution including precursors of M and X, and including an acetate salt. And the slow introduction over a predetermined time scale of a predetermined amount of the second solution in a predetermined amount of the first solution, at a predetermined temperature for the growth of nanosheets. The use of the obtained material is also presented.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2011Date of Patent: November 26, 2019Assignee: NEXDOTInventors: Benoit Mahler, Sandrine Ithurria
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Patent number: 10468542Abstract: The present invention provides a thick-film paste for printing the front side of a solar cell device having one or more insulating layers. The thick-film paste comprises an electrically conductive metal, and a lead-tellurium-lithium-oxide dispersed in an organic medium.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2017Date of Patent: November 5, 2019Assignee: DUPONT ELECTRONICS, INC.Inventors: Alan Frederick Carroll, Kenneth Warren Hang, Brian J Laughlin, Kurt Richard Mikeska, Carmine Torardi, Paul Douglas Vernooy
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Patent number: 10453978Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a two dimensional material on a first monocrystalline substrate. A single crystal absorber layer including Cu—Zn—Sn—S(Se) (CZTSSe) is grown over the first monocrystalline substrate. The single crystal absorber layer is exfoliated from the two dimensional material. The single crystal absorber layer is transferred to a second substrate, and the single crystal absorber layer is placed on a conductive layer formed on the second substrate. Additional layers are formed on the single crystal absorber layer to complete the photovoltaic device.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2015Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: International Business Machines CorporationInventors: Jeehwan Kim, Yun Seog Lee, Talia S. Gershon