Patents Examined by Angelo Trivisonno
  • Patent number: 11864399
    Abstract: Solar cell stack-ups are described in which fullerene based transport layers are blended with a metal halide such as LiF, CsF or MgF2. In particular, perovskite solar cell stack-ups are described in which an electron transport layer includes a metal halide and fullerene blend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Swift Solar Inc.
    Inventors: Tomas Leijtens, Giles Eperon, Rohit Prasanna, Annikki Santala
  • Patent number: 11856807
    Abstract: Provided is a novel method for producing a laminate that serves as an electron transport layer and an optically transparent electrode layer of a perovskite solar cell having, in the following order, an optically transparent electrode layer, an electron transport layer, a perovskite crystal layer, a hole transport layer, and a current collecting layer. The method involves forming a titanium oxide layer that serves as the electron transport layer on a member that serves as the optically transparent electrode layer by utilizing said member for cathode polarization in a treatment liquid containing a Ti component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: JFE STEEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mikito Suto, Hiroyuki Masuoka, Akira Matsuzaki
  • Patent number: 11837672
    Abstract: A stacked multijunction solar cell having a dielectric insulating layer system, a germanium substrate, which forms an underside of the multijunction solar cell, a germanium subcell and at least two III-V subcells, which follow each other in the specified order, the insulating layer system includes a layer sequence made up of at least one bottom insulating layer, which is integrally connected to a first surface section of the multijunction solar cell and a top insulating layer forming an upper side of the insulating layer system, and a metal coating of the multijunction solar cell is integrally and electrically conductively connected to a second surface section abutting the first surface section of the multijunction solar cell and is integrally connected to a section of the upper side of the insulating layer system, and the top insulating layer comprises amorphous silicon or is made up of amorphous silicon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: AZUR SPACE Solar Power GmbH
    Inventors: Tim Kubera, Bianca Fuhrmann
  • Patent number: 11824128
    Abstract: A photocurrent-generating electrode includes a supporting substrate, a first nanoparticle layer, a second nanoparticle layer, and a semiconductor nanostructure formed on the second nanoparticle layer and having a biocompatible semiconductor nanomaterial. The first nanoparticle layer has first noble metal nanoparticles bonded to the supporting substrate. The second nanoparticle layer is formed on the first nanoparticle layer, and has second noble metal nanoparticles having an average dimension larger than an average dimension of the first noble metal nanoparticles. Two adjacent ones of the second noble metal nanoparticles are electrically connected to each other through one of the first noble metal nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG-HSING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kuan-Jiuh Lin, Wen-Yin Ko
  • Patent number: 11810729
    Abstract: Described herein is a printed photovoltaic cell comprising an anode; an LEP printed cathode; and an LEP printed photovoltaic layer disposed between the anode and the cathode. The photovoltaic layer comprises a material with a perovskite structure having a chemical formula selected from ABX3 and A2BX6 and a thermoplastic resin comprising a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and a monomer having acidic side groups; and/or a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising an epoxide; and/or a copolymer of an alkylene monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising an epoxide, and a monomer selected from a monomer having acidic side groups, a monomer having ester side groups and a mixture thereof. The printed cathode comprises: a thermoplastic resin; and electrically conductive metal particles. Also described herein is a method of producing the printed photovoltaic cell and an ink set for use in the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Israel Patla, Faina Kogan, Itay Eyal, Anna Razgon, Yaron Grinwald, Chen Zigdon
  • Patent number: 11811356
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for installing a solar cell module, which enables easy installation of a solar cell module on a rack, and also enables a worker to install a solar cell module without climbing on the roof. A solar cell module is installed on a rack mounted on a roof. The solar cell module includes a frame formed of a material containing a resin. The rack includes multiple rails each having a groove, and the grooves of a pair of the rails are disposed to be opposed to each other. The method of this invention comprises the steps of fitting the frame of the solar cell module into the groove such that the solar cell module is retained by the pair of the rails, and fixing the solar cell module to the pair of the rails to prevent the solar cell module from falling out of the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: TOYO ALUMINIUM KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takaaki Fujino, Daisuke Maeda, Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Takahiro Imamura, Soichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11810731
    Abstract: Described herein is a liquid electrophotographic photovoltaic ink composition comprising: a dispersion of a material with a perovskite structure, a thermoplastic resin and conductive particles in a carrier liquid; wherein the material with a perovskite structure has a chemical formula selected from ABX3 and A2BX6; wherein A is a cation, B is a cation and X is an anion; and wherein the thermoplastic resin comprises: a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and a monomer having acidic side groups; and/or a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising an epoxide; and/or a copolymer of an alkylene monomer, an ethylenically unsaturated monomer comprising an epoxide, and a monomer selected from a monomer having acidic side groups, a monomer having ester side groups and a mixture thereof. Also described is a method of producing a photovoltaic cell using the LEP ink and the printed cell produced by the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Israel Patla, Faina Kogan, Itay Eyal, Yaron Grinwald, Mark Sandler
  • Patent number: 11799050
    Abstract: Disclosed are a solar cell including an upper cell includes an upper passivation layer disposed on an upper surface of a functional layer, a transparent electrode disposed on an upper surface of the upper passivation layer, an upper first charge transport layer disposed on an upper surface of the transparent electrode, an upper electrode disposed on the upper first of the transparent electrode to be adjacent to the upper surface charge transport layer, an upper second charge transport layer disposed on the upper surface of the functional layer to be spaced apart from the upper passivation layer, the transparent electrode, the upper first charge transport layer, and the upper electrode, and an upper absorption layer disposed on the upper passivation layer, the transparent electrode, the upper first charge transport layer, and the upper second charge transport layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Donghwan Kim, Hae-Seok Lee, Yoonmook Kang, Soohyun Bae, Sang-Won Lee, HyunJung Park, Jae-Keun Hwang, Wonkyu Lee, Jiyeon Hyun, Solhee Lee
  • Patent number: 11799042
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solar panel being divided into a plurality of cells and including: a light transmissive power generation region which is a central region in a diameter direction of a ring-shaped member and in which extending thin line power generators are arranged in parallel in a direction substantially orthogonal to the extending direction; and a periphery power generation region which is a periphery region of the light transmissive power generation region and in which a part of the cells is arranged along a circumferential direction. The cells include a composite cell including at least a part of the periphery power generation region and at least a part of the light transmissive power generation region. A first cell and a second cell different from the first cell are respectively arranged on one end side and on the other end side in the diameter direction of the ring-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuta Saito, Takashi Sano
  • Patent number: 11777047
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a photovoltaic (PV) device that includes a first junction constructed with a first alloy and having a bandgap between about 1.0 eV and about 1.5 eV, and a second junction constructed with a second alloy and having a bandgap between about 0.9 eV and about 1.3 eV, where the first alloy includes III-V elements, the second alloy includes III-V elements, and the PV device is configured to operate in a thermophotovoltaic system having an operating temperature between about 1500° C. and about 3000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignees: Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Myles Aaron Steiner, Daniel Joseph Friedman, Ryan Matthew France, Asegun Henry
  • Patent number: 11737293
    Abstract: An organic photovoltaic device comprises a substrate, a reflector positioned over the substrate, a first electrode positioned over at least a first portion of the reflector, a polaritonic antenna layer positioned over a second portion of the reflector different from the first portion, electrically connected to the first electrode, and at least one unit reaction cell positioned over at least part of the first electrode, the at least one unit reaction cell comprising a heterojunction layer comprising a donor material and an acceptor material, positioned over the first electrode, and a second electrode positioned over the heterojunction, wherein the polaritonic antenna and the reflector are configured to convert incoming photonic energy to polaritons. A method of fabricating an organic photovoltaic device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Shaocong Hou, Stephen R. Forrest, Bin Liu
  • Patent number: 11716053
    Abstract: A solar panel apparatus having an upper frame and a lower frame, the upper and lower frames being pivotally connected to one another via a hinge. The upper frame contains a solar panel, and the lower frame contains a plurality of louvres. The plurality of louvres is configured to rotate as the angle of the upper frame is adjusted relative to the sun. Dividing walls inside each of the upper and lower frames are configured to allow warm air to flow from behind the louvres, which are black on their front faces to absorb solar rays, upward to behind the solar panel, thereby warming the solar panel and melting any snow or ice from the front surface of the solar panel. Air vents in both the upper and lower frames prevent the apparatus from overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Inventor: Joel D. Martin
  • Patent number: 11711053
    Abstract: There is a dynamically adjustable photovoltaic (PV) system for transforming solar energy into electrical energy. The dynamically adjustable PV system includes a first PV fold including a first set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a first laminating film that encapsulates the first set of PV cells; a second PV fold including a second set of PV cells for generating electrical energy, and a second laminating film that encapsulates the second set of PV cells; and a connecting mechanism that connects the first laminating film to the second laminating film. The connecting mechanism includes a chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Emmanuel P. Van Kerschaver, Thomas G. Allen, Michele De Bastiani, Michael Filipe Salvador, Ahmed Hesham Balawi
  • Patent number: 11694853
    Abstract: The flexible dye-sensitized solar panel with an organic chromophore is formed from an organic chromophore dye in a polymer matrix. The organic chromophore dye is extracted from chard (B. vulgaris subsp. cicla). The polymer matrix may be formed from either poly(vinyl alcohol) or polystyrene. The flexible dye-sensitized solar panel with an organic chromophore is made by preparing a solution of the selected polymer in the dye extracted from the B. vulgaris subsp. cicla. The solution is coated on a glass plate and dried to form a thin film. The thin flexible film is removed from the plate, forming the flexible dye-sensitized solar panel with an organic chromophore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Manal Ahmed Gasmelseed Awad, Awatif Ahmed Hendi, Khalid Mustafa Osman Ortashi
  • Patent number: 11695087
    Abstract: A back contact structure of a solar cell, includes: a silicon substrate, the silicon substrate including a back surface including a plurality of recesses disposed at intervals; a plurality of first conductive regions and a plurality of second conductive regions disposed alternately in the plurality of recesses, where each first conductive region includes a first dielectric layer and a first doped region which are disposed successively in the plurality of recesses, and each second conductive region includes a second doped region; a second dielectric layer disposed between the plurality of first conductive regions and the plurality of second conductive regions; and a conductive layer disposed on the plurality of first conductive regions and the plurality of second conductive regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: SOLARLAB AIKO EUROPE GMBH
    Inventors: Kaifu Qiu, Yongqian Wang, Xinqiang Yang, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 11696457
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar cell sheet comprising a first and a second substrate, which first and second substrates are flexible and suitable for roll to roll printing, and the solar cell sheet further comprises one or more self-contained solar cell units, wherein each self-contained solar cell unit comprises one or more solar cell modules, and each solar cell module comprises a plurality of serially connected solar cells, wherein each of the solar cell modules comprises: a first substrate portion of the first flexible substrate and a second substrate portion of the second substrate, a plurality of first electrodes and a plurality of second electrodes arranged between the first and second substrate portions; and at least one organic active layer arranged between the plurality of first electrodes and the plurality of second electrodes; wherein, a continuous or discontinuous portion of a first adhesive material encircles each of the solar cell units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: EPISHINE AB
    Inventors: Jonas Bergqvist, Thomas Österberg
  • Patent number: 11682743
    Abstract: A solar cell device having a solid state light absorber region that incorporates a donor-acceptor particle structure. The particle structure includes acceptor particles that generate a flow of electrons in the solid state light absorber region in response to absorbed photons; and donor particles comprising a phosphorescent material, wherein each donor particle is coupled to a group of acceptor particles, and wherein the phosphorescent material absorbs high energy photons and emits lower energy photons that are absorbed by the acceptor particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventor: Vidhya Chakrapani
  • Patent number: 11683944
    Abstract: A laminate which allows to obtain an organic thin-film solar cell having excellent output characteristics and transparency is provided. The laminate as above has a titanium oxide layer that is disposed on the member serving as a light-transmissive electrode layer and serves as an electron transport layer. The titanium oxide layer has a thickness of not less than 1.0 nm and not more than 200.0 nm. The titanium oxide layer contains indium oxide and metallic indium, InOx/Ti is not less than 0.50 and not more than 20.00 in atomic ratio, and InM/Ti is less than 0.100 in atomic ratio, where an elemental titanium content is represented by Ti, an indium oxide content is represented by InOx, and a metallic indium content is represented by InM.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignees: JFE Steel Corporation, National University Corporation Hokkaido University
    Inventors: Mikito Suto, Hiroyuki Masuoka, Akira Matsuzaki, Hiroki Habazaki, Hikaru Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 11677350
    Abstract: A tilt adjustment system for a solar panel mountable to a vehicle surface has a first panel bracket defined by an upper flat section and a lower flat section. A first lift jack has a jacking head mounted to the upper flat section and a foot mountable to the vehicle surface. An upper face of the solar panel is positioned below a plane of the upper flat section of the first panel bracket. A second panel bracket is defined by an upper flat section and a lower flat section. A second lift jack has a jacking head mounted to the upper flat section and a foot mountable to the vehicle surface. The upper face of the solar panel is positioned below a plane of the upper flat section of the second panel bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventors: Randy Barclay, Samuel Anthony Dottle
  • Patent number: 11677351
    Abstract: A grounding clamp is provided. The grounding clamp comprises a body portion having first and second sides, first and second fingers extending from the first side of the body portion, a first set of teeth extending from the first side of the body portion, the first set of teeth positioned between the first and second fingers, and a second set of teeth extending from the second side of the body portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: A.K. STAMPING COMPANY, INC.
    Inventor: Mark Andrews