Patents Examined by Bach Dinh
  • Patent number: 9490383
    Abstract: A solar module is provided which has improved durability. A third wiring member (32a) includes a first portion (32a1), a second portion (32a2), and a third portion (32a3). In the first portion (32a1), metal foil (52) faces a solar cell (20). The first portion (32a1) is electrically connected to the solar cell (20). The second portion (32a2) is arranged on the solar cell (20) with the metal foil (52) facing the side opposite to the solar cell (20). The third portion (32a3) connects the first portion (32a1) and the second portion (32a2). A first wiring member (32b) electrically connects the second portions (32a2) of adjacent solar cell strings (10) to each other. The solar module (1) also includes an insulating sheet (60). The insulating sheet (60) is arranged between the first wiring member (32b) and the solar cell (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sakuma, Tomonori Tabe, Yoshiyuki Kudo, Yosuke Ishii
  • Patent number: 9482452
    Abstract: A thermoelectric module includes an insulating substrate, plural electrodes formed on a component side of the insulating substrate, plural peltier elements each mounted on and electrically connected to the electrodes, and a mark for image recognition formed at least one of the electrodes, the mark for image recognition having lightness and/or saturation which is different from lightness and/or saturation of the electrode on an image. An entire of the electrode is usable as an electrical conduction path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: AISIN SEIKI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Akihiro Morimoto
  • Patent number: 9472694
    Abstract: An up-converting electrode and a solar cell that combines the up-converting electrode are disclosed. The up-converting electrode comprises a material that up-converts light from longer wavelengths to shorter wavelengths and an electrically conductive material. The electrically conductive material increases the efficiency of the up-converting material such that more light is up-converted. The up-converting electrode can also serve as an electrical contact for the solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Jennifer Anne Dionne, Alberto Salleo, Di Meng Wu
  • Patent number: 9464783
    Abstract: A concentrated photovoltaic panel comprises at least one rigid sheet, one or more first optical elements disposed adjacent a first side of the at least one rigid sheet, one or more second optical elements disposed adjacent a second side of the at least one rigid sheet, and one or more photovoltaic elements. Each photovoltaic element is disposed between a respective first optical element and a respective second optical element. Each first optical element comprises at least one lens configured to focus light impinging thereon onto a corresponding reflecting surface of the respective second optical element. Each second optical element is configured to reflect light focused by the first optical element to the photovoltaic element disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: John Paul Morgan, Stefan Myrskog, Brett Barnes, Michael Sinclair, Nigel Morris
  • Patent number: 9461191
    Abstract: A back surface reflector (BSR) is described. The BSR includes a reflecting layer, a substrate and an adhesion layer between the reflecting layer and the substrate. The adhesion layer includes 3-mercaptopropyl (trimethoxy) silane (a.k.a. Merc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: U.S. Department of Energy
    Inventors: Bernard Wernsman, Joseph N. Fiedor, Lawrence G. Irr, Marc N. Palmisiano
  • Patent number: 9443995
    Abstract: To accurately connect a TAB wire to intended positions while preventing an increase in manufacturing costs. A solar cell battery 100 includes finger electrodes 3. The finger electrodes 3 includes first finger electrodes and second finger electrodes that extend from opposite directions in a direction crossing the finger electrodes 3 to reach a TAB area SF to which a TAB wire 4 is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Horiuchi, Kenzou Takemura, Yusuke Asakawa
  • Patent number: 9437768
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device with low resistance loss and high conversion efficiency is provided. The photoelectric conversion device includes a first silicon semiconductor layer and a second silicon semiconductor layer between a pair of electrodes. The first silicon semiconductor layer is provided over one surface of a crystalline silicon substrate having one conductivity type and has a conductivity type opposite to that of the crystalline silicon substrate, and the second silicon semiconductor layer is provided on the other surface of the crystalline silicon substrate and has a conductivity type which is the same as that of the crystalline silicon substrate. Further, the first silicon semiconductor layer and the second silicon semiconductor layer each have a carrier concentration varying in the film thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoichiro Numasawa, Yasushi Maeda, Yoshikazu Hiura, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9412890
    Abstract: Provided are novel structures for electrically interconnecting two or more building integrable photovoltaic (BIP) modules with a pin connector. Each module has a cavity and a conductive element positioned inside the cavity. The conductive element may be electrically coupled to one or more photovoltaic cells. In a photovoltaic assembly formed by two modules, a conductive portion of the pin connector extends between two cavities of the respective modules and provides an electrical communication between the two conductive elements. The two cavities are generally coaxially aligned. In certain embodiments, one or both cavities are through holes. A portion of the pin connector may extend outside of such cavities and protrude into a building structure to mechanically secure the modules with respect to the structure. A pin connector may have an insulating head for handling the connector during installation and/or sealing the through hole under the head from the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Beijing Apollo Ding Rong Solar Technology Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Meyers
  • Patent number: 9404888
    Abstract: Methods for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, and the devices and systems used in conjunction with the same, are provided herein. In one exemplary embodiment of a method for determining a concentration of an analyte in a sample, the method includes detecting a presence of a sample in an electrochemical sensor including two electrodes. A fill time of the sample is determined with the two electrodes and a correction factor is calculated in view of at least the fill time. The method also includes reacting an analyte that causes a physical transformation of the analyte between the two electrodes. A concentration of the analyte can then be determined in view of the correction factor with the same two electrodes. Systems and devices that take advantage of the fill time to make analyte concentration determinations are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Chatelier, Alastair M. Hodges
  • Patent number: 9385248
    Abstract: A solar cell panel is discussed. The solar cell panel includes a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell including a substrate and a plurality of back electrodes that are positioned on a back surface of the substrate that is opposite a light receiving surface, the plurality of back electrodes being spaced apart from one another by a space to expose the substrate, a conductive adhesive film including a resin and a plurality of conductive particles dispersed in the resin, and an interconnector positioned on a back surface of the conductive adhesive film that is opposite a surface that contacts the substrate. The conductive adhesive film is positioned on the back surface of the substrate that is exposed through the space. The interconnector directly contacts the conductive adhesive film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jongkyoung Hong, Jongdae Kim
  • Patent number: 9373959
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module. A photovoltaic module according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a solar cell module, a micro-inverter to convert DC power generated by the solar cell module into AC power, a controller to control the micro-inverter's operation, and an interface unit connected to power grid supplying external electrical power and to provide the AC power to the power grid, the controller to control operation of the micro-inverter such that the AC power is matched to the external electrical power flowing into the power grid. The photovoltaic module according to the present invention can provide electrical power generated at solar cell modules through a simple connection to power grid which supplies electrical power to home, reducing consumption of electrical power flowing into home.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Daehee Jang, Seungyong Lee, Jaehyuk Park, Changuk Kim
  • Patent number: 9365429
    Abstract: A graphene screening and separation method comprises the following steps. At least one pair of electrodes and an energy barrier layer is provided, wherein the pair of electrodes is a first electrode and a second electrode, and the energy barrier layer is formed on the first electrode. The pair of electrodes and the energy barrier layer are covered with a graphene suspension. When a graphene sheet in the graphene suspension materially couples the second electrode and the energy barrier layer and is located above the first electrode, a bias voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode of the pair of electrodes is changed and a corresponding tunneling current is measured. Screening and separation are performed by using differential conductance (i.e., the derivative of the tunneling current with respect to the bias voltage) of different layers of graphene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: METAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    Inventors: Tai-Hsin Hsu, Wen-Bin Jian
  • Patent number: 9369084
    Abstract: A transparent protective member includes first main surface and a second main surface, and having a curved surface shape. Solar cell panels are attached to the second main surface of the transparent protective member. An amount member attaches the solar cell panels to the second main surface. A connection member electrically connects the solar cell panels each other. The first main surface serves as a light-receiving surface. Each of the panels comprises a solar cell string including solar cells electrically connected to each other, a transparent first resin base member provided on one side of the solar cell string beside the transparent protective member, a second resin base member on the opposite side of the solar cell string from the first resin base member, and a filler layer provided between the first resin base member and the second resin base member and in which the solar cell string is encapsulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuki Oikawa, Tatsuya Yoneda
  • Patent number: 9368657
    Abstract: A solar cell and a method of fabricating a solar cell. A solar cell including a substrate; a first electrode layer on the substrate; a light absorbing layer on the first electrode layer; an alloy layer between the first electrode layer and the light absorbing layer; a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer; a first through-hole formed through the buffer layer, the light absorbing layer, the alloy layer, and the first electrode layer to the substrate; and an insulating barrier in at least one portion of the first through-hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong-Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 9356175
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a photovoltaic module may include: a plurality of photovoltaic cells, at least one photovoltaic cell of the number of photovoltaic cells comprising: a first plurality of contact wires on a front of the photovoltaic cell; and a second plurality of contact wires on a rear of the photovoltaic cell. The first plurality of contact wires and the second plurality of contact wires may be arranged offset with respect to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SOLARWORLD INNOVATIONS GMBH
    Inventors: Olaf Storbeck, Martin Kutzer, Harald Hahn, Holger Neuhaus
  • Patent number: 9349886
    Abstract: The invention discloses a solar substrate with high fracture strength. The solar substrate according to the invention comprises an upper surface, a plurality of first protrusions and a plurality of first recess regions. The first protrusions are formed on the upper surface and each of the plurality of first recess regions being formed on the surrounding of the plurality of first protrusions, such that the deflection required to crack the solar substrate by bending thereto being increased in comparison with the solar substrate without the plurality of first protrusions and first recess regions formed thereon. By the combination of the protrusions and the recess regions, the fracture strength of the solar substrate is enhanced for enduring a high tension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: NATIONAL TSING HUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Jer-Liang Yeh
  • Patent number: 9349888
    Abstract: Photovoltaic nanocomposite and solar cell device including the photovoltaic nanocomposite, where the photovoltaic nanocomposite includes a film of solution processed semiconductor materials having an n-type material selected from n-type quantum dots and n-type nanocrystals, and a p-type material selected from p-type quantum dots and p-type nanocrystals, and where the n-type material has a conduction band level at least equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the p-type material, the p-type material has a valence band at the most equal, compared to vacuum level, to that of the n-type material. at least a portion of the n-type material and at least a portion of the p-type material are present in a bulk nano-heterojunction binary nanocomposite layer having a blend of the n-type material and the p-type material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES
    Inventors: Gerasimos Konstantatos, Arup Kumar Rath, Maria Bernechea Navarro, Luis Martinez Montblanch
  • Patent number: 9349896
    Abstract: The present invention provides a solar battery including a solar cell; a wiring substrate having a wire to be electrically connected to an electrode provided in the solar cell; and an adhesive agent for adhering the solar cell and the wiring substrate to each other. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing the solar battery, a method for manufacturing a solar cell module using the solar battery, and the solar cell module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Funakoshi
  • Patent number: 9312042
    Abstract: Metal seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming metal seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a solar cell includes a substrate. A semiconductor region is disposed in or above the substrate. A conductive contact is disposed on the semiconductor region and includes a seed layer in contact with the semiconductor region. The seed layer is composed of aluminum (Al) and a second, different, metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, Jacob Huffman Woodruff
  • Patent number: 9306095
    Abstract: A solar cell includes: a substrate having heat dissipating characteristics; a solar cell bonded to the substrate such that the solar cell is electrically connected on a first conductive line and a second conductive line, which are disposed on a surface of the substrate; a lens, which is bonded to a transparent electrode of the solar cell; a plurality of projections, which maintain a gap between the substrate and the lens; tapered hole sections in the substrate, each of said tapered hole sections having a tapered section of each of the protruding sections fitted therein; and a sealing resin applied to the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Nobori