Patents Examined by Dujuan Horton
  • Patent number: 11107937
    Abstract: The n-type amorphous semiconductor layers 4 are on parts of that one of the faces of the semiconductor substrate 1, there being provided no p-type amorphous semiconductor layers 5 in the parts. The electrodes 6 are disposed on the n-type amorphous semiconductor layers 4. The electrodes 7 are disposed on the p-type amorphous semiconductor layers 5. The p-type amorphous semiconductor layers 5 between those n-type amorphous semiconductor layers 4 which are adjacent along an in-plane direction of the semiconductor substrate 1 include, arranged along a first direction that points from the n-type amorphous semiconductor layers 4 toward the adjacent n-type amorphous semiconductor layers 4: first and second electrode-provided regions where the electrodes 7 are disposed; and a no-electrode-provided region, between the first and second electrode-provided regions, where there are provided no electrodes 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Teruaki Higo, Takeshi Mori, Makoto Higashikawa
  • Patent number: 11081423
    Abstract: A system and method system for conveying power from a heat source is disclosed. The system includes a conduit constructed of a heat conducting material. The conduit defines a passageway containing a primary working fluid, where the conduit is either mounted upon or extends within at least a portion of a barrier. The conduit is configured to conduct thermal energy generated by the heat source and transfer the thermal energy to the primary working fluid flowing within the passageway. The system also includes a thermoelectric generator in thermal communication with the conduit. The thermoelectric generator has a hot side and a cold side. The primary working fluid transfers the thermal energy to the hot side of the thermoelectric generator to heat the hot side of the thermoelectric generator to a temperature greater than the cold side and create electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 11056287
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an isodiketopyrrolopyrrole dye and use thereof. A series of pure organic dye based on isodiketopyrrolopyrrole are synthesized in the present invention, using 4,4?-dihexyloxytriphenylamine as an electron donor, isodiketopyrrolopyrrole as a ?-bridge, and cyanoacetic acid as an electron acceptor and an anchoring group, and with a alkyl chain introduced on an isodiketopyrrolopyrrole group. The types of dyes have a relatively good light-harvesting performance as well as a relatively large steric hindrance, and they are not easy to gather while being absorbed on a semiconducting film. The pure organic dye with isodiketopyrrolopyrrole as an electronic ?-bridge, which is used in a dye-sensitized solar cell, has a good ability of inhibiting the recombination of electrons, and the dye-sensitized solar cells have a high photoelectric conversion efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Derong Cao, Xufeng Zang
  • Patent number: 11056632
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion substrate includes an insulating substrate and at least one thermoelectric conversion unit. The insulating substrate has a first surface and a second surface at both sides of the insulating substrate in a thickness direction. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit is incorporated in the insulating substrate. The at least one thermoelectric conversion unit includes a first thermoelectric member, a second thermoelectric member, and a first electrode disposed on the first surface of the insulating substrate. The first thermoelectric member includes a first tubular member having insulation property and a first semiconductor filled in the first tubular member. The second thermoelectric member includes a second tubular member having insulation property and a second semiconductor filled in the second tubular member. The second semiconductor has carriers different from carriers of the first semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takuji Aoyama, Satoshi Maeshima, Tatsuo Sasaoka, Junya Tanaka, Noboru Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 11049982
    Abstract: A solar cell element includes a semiconductor substrate, a passivation layer located on the semiconductor substrate, a protective layer located on the passivation layer, and a first electrode located on the protective layer. The protective layer includes at least one void located from a first lower surface of the first electrode close to the semiconductor substrate up to a first upper surface of the passivation layer close to the first lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takanobu Yoshida, Ryo Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 11012028
    Abstract: A reinforcing member according to an aspect of the present disclosure is a long member provided between a frame and a frame on the rear side of a solar cell module. The reinforcing member is provided with: a pair of leg parts respectively fixed to inner flanges and of the frames and; a pair of wall parts erected on the respective leg parts and arranged roughly vertical to the rear surface of a solar cell panel; and a top board part that connects upper ends of the wall parts and are arranged along the rear surface in a state of being close to or in contact with the rear surface of the solar cell panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Atsushi Fukushima, Takahiro Nakamura, Toshiyuki Sakuma, Masashi Tsuji
  • Patent number: 10985688
    Abstract: This disclosure describes methods and apparatus for assembly a roofing structure that incorporates photovoltaic modules as shingles of the roofing structure. A sidelap is used to both establish consistent spacing between the solar shingles and prevent water passing between adjacent shingles from collecting beneath the solar shingles by guiding the water passing through the solar shingles and redirecting the water down-roof. In some embodiments, the sidelaps can have additional functionality. For example, a sidelap can include tabs configured to interact with lateral securing features positioned on downward-facing surfaces of the solar roofing modules to help keep the lateral sides of the photovoltaic modules from pulling away from the roofing structure during severe weather conditions. The sidelap could also include means for attaching a wire clip to one end of the sidelap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Seery, David Molina, Trevor B. Guthrie, Thomas Anderson, Jonathan Hewlett
  • Patent number: 10985569
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power station includes, for example, a plurality of solar panels at a first location, the plurality of solar panels operable to provide a maximum power output, a controller operable to supply, from the plurality of solar panels, a predetermined power output less than the maximum power output to an electrical grid, and wherein the photovoltaic power station is operable to maintain, from the plurality of solar panels, a reserve power output to provide the reserve power output to the electrical grid, the reserve power output being the difference between the maximum power output and the predetermined power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK
    Inventor: Qilong Min
  • Patent number: 10944353
    Abstract: A system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, comprising one or more solar panels defining a longitudinal axis, one or more bellows actuators coupled to the one or more solar panels and defining an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panels, a fluid source, a first valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, a second valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, and a controller, wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or more of the bellows actuators is configured to cause rotation of the one or more actuators about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Assignee: SUNFOLDING, INC.
    Inventors: Louis Hong Basel, Joshua Earle Erickson, Dan Goldwater, Jeffrey Charles Lamb, Leila Madrone, Vincent Domenic Romanin, Matthew N Schneider
  • Patent number: 10910541
    Abstract: A thermoelectric element according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a first substrate; a plurality of P-type thermoelectric legs and a plurality of N-type thermoelectric legs that are alternately arranged on the first substrate; a second substrate disposed on the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs; and a plurality of electrodes that connect the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs in series, wherein the plurality of electrodes include a plurality of first electrodes disposed between the first substrate and the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs, and a plurality of second electrodes disposed between the second substrate and the plurality of P- and N-type thermoelectric legs, and grains constituting at least one of the plurality of first and second electrodes grow in the direction from the first substrate to the second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG Innotek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young Sam Yoo
  • Patent number: 10714670
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a thermoelectric conversion module that enables continued use of a thermoelectric generation system even when a part of a plurality of the thermoelectric conversion modules fails by being exposed to a higher temperature. The thermoelectric conversion module according to the present disclosure includes a substrate, a plurality of thermoelectric conversion element pairs electrically connected in series on the substrate, a pair of external terminals that carries out one of inputting and outputting of electric power, and a low melting point conductor. The low melting point conductor has a melting point that is substantially equal to a heat-resistant temperature of a p-type thermoelectric conversion element or an n-type thermoelectric conversion element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Sato, Tsutomu Kanno, Hiromasa Tamaki, Yuriko Kaneko, Miho Uehara
  • Patent number: 10693028
    Abstract: A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nasser H. Karam, Dimitri D. Krut, Scott B. Singer
  • Patent number: 10686087
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solar cell including a control passivation film on one surface of a semiconductor substrate, and being formed of a dielectric material; and a semiconductor layer on the control passivation film, wherein the semiconductor layer including a first conductive region having a first conductive type and a second conductive region having a second conductive type opposite to the first conductive type. The semiconductor substrate includes a diffusion region including at least one of a first diffusion region and a second diffusion region adjacent to the control passivation film, wherein the first diffusion region being locally formed to correspond to the first conductive region and having a doping concentration lower than a doping concentration of the first conductive region, wherein the second diffusion region being locally formed to correspond to the second conductive region and having a doping concentration lower than a doping concentration of the second conductive region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Chungyi Kim, Youngsung Yang, Jaewoo Choi, Mihee Heo
  • Patent number: 10601364
    Abstract: A solar tracker array has solar modules that may be configured to operate as a wind fence according to a wind characteristic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER INC.
    Inventor: Alexander W. Au
  • Patent number: 10546968
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wave concentrating system, comprising a photovoltaic material and at least one holographic concentrator. The holographic concentrator includes at least two stacked holographic optical elements (HOE). Each HOE is configured to diffract incident light into a diffracted beams having different ranges of wavelengths. The diffracted beams generated by each HOE are directed at the photovoltaic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Inventors: David A. Waldman, Joby Joseph
  • Patent number: 10541343
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a device with integrated photovoltaic cells includes supporting a semiconductor substrate on a first handle substrate and doping the semiconductor substrate to form doped alternating regions with opposite conductivity. A doped layer is formed over a first side the semiconductor substrate. A conductive material is patterned over the doped layer to form conductive islands such that the conductive islands are aligned with the alternating regions to define a plurality of photovoltaic cells connected in series on a monolithic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen W. Bedell, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 10510939
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion cell is provided with: an insulating member having a through hole, a female threaded portions (insulation-side threaded portion) at both end parts, respectively, of the through hole in the through-direction; a thermoelectric conversion member which has a thermoelectric conversion element (P-type thermoelectric conversion element), and is accommodated within the through hole; and electrode members coupled at the end parts, respectively, of the insulating member, and which have male threaded portions (electrode-side threaded portion) corresponding to the female threaded portions, and electrode parts electrically connected to the end part of the thermoelectric conversion member inside the through hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI MATERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koya Arai, Masahito Komasaki
  • Patent number: 10483411
    Abstract: A solar cell includes: a first electrode; a first hole transport layer containing nickel; an inorganic material layer containing titanium; a light-absorbing layer converting light into electric charge; and a second electrode. The first electrode, the first hole transport layer, the inorganic material layer, the light-absorbing layer, and the second electrode are layered in that order. The light-absorbing layer contains a perovskite compound represented by a formula AMX3, where A is a monovalent cation, M is a divalent cation, and X is a monovalent anion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Nishihara, Shinya Fujimura, Takayuki Negami
  • Patent number: 10460879
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element, having a photoconductor layer containing semiconductor fine particles carrying a metal complex dye of Formula (I); a metal complex dye, a dye solution, a dye-adsorbed electrode, a dye-sensitized solar cell, and a method for producing the solar cell: M(LA)(LD)(LX)mX·(CI)mY??Formula (I) M represents a metal ion, LA represents a ligand of Formula (AL), LD represents a bidentate or tridentate ligand, at least one of coordinating atoms being an anion; LX represents a monodentate ligand; CI represents a counter ion; mX is 0 or 1; mY is 0 to 3; Rings A to C represent a heterocycle; Z1 and Z2 represent a carbon or nitrogen atom; Anc1 to Anc3 represent an acidic group; X1 to X3 represent a single bond or linking group; R1 to R3 represent a substituent; l1, l3, l2, m1, m3, m2, n1, n2, and n3 each are an integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kousuke Watanabe, Yukio Tani, Kouitsu Sasaki, Hirotaka Satou, Kazuhiro Tsuna, Katsumi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 10453975
    Abstract: Photovoltaic device includes a wafer, wherein it comprises a plurality of discontinuous first conductors oriented in a first direction, which conductors are interrupted in interconnection zones, and in that at least one second conductor electrically connects the first conductors to one another in the interconnection zones, and in that it includes at least one metal strip or braid fastened to at least one electrical conductor, this at least one metal strip or braid including fastening zones in which it is mechanically and electrically connected to an electrical conductor and non-connected zones in which the metal strip or braid is not mechanically fastened to an electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Armand Bettinelli, Eric Pilat