Patents Examined by Eric R Smith
  • Patent number: 9893340
    Abstract: A battery wiring module may include connecting members for connecting adjacent electrode terminals to each other, an external connection terminal that is connectable to another device, and a resin protector having holding portions that hold the connecting members and the external connection terminal. A lid portion for covering the external connection terminal may be provided integrally with the resin protector via a first hinge. The lid portion may be provided with a second hinge having a hinge axis that is orthogonal to a hinge axis of the first hinge. A first lid portion that is formed by folding the first hinge and a second lid portion that is formed by folding the second hinge can be disposed in directions crossing each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignees: AUTONETWORKS TECHNOLOGIES, LTD., SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, LTD., SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Nakayama, Mitsutoshi Morita
  • Patent number: 9880326
    Abstract: The invention relates to a surface structure and a Fresnel lens which has at least one such surface structure. Furthermore, the invention relates to a tool for production of a surface structure and a method for production of a surface structure or Fresnel lens. Furthermore, the invention relates to the use of a Fresnel lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foederung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventor: Thorsten Hornung
  • Patent number: 9866170
    Abstract: Extremely fast dynamic control is allowed for hybrid PV/T (photovoltaic/thermal) distributed power production using concentrated solar power by manipulating the transmissive or reflective state of a capture element or mirror or lens that can pass highly concentrated solar light from one energy conversion device to another, such as a thermal collector and a photovoltaic receiver, such as a vertical multijunction cell array. This allows superior quality electrical backfeed into an electric utility, enhanced plant electrical production revenue, and responsiveness to a multitude of conditions to meet new stringent engineering requirements for distributed power plants. The mirror or lens can be physically articulated using fast changing of a spatial variable, or can be a fixed smart material that changes state. A mechanical jitter or variable state jitter can be applied to the capture element, including at utility electric grid line frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: MH GOPOWER COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mei-huan Yang, Jonathan A. Jackson, Terry Zahuranec, Michael J. Creager, Remigio Perales, Cheng-Liang Wu, Chin-Wei Hsu, Chiun-Yen Tung, Ying-Jie Peng, Ping-Pang Lee, Mark J. Elting
  • Patent number: 9859455
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a crystalline substrate having a first dopant conductivity, an interdigitated back contact and a front surface field structure. The front surface field structure includes a crystalline layer formed on the substrate and a noncrystalline layer formed on the crystalline layer. The crystalline layer and the noncrystalline layer are doped with dopants having an opposite dopant conductivity from that of the substrate. Methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tze-Chiang Chen, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Patent number: 9846219
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for tracking a solar generator having a plurality of solar modules to the sun, wherein at least one electric output quantity of part of the solar module of the solar generator is detected and a tracker, on which the solar generator is mounted, is controlled such that the detected electric output quantity has a predetermined value. Further, a control for a solar plant and a solar plant having such a control are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEW ANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.
    Inventors: Bruno Burger, Olivier Stalter
  • Patent number: 9837560
    Abstract: A solar battery cell and related methodology are provided which enable a TAB wire to be accurately connected to an intended position, thus allowing a possible increase in manufacturing costs to be suppressed. A solar battery cell includes a plurality of finger electrodes arranged on a light receiving surface of a photovoltaic substrate, the light receiving surface having a region of predetermined width to receive a conductive adhesive of a same width as the region. The region is provided with an alignment marking indicating a position where the adhesive is to be applied over the surface, the alignment marking having a cross-dimension in a widthwise direction of the region that is less than the predetermined width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CHEMICAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuo Tsuruoka, Kenzou Takemura, Naoki Fukushima, Yusuke Asakawa
  • Patent number: 9825193
    Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are disclosed. The structures can comprise randomly or periodically structured layers, a dielectric layer to reduce back diffusion of charge carriers, and a metallic layer to reflect photons back towards the absorbing semiconductor layers. This design can increase efficiency of photovoltaic structures. The structures can be fabricated by nanoimprint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Dennis Callahan, Colton Bukowsky
  • Patent number: 9806207
    Abstract: A solar cell includes a support substrate, a back electrode layer on the support substrate, a light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer, a buffer layer on the light absorbing layer, a high resistance buffer layer on the buffer layer, and a front electrode layer on the high resistance buffer layer. An insulating part is located on a top surface of the light absorbing layer. A method of fabricating the solar cell includes forming the back electrode layer on the substrate, forming the light absorbing layer on the back electrode layer, forming the buffer layer on the light absorbing layer, oxidizing a top surface of the buffer layer, and forming the front electrode layer on the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Se Han Kwon
  • Patent number: 9771719
    Abstract: A panel equipped with a solar cell module and an exterior material for a building using the same are provided. The panel equipped with a solar cell module includes a body section having a fixing part on one corner thereof, an attachment section having first and second attachment parts, the first attachment part being bent upwards from two sides of the body section adjacent to the fixing part, and the second attachment part being bent downwards from the opposite two sides of the body section separated from the fixing part, and a solar cell module attached on an upper surface of the body section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ROSER CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yee Haeng Kim, Woo Kyoung Kim, Mi Sol Oh, Jun Hyun Park
  • Patent number: 9768336
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells and includes first and second solar cells positioned adjacent to each other in a first direction, the solar cell module further comprises a connector for connecting hole terminals of the first solar cell to electron terminals of the second solar cell, the hole terminals being positioned on the first solar cell and being separated from each other and the electron terminals being positioned on the second solar cell and being separated from each other. The hole terminals and the electron terminals of each solar cell are positioned parallel to a first side of each solar cell, the connector is positioned parallel to a second side crossing the first side of each solar cell, and the connector is positioned on the same side of the first and second solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Daehee Jang
  • Patent number: 9748423
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photovoltaic device that includes a solar cell on a light transmissive substrate in the form of an array of equal diameter optical fibers laid adjacent to each other in the transversal direction of the fibers. With such an arrangement, light harvesting at high angles is improved by 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignees: Fundacio Institut De Ciencies Fotoniques, Universitat Politecnica De Catalunya
    Inventors: Jordi Martorell Pena, Pablo Romero Gómez, Marina Mariano Juste, Francisco J. Rodriguez Martinez
  • Patent number: 9741890
    Abstract: A method for forming a photovoltaic device includes forming an absorber layer with a granular structure on a conductive layer; conformally depositing an insulating protection layer over the absorber layer to fill in between grains of the absorber layer; and planarizing the protection layer and the absorber layer. A buffer layer is formed on the absorber layer, and a top transparent conductor layer is deposited over the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Talia S. Gershon, Supratik Guha, Jeehwan Kim, Mahadevaiyer Krishnan, Byungha Shin
  • Patent number: 9741885
    Abstract: A plurality of solar cells are arranged in a first direction and each provided with first and second electrodes on a one main surface side thereof. A wiring member includes a conductive layer and a resin sheet supporting the conductive layer, the conductive layer electrically connecting the first electrode of one of the solar cells adjacent to each other in the first direction to the second electrode of another one of the solar cells. An adhesive layer bonds the wiring member to each of the solar cells. The wiring member includes a first bonded portion bonded to the one solar cell via the adhesive layer, a second bonded portion bonded to the other solar cell via the adhesive layer, and a connection portion connecting the first bonded portion and the second bonded portion together, and an opening is provided in the conductive layer in the connection portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Yousuke Ishii, Yoshiyuki Kudoh, Akihisa Nakahashi
  • Patent number: 9735302
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device and method of manufacture of a photovoltaic device including an assembly of at least two photovoltaic cells; and a lamination material inserted between each photovoltaic cell, each photovoltaic cell including: two current output terminals; at least one photovoltaic junction; current collection buses; and connection strips extending from the current collection buses to the current output terminals, all the current output terminals being placed on a single surface of the photovoltaic device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Total Marketing Services
    Inventors: Marc Vermeersch, Loic Francke
  • Patent number: 9722128
    Abstract: [Problem] To provide a solar power system and a solar panel installation method with which, by using a positioning configuration which is not prone to visible vertical misalignment while preserving sunlight lighting efficiency in the positioning of a plurality of solar panels, solar panel installation is easy, and which is suitable to installing a large solar power system on a hill, in wetlands, etc. [Solution] A solar power system comprises a solar panel group (2) in which a plurality of vertically oriented rectangular solar panels (21) are inclined in the same direction, either left or right, at a prescribed angle of inclination (theta), and the lighting faces (22) of each of the solar panels (21) are arrayed in the same plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: ITOGUMI CONSTRUCTION CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Makoto Nishioka
  • Patent number: 9722120
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a polycrystalline absorber layer including Cu—Zn—Sn—S(Se) (CZTSSe) over a substrate. The absorber layer is rapid thermal annealed in a sealed chamber having elemental sulfur within the chamber. A sulfur content profile is graded in the absorber layer in accordance with a size of the elemental sulfur and an anneal temperature to provide a graduated bandgap profile for the absorber layer. Additional layers are formed on the absorber layer to complete the photovoltaic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Talia S. Gershon, Marinus J. P. Hopstaken, Jeehwan Kim, Yun Seog Lee
  • Patent number: 9705013
    Abstract: After forming an absorber layer containing cracks over a back contact layer, a passivation layer is formed over a top surface of the absorber layer and interior surfaces of the cracks. The passivation layer is deposited in a manner such that that the cracks in the absorber layer are fully passivated by the passivation layer. An emitter layer is then formed over the passivation layer to pinch off upper portions of the cracks, leaving voids in lower portions of the cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Ning Li, Katherine L. Saenger
  • Patent number: 9705449
    Abstract: Solar energy collection and storage systems and processes of using such systems. Non-direct solar energy collection and storage systems can generate electricity from solar radiation using a solar thermoelectric generator and at the same time capture solar thermal energy in a working fluid. The working fluid can then transfer the heat to a thermal storage medium where the heat can be retrieved on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid. Direct solar energy collection and storage systems can store solar thermal energy in a thermal storage medium directly from solar radiation and the heat from the thermal storage medium can be used on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Kazuaki Yazawa, Zhixi Bian, Ali Shakouri
  • Patent number: 9698284
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device including at least one of a solar device, a semiconductor device, and an electronic device. The device includes a semiconductor unit. A plurality of metal fingers is disposed on a surface of the semiconductor unit for electrical conduction. Each of the metal fingers corresponds to a section of the optoelectronic device. A plurality of pad areas is available for connection to a bus bar, wherein each of the metal fingers is connected to a corresponding pad area for forming an electrical contact. The optoelectronic device includes a bad section, wherein the bad section is associated with a compromised metal finger and a compromised pad area. A dielectric spot coating is disposed above the compromised pad area to electrically isolate the bad section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ALTA DEVICES, INC.
    Inventor: Andreas Hegedus
  • Patent number: 9673370
    Abstract: A water-and-air-cooled thermoelectric device includes water inlet pipes disposed in parallel at an upper side of the thermoelectric device and including a first hot water pipe and a first cool water pipe. Water outlet pipes are disposed in parallel at a lower side of the thermoelectric device and include a second hot water pipe and a second cool water pipe. A plurality of cool water tubes connect the first cool water pipe and the second cool water pipe. Hot water tubes are adjacent to the cool water tubes and connect the first hot water pipe and the second hot water pipe. Thermoelectric elements are disposed between the cool water tubes and the hot water tubes and convert an energy obtained by heat exchange into an electrical energy. A plurality of heat pipes are spaced apart and extend in a direction perpendicular to the hot water tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventor: Sang Jun Kim