Patents Examined by Golam Mowla
  • Patent number: 11611008
    Abstract: A multi junction laminated laser photovoltaic cell includes a cell unit laminated body and upper and lower electrodes electrically connected with the bottom and top of the cell unit laminated body, respectively, wherein the cell unit laminated body includes more than 6 laminated PN-junction subcells, adjacent two subcells are connected in series via tunnel junctions, wherein each PN-junction subcell uses a semiconductor single crystal material with a specific band gap as the absorption layer, the multiple subcells at least have two different band gaps, and the band gaps of the subcells are arranged in such an order that they decrease successively from the light incidence side to other side of the photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: SUZHOU INSTITUTE OF NANO-TECH AND NANO-BIONICS (SINANO), CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Jianrong Dong, Yurun Sun, Yongming Zhao, Shuzhen Yu
  • Patent number: 11597653
    Abstract: Disclosed are a hybrid structure using a graphene-carbon nanotube and a perovskite solar cell using the same. The hybrid structure includes a graphene-carbon nanotube formed by laminating a second graphene coated with a polymer on an upper surface of a first graphene coated with a carbon nanotube. The perovskite solar cell includes: a substrate; a first electrode formed on the substrate and including a fluorine doped thin oxide (FTO); an electron transfer layer formed on the first electrode and including a compact-titanium oxide (c-TiO2); a mesoporous-titanium oxide (m-TiO2) formed on the electron transfer layer; a perovskite layer formed on the m-TiO2 and including a perovskite compound; and a graphene-carbon nanotube hybrid structure formed on the perovskite layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation
    Inventors: Hyung Woo Lee, Soon Kyu Hong, Chae Young Woo, Yeong Su Jo, Sung Min Kim, Luhe Li, Seung hoon Oh, Yeonggwon Kim
  • Patent number: 11594999
    Abstract: The present teachings relate to a solar roof forming element for forming a solar roof of a building, comprising an extruded, elongate polymer roof plate, element coupling means, at least one solar panel covering the roof plate, panel coupling means for coupling the solar panel to the roof plate, comprising a first coupling part at a first side of the roof plate and a second coupling part at a first side of the solar panel, said coupling parts configured such that they mutually couple as a result of a movement of the solar panel relative to the roof plate, wherein in a coupled state a movement of the solar panel away from the roof plate in a direction perpendicular to the roof plate is blocked. The present teachings further relate to a combination of such solar roof forming elements, to a building, and to a method of forming a roof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V.
    Inventors: Roland Van Giesen, Henrica Norberta Alberta Maria Steenbakkers-Menting, Roeland Leonardus Hubertus Maria Verlaek, Petya Dochkova Yaneva, Robert Walter Venderbosch
  • Patent number: 11594686
    Abstract: Organic photovoltaic cells (OPVs) and their compositions are described herein. one or more embodiments, the acceptor with an active layer of an OPV includes is a non-fullerene acceptor. Such non-fullerene acceptors may provide improved OPV performance characteristics such as improved power conversion efficiency, open circuit voltage, fill factor, short circuit current, and/or external quantum efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Xiaheng Huang, Yongxi Li, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Patent number: 11588066
    Abstract: Tandem solar cell configurations are provided where at least one of the cells is a metal chalcogenide cell. A four-terminal tandem solar cell configuration has two electrically independent solar cells stacked on each other. A two-terminal solar cell configuration has two electrically coupled solar cells (same current through both cells) stacked on each other. Carrier selective contacts can be used to make contact to the metal chalcogenide cell (s) to alleviate the troublesome Fermi level pinning issue. Carrier-selective contacts can also remove the need to provide doping of the metal chalcogenide. Doping of the metal chalcogenide can be provided by charge transfer. These two ideas can be practiced independently or together in any combination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior Univesity
    Inventors: Koosha Nassiri Nazif, Raisul Islam, Jin-Hong Park, Krishna C. Saraswat
  • Patent number: 11588108
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion device includes: a first carrier transport layer; a photoelectric conversion layer containing an ionic crystalline compound; and a polysiloxane layer between the first carrier transport layer and the photoelectric conversion layer, the polysiloxane layer containing a polysiloxane having a polar functional group R1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yukio Takenaka
  • Patent number: 11588069
    Abstract: Embodiments of a photovoltaic device are provided herein. The photovoltaic device can include a layer stack and an absorber layer disposed on the layer stack. The absorber layer can include a first region and a second region. Each of the first region of the absorber layer and the second region of the absorber layer can include a compound comprising cadmium, selenium, and tellurium. An atomic concentration of selenium can vary across the absorber layer. The first region of the absorber layer can have a thickness between 100 nanometers to 3000 nanometers. The second region of the absorber layer can have a thickness between 100 nanometers to 3000 nanometers. A ratio of an average atomic concentration of selenium in the first region of the absorber layer to an average atomic concentration of selenium in the second region of the absorber layer can be greater than 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristian William Andreini, Holly Ann Blaydes, Jongwoo Choi, Adam Fraser Halverson, Eugene Thomas Hinners, William Hullinger Huber, Yong Liang, Joseph John Shiang
  • Patent number: 11581468
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices of the various embodiments provide for microfabrication of devices, such as semiconductors, thermoelectric devices, etc. Various embodiments may include a method for fabricating a device, such as a semiconductor (e.g., a silicon (Si)-based complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS), etc.), thermoelectric device, etc., using a mask. In some embodiments, the mask may be configured to allow molecules in a deposition plume to pass through one or more holes in the mask. In some embodiments, molecules in a deposition plume may pass around the mask. Various embodiments may provide thermoelectric devices having metallic junctions. Various embodiments may provide thermoelectric devices having metallic junctions rather than junctions formed from semiconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE ADMINISTRATOR OF NASA
    Inventors: Sang H. Choi, Adam J. Duzik
  • Patent number: 11581444
    Abstract: The solar cell of embodiments includes a transparent first electrode, a photoelectric conversion layer mainly containing cuprous oxide on the first electrode, an n-type layer on the photoelectric conversion layer, and a transparent second electrode on the n-type layer. A mixed region or/and a mixed layer are present on the n-type layer side of the photoelectric conversion layer, and the mixed region and the mixed layer contain elements belonging to a first group, a second group, and a third group. The first group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Zn and Sn, the second group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Y, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zr, B, Al, Ga, Nb, Mo, Ti, F, Cl, Br, and I, and the third group is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Ge and Si.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, TOSHIBA ENERGY SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazushige Yamamoto, Soichiro Shibasaki, Mutsuki Yamazaki, Naoyuki Nakagawa, Yuya Honishi, Sara Yoshio, Yoshiko Hiraoka
  • Patent number: 11581454
    Abstract: Provided are a solar cell, a manufacturing method thereof, and a photovoltaic module. The solar cell includes: a semiconductor substrate, in which a rear surface of the semiconductor substrate having a first texture structure, the first texture structure includes two or more first substructures at least partially stacked on one another, and in a direction away from the rear surface and perpendicular to the rear surface, a distance between a top surface of an outermost first substructure and a top surface of an adjacent first substructure being less than or equal to 2?m; a first passivation layer located on a front surface of the semiconductor substrate; a tunnel oxide layer located on the first texture structure; a doped conductive layer located on a surface of the tunnel oxide layer; and a second passivation layer located on a surface of the doped conductive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignees: SHANGHAI JINKO GREEN ENERGY ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT CO., LTD., ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kun Yu, Changming Liu, Xinyu Zhang
  • Patent number: 11575056
    Abstract: A method of repairing a solar cell bonded on a substrate, by bonding a replacement solar cell on top of an existing solar cell, without removing the existing solar cell. The substrate may comprise a flexible circuit, printed circuit board, flex blanket, or solar cell panel. The bonding of the replacement solar cell on top of the existing solar cell uses a controlled adhesive pattern. Electrical connections for the existing solar cell and the replacement solar cell are made using electrical conductors on, above or embedded within the substrate. The electrical connections may extend underneath the replacement solar cell. The method further comprises removing interconnects for the electrical connections for the existing solar cell, and then welding or soldering interconnects for the electrical connections for the replacement solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Phil Luc
  • Patent number: 11569400
    Abstract: The invention relates to a solar module which is technically easy to manufacture and has a plurality of solar cells arranged one behind the other and electrically connected in series, wherein a bypass diode for electrical bypassing is electrically connected in parallel with each solar cell, wherein the bypass diodes are arranged one behind the other, wherein each solar cell and each bypass diode comprises a photovoltaically active layer, a lower electrically conductive layer and an upper electrically conductive layer both of which adjoin the photovoltaically active layer, characterized in that each bypass diode is arranged between solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH
    Inventor: Bart Elger Pieters
  • Patent number: 11563134
    Abstract: Systems and methods of three-terminal tandem solar cells are described. Three-terminal metal electrodes can be formed to contact subcells of the tandem solar cell. The three-terminal tandem cell can improve the device efficiency to at least 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Phillip R. Jahelka
  • Patent number: 11552210
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition, to an article comprising the polymer composition, preferably to an article which is a photovoltaic (PV) module comprising at least one layer element (LE) comprising the polymer composition and to a process for producing said article, preferably said photovoltaic (PV) module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: BOREALIS AG
    Inventors: Stefan Hellstrom, Francis Costa, Bert Broeders
  • Patent number: 11545593
    Abstract: The subject disclosure provides a simple, fast, and high-yield method for encapsulating solar cells. This method can produce an encapsulation of solar cell(s) that is flat, bubble-free, lightweight, and flexible. In addition, it can also reduce equipment and material costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: National Taiwan University
    Inventor: Ching-Fuh Lin
  • Patent number: 11538953
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to compound parabolic concentrators. In one implementation, a compound parabolic concentrator may include a parabolic array having a base, a side wall, and an aperture for receiving light and a dielectric layer having a refractive index. In another implementation, a stacked compound parabolic concentrator may include a parabolic array having a base, a side wall, and an aperture for receiving light and multiple dielectric layers within the array. Each dielectric layer may have a refractive index, and the refractive index may decrease with each dielectric layer moving from the base of the parabolic array to the light receiving aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Stephen R. Forrest, Kyusang Lee, Byungjun Lee
  • Patent number: 11532761
    Abstract: Composite making regions are provided. These masking regions can include layers or other areas of different transparency where a first region has a first transparency and a second region has a different transparency. Masking regions can be positioned between adjacent photovoltaic cells of photovoltaic arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Hoi Hong Ng
  • Patent number: 11532778
    Abstract: A fast-rate thermoelectric device control system includes a fast-rate thermoelectric device, a sensor, and a controller. The fast-rate thermoelectric device includes a thermoelectric actuator array disposed on a wafer, and the thermoelectric actuator array includes a thin-film thermoelectric (TFTE) actuator that generates a heating and/or a cooling effect in response to an electrical current. The sensor is configured to measure a temperature associated with the heating or cooling effect and output a feedback signal indicative of the measured temperature. The controller is in communication with the fast-rate thermoelectric device and the sensor, and is configured to control the electrical current based on the feedback signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Johns Hopkins University
    Inventors: Rama Venkatasubramanian, Luke E. Osborn, Robert S. Armiger, Meiyong Himmtann, Jonathan M. Pierce
  • Patent number: 11508863
    Abstract: A a semiconductor component (1a, 1b) having a front side and an opposite rear side and also side surfaces, and also at least one emitter (2a, 2b) and at least one base (3a, 3b), wherein a pn junction (4a, 4b) is formed between emitter (2a, 2b) and base (3a, 3b) and the emitter (2a, 2b) extends parallel to the front and/or rear side. At least one side surface is a passivated separating surface (T), at which a separating surface passivation layer (6a, 6b) is arranged, which has stationary charges having a surface charge density at the separating surface (T) with a magnitude of greater than or equal to 1012 cm-2. A method for singulating a semiconductor component (1a, 1b) having a pn junction is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Zur Förderung Der Angewandten Forschung E.V.
    Inventors: Elmar Lohmüller, Ralf Preu, Puzant Baliozian, Tobias Fellmeth, Nico Wöhrle, Pierre Saint-Cast, Florian Clement, Andreas Brand
  • Patent number: 11508893
    Abstract: A semiconductor sintered body comprising a polycrystalline body, wherein the polycrystalline body comprises silicon or a silicon alloy, and the average grain size of the crystal grains constituting the polycrystalline body is 1 ?m or less, and the electrical conductivity is 10,000 S/m or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Naoki Sadayori