Patents Examined by Jayne L Mershon
  • Patent number: 12047032
    Abstract: A solar module holding device (10) is proposed, which is configured to enable an assembly of at least one, in particular solar-position-tracking, solar module (12), with a shaft (14), in particular a rotatable shaft (14), with a base body (16) that forms at least one support surface (18) configured for a support at least of a portion of the solar module (12), the base body (16) being embodied as a sheet part, which is preferably implemented as one piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Robert Zimmermann
    Inventor: Robert Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 12041897
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating solar power in agricultural fields while minimally impacting crop growth and farming efforts, including positioning an elongated solar panel above crops, wherein the elongated solar panel runs generally parallel to longitudinal lines and wherein the elongated solar panel has at least one solar transducing face and an endless edge surrounding and perpendicular to the at least one solar transducing face, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented parallel to incident solar rays during predetermined times when plant growth requires incident sunlight, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented parallel to the vertical during rain, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel out of the way of heavy farm equipment, and automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented perpendicul
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: Purdue Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rakesh Agrawal, Muhammad Alam, Mitchell Tuinstra
  • Patent number: 12046687
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a solar cell, including the steps of: forming unevenness on both of main surfaces of a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type; forming a base layer on a first main surface of the semiconductor substrate; forming a diffusion mask on the base layer; removing the diffusion mask in a pattern; forming an emitter layer on the portion of the first main surface where the diffusion mask have been removed; removing the remaining diffusion mask; forming a dielectric film on the first main surface; forming a base electrode on the base layer; and forming an emitter electrode on the emitter layer. This provides a method for manufacturing a solar cell that can bring high photoelectric conversion efficiency while decreasing the number of steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takenori Watabe, Ryo Mitta, Hiroshi Hashigami, Hiroyuki Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 12040739
    Abstract: Provided are a photovoltaic mount and a photovoltaic apparatus including the photovoltaic mount. The photovoltaic mount includes a support structure, a first deflection structure, a second deflection structure, and a space truss structure. The first deflection structure is rotatably connected to the support structure by a first rotation shaft. The second deflection structure is rotatably connected to the first deflection structure by a second rotation shaft. An extending direction of the second rotation shaft is different from an extending direction of the first rotation shaft. The space truss structure is installed on the second deflection structure and configured to carry a photovoltaic panel. The space truss structure is driven through a rotation of the first deflection structure and/or a rotation of the second deflection structure to deflect to change an installing angle of the photovoltaic panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignees: XIAMEN DONESTY ECOMMERCE CO., LTD., XIAMEN ECO-SOURCES TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hao Wang, Hongbing Song
  • Patent number: 12029053
    Abstract: An optoelectronic component, including: a bottom electrode, a top electrode, a layer system having at least one photoactive layer, the layer system being disposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, a planarization layer disposed on a side of the bottom electrode and/or top electrode facing away from the layer system, at least one barrier layer disposed on the planarization layer, and at least one busbar, the at least one busbar being disposed on the at least one barrier layer, wherein: the planarization layer has electrically conductive particles the electrically conductive particles being introduced into the planarization layer, and the electrically conductive particles electrically conductively bridge the planarization layer through the at least one barrier layer such that the bottom electrode and/or the top electrode electrically conductively contacts the at least one busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: HELIATEK GMBH
    Inventor: Ralph Wichtendahl
  • Patent number: 12027325
    Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic cell is provided. The transparent photovoltaic cell includes a first visibly transparent electrode, a visibly transparent active layer including a light absorbing material that has a bandgap greater than or equal to about 2.75 eV, and a second visibly transparent electrode. The active layer is disposed between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode. The transparent photovoltaic cell is visibly transparent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Richard R. Lunt, Dianyi Liu
  • Patent number: 12009777
    Abstract: A solar panel rail for mounting a photovoltaic module frame thereto is provided and has a rail body configured to for attachment of a rail bracket, an indexing flange located on the rail body and configured to box and maintain a module frame position along a short-side direction of the module frame, a tab located on the rail body and configured to hold the module in place along a long-side direction of the module frame, wherein the indexing flange and tab are configured to provide a predetermined locked in installation position of the module frame during installation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: KLOECKNER METALS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeremy Jacobs
  • Patent number: 12000737
    Abstract: A temperature sensor includes a block body, a first thermocouple, and a second thermocouple. The first thermocouple includes a first strand, a second strand, a first insulator surrounding the first strand and the second strand, and a first metal sheath surrounding the first insulator. The second thermocouple includes a third strand, a fourth strand, a second insulator surrounding the third strand and the fourth strand, and a second metal sheath surrounding the second insulator. An end portion of each of the first thermocouple and the second thermocouple is buried in the block body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: NHK SPRING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoya Kida, Arata Tatsumi, Kenji Sekiya, Naoya Aikawa, Masaya Takanashi
  • Patent number: 11996801
    Abstract: A plurality of posts and actuator posts connected to a foundation and to a torque tube on which solar panels are duly mounted is disclosed. The actuator posts include a hinge next to a radial arm that is disposed solidly connected to the torque tube, the arm being hinged at the other end to a linear actuator with screw drive, the bottom end is connected to the actuator post by a joint. Each linear actuator is actuated by a gear that engages with an endless screw solidly connected to a Cardan-type drive shared by all the actuators and is actuated by an electric motor, the Cardan-type drive fitting closely to the torque tube by supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignees: NIASA NEFF Y ASOCIADOS, S.A., NCLAVE RENEWABLE, S.L.
    Inventors: Jose Miguel Rodriguez Gonzalez, Diego Lopez Zozaya, Jose Ignacio Lopez Ayarza, Juan Manuel Gomez Garcia
  • Patent number: 11996796
    Abstract: A system for attaching a solar panel to a support, includes a support connector and a solar panel connector, where the support connector includes a U-shaped profile having a lower wall and two side walls, where an upper end of the side walls is bent inwards to provide vertical rails for receiving the panel connector; and the panel connector include a profile having: an upper C-shaped portion configured for receiving a side edge of a solar panel; a lower, upwardly oriented channel portion configured for receiving the vertical rail of the support connector; and at least one box-shaped portion connecting the upper C-shaped portion and the lower channel portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: SOLTEC INNOVATIONS, S.L.
    Inventors: Francisco Javier Carpio Obre, Pablo Sánchez Huertas
  • Patent number: 11990864
    Abstract: Three-dimensional solar power generation systems have a plurality of solar panels configured to include pole and equator facing panels and, in various embodiments additional top and/or side panels that form a segmented and dome-shaped assembly. The systems have improved efficiencies particularly with respect to early morning and evening power generation that enable improved power densities on a given land area as compared to traditional solar panel arrays. Methods of deploying the systems are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: STELLA POWER INC.
    Inventors: Kenneth Eugene Lebioda, John Charles Goetz, Christian Bennett Lebioda, Nolan Kenneth Lebioda, Christopher Ross Armstrong Halliday
  • Patent number: 11990863
    Abstract: A rail for a photovoltaic module arrangement, the rail including a body having at least a top portion, a middle portion, and a bottom portion, the top portion including at least one upper edge in which at least one end of the upper edge defines an angle configured to receive a photovoltaic module on the body, the middle portion including at least one side edge, and the bottom portion including at least a bottom edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Brantingham and Carroll Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Carroll, Thomas Carroll, Marvin Hochstedler, José Miguel Tomicic Müller
  • Patent number: 11984842
    Abstract: Solar tracker systems include a rotatable tube defining a longitudinal axis and a rail mounted on the rotatable tube. The rail extends transversely outward of the tube between first and second opposed ends. The solar tracker system further includes a photovoltaic panel assembly attached to the rail and a rail connector securing the rail to the rotatable tube. The rail connector includes at least one clip attached to the rail and a lock bracket defining a notch receiving the clip therein such that the clip applies tension on the lock bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: FTC Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamilarasan Mouniandy, Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli, Baskaran Subbarayan, Rajesh Shanmugasundaram, Sait Abdul Kareem
  • Patent number: 11978893
    Abstract: A cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes a lithium metal oxide particle and a thio-based compound formed on at least portion of a surface of the lithium metal oxide particle. The thio-based compound has a double bond that contains a sulfur atom. Chemical stability of the lithium metal oxide particle may be improved and surface residues may be reduced by the thio-based compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SK ON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jik Soo Kim, Sang Bok Kim, Hyo Shin Kwak, Myoung Lae Kim, Se Rah Moon, Jin Seok Seo, Mi Jung Noh, Duck Chul Hwang
  • Patent number: 11968895
    Abstract: The field of the DISCLOSURE lies in active materials for organic image sensors. The present disclosure relates to transparent N materials and/or to transparent P materials and their use in absorption layer(s), photoelectric conversion layer(s) and/or an organic image sensor and methods for their synthesis. The present disclosure also relates to photoelectric conversion layer(s) including an active material according to the present disclosure, to a device, including active material(s) according to the present disclosure or photoelectric conversion layer(s) according to the present disclosure. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to an organic image sensor including photoelectric conversion layer(s) according to the present disclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Silvia Rosselli, David Danner, Tzenka Miteva, Gabriele Nelles, Vitor Deichmann, William E. Ford, Dennis Chercka, Vladimir Yakutkin, Lars Peter Scheller, Nikolaus Knorr
  • Patent number: 11961931
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a solar cell that includes providing a semiconductor growth substrate; depositing on said growth substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material forming a solar cell; applying a metal contact layer over said sequence of layers; affixing the adhesive polyimide surface of a permanent supporting substrate directly over said metal contact layer and permanently bonding it thereto by a thermocompressive technique; and removing the semiconductor growth substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp
    Inventors: Arthur B. Cornfeld, Jeff Steinfeldt
  • Patent number: 11949371
    Abstract: A deflection pad may include a body. The body may include a recess to accommodate a fastener configured to attach the deflection pad to a support structure. The base of the deflection pad may include a bottom surface configured to engage a surface of the support structure. The deflection pad may be included in a system that includes a torsion beam and one or more support racks to which multiple PV modules may be attached, where the support are racks attached to the torsion beam. One or more deflection pads may be positioned between the PV modules and the support rack so as to cushion impact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: ARRAY TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin C. de Fresart, Nathan Schuknecht, Jon Sharp
  • Patent number: 11942562
    Abstract: The present invention belongs to the field of photovoltaic cells and relates to a thermo-photovoltaic cell able of converting into electric power the practical totality of the radiant power emitted from an incandescent source and absorbed by the thermo-photovoltaic cell and returning to the incandescent source a large amount of the non absorbed radiation by means of a mirror. The invention also relates to a module comprising such a thermo-photovoltaic cell and a method of manufacturing such a thermo-photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SILBAT ENERGY STORAGE SOLUTIONS, S.L.
    Inventor: Antonio Ignacio Luque Lopez
  • Patent number: 11935980
    Abstract: A filtering panel includes a molding layer part; a pattern layer part having an incident surface through which light emitted from a light source and viewing light transmitted to an observer enter, and an accommodation surface which is the reverse surface of the incident surface, wherein the molding layer part is stacked on the incident surface so as to be adjacent thereto, and the pattern layer part adjusts the optical paths of the emitted light and the viewing light; and a filtering layer part formed on a lower incident surface of the pattern layer part having the incident surface of the viewing light that enters from a lower region below a horizontal reference line, wherein the reflectivity of the visible light in the viewing light incident on the lower region is made greater than that of an upper region above the reference line by means of mirror reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: POSCO CO., LTD, RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sung-Ju Tark, Kun-Hoon Baek, Jun-Hong Kim, Youn-Joung Choi, Ji-Sang Park
  • Patent number: 11936334
    Abstract: Solar tracker systems include an array of solar panels, a drive for rotating the array about a longitudinal axis, and a mounting assembly including a plurality of posts and a pivotable frame assembly supporting the array of solar panels on the posts. The frame assembly includes a first frame tube connected to the drive and extending therefrom in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and a second frame tube laterally offset from the first frame tube and extending parallel to the first frame tube. The first frame tube and second frame tube are sized to support at least one solar panel of the array of solar panels thereon. The frame assembly further includes a lateral beam attached to the first frame tube and the second frame tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: FTC Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamilarasan Mouniandy, Nagendra Srinivas Cherukupalli, Rajesh Shanmugasundaram, Baskaran Subbarayan