Patents Examined by Jayne L Mershon
  • 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
  • Patent number: 11929444
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a functional part, a photovoltaic module and a method of manufacturing photovoltaic modules. The functional part is configured to form a photovoltaic module with a cell string that includes a plurality of cells. Adjacent cells of share an overlapped region. The functional part has a first surface facing the cell string and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The functional part includes at least one groove extending from the first surface toward the second surface. A location of each groove corresponds to a location of at least one overlapped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignees: JINKO GREEN ENERGY (SHANGHAI) MANAGEMENT CO., LTD, ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD
    Inventors: Wusong Tao, Tao Xu, Luchuang Wang, Zhiqiu Guo, Hao Jin
  • Patent number: 11923801
    Abstract: Features for a solar generation system. The system includes a solar generator that may be installed on a shipping container. The solar generator includes one or more deployable rotating solar arrays. The rotating solar arrays may be deployed and stowed using actuators. The rotating solar arrays may be stowed for transport of the system on ships or to remote locations. The solar panels of the array are unexposed when stowed. A base frame with corner castings may attach to standard connections on cargo containers. The solar generators may be stacked on top of each other when stowed for transport. An actuation system may include linear actuators with two arms connecting at a moving pivot point that attach to a base frame and to the panels for deployment. Another actuation system may include end-mounted linear actuation arms with panel backside-mounted deployment arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Halcyon Energy Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Russell A. Prentice, David J. McMillan
  • Patent number: 11916510
    Abstract: A floating solar array having a grid of structural members with openings therebetween and supporting pontoons underneath. One or more floating solar PV modules are positioned in each of the openings and elastic connectors are used to isolate these floating solar PV modules from the movement of the structural member grid. A first end of each of the elastic connectors are connected to the structural members or to one of the grid supporting pontoons, while a second end of each elastic connector is connected either to a PV module supporting pontoon or to the PV module mounted thereon. Together, these elastic connectors allow for limited linear and torsional movement of each of the floating solar PV modules with respect to the structural member grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NORIA ENERGY
    Inventors: James Raiford, Jason King, Alex Mayer, Becca Suchower, Brian Atchley
  • Patent number: 11908964
    Abstract: A method is provided for fabricating and inspecting a photovoltaic assembly including a base, at least one photovoltaic module, and at least one adhesion layer based on a crosslinkable polymer material. The method includes depositing the at least one adhesion layer on the base; an assembly step; a partial crosslinking step; an electrical connection step; inspecting for mechanical and electrical functioning; in the event of correct functioning being detected, a crosslinking finalization step; in the event of incorrect functioning being detected removing at least one defective photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
    Inventors: Philippe Voarino, Romain Cariou
  • Patent number: 11909037
    Abstract: A positive electrode includes a composite material including a positive active material and a coating layer on a surface of the positive active material, wherein the coating layer includes a copolymer including a first repeating unit represented by Formula 1 below and a second repeating unit represented by Formula 2 below: wherein Ar1, R1 to R6, A, A1, Y?, m, and n are the same as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignees: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., SAMSUNG SDI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hongsoo Choi, Hyeokjo Gwon, Soyeon Kim, Hyunseok Kim, Wonseok Chang
  • Patent number: 11901856
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmission device applied to a photovoltaic tracking support. The photovoltaic tracking support comprises a stand column and a main beam. The main beam is rotatably supported on the stand column, and the main beam supports a photovoltaic assembly. The transmission device comprises a composite chain gear set and a composite chain wheel set. The composite chain gear set has multiple chain gears. The multiple chain gears are coaxially arranged and are arranged in a manner that the teeth are staggered. The composite chain wheel set has multiple chain wheels. The multiple chain wheels are coaxially arranged, and are in one-to-one correspondence to and meshing transmission with the multiple chain gears. One of the composite chain gear set and the composite chain wheel set is rotatably disposed on the stand column, and the other is connected to the main beam. The present invention also provides a photovoltaic tracking support comprising the transmission device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: Mokun Renewable Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiabao Guo, Xiao Liu
  • Patent number: 11901857
    Abstract: Solar array (1) comprising solar modules (3) distributed in rows (10), each solar module comprising solar collector (5) carried by a single-axis solar tracker (4), a reference solar power plant (2) comprising a central reference solar module and at least one secondary reference solar module, and a piloting unit (7) adapted for: piloting the angular orientation of the central reference module according to a central reference orientation setpoint corresponding to an initial orientation setpoint, piloting the orientation of each secondary reference module according to a secondary reference orientation setpoint corresponding to the initial orientation setpoint shifted by a predefined offset angle; receiving an energy production value from each reference module; piloting the orientation of the modules, except for the reference modules, by applying the reference orientation setpoint associated to the reference module having the highest production value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Madyan Michotte De Welle, Jérôme Arliaud
  • Patent number: 11894802
    Abstract: A solar module racking system including a frame. The frame includes pre-wired receptacles for rapid assembly of solar modules. The frame receives and mechanically supports each solar module. The frame arranges the solar modules in a first planar direction, in a second planar direction, and in a vertical direction that is normal to the first and second planar directions. Each pre-wired receptacles individually and electrically connect each of the solar modules after insertion of that module into the frame. The solar module racking system provides a 2 by 1 by 1 configuration or a 1 by 2 by 1 configuration for the plurality of solar modules corresponding to the first planar direction, the second planar direction, and the vertical direction. A first module and a second module are arranged in the first planar direction or the second planar direction, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: CONTI INNOVATION CENTER, LLC
    Inventors: Kurt G. Conti, Cullin J. Wible
  • Patent number: 11888437
    Abstract: Disclosed are a photovoltaic frame and a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic frame includes a top support portion, a bottom support portion, a transverse edge portion, a first side edge portion and a second side edge portion. The top support portion, the transverse edge portion and the second side edge portion enclose a holding slot, and the top support portion has a bearing surface facing the holding slot. The photovoltaic frame alternatively includes a third side edge portion configured to connect the top support portion and the bottom support portion. The photovoltaic frame further includes a weather-resistant protective layer, covering a part of outer surfaces, that are in contact with external environment, among the top support portion, the bottom support portion, the first side edge portion, the second side edge portion, the transverse edge portion, and the third side edge portion if included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignees: JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD., ZHEJIANG JINKO SOLAR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xinxin Gong, Zhiqiu Guo, Junhui Liu, Zehui Zhang
  • Patent number: 11884424
    Abstract: A panel deployment apparatus includes a guide provided on a first hinge axis of a main hinge; a guide provided on a second hinge axis of a side hinge; and a deployment stop arm that stops deployment of a second side panel by sequential engagement with the guide and the guide, the deployment stop arm being fixed to the second side panel, wherein the second main panel is deployed in a state of the deployment stop arm being engaged with the guide and, when the deployment stop arm is disengaged from the guide and then engaged with the guide, the first side panel is deployed in a state of the deployment stop arm being engaged with the guide and, when the deployment stop arm is disengaged from the guide, the second side panel is deployed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taichi Hirose, Naoyuki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 11863120
    Abstract: A solar array may include a first rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a first substrate. The solar array may further include a second rigid composite solar panel including solar cells secured to a second substrate. The solar array may also include solar panel modules including solar cells secured to a flexible sheet of material. The solar panel modules may be coupled between the first composite solar panel and the second composite solar panel. The solar array may be configured to be retained in a stowed arrangement with the solar panel modules between the first rigid composite solar panel and the second rigid composite solar panel. The solar array further configured to be extended with an extendable arm until each of the first rigid composite solar panel, the second rigid composite solar panel and the solar panel modules are arranged in a substantially straight line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael I. Eskenazi, Michael Edward McEachen, Christopher Peterson
  • Patent number: 11856806
    Abstract: There is a disubstituted diaryloxybenzoheterodiazole compound having general formula (I): This disubstituted diaryloxybenzoheterodiazole compound having general formula (I) may advantageously be used as a spectrum converter in luminescent solar concentrators (“Luminescent Solar Concentrators”—LSCs) which, in turn, are capable of improving the performance of photovoltaic devices (or solar devices) selected, for example, from photovoltaic cells (or solar cells), photovoltaic modules (or solar modules), on either a rigid or flexible support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Abbondanza, Antonio Alfonso Proto, Giuliana Schimperna
  • Patent number: 11848642
    Abstract: There is provided a solar photovoltaic panel fog/mist cooling system which comprises at least one solar photovoltaic panel, and at least one nozzle arranged at a back side of the at least one solar photovoltaic panel and configured to generate a fog/mist applied onto a back side of the at least one solar photovoltaic panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH
    Inventors: Zafar Said, Ahmed Amine Hachicha
  • Patent number: 11831053
    Abstract: Various designs and configurations of and methods of operating fuel cell units, fuel cell systems and combined heat and power systems are provided that permit efficient thermal management of such units and systems to improve their operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: WATT Fuel Cell Corp.
    Inventors: Caine Finnerty, Paul DeWald
  • Patent number: 11824485
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photovoltaic roof covering comprising a base tile having an anchor portion to anchor the base tile to part of a roof in use and wherein a spacer is provided to support a portion of another overlaid base tile in use by spacing the overlaid tile from the photovoltaic panel. Also included is a roof covering with a base tile having a first planar upper face and a second opposing lower face. The base tile comprises an anchor portion located towards one end of the second lower face of the base tile and is configured to anchor the base tile to part of a roof structure in use. A connecting portion is configured to connect the base tile to an adjacent base tile in use. The roof covering further comprises a rectilinear cover panel having upper and lower opposing faces and a width that is smaller relative to a width of the first planar upper face of the base tile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Inventors: Stewart William Brown, Antonio Lanzoni