Patents Examined by Jeffrey T. Barton
  • Patent number: 8551320
    Abstract: Methods for calculating an analyte concentration of a sample are provided. In one exemplary embodiment the method includes steps that are directed toward accounting for inaccuracies that occur as a result of temperature variations in a sample, a meter, or the surrounding environment. In another exemplary embodiment the method includes steps that are directed toward determining whether an adequate sample is provided in a meter because insufficient samples can result in inaccuracies. The methods that are provided can be incorporated into a variety of mechanisms, but they are primarily directed toward glucose meters for blood samples and toward meters for controls solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: LifeScan, Inc.
    Inventors: Alastair M. Hodges, Ronald C. Chatelier
  • Patent number: 8552283
    Abstract: In a power electronics system of a next generation vehicle, a power module is provided including a thermoelectric device which is provided in a thermally conductive path between a power device and a cooling plate such that the thermoelectric device creates useful electric power from the waste heat of the power device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ercan Mehmet Dede, Brian Joseph Robert
  • Patent number: 8536443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a back sheet for solar cell and a method of manufacturing the same. The back sheet for solar cell comprises a substrate and a fluoropolymer layer, wherein the components by weight of the fluoropolymer layer are as follows: 25˜45 parts of fluororesin; 1.5˜3 parts of modified resin; 0.5˜3 parts of polymeric filler; 0.1˜1 parts of inorganic filler; and 50˜70 parts of solvent. The back sheet for solar cell provided by the present invention has low cost and excellent performances, such as high peeling strength, good waterproof performance, and good weathering resistance. The method of manufacturing the back sheet for solar cell provided by the present invention is simple in process, and thus can achieve continuous industrial production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignees: China Lucky Film Group Corporation, Lucky Film Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gang Li, Xingming Li, Tianren Liu, Xuejian Zhang, Jing Zou
  • Patent number: 8525019
    Abstract: A method for forming a reduced conductive area in transparent conductive. The method includes providing a transparent, electrically conductive, chemically reducible material. A reducing atmosphere is provided and concentrated electromagnetic energy from an energy source is directed toward a portion of the transparent, electrically conductive, chemically reducible material to form a reduced conductive area. The reduced conductive area has greater electrical conductivity than the transparent, electrically conductive, chemically reducible material. A thin film article and photovoltaic module are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Primestar Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Mack Frey, Scott Daniel Feldman-Peabody
  • Patent number: 8513520
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dye-sensitized photovoltaic device in which a metal complex dye represented by Formula (1), or a salt thereof, is carried on a thin film of oxide semiconductor micrograins disposed on a substrate. (In Formula (1), m1 represents an integer from 1 to 2 and n1 represents an integer from 1 to 3. X1 represents an oxygen atom or sulfur atom. Y1 and Y2 each independently represent a thiocyanate group (—SCN) or isothiocyanate group (—NCS). M1 and M2 represent hydrogen atoms. R1 and R2 represent hydrogen atoms. R3 and R4 each independently represent a straight-chain alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbons. Further, when m1 is 2 and there are multiple of each of R3 and R4, each of R3 and R4 may be the same as or different from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Kayaku Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichiro Shigaki, Masayoshi Kaneko, Teruhisa Inoue
  • Patent number: 8507787
    Abstract: A solar cell includes a base layer; an emitter layer disposed on one side of the base layer; a first electrode in electrical communication with the base layer; and a second electrode in electrical communication with the emitter layer, wherein the base layer has a higher doping concentration with increasing distance from the interface between the base layer and the emitter layer, and the base layer has a doping concentration change slope that is further decreased with increasing distance from the interface between the base layer and the emitter layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myoung Gyun Suh
  • Patent number: 8471142
    Abstract: A solar energy concentrating system with high light collection efficiency includes a light concentrating unit, a light homogenizing unit and photovoltaic modules. The light concentrating unit includes a parabolic reflector and an ellipsoidal reflector which are coaxial and confocal. The light homogenizing unit includes an infrared filter and a hollow spherical reflector with a hole in its surface. When the system is under illumination, light is concentrated by the light concentrating unit through the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reflected by the inner surface of the spherical reflector onto the photovoltaic modules. The infrared filter covers the hole in the spherical reflector surface and reduces the heat in the photovoltaic modules under concentrated light. The combination of the parabolic reflector and the ellipsoidal reflector obtain highly concentrated light, and the hollow spherical reflector ensures light uniformity on the photovoltaic modules and light utilization efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Pu Ni Tai Yang Neng (Hangzhou) Co., Limited
    Inventor: Pingrong Yu
  • Patent number: 8426721
    Abstract: A photovoltaic receiver comprising an elongated structure bearing a plurality of photovoltaic cells. Said structure carries a plurality of finned dissipators, mounted on which are said photovoltaic cells, and ventilating means, designed to convey a flow of cooling air towards said dissipators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Savio S.p.A.
    Inventors: Aimone Balbo Di Vinadio, Mario Palazzetti
  • Patent number: 8404966
    Abstract: A solar cell module (1a) is constituted such that a solar cell panel (9) is held using a main frame member (10) that holds one side of the solar cell panel (9) and a sub-frame member (20) that holds an adjoining side that adjoins this one side, the main frame member (10) is constituted from a solar cell panel main holding portion (11), a main wall portion (12), and a main bottom piece (16), the sub-frame member (20) is constituted from a solar cell panel sub-holding portion (21), a sub-wall portion (22), and a sub-bottom piece (26), the sub-bottom piece (26) of the sub-frame member (20) is positioned above the main bottom piece (16) of the main frame member (10), the lower surface near the side end of this sub-bottom piece (26) abuts against the upper surface near the side end of the main bottom piece (16), and a water barrier piece (28) bent upward is formed at the inner side edge of this sub-bottom piece (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Moritaka Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8404968
    Abstract: A photovoltaic power generating system of the present invention includes a solar cell module 1, an installation platform 2 for holding a pair of ends of the solar cell module 1, and at least one supporting member 3 disposed on a side of a non-light-receiving surface 1B of the solar cell module 1, wherein the supporting member 3 is disposed at such a distance from the non-light-receiving surface 1B of the solar cell module 1 that the supporting member 3 can abut against the non-light-receiving surface 1B by deformation of the solar cell module 1. A deforming amount of the solar cell module 1 is increased in accordance with an external force applied to the solar cell module 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuji Kanbara, Hiroaki Hirata, Hideaki Fukui, Kenichiro Sumida
  • Patent number: 8399759
    Abstract: A solar generator apparatus includes a solar generator module, a middle column, first and second winding devices and first and second cables. The generator module has first to fourth corner portions. The middle column has a first end mounted on a fixed structure, and a second end pivotally connected to a middle portion of a bottom of the generator module, and rotatably supports the generator module. The first and second winding devices are attached to the middle column. The first cable has a first end connected to the first corner portion and a second end connected to the third corner portion, and is wound around the first winding device. The second cable has a first end connected to the second corner portion, and a second end connected to the fourth corner portion, and is wound around the second winding device. An angle of the generator module is adjusted by rotating one or both of the first and second winding devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Topper Sun Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chia Ching Luo
  • Patent number: 8366905
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for detecting ionic materials includes a sensing electrode which contacts a liquid sample and detects a sensing voltage corresponding to a surface potential which is changed by a concentration of ionic materials in the liquid sample, a first switching transistor having a first terminal connected to the sensing electrode and a second terminal connected to a first node, a second switching transistor having a first terminal connected to a reset voltage and a second terminal connected to the first node, and a sensing transistor having a gate connected to the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Kyu-tae Yoo, Seong-jin Kim, Eui-sik Yoon
  • Patent number: 8361306
    Abstract: There is provided a control apparatus for a gas sensor, which has a sensor element equipped with first and second oxygen pumping cells. The sensor control apparatus is configured to drive the first oxygen pumping cell to adjust the oxygen concentration of gas under measurement, drive the second oxygen pumping cell to produce a flow of electric current according to the amount of oxygen pumped out of the oxygen concentration adjusted gas by the second oxygen pumping cell, perform specific drive control to control the amount of oxygen pumped by the second oxygen pumping cell to a predetermined level after startup of the sensor element and before the application of the drive voltage between the electrodes of the second oxygen pumping cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Teramoto, Hirotaka Onogi, Koji Shiotani, Kenji Kato, Takashi Kawai
  • Patent number: 8361299
    Abstract: The invention provides an electrophoresis cassette, methods for making the electrophoresis cassette, and method of fractionating analytes from a sample based upon electrophoretic mobility in a single application of the sample to an electrophoretic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sage Science, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Grosvenor Sabin, Todd J Barbera, Paul Chandler Sabin, T. Christian Boles
  • Patent number: 8357275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a novel sensor for the estimation of total cholesterol in human blood serum using molecular imprint of cholesterol. Human blood serum contains 150-250 mg/dl cholesterol. The present invention provides a sensor device and a process for the fabrication of ISFET (Ion Selective Field Effect Transister) coated with molecular imprint of cholesterol on the SiO2+Si3N4 dielectric gate of the said electrode. The molecular imprint of cholesterol (MIPC) anchored in to a silica matrix sensing material is identified as a sensing material which has specific selectivity towards the cholesterol in presence of other organic constituents in human blood serum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Sunkam Vanaja, Mandapati Jayalakshmi, Sunkara Sakunthala Madhavendra, Mandapati Mohan Rao, Mannepalli Lakshmi Kantam, Isukapally Margaret, Vinod Kumar Khanna, Shamim Ahmad, Yogendra Kumar Jain, Chandra Sekhar
  • Patent number: 8343322
    Abstract: A ceramic gas sensor for measuring a gas component in a gas mixture, which includes a sensor element, which has at least one first electrode exposed to the gas mixture to be determined, and at least one further electrode. Only one shared electrical contact is provided for the first electrode and for the additional electrode, an electrical resistor, which is situated inside the gas sensor, being preconnected to the first electrode and/or the additional electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Wahl, Bernd Schumann, Sabine Thiemann-Handler, Berndt Cramer, Helge Schichlein
  • Patent number: 8329010
    Abstract: The chip includes electrodes on a substrate. The electrodes include a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode. The reference electrode is constructed so as to not have an intrinsic potential. A self-assembly monolayer is positioned on the reference electrode. The self-assembly monolayer includes spacers and active probes. The active probes are configured to have a higher affinity for a capture probe than the spacers have for the capture probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kotura, Inc.
    Inventor: Jen-Jr Gau
  • Patent number: 8330037
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic module body and frames mounted to a periphery thereof. The frame includes a main body having a hollow structure and a fit-engagement portion located above the main body and fittingly receiving the periphery of the photovoltaic module body. The main body of the frame is formed with a mounting portion into which a press-insertion member is press-inserted and which has a great outside wall thickness and a small inside wall thickness in section. The frames are fixed to each other by press-inserting the press-insertion member into the mounting portions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric, Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Furukawa
  • Patent number: 8329015
    Abstract: A process and a device for retaining polarizable target-particles from a fluid suspension of polarizable target-particles comprising the steps of pumping that suspension into a vertical or inclined channel and applying an alternating electric field inducing a negative dielectrophoretic force on the target-particles, the force being sufficient to push them a distance of at least or about 25 m from the surface of an electrode-bearing wall, thereby creating an upward-moving clarified fluid zone in the vicinity of that wall and a downward-moving target-particle containing fluid zone at a distance from that wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Ares Trading S.A.
    Inventors: Thierry Chappuis, Damien Voisard
  • Patent number: 8323466
    Abstract: A microfluidic-based lab-on-a-test card is described. The test card is used with a point-of-care (POC) analyzer. The test card is designed to receive a sample and then, with the use of the POC analyzer, quantify or count a particular substance in the sample. The test card may be comprised of multiple layers. In one embodiment, the test card includes a primary separation chamber with a filtration surface, a trapping channel, and a particle detector. The test card may also include a nanowire sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: NanoIVD, Inc.
    Inventors: Sunnie Park Kim, Young Shik Shin, Changgeng Liu, Rory Kelly, Becky Chan