Patents Examined by Kourtney S Carlson
-
Patent number: 9530923Abstract: Diffusion regions of a solar cell are formed using a blanket layer of film that is doped with dopants of a first conductivity type. Dopants of a second conductivity type are implanted in select regions of the blanket layer of film to form dopant source regions of the second conductivity type. Diffusion regions of the solar cell are formed by diffusing dopants of the first conductivity type and dopants of the second conductivity type from the blanket layer of film into an underlying silicon material. The blanket layer of film may be a P-type dopant source layer doped with boron, with phosphorus being implanted in select regions of the P-type dopant source layer to form N-type dopant source regions in the P-type dopant source layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: December 27, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Steven E. Molesa, Timothy D. Dennis, Sheng Sun, Richard Sewell
-
Patent number: 9490379Abstract: A thin film solar cell comprises a substrate, an inorganic layer disposed on the substrate and having a plurality of unevenness, a first electrode disposed on the inorganic layer and having a plurality of second unevenness, an absorbing layer disposed on the first electrode, and a second electrode disposed on the absorbing layer.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2010Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Assignee: LG DISPLAY CO., LTD.Inventors: Mincheol Kim, Haeyeol Kim, Seongkee Park, Jungshik Lim, Miji Lee
-
Patent number: 9484476Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency in a photoelectric conversion device. The photoelectric conversion device according to the present invention uses a polycrystalline semiconductor layer including a plurality of semiconductor particles coupled together as a light-absorbing layer, each of the semiconductor particles including a group I-III-VI compound, each of the semiconductor particles having a higher composition ratio PI of a group I-B element to a group III-B element in a surface portion thereof than that in a central portion thereof.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2012Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATIONInventors: Shintaro Kubo, Michimasa Kikuchi, Hideaki Asao, Shinnosuke Ushio
-
Patent number: 9431559Abstract: A solar cell module structure is disclosed, which at least comprises a frame and a solar cell. The frame is composed of four sidebars that are mounted respectively at four sides of the solar cell. Each of the two opposite ends of each sidebar is formed with a 45-degree angle cut while each sidebar is composed of a top tongue plate, a bottom tongue plate, and a junction plate in a manner that the top tongue plate is arranged parallel to or near parallel to the bottom tongue plate while allowing the junction plate to connected and disposed perpendicular to the top and bottom tongue plates in respective. In addition, the solar cell is arranged at a position enclosed between the junction plate and the top and bottom tongue plates while being disposed at a distance respectively from the three plates.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2013Date of Patent: August 30, 2016Assignee: HULK ENERGY TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Ting-Hui Huang, Chien-Chung Wu
-
Patent number: 9410917Abstract: A biosensor (102) for determining the presence or amount of a substance in a sample and methods of use of the biosensor (102) are provided. The biosensor (102) for receiving a user sample to be analyzed includes a mixture for electrochemical reaction with an analyte. The mixture includes an enzyme, a mediator and an oxidizable species as an internal reference.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2014Date of Patent: August 9, 2016Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AGInventors: Greg P. Beer, Huan-Ping Wu, Kin-Fai Yip
-
Patent number: 9293635Abstract: The present invention relates to cost effective production methods of high efficiency silicon based back-contacted back-junction solar panels and solar panels thereof having a multiplicity of alternating rectangular emitter- and base regions on the back-side of each cell, each with rectangular metallic electric finger conductor above and running in parallel with the corresponding emitter- and base region, a first insulation layer in-between the wafer and finger conductors, and a second insulation layer in between the finger conductors and cell interconnections.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2012Date of Patent: March 22, 2016Assignee: REC SOLAR PTE. LTD.Inventors: Richard Hamilton Sewell, Andreas Bentzen, Lawrence Frederick Schloss, Young Seen Lee, Hiroaki Hayashigatani, Toshio Itoh, Alan Francis Lyon, Roger Thompson, Nemia Grubisich
-
Patent number: 9157111Abstract: A method of making an electrochemical sensor strip that includes: depositing a first electrode on a base; depositing a second electrode on the base; applying a first layer onto the first electrode; and applying a second layer onto the second electrode. The first layer includes an oxidoreductase and a mediator. The second layer includes a soluble redox species.Type: GrantFiled: February 21, 2014Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLCInventors: Huan-Ping Wu, Greg P. Beer, Christina Blaschke
-
Patent number: 9136126Abstract: A surface region of a semiconductor material on a surface of a semiconductor device is doped during its manufacture, by coating the surface region of the semiconductor material with a dielectric material surface layer and locally heating the surface of the semiconductor material in an area to be doped to locally melt the semiconductor material with the melting being performed in the presence of a dopant source. The heating is performed in a controlled manner such that a region of the surface of the semiconductor material in the area to be doped is maintained in a molten state without refreezing for a period of time greater than one microsecond and the dopant from the dopant source is absorbed into the molten semiconductor. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor material structure in which a junction is formed and may incorporate a multi-layer anti-reflection coating.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2010Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: NewSouth Innovations Pty LimitedInventors: Alison Maree Wenham, Ziv Hameiri, Ji Jing Jia, Ly Mai, Shi Zhengrong, Budi Tjahjono, Stuart Ross Wenham
-
Patent number: 9096430Abstract: The present invention includes methods, compositions and kits for analyzing a chemical analyte having an electrochemical cell connected to a measuring apparatus. The electrochemical cell contains a solution having one or more nanoparticles, one or more chemical analytes, an indicator. In addition, the electrochemical cell contains one or more electrodes in communication with the solution. One or more electrocatalytic properties are generated by the interaction of the one or more nanoparticles and the liquid sample and measured at the one or more electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: BOARD OF REGENTS, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SYSTEMInventors: Xiaoyin Xiao, Allen J. Bard, Fu-Ren F. Fan
-
Patent number: 9097661Abstract: This disclosure relates to sulfur sensors that utilize sensing materials that can be used to detect a wide range of concentrations including ultra low concentrations of sulfur in liquids, such as below even 15 ppm. The sulfur sensors comprise a sensing electrode having a material that contributes an electronic output to the analysis and a material that contributes an ionic output to the analysis.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2011Date of Patent: August 4, 2015Assignee: Caterpillar, Inc.Inventors: Douglas A. Rebinsky, Xiaodong Liu, Svetlana M. Zemskova
-
Patent number: 9091646Abstract: A NOx sensor 100 includes a sensor device 110 and a heater 70 capable of heating the sensor device 110. The sensor device 110 includes an inner pump electrode 22 and an outer pump electrode 23 disposed respectively on the inner side and the outer side of a solid electrolyte layer 6. The sensor device 110 detects the concentration of NOx by introducing a gas to be measured into a first inner vacancy 20, pumping out oxygen in the gas to be measured from the inner pump electrode 22 to the outer pump electrode 23, introducing the gas to be measured, from which the oxygen has been pumped out, into a second inner vacancy 40, reducing the NOx in the gas to be measured, to thereby generate oxygen, and detecting the generated oxygen. A characteristic stabilizing layer 24 covers the outer pump electrode 23 and is made of a porous body with a thickness of 10 to 200 ?m and a thickness variation of 20% or less.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Sumiko Horisaka, Hiroki Fujita, Mika Murakami, Takashi Ito
-
Patent number: 9063076Abstract: A biosensor strip having a low profile for reducing the volume of liquid sample needed to perform an assay. In one embodiment, the biosensor strip includes an electrode support; an electrode arrangement on the electrode support; a cover; a sample chamber; and an incompressible element placed between the cover and the electrode support, the incompressible element providing an opening in at least one side or in the distal end of the sample chamber to provide at least one vent in the sample chamber. In another embodiment, the biosensor strip has an electrode support; an electrode arrangement on the electrode support; a cover; and a sample chamber, the cover having a plurality of openings formed therein, at least one of the openings in register with the sample chamber. The invention further includes methods for preparing such a biosensor strips in a continuous manner.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2014Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.Inventors: Adrian Petyt, Matthew Bates, Pamela Reid, Andrew J. Bull, Jeff Garner
-
Patent number: 9057690Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor testing device that includes a test signal generator that generates a multiplexed signal that includes a first test signal that includes alternating current (AC) and is free from a direct current (DC) component and a second signal that includes a DC bias voltage, an electrochemical cell that includes a counter electrode, a sensing electrode, and an electrolyte, the counter electrode and the sensing electrode being in electrical communication with the electrolyte and each other, the counter electrode being in electrical communication with the signal generator to receive the multiplexed signal generated by the signal generator, and a processor that receives an AC signal from the sensing electrode and that analyzes the AC signal.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Sensor Electronics CorporationInventor: Patrick G. Smith
-
Patent number: 9057688Abstract: A detection device for detecting a test substance which is capable of detecting a test substance and a sample substance with high sensitivity, an electrode substrate, a working electrode, an inspection tip, a method of detecting a test substance, and a method of detecting a sample substance are provided in which a reflective part (reflective layer) is disposed on the working electrode so as to reflect excitation light emitted from a light source and passing through the working electrode toward the working electrode.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2011Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: SYSMEX CORPORATIONInventors: Nobuyasu Hori, Hiroya Kirimura
-
Patent number: 9039879Abstract: In a gas sensor sensing a specific gas component contained in gas to be measured, oxygen ion conductive solid electrolyte is used in a sensing element for sensing the specific gas component. A terminal unit is used, which comprises a pair of insulators, each having an inner side surface, disposed to pinch and hold the base end portion of the sensing element on the pair of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element. The terminal unit comprises two pairs of metal terminals and a spring member. The metal terminals electrically contact electrode pads of the sensing element, pair by pair, respectively, and are disposed on the inner side surfaces of the insulators. The spring members press the pair of insulators at one or more positions of electrode-mounted surfaces of the sensing element in a width direction so that the insulators are pressed to be opposed to each other.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2008Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: DENSO CORPORATIONInventor: Keiji Kanao
-
Patent number: 9035171Abstract: The present invention provides a dye-sensitized solar cell which enhances an area of a photo electrode by arranging metal wires on a surface of a transparent substrate or a transparent conductive layer without degrading a transparency of the solar cell, allowing the metal wires to act as a collector electrode exclusively or together with a metal electrode.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Won Jung Kim, Sang Hak Kim, Mi Yeon Song, Yong Jun Jang, Yong-Gu Kim, In Woo Song, Ji Yong Lee, Ki Chun Lee
-
Patent number: 9035166Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for thermal-to-electric conversion involving relatively hot and cold juxtaposed surfaces separated by a small vacuum gap wherein the cold surface provides an array of single charge carrier converter elements along the surface and the hot surface transfers excitation energy to the opposing cold surface across the gap through Coulomb electrostatic coupling interaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2010Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: MTPV Power CorporationInventors: Peter L. Hagelstein, Dennis M. Wu
-
Patent number: 9028671Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for the accurate determination of hydrogen content in fluid media at elevated temperatures. The apparatus consists of a proton conducting solid electrolyte in contact with an internal metal/hydrogen reference standard, in which the electrolyte and the reference material are in a chemically stable contact. The electrical signal generated is a function of the hydrogen concentration on the measuring side.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2011Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Cambridge Enterprise LimitedInventors: Derek John Fray, Carsten Schwandt
-
Patent number: 8975510Abstract: A rear-contact solar cell interconnect is disclosed. The rear-contact solar cell interconnect includes a first conductive foil with an opening and a second conductive foil. The first conductive foil is arranged to be electrically connected to a first polarity contact of a solar cell. The second conductive foil is arranged to be electrically connected to a second polarity contact of the solar cell through the opening of the first conductive foil. The solar cell includes a first surface arranged to receive solar irradiation and a second surface substantially opposite the first surface. The first polarity contact and the second polarity contact are provided on the second surface of the solar cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: CelLink CorporationInventor: Kevin Michael Coakley
-
Patent number: 8962982Abstract: A dye-sensitized solar cell of the present invention including: an electrode having, on one surface, a semiconductor layer with a sensitizing dye supported thereon, a counter electrode positioned opposing the semiconductor layer, and a charge transport layer disposed between the electrode and the counter electrode, wherein at least one of the electrode and the counter electrode is a transparent conductive film prepared by laminating an ITO film and an FTO film, and part or all of the crystal structure of the surface of the FTO film is orthorhombic.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2009Date of Patent: February 24, 2015Assignee: Nippon Soda Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takashi Sekiguchi, Shigeo Yamada, Tatsuya Ooashi, Satoko Kambe