Patents Examined by Susan D Leong
  • Shingled array solar cells and method of manufacturing solar modules including the same
    Patent number: 9935222
    Abstract: A solar cell is provided including a substrate having a front and back side, a metallization pattern deposited on the front side, the metallization pattern including a plurality of front side bus bars each including fingers extending therefrom, and a plurality of back side bus bars deposited on the back side. On the front side, one front side bus bar is formed along an edge of the front side of the substrate, and a remainder of the front side bus bars are unequally spaced across the substrate. On the back side of the substrate, only one back side bus bar is formed along an edge of the back side of the substrate, and a remainder of the back side bus bars are unequally spaced across the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Flex Ltd.
    Inventors: Lisong Zhou, Huaming Zhou
  • Organic compound for electroluminescence device
    Patent number: 9911922
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an organic compound is represented by the following formula(1), the organic EL device employing the organic compound as fluorescent emitting guest shown deep blue color(CIEy=0.09˜0.12)and display good performance. wherein A, m and R1 to R3 are the same definition as described in the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventors: Feng-Wen Yen, Cheng-Hao Chang
  • Aquatic metal ion harvesting device and system
    Patent number: 9903032
    Abstract: The present invention is a device and system for recovering metal ions from bodies of water. The device comprises two electrode cylinders, a keel, at least two connectors, a buoyant housing and a power supply. The first electrode cylinder comprises a top, a bottom, an exterior surface, a longitudinal axis and a means for connecting to a power supply. The second electrode cylinder is affixed within the first electrode cylinder by a bracket and has a means for connecting to a power supply. The keel is affixed to the bottom of the exterior surface along the longitudinal axis of the first electrode cylinder. There are least two connectors affixed to the top along the longitudinal axis of the first electrode cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Adrian Pelkus
  • Device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy
    Patent number: 9905745
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for converting thermal energy to electrical energy, comprising at least one thermoelectric module (19) which has an outer surface having a hot side (20) for contacting a heat source and having a cold side (22) for contacting a heat sink, wherein the hot side of the thermoelectric module is thermally conductively connected to a heat source, in particular an exhaust channel (11) of a combustion engine. The device further comprises a cooling channel (25) through which a cooling fluid can flow and which is thermally conductively connected to the cold side of the thermoelectric module. The cooling channel has at least one opening to the cold side of the thermoelectric module and is sealed in a fluid-tight manner around the opening with respect to the hot side of the thermoelectric module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: FRIEDRICH BOYSEN GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Roland Gauss, Stefan Hoffmann, Karl Stockinger
  • Photovoltaic cells with electrodes adapted to house conductive paste
    Patent number: 9899546
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides an electrode grid positioned at least on a first surface of a photovoltaic structure. The electrode grid can include a number of finger lines and an edge busbar positioned at an edge of the photovoltaic structure. The edge busbar can include one or more paste-alignment structures configured to facilitate confinement of conductive paste used for bonding the edge busbar to an opposite edge busbar of an adjacent photovoltaic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventor: Anand J. Reddy
  • Photovoltaic system with improved AC connections and method of making same
    Patent number: 9893678
    Abstract: An alternating current (AC) harness for a photovoltaic (PV) system includes a wire assembly having a first end and a second end, the wire assembly having a plurality of lead wires, and at least one AC connection module positioned at a location along a length of the wire assembly between the first end and the second end. Further, the at least one AC connection module includes a first connection terminal electrically coupled to the plurality of lead wires of the wire assembly and constructed to electrically couple the wire assembly with an output of a first PV module of the PV system. The at least one AC connection module also includes a second connection terminal electrically coupled to the plurality of lead wires of the wire assembly and constructed to electrically couple the wire assembly with an output of a second PV module of the PV system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philip Michael Cioffi, Maja Harfman Todorovic, Michael Scott Herzog, Charles Steven Korman, Donald M. Doherty, Neil Anthony Johnson
  • Systems and methods for ion measurements
    Patent number: 9891187
    Abstract: Systems that can measure small changes in ion concentrations and method of manufacturing and using those systems. The system includes a substrate, a plurality of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, each multi-walled carbon nanotube from the plurality of multi-walled carbon nanotubes having two ends and a surface extending between the two ends, one of the two ends being disposed on and operatively attached to the substrate, the other of the two ends not being disposed on the substrate, a number of organic molecules; each organic molecule bound to one multi-walled carbon nanotube, each organic molecule also having an end group with affinity for a predetermined ion(s), and a substantially nonconducting polymer deposited on a portion of each multiwalled carbon nanotube, the portion substantially not including locations on each multiwalled carbon nanotube at which each organic molecule is chelated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: POLESTAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Ranganathan Shashidhar, Yufeng Ma, James A. Kane
  • Cationic polymer based wired enzyme formulations for use in analyte sensors
    Patent number: 9885073
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include analyte-responsive compositions and electrochemical analyte sensors having a sensing layer that includes an analyte-responsive enzyme and a cationic polymer. Also provided are systems and methods of making the sensors and using the electrochemical analyte sensors in analyte monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Abbott Diabetes Care Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin J. Feldman, Tianmei Ouyang, Zenghe Liu
  • Tunneling-junction solar cell with copper grid for concentrated photovoltaic application
    Patent number: 9887306
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a photovoltaic module. The photovoltaic module includes an optical concentrator and a tunneling-junction solar cell. The tunneling-junction solar cell includes a base layer, a quantum-tunneling-barrier (QTB) layer situated above the base layer, an emitter layer, a front-side electrode, and a back-side electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Tesla, Inc.
    Inventors: Jianming Fu, Zheng Xu, Jiunn Benjamin Heng, Chentao Yu
  • Thermoelectric generator module and method for manufacturing the same
    Patent number: 9876156
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric generator module including a set of module unit bodies disposed between a hot source and a cold source to serve as fundamental structures for performing thermoelectric power generation and a method of manufacturing the thermoelectric generator module. Each of the module unit bodies comprises: a first electrodes disposed at one of the hot source and the cold source; a second electrode disposed at the other of the hot source and the cold source so as to be spaced apart from the first electrodes; a first nanowire configured to interconnect the first electrode and the second electrode and composed of an n-type or p-type semiconductor; and a second nanowire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Sang Sig Kim, Kyoung Ah Cho, Jin Yong Choi
  • Metallization of solar cells using metal foils
    Patent number: 9865753
    Abstract: A solar cell structure includes P-type and N-type doped regions. A dielectric spacer is formed on a surface of the solar cell structure. A metal layer is formed on the dielectric spacer and on the surface of the solar cell structure that is exposed by the dielectric spacer. A metal foil is placed on the metal layer. A laser beam is used to weld the metal foil to the metal layer. A laser beam is also used to pattern the metal foil. The laser beam ablates portions of the metal foil and the metal layer that are over the dielectric spacer. The laser ablation of the metal foil cuts the metal foil into separate P-type and N-type metal fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Pass
  • Electrochemical detection system and method of operation
    Patent number: 9863907
    Abstract: An electrochemical detection system for determining a concentration of a gas in exhaust gases of a combustion process. The system includes an electrolyte, a reference electrode, and a sense electrode that cooperate to form an electrochemical sensor that exposes both the reference electrode and the sense electrode to the exhaust gases. The electrochemical sensor is configured to output a sensor signal indicative of a species concentration of a species gas in the exhaust gases. The sensor signal exhibits a transient error in response to a change in a reference concentration of a reference gas in the exhaust gases. The processor is configured to determine the species concentration based on the sensor signal, and to determine an estimate of the transient error based on an operating condition of the combustion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Da Yu Wang, David M. Racine, Sheng Yao
  • Compact microelectronic integrated gas sensor
    Patent number: 9851328
    Abstract: A compact microelectronic gas sensor module includes electrical contacts formed in such a way that they do not consume real estate on an integrated circuit chip. Using such a design, the package can be miniaturized further. The gas sensor is packaged together with a custom-designed Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that provides circuitry for processing sensor signals to identify gas species within a sample under test. In one example, the output signal strength of the sensor is enhanced by providing an additional metal surface area in the form of pillars exposed to an electrolytic gas sensing compound, while reducing the overall package size. In some examples, bottom side contacts are formed on the underside of the substrate on which the gas sensor is formed. Sensor electrodes may be electrically coupled to the ASIC directly, or indirectly by vias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Jerome Teysseyre, Yonggang Jin, Suman Cherian
  • Field-effect localized emitter photovoltaic device
    Patent number: 9847442
    Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are provided with field-effect inversion/accumulation layers as emitter layers induced by work-function differences between gate conductor layers and substrates thereof. Localized contact regions are in electrical communication with the gate conductors of such structures for repelling minority carriers. Such localized contact regions may include doped crystalline or polycrystalline silicon regions between the gate conductor and silicon absorption layers. Fabrication of the structures can be conducted without alignment between metal contacts and the localized contact regions or high temperature processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Wilfried E. Haensch, Bahman Hekmatshoartabari, Devendra K. Sadana, Ghavam G. Shahidi, Davood Shahrjerdi
  • Solar cell apparatus and method for fabricating the same
    Patent number: 9831368
    Abstract: Disclosed are a solar cell apparatus and a method for fabricating the same. The solace cell apparatus according to the embodiment includes a solar cell formed on a support substrate; a polymer adhesive layer including photo-curable polymer on the solar cell; and a protective panel on the polymer adhesive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Gi Gon Park
  • Biosensor system, sensor chip, and method of measuring analyte concentration in blood sample
    Patent number: 9829460
    Abstract: The present invention provides a biosensor system that can prevent a measurement error caused by the temperature of the environment in use from occurring. A biosensor system 100 includes a measuring instrument 101 having an operation part 306, and a sensor chip 200 that is insertable into and removable from the measuring instrument 101 and into which a blood sample is introduced. The sensor chip 200 includes a measurement part 41 (a measurement part A) that acquires Data a related to the concentration of an analyte in a blood sample based on the amount of electric current that flows in the blood sample due to a reaction in which an oxidoreductase with the analyte used as a substrate is involved, and a measurement part 42 (a measurement part B) that acquires, from the blood sample, Data b for temperature correction of Data a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Healthcare Holdings Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masaki Fujiwara
  • Localized desalting systems and methods
    Patent number: 9821321
    Abstract: Example apparatus, systems and methods to desalt a sample are disclosed. An example method includes introducing a sample into an apparatus, in which the apparatus includes a sensor coupled to a substrate and an electrode. The example method also includes applying, via the electrode, an electric potential to the sample to redistribute ions in the sample relative to the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: ABBOTT LABORATORIES
    Inventor: Andrew Fischer
  • Solar cell array
    Patent number: 9813014
    Abstract: A holding member of a solar cell array according to the present invention includes a first holding portion that holds a first side portion of a solar cell module and that extends along the first side portion, and a second holding portion that holds a second side portion and that extends along the second side portion. The first holding portion includes a covering portion, a first supporting portion, and a first side wall portion. The second holding portion includes a second supporting portion, a second side wall portion, an extending portion, and a pressing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta Nishio, Yusuke Yasuno, Kitae Hirayama
  • Photoelectric conversion element
    Patent number: 9806210
    Abstract: A photoelectric conversion element includes a semiconductor, an intrinsic layer disposed on the semiconductor and containing hydrogenated amorphous silicon, a first-conductivity-type layer that covers a part of the intrinsic layer and contains hydrogenated amorphous silicon of a first conductivity type, a second-conductivity-type layer that covers a part of the intrinsic layer and contains hydrogenated amorphous silicon of a second conductivity type, an insulating film covering an end region of the first-conductivity-type layer, a first electrode disposed on the first-conductivity-type layer, and a second electrode disposed on the second-conductivity-type layer. An end portion of the second-conductivity-type layer is located on the insulating film or above the insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kenji Kimoto
  • Solar cell and manufacture method thereof
    Patent number: 9799780
    Abstract: A solar cell is provided, including a substrate, a doped emitter layer, a composite anti-reflective layer, a first electrode, a second electrode, a third electrode and a rear electric field layer, the substrate has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, the first surface is a light incident surface, the doped emitter layer includes a plurality of convexities disposed on the first surface, the composite anti-reflective layer is formed by combination of a plurality of membranous layers and disposed on the doped emitter layer, the first electrode is disposed on a side of the first surface, the second electrode and the third electrode are disposed on a side of the second surface, the second electrode is a bus electrode, the third electrode is a rear electrode, the rear electric field layer is disposed on the second surface and coupled electrically with the third electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: ZEZHI INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SERVICE
    Inventor: Wenguang Quan