Patents Examined by Susan D Leong
  • Patent number: 9351677
    Abstract: Systems and methods of use for continuous analyte measurement of a host's vascular system are provided. In some embodiments, a continuous glucose measurement system includes an electrochemical sensor incorporating a silver/silver chloride reference electrode, wherein a capacity of the reference electrode is controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: DexCom, Inc.
    Inventors: Daiting Rong, Sebastian Bohm, Matthew D. Wightlin
  • Patent number: 9357636
    Abstract: An exemplary embodiment of the present invention relates to a conductive structure body that comprises a darkening pattern layer having AlOxNy, and a method for manufacturing the same. The conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention may prevent reflection by a conductive pattern layer without affecting conductivity of the conductive pattern layer, and improve a concealing property of the conductive pattern layer by improving absorbance. Accordingly, a display panel having improved visibility may be developed by using the conductive structure body according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Hyong Lim, Song Ho Jang, Jin Woo Park, Ki-Hwan Kim, In-Seok Hwang, Chung Wan Kim, Seung Heon Lee, Beom Mo Koo, Ji Young Hwang
  • Patent number: 9344030
    Abstract: A solar cell module is configured from a solar cell panel, and a frame structural body. The frame structural body is provided with: a plurality of frame members which are provided to peripheral edges of the solar cell panel, and which have a cross-sectional shape having a hollow portion; corner members which are provided in the hollow portions; holding sections which are provided in the hollow portions, and which hold the corner members; and a plurality of formed rivet sections which apply pressure to the frame members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Masao Kouyanagi
  • Patent number: 9343595
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a solar cell. The solar cell includes a photovoltaic structure and a front-side metal grid situated above the photovoltaic structure. The front-side metal grid also includes one or more electroplated metal layers. The front-side metal grid includes one or more finger lines, and each end of a respective finger line is coupled to a corresponding end of an adjacent finger line via an additional metal line, thus ensuring that the respective finger line has no open end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: SolarCity Corporation
    Inventors: Jianming Fu, Jiunn Benjamin Heng, Christopher J. Beitel, Zheng Xu
  • Patent number: 9330854
    Abstract: A method for producing a dye-sensitized solar cell includes: preparing a first electrode comprising a transparent substrate and a transparent conductive film, and a second electrode comprising a metal substrate that is formed of a metal capable of forming a passivation film; forming an oxide semiconductor layer on the first electrode; supporting a photosensitized dye on the oxide semiconductor layer; disposing an electrolyte on the oxide semiconductor layer; facing the first electrode and the second electrode, and sealing the electrolyte by a sealing section; and fixing a connection member formed of a metal having lower resistance than the metal substrate, onto the surface of the metal substrate, with the surface being on the opposite side of the first electrode, in which method in fixing the connection member, the connection member is bonded to the metal substrate by resistance welding, and thereby the connection member is fixed onto the metal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyasu Isobe, Hiroshi Matsui, Kenichi Okada, Kazuhiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9331631
    Abstract: Thin film photovoltaic devices that include at least one lead bar extending through a connection aperture defined in the encapsulation substrate are provided. The photovoltaic device can include: a transparent substrate; a plurality of photovoltaic cells on the transparent substrate; a first conductive ribbon electrically connected to a first photovoltaic cell; an encapsulation substrate laminated to the transparent substrate such that the plurality of photovoltaic cells and the conductive ribbon are positioned between the transparent substrate and the encapsulation substrate; and, a first lead bar extending through a first connection aperture defined in the encapsulation substrate. The first lead bar is electrically connected to the first conductive ribbon. For example, a meltable conductive material can be connected to the first lead bar and to the first conductive ribbon to establish an electrical connection therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Kim James Clark, Max William Reed, Bradley Robert Crume, Troy Alan Berens
  • Patent number: 9318635
    Abstract: An automatic solar tracking adjustment/control apparatus of solar generation system includes a support assembly, a two-dimensionally movable pivotal rotational assembly disposed on the support assembly, a solar generation module disposed on the support assembly via the pivotal rotational assembly and at least one drive assembly disposed between the support assembly and the solar generation module. The drive assembly drives the solar generation module to tilt in different directions and angles according to reference parameters in a control unit. A detection/correction module is disposed on the solar generation module for detecting actual parameters of the solar generation module. The control unit compares the actual parameters with the reference parameters to modify the output of the drive assembly so as to adjust the tilting direction and inclination angle of the solar generation module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignees: Big Sun Energy Technology Incorporation, Chia Ching Luo
    Inventor: Chia Ching Luo
  • Patent number: 9310519
    Abstract: Disclosed is a see-through type photovoltaic module that includes: a first transparent substrate; a second transparent substrate; a first transparent electrode and a second electrode, all of which are placed between the first transparent substrate and the second transparent substrate; a photoactive layer being placed between the first transparent electrode and the second electrode and converting light into electrical energy; and a protective layer placed between the second electrode and the second transparent substrate, wherein a 3-dimensional photonic crystal structural layer is formed on the surface of the second transparent substrate facing the first transparent substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Intellectual Discovery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Yeop Myong
  • Patent number: 9312425
    Abstract: A crack resistant solar cell module includes a protective package mounted on a frame. The protective package includes a polyolefin encapsulant that protectively encapsulates solar cells. The polyolefin has less than five weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in the backbone or side chain. In other words, the combined weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in any location in the molecular structure of the polyolefin is less than five. The polyolefin also has a complex viscosity less than 10,000 Pa second at 90° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) before any thermal processing of the polyolefin. The protective package includes a top cover, the encapsulant, and a backsheet. The solar cell module allows for shipping, installation, and maintenance with less risk of developing cracks on the surfaces of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Dug Kim, Nicholas Boitnott
  • Patent number: 9312418
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module employing an array of photovoltaic cells disposed between two optically transparent substrates such as to define a closed-loop peripheral area of the module that does not contain a photovoltaic cell. The module is sealed with a peripheral seal along the perimeter; and is devoid of a structural element affixed to an optically transparent substrate and adapted to mount the module to a supporting structure. The two substrates may be bonded together with the use of adhesive material and, optionally, the peripheral seal can include the adhesive material. The module optionally includes diffraction grating element(s) adjoining respectively corresponding PV-cell(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: PRISM SOLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Beckerman, Jose E. Castillo-Aguilella, Paul S. Hauser, Michael Sprague
  • Patent number: 9299907
    Abstract: For the thin-film thermo-electric generator and fabrication method of this invention, a P-type thermo-electric thin-film layer, an insulating thin-film layer and a N-type thermo-electric thin-film layer is deposited on a substrate to form a three-layer PN junction, multiple three-layer PN junctions in series are available, an insulating thin-film layer is provided between every to serial three-layer PN junctions, and electrodes are extracted from the substrate and the outermost thin-film layer of the last three-layer thin-film PN junctions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ShenZhen University
    Inventors: Ping Fan, Dongping Zhang, Zhuangghao Zjemg, Guangxing Liang
  • Patent number: 9297807
    Abstract: A kit for optically detecting proteins, in particular lipoproteins, in a sample, the kit comprising: a chip for performing a separation of the proteins, in particular of the lipoproteins, wherein the chip comprises at least one well for receiving the sample, and a separation channel coupled to the at least one well and being adapted for separating different compounds and a marker dye which contains a polymethine of the general formula (I) wherein Z is a substituted derivative of benzooxazole, benzodiazole, 2,3,3-trimethylindolinine, 2,3,3-trimethyl-4,5-benzo-3H-indolinine, 3- and 4-picoline, lipidine, chinadine and 9-methylacridine derivatives with the general formula IIa or IIb or IIc and wherein X is selected from the group consisting of O, S, Si, N-alkyl and C(alkyl)2, n is 0, 1 , 2 or 3, R1 to R14 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, alkyl, alkoxy, cycloalkyl, linear or branched alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, heterocycle, hydroxy, carboxy, amine, alkyl-substituted am
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Kratzmeier, Xiaodan Tian, Fritz Bek
  • Patent number: 9296864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel polymeric material for a highly efficient organic thin-film solar cell with high hole mobility and power conversion efficiency. In the polymeric material, a compound containing an electron donating group represented by Formula 1 or 2 and a compound containing an electron accepting group represented by one of Formulae 3 to 8 are repeatedly introduced in an alternating manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignees: Pusan National University Industry-University Cooperation Foundation, UNIST ACADEMY-INDUSTRY RESEARCH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Han Young Woo, Jin Young Kim, Won Ho Lee, Thanh Luan Nguyen, Mohammad Afsar Uddin, Hyo Sung Choi, Seo Jin Ko
  • Patent number: 9297879
    Abstract: The present invention describes a method for tracking a solar generator having a plurality of solar modules to the sun, wherein at least one electric output quantity of part of the solar module of the solar generator is detected and a tracker, on which the solar generator is mounted, is controlled such that the detected electric output quantity has a predetermined value. Further, a control for a solar plant and a solar plant having such a control are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Bruno Burger, Olivier Stalter
  • Patent number: 9293620
    Abstract: A technique which can reduce a cost of a space machine installed with a solar cell. The space machine is composed of a light collecting unit and the solar cell. The light collecting unit is arranged on a surface of the body of the space machine to collect incident sun light inside the body. The solar cell is installed inside the body to receive the sun light collected by the light collecting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikatsu Kuroda, Hiroshi Ikebuchi, Kazunori Masukawa
  • Patent number: 9287822
    Abstract: A portable self-sustained power system including, a transportable platform, a plurality of solar array racking structures. The system includes a plurality of solar panels securely mounted upon said solar array racking structures thereby supporting the solar panels to form a plurality of planar solar arrays. The system further includes a plurality of hinge posts, each respectively connected near the corners of said transportable platform. The system further includes a plurality of solar array support frames, each of the solar array support frame vertically hinged to respective hinge posts, wherein the respective solar array support frame is capable of rotating at various angles around the vertical axis of the respective hinge post. The system further includes a plurality of horizontal hinges; each horizontal hinge rotatably interconnected between the solar arrays and the plurality support frames respectively, each respective hinge capable of rotatably positioning the respective solar array at various angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventors: Ofir Levi, Eyal Levi, Amnon Rogev, Lior Levi
  • Patent number: 9240504
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell with improved photoelectric conversion efficiency. The solar cell includes a photoelectric conversion body and first and second electrodes. The photoelectric conversion body includes a substrate made of semiconductor material. The first and second electrodes are disposed at intervals on one main surface of the photoelectric conversion body. Terraces each formed of a crystal plane are provided on a main surface of the substrate on the one main surface side of the photoelectric conversion body. At least one of the terraces exists between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ohbo, Takahiro Mishima
  • Patent number: 9236576
    Abstract: A photoelectric element 1 includes a first electrode, an electron transport layer supporting a photosensitizer, a hole transport layer, and a second electrode, and these components are stacked in the above order. The electron transport layer is formed of an organic compound produced by electrolytic polymerization of a precursor having, within one molecule thereof, two or more moieties each having a structure represented by the following structural formula (1). The photoelectric element 1 includes a gel layer composed of the organic compound and an electrolyte solution infiltrated into the organic compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignees: Panasonic Corporation, Waseda University
    Inventors: Michio Suzuka, Takashi Sekiguchi, Takeyuki Yamaki, Hiroyuki Nishide, Kenichi Oyaizu, Fumiaki Kato, Naoki Sano
  • Patent number: 9224897
    Abstract: A solar cell backsheet including: a support; and a first polymer layer which is formed on one side of the support and which includes: from 0.8 g/m2 to 15.0 g/m2 of a binder resin including at least one selected from the group consisting of a polyolefin ionomer having a polar group, a polyacryl, and polyvinyl alcohol; and from 1.5 g/m2 to 15.0 g/m2 of an inorganic pigment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIFILM CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akira Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 9222907
    Abstract: Sensors include nano-porous alumina membranes that are sensitized by immobilization of antibodies in the nano-pores. The nano-membranes can be sensitized to respond to a single target compound, or different portions of the nano-membrane can be differently sensitized. Capture of the target compound can be detected based on a spectral signature associated with electrical conductance in the nano-pores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: State of Oregon acting by and through the State Board of Higher Education on behalf of Portland State University
    Inventors: Shalini Prasad, Ravi Kiran Kondama Reddy