Patents Examined by Tae-Sik Kang
  • Patent number: 11489083
    Abstract: A solar cell panel can include a plurality of solar cells; and a diode member connected to the plurality of solar cells, the diode member being formed of a solar cell unit disposed within the solar cell panel under at least a portion of one of the plurality of solar cells at a non-light-incident region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyunho Lee, Donghae Oh, Jaewon Chang, Jinsung Kim
  • Patent number: 11489488
    Abstract: A bifacial solar module with enhanced power output including first and second transparent support layers, a plurality of electrically interconnected bifacial solar cells arranged between the transparent support layers with gaps between one or more of the interconnected solar cells and edges of the first and second transparent support layers, the bifacial solar cells having a first side directly exposed to solar radiation and a second side opposite the first. The bifacial solar module further includes one or more micro-structured reflective tapes positioned coincidentally with the gaps and attached to a surface of the second support layer such that light passing through the second support layer is reflected back into the second support layer at angles such that light reflecting from the tape is absorbed by either the first or second side of the bifacial solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NEXTRACKER LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Shugar, Eric Cole
  • Patent number: 11482632
    Abstract: A back contact solar cell string includes at least two cell pieces, each cell piece including P-type doped regions and N-type doped regions that are alternately arranged, the P-type doped regions including positive electrode thin grid lines, and the N-type doped regions including negative electrode thin grid lines; and a plurality of conductive wires connected to the positive electrode thin grid lines and the negative electrode thin grid lines. The conductive regions configured for electrical connection between each conductive wire and the positive electrode thin grid lines or the negative electrode thin grid lines and insulation regions configured for insulating connection between each conductive wire and the negative electrode thin grid lines or the positive electrode thin grid lines are alternately disposed at joints between each conductive wire and the positive electrode thin grid lines, and at joints between each conductive wire and the negative electrode thin grid lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Zhejiang Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Guangdong Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Tianjin Aiko Solar Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wei Dai, Gang Chen
  • Patent number: 11482655
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermoelectric measurement system based on a liquid eutectic gallium-indium electrode, whereby thermoelectric performance can be measured with excellent efficiency and high reproducibility even without construction of expensive equipment, various organic molecules as well as large-area molecular layers can be measured, and various thermoelectric materials, such as inorganic materials and inorganic-organic composite materials, can be measured. In addition, non-toxic liquid metal EGaIn is used as an upper electrode, so the damage to even a substance of measurement in the form of a nano-level thin film can be minimized, and the measurement of thermoelectric performance can be performed on even nano- to micro-level organic thermoelectric elements. Therefore, the thermoelectric measurement system is widely utilized across the thermoelectric element industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Hyo Jae Yoon, Sohyun Park
  • Patent number: 11482673
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a solar battery. The solar battery comprises a semiconductor structure, a back electrode, and an upper electrode. The semiconductor structure defines a first surface and a second surface. The semiconductor structure comprises an N-type semiconductor layer and a P-type semiconductor layer. The back electrode is located on the first surface. The upper electrode is located on the second surface. The back electrode comprises a first carbon nanotube, the upper electrode comprises a second carbon nanotube, and the first carbon nanotube intersects with the second carbon nanotube. A multilayer structure is formed by an overlapping region of the first carbon nanotube, the semiconductor structure and the second carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Zhang, Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 11476307
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device (1) is provided with plurality of mutually subsequent photovoltaic device cells (1A, . . . , 1F) arranged along a direction of first device axis (D1). Each pair of a photovoltaic device cell and its successor are serially arranged through an interface region (1CD), further having a bypass function, and which extends along a second axis (D2), transverse to the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Francesco Di Giacomo, Herbert Lifka
  • Patent number: 11473200
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods to make a product using supersonic cold-spray deposition of brittle functional materials in fine and micro features down to 10 ?m in minimum dimension. The process may use semiconductors such as bismuth and antimony telluride formulations, and hard magnetic materials such as neodymium iron boride and strontium ferrite, and soft magnetic materials such as manganese zinc ferrite, and manganese ferrite materials. In addition, the methods and processes have been demonstrated for materials as soft as graphite and as hard as boron carbide. Micro components have been deposited in square, tapered and elongated shaped features with feature sizes as small as 10 ?m in minimum dimensions and applied to flat and highly complex shaped surfaces. This process when combined with other cold spray manufacturing processes allows the total additive manufacturing of complete electronic, magnetic and other complex devices including multiple type of brittle functional materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Richard C Thuss
  • Patent number: 11476422
    Abstract: An Anthradithiophene derivative having general formula (I): can be advantageously used in the synthesis of electron donor polymers These polymers can be advantageously used in the construction of photovoltaic devices (or solar devices) such as, for example, photovoltaic cells (or solar cells), photovoltaic modules (or solar modules), either on a rigid support or on a flexible support. Furthermore, these polymers can be advantageously used in the construction of Organic Thin Film Transistors (OTFTs), or Organic Field Effect Transistors (OFETs), or Organic Light-Emitting Diodes (OLEDs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Gabriele Bianchi, Dario Pasini, Andrea Nitti
  • Patent number: 11462670
    Abstract: A thermoelectric conversion material includes: a base material that is a semiconductor; and an additive element that differs from an element constituting the base material. An additional band formed of the additive element is present within a forbidden band of the base material. A density of states of the additional band has a ratio of greater than or equal to 0.1 relative to a maximum value of a density of states of a valence band adjacent to the forbidden band of the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Toyota School Foundation
    Inventors: Masahiro Adachi, Makoto Kiyama, Yoshiyuki Yamamoto, Tsunehiro Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 11456397
    Abstract: An energy harvesting electrophoretic display is disclosed comprising a photovoltaic cell that converts part of the incident light to electric current or voltage, wherein the electric current or voltage is used for the operation of the electrophoretic display upon the conversion or stored in a storage component to be used for the operation of the electrophoretic display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Telfer, Dirk Hertel, Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Benjamin Harris Paletsky
  • Patent number: 11451186
    Abstract: A renewable-energy electrical generation and distribution system including a first container and a second container. Each of the first container and the second container includes a power source disposed within the container and deployable therefrom, and generating energy from a renewable resource. A first compartment is disposed within the container, and retains a battery in communication with the power source. A power distribution system is disposed within the container and in communication with the battery and with the power source. A communications system is disposed within the container and configured to communicate data via an ad-hoc mobile communications network formed by the first container and the second container and configured to operate independent of any communication network not part of the first container and the second container forming the ad-hoc mobile communications network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Amenergy, Inc.
    Inventors: Fredric L Milder, Peter Page, Mark Howell
  • Patent number: 11437537
    Abstract: Perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells have the potential to achieve high efficiencies through improvements to the optical and electrical parameters of perovskite/silicon tandem devices, via photon management, particularly using the optical band-edge shifting properties of silicon via surface modification of silicon. Silicon can directly extract the light generated charge carriers, which can achieve an efficiency of over 28%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventor: Firoz Khan
  • Patent number: 11417817
    Abstract: Woven flexible thermoelectric fabrics are provided. The fabric is a woven material that includes a series of longitudinal threads interwoven with a series of transverse threads. Within the longitudinal series, the threads have a repeating thread pattern of an n-type thermoelectric thread, a p-type thermoelectric thread, and an insulating thread. Within the transverse series, the threads have a repeating thread pattern of a first double-sided thread with conducting side down and insulating side up, a second double-sided thread with conducting side down and insulating side up, and a third double-sided thread with conducting side up and insulating side down.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Matthew Grayson, Ramille Shah, Jun Peng, Adam Jakus, Nicholas Geisendorfer
  • Patent number: 11411128
    Abstract: Provided is a method of manufacturing a high efficiency flexible thin film solar cell module including a see-thru pattern. The method of manufacturing a flexible thin film solar cell module includes: sequentially forming a light-absorbing layer, a first buffer layer, and a first transparent electrode layer on the release layer; forming a second buffer layer on the exposed bottom surface of the light-absorbing layer; forming a P2 scribing pattern by removing at least one portion of each of the first buffer layer, the light-absorbing layer, and the second buffer layer; forming a second transparent electrode layer on the second buffer layer and the first transparent electrode layer exposed by the P2 scribing pattern; and forming a P4 see-thru pattern by selectively removing at least one portion of the first buffer layer, the light-absorbing layer, the second buffer layer, and the second transparent electrode layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hyeonggeun Yu, Jeung-hyun Jeong, Won Mok Kim, Jong-Keuk Park, Eunpyung Choi
  • Patent number: 11404621
    Abstract: Provided by the present invention is a magnesium-antimony-based (Mg—Sb-based) thermoelement, a preparation method and application thereof. The Mg—Sb-based thermoelement comprises: a substrate layer of a Mg—Sb-based thermoelectric material positioned in the center of the thermoelement, transitional layers that are attached to the two surfaces of the substrate layer, and two electrode layer that are respectively attached to the surfaces of the two transitional layers; the transitional layers are made of a magnesium-copper alloy and/or magnesium-aluminum alloy, and the electrode layer is made of copper. The transitional layer and the electrode layer which are developed in the present invention and which are suitable for a Mg—Sb-based thermoelectric material have great significance and prospects in application. The electrode layer enable the Mg—Sb-based thermoelectric material to have an opportunity to enter the market and realize commercialization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Huaizhou Zhao, Jiawei Yang, Siyi Chang, Junling Gao
  • Patent number: 11367824
    Abstract: The present invention provides a thermoelectric conversion material having a considerably increased Seebeck coefficient, and a thermoelectric conversion device, a thermo-electrochemical cell and a thermoelectric sensor which include the material. The thermoelectric conversion material of the present invention includes a redox pair and a capture compound which captures only one of the redox pair selectively at low temperature and releases at high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Teppei Yamada, Hongyao Zhou, Nobuo Kimizuka
  • Patent number: 11362222
    Abstract: Deposition processes are disclosed herein for depositing thin films comprising a dielectric transition metal compound phase and a conductive or semiconducting transition metal compound phase on a substrate in a reaction space. Deposition processes can include a plurality of super-cycles. Each super-cycle may include a dielectric transition metal compound sub-cycle and a reducing sub-cycle. The dielectric transition metal compound sub-cycle may include contacting the substrate with a dielectric transition metal compound. The reducing sub-cycle may include alternately and sequentially contacting the substrate with a reducing agent and a nitrogen reactant. The thin film may comprise a dielectric transition metal compound phase embedded in a conductive or semiconducting transition metal compound phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: ASM IP HOLDING B.V.
    Inventors: Tom E. Blomberg, Hannu Huotari
  • Patent number: 11362617
    Abstract: Provided is a self-generating smart glass, including: a window frame, an outer glass and an inner glass, a plurality of solar panels, a first electric telescopic rod, a plurality of slide grooves which are symmetrically arranged on a top and a bottom of the window frame, a foldable plate located between the outer glass and the inner glass, a first battery, a light sensor and a control system. Two adjacent outer surfaces of the foldable plate are provided with the solar panels which are connected in series through flexible wires and communicated with the first battery. The first electric telescopic rod, the light sensor and the control system are respectively connected to the power supply; and the first electric telescopic rod and the light sensor are respectively connected to the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST PETROLEUM UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hua Yu, Wenfeng Zhang
  • Patent number: 11329603
    Abstract: A hybrid supplemental solar energy collection and dissipation system with one or more heat pumps is featured. The system includes one or more commercially available photovoltaic panels configured to convert incident radiation to electricity. One or more supplemental solar energy collectors having a flow of fluid therein are selectively coupled to the one or more photovoltaic panels. The one or more supplemental solar energy collectors are configured to collect thermal energy from the one or more photovoltaic panels, radiate thermal energy to space, collect thermal energy from the environment and/or dissipate thermal energy to the environment to heat or cool one or more loads. One or more heat pumps are coupled to the one or more supplemental solar energy collectors and the one or more loads and are configured to amplify heating and/or cooling of the one or more loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Sun Drum Solar, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Intrieri, Albert Nunez
  • Patent number: 11329177
    Abstract: Thin-film solar cell modules and serial cell-to-cell interconnect structures and methods of fabrication are described. In an embodiment, solar cell module and interconnect includes a conformal transport layer over a subcell layer. The conformal transport layer may also laterally surround an outside perimeter the subcell layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Swift Solar Inc
    Inventor: Kevin Alexander Bush