Patents Examined by Tae-Sik Kang
  • Patent number: 10516070
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells, each solar cell including a semiconductor substrate, an emitter region, a back surface field region a first electrode connected to the emitter region, a second electrode connected to the back surface field region, and a conductive line connected to one electrode of the first and second electrodes using a conductive adhesive and insulated from the other electrode of the first and second electrodes through an insulating layer, the conductive line being used to connect a plurality of solar cells in series. A thickness of the conductive adhesive between the one electrode and the conductive line is greater than a thickness of the insulating layer between the other electrode and the conductive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Chunghyun Lim
  • Patent number: 10510941
    Abstract: An embodiment of a process for realizing a system for recovering heat is described, the process comprising the steps of: formation on a substrate of a plurality of L-shaped down metal structures; deposition of a dielectric layer on the substrate and the plurality of L-shaped down metal structures by using a screen printing approach; definition and opening in the dielectric layer of upper contacts and lower contacts of the L-shaped down metal structures; formation of a plurality of L-shaped up metal structures being connected to the plurality of L-shaped down metal structure in correspondence of the upper and lower contacts so as to form a plurality of serially connected thermocouples, each comprising at least one L-shaped down metal structure and at least one L-shaped up metal structure, being made of different metal materials and interconnected at a junction, the serially connected thermocouples thus realizing the system for recovering heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L.
    Inventors: Giovanni Abagnale, Sebastiano Ravesi
  • Patent number: 10490688
    Abstract: A semiconductor device, in particular a solar cell is formed on the basis of a hybrid deposition strategy using MOCVD and MBE in order to provide lattice matched semiconductor compounds. To this end, the MBE may be applied for providing a nitrogen-containing semiconductor compound that allows a desired low band gap energy and a lattice matched configuration with respect to gallium arsenide substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Soitec
    Inventors: Rainer Krause, Bruno Ghyselen
  • Patent number: 10476430
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a solar cell module. The solar cell module includes a solar cell panel, a distribution box located on the rear surface of the solar cell panel and including wiring connected to the solar cell panel, and a light source configured to emit light to the front surface of the solar cell panel through the solar cell panel, if an error signal is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Myonghwan Kim, Yunsu Bae
  • Patent number: 10468196
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaic element comprising one front electrode and one further electrode comprising respectively one glass substrate and one electrically conductive electrode layer which is disposed on the glass substrate, at least two porous carrier layers which are disposed between the two electrodes, the two electrodes being connected to the adjacent porous carrier layers without a spatial interval, a plurality of glass solder webs disposed between the two electrodes for fixing the at least two porous carrier layers, and at least one photovoltaically active material which is introduced into the at least two porous carrier layers and has a concentration gradient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Andreas Hinsch, Henning Brandt
  • Patent number: 10468599
    Abstract: A method of patterning organic semiconductor layers is disclosed. In one aspect, a method for forming a patterned organic semiconductor layer on a substrate includes providing a plurality of first electrodes on a substrate. The method additionally includes providing a patterned self-assembling monolayer at predetermined locations on each of the plurality of first electrodes. The method further includes providing a layer comprising an organic semiconductor material over the patterned self-assembling monolayer. A corresponding device and a photovoltaic module comprising such a device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: IMEC vzw
    Inventor: David Cheyns
  • Patent number: 10461207
    Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes a substrate structure and at least one Se-containing layer, such as a CdSeTe layer. A process for manufacturing the photovoltaic device includes forming the CdSeTe layer over a substrate by at least one of sputtering, evaporation deposition, CVD, chemical bath deposition process, and vapor transport deposition process. The process can also include controlling a thickness range of the Se-containing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: First Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Damjanovic, Markus Gloeckler, Feng Liao, Andrei Los, Dan Mao, Benjamin Milliron, Gopal Mor, Rick Powell, Kenneth Ring, Aaron Roggelin, Jigish Trivedi, Zhibo Zhao
  • Patent number: 10418501
    Abstract: A concentrator-type photovoltaic module includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells having respective surface areas of less than about 4 square millimeters (mm) electrically interconnected in series and/or parallel on a backplane surface, and an array of concentrating optical elements having respective aperture dimensions of less than about 30 mm and respective focal lengths of less than about 50 mm. The array of concentrating optical elements is positioned over the photovoltaic cells based on the respective focal lengths to concentrate incident light on the photovoltaic cells, and is integrated on the backplane surface by at least one spacer structure on the backplane surface. Related devices, operations, and fabrication methods are also discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: X-Celeprint Limited
    Inventors: Brent Fisher, Matthew Meitl, Scott Burroughs, Miroslav Samarskiy
  • Patent number: 10404208
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a universal junction box for solar modules that comprises multiple sub-assemblies with a replaceable diode black and an open-IP plug sub-assembly. The universal junction box includes a first sub-assembly (junction box platform), a second sub-assembly (a replaceable diode block), and a third sub-assembly (an open sub-assembly or plug sub-assembly. If the electronics in the diode block becomes defective, a new replaceable diode block can be used to substitute into the defective diode black without having to replace the entire junction box. The open-IP plug sub-assembly provides the flexibility to couple a variety of cable sub-assembly or IMEs to the universal junction box as long as a particular selected cable sub-assembly fits with the dimension of the open-IP plug sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: JA SOLAR USA INC.
    Inventors: Teodor Galitev, Wei Shan
  • Patent number: 10396225
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module includes front and back sealing layers and at least one photovoltaic cell positioned located therebetween. A moisture resistant layer provided between the first and second sealing layers extends around a portion of a perimeter of the at least one photovoltaic cell. A moisture barrier structure including moisture barrier particles is operatively connected to the sealing layers. The moisture barrier structure improves the moisture resistance of the sealing layer and decreases the water vapor transmission rate into the photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: BEIJING APOLLO DING RONG SOLAR TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Daniel R. Juliano, Todd Krajewski, Kedar Hardikar
  • Patent number: 10361330
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell assembly of two or more spatially split solar cell subassemblies, each of which includes a respective monolithic semiconductor body composed of a tandem stack of solar subcells, where the subassemblies are interconnected electrically to one another so that a series electrical circuit is formed between groups of one or more subcells in each subassembly. In some cases, relatively high band gap semiconductor materials can be used for the upper subcells. The solar cell assemblies can be particularly advantageous for applications in space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Daniel Derkacs
  • Patent number: 10361322
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes a plurality of solar cells each including a semiconductor substrate and first electrodes and second electrodes extended on a back surface of the semiconductor substrate, first conductive lines connected to the first electrodes at crossings between the first electrodes and the first conductive lines through first conductive adhesive layers, second conductive lines connected to the second electrodes at crossings between the second electrodes and the second conductive lines through the first conductive adhesive layers, and an intercell connector extended between a first solar cell and a second solar cell that are adjacent to each other. The first conductive lines connected to the first solar cell and the second conductive lines connected to the second solar cell are commonly connected to the intercell connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Bojoong Kim, Minpyo Kim, Daeseon Hyun, Hyunjung Park, Ahreum Lee, Youshin Han, Youngdo Kim
  • Patent number: 10355191
    Abstract: A method for producing a Peltier element of a heat exchanger for temperature control of a fluid flowable through a flow chamber may include providing an electrically conductive belt. The method may also include providing the belt with a plurality of p-doped P-semiconductors and a plurality of n-doped N-semiconductors so as to alternate with one another along the belt. The plurality of p-doped P-semiconductors and the plurality of n-doped N-semiconductors respectively may have a side facing away from the flow chamber electrically contacted by a contacting structure that may include a plurality of contact elements. The method may also include separating the belt to produce a plurality of connecting elements of a connecting structure electrically contacting a side of the plurality of p-doped P-semiconductors and the plurality of n-doped N-semiconductors facing towards the flow chamber, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Gruenwald, Christian Heneka
  • Patent number: 10320328
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for operating a photovoltaic thermal hybrid system having a hybrid solar receiver with a photovoltaic module, operatively coupled to the system to deliver an electrical output power for a power user, a thermal collector distinct from the photovoltaic module, wherein the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector are movably mounted in the system, a collector thermal storage thermally connected to the thermal collector to store heat collected at the thermal collector, and a positioning mechanism adapted to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector. The method includes instructing the positioning mechanism to move the photovoltaic module and/or the thermal collector to change a ratio of an intensity of radiation received at the photovoltaic module to an intensity of radiation received at the thermal collector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignees: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES COPORATION, EGYPT NANOTECHNOLOGY CENTER
    Inventors: Werner Escher, Bruno Michel, Stephan Paredes, Rami Ghannam
  • Patent number: 10304636
    Abstract: An oxadiazole dye for use as an organic photosensitizer. The oxadiazole dye comprising donor-?-spacer-acceptor type portions in which at least one of an oxadiazole isomer acts as a ?-conjugated bridge (spacer), a biphenyl unit acts as an electron-donating unit, a carboxyl group act as an electron acceptor group, and a cyano group acts as an anchor group. An optional thiophene group acts as part of the ?-conjugated bridge (spacer). The dye for use as organic photosensitizers in a dye-sensitized solar cell and in photodynamic therapies. Computational DFT and time dependent DFT (TD-DFT) modeling techniques showing Light Harvesting Efficiency (LHE), Free Energy for Electron Injection (?Ginject), Excitation Energies, and Frontier Molecular Orbitals (FMOs) indicate that the series of dye comprise a more negative ?Ginject and a higher LHE value; resulting in a higher incident photon to current efficiency (IPCE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Umer Mehmood, Shakeel Ahmed, Ibnelwaleed A. Hussein
  • Patent number: 10290754
    Abstract: The invention disclosed concerns a simple ring-hub arrangement of interacting two-level systems using a theoretical quantum jump approach which mimics a biological light-harvesting antenna connected to a reaction center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ltd.
    Inventors: Yossef Paltiel, Shira Yochelis, Nir Keren, Ido Eisenberg
  • Patent number: 10283660
    Abstract: The present invention relates to photovoltaic devices which comprise: a semiconducting material able to ensure a photovoltaic effect when it is subject to electromagnetic radiation; a anti-reflective layer, transparent towards said electromagnetic radiation ensuring the photovoltaic effect, this anti-reflective layer containing, in the dispersed state, objects with dimensions of less than 5 microns, preferably less than 2 microns, said objects comprising at least two areas consisting of two different substrates, transparent towards said electromagnetic radiation and having distinct refraction indices, i.e.: a core having a first refractive index nC; and a layer surrounding the core, a so-called crust, having a second refractive index nE, distinct from the refractive index nC of the core, the ratio of the dimensions of the core to the dimensions of the core/crust assembly being comprised 1:1.5 and 1:5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Polyrise
    Inventors: Vincent Gaud, Mélanie Louarn, Fabien Rouge
  • Patent number: 10270050
    Abstract: A composition that can form a photoelectric conversion layer having an electricity storage function is provided. The composition comprises at least a semiconductor (e.g., a titanium oxide particle) and an ionic polymer (e.g., a fluorine-series resin having a sulfo group), and the ratio of the ionic polymer relative to 1 part by weight of the semiconductor is not less than 0.05 parts by weight. The composition may further contain a dye (a sensitizing dye). An electrode provided with a photoelectric conversion layer formed from the composition can be used in combination with, in particular, an electrode having a porous layer to give a photoelectric conversion element having an excellent electricity storage function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuhisa Fukui, Mami Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10249778
    Abstract: A solar cell structure for wireless charging includes a substrate and at least one thin film solar cell disposed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the thin film solar cell has a winding coil structure. Accordingly, in the thin film solar cell, the electrode which is the winding coil structure may be used as electromagnetic induction coil or millimeter-wave radio wave receiving radiator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hung-Ru Hsu, Li-Chih Chang, Tung-Po Hsieh, Yeong-Lin Lai, Ang-Lun Lee
  • Patent number: 10224869
    Abstract: A solar panel module provides increased efficiency in solar production within a volume of area within a space's square footage. In general, embodiments arrange solar panels into polygonal shaped containers. The containers include inward facing solar cell faces that project orthogonally from a common base. The solar cell faces reflect sunlight captured within the module's volume and reflect it from one incident solar cell face onto one or more other inward facing surfaces of the plurality of panels joined together to form the polygonally shaped module. Thus, solar energy which is typically reflected off when incident upon a conventional solar panel is recaptured by adjacent panels in the module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Inventors: David Lawrence Hammers, Hormoz Shamony