Patents by Inventor Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock
Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 9842945Abstract: A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2017Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20170288081Abstract: A photovoltaic module has a flexible backing substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and an electrical conduit. The photovoltaic cells are mounted on the backing substrate. Each photovoltaic cell has a metallic article, the metallic article including a plurality of electroformed elements comprising a cell interconnection element integral with a continuous grid having a plurality of first elements intersecting a plurality of second elements. The electroformed elements are interconnected and integral, with the continuous grid in contact with the light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. The cell interconnection element extends beyond the light-incident surface and couples the continuous grid to a neighboring photovoltaic cell. The electrical conduit has a flexible strip of electrically conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu, Prashant Ramesh, Vishal Chandrashekar
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Publication number: 20170263787Abstract: A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 22, 2017Publication date: September 14, 2017Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 9685568Abstract: A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2015Date of Patent: June 20, 2017Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 9573214Abstract: A method of applying solder includes providing a first roller and a second roller, where at least one of the first and second rollers has an outer surface comprising a solder wicking material. A metallic article is provided, the metallic article having a first side and a second side, and having an opening extending from the first side to the second side. The metallic article is dipped in solder, where the dipping forms an initial coating of solder on the metallic article. After the dipping, the metallic article is fed between the first and second rollers. The wicking material removes solder from the metallic article, such that a solder thickness of the initial coating on the metallic article is reduced after exiting the first and second rollers.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2014Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkateswaran Subbaraman
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Publication number: 20160039032Abstract: A method of applying solder includes providing a first roller and a second roller, where at least one of the first and second rollers has an outer surface comprising a solder wicking material. A metallic article is provided, the metallic article having a first side and a second side, and having an opening extending from the first side to the second side. The metallic article is dipped in solder, where the dipping forms an initial coating of solder on the metallic article. After the dipping, the metallic article is fed between the first and second rollers. The wicking material removes solder from the metallic article, such that a solder thickness of the initial coating on the metallic article is reduced after exiting the first and second rollers.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 8, 2014Publication date: February 11, 2016Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkateswaran Subbaraman
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Publication number: 20160027947Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Publication number: 20150263182Abstract: A photovoltaic module, and method of making, is disclosed in which a flexible circuit is electrically coupled to a plurality of photovoltaic cells, where the photovoltaic cells are electrically coupled in series to form a series of cells. Each photovoltaic cell has free-standing metallic articles coupled to the top and bottom surfaces of a semiconductor substrate. A cell interconnection element of each photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to a free-standing metallic article of an adjacent photovoltaic cell, where the interconnection elements of the initial and final cells in the series serve as contact ends for the series of cells. Contact tabs of the flexible circuit are electrically coupled to the contact ends of the series of cells, and a junction box is electrically coupled to a junction box contact region of the flexible circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 3, 2015Publication date: September 17, 2015Inventors: Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 8940998Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 8936709Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell. A first electroformed element has at least one of: a) a non-uniform width along a first length of the first element, b) a change in conduit direction along the first length of the first element, c) an expansion segment along the first length of the first element, d) a first width that is different from a second width of a second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, e) a first height that is different from a second height of the second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, and f) a top surface that is textured.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Patent number: 8916038Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20140262793Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell. A first electroformed element has at least one of: a) a non-uniform width along a first length of the first element, b) a change in conduit direction along the first length of the first element, c) an expansion segment along the first length of the first element, d) a first width that is different from a second width of a second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, e) a first height that is different from a second height of the second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, and f) a top surface that is textured.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GTAT CORPORATIONInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Publication number: 20140261661Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface layer having a preformed pattern. The outer surface layer has a dielectric region and an exposed metal region. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are formed on the exposed metal region of the outer surface layer of the electrically conductive mandrel. A first electroformed element has an overplated portion formed above the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The metallic article is configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell, and forms a unitary, free-standing piece when separated from the electrically conductive mandrel.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GTAT CORPORATIONInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Publication number: 20140261654Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GTAT CORPORATIONInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20140261659Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2013Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicant: GTAT CORPORATIONInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 8569096Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2013Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu