Patents by Inventor Brent Bollman

Brent Bollman 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).

  • Publication number: 20240111157
    Abstract: The disclosed computer-implemented method may include coupling an array of reflective polarizers to a back surface of a back optical substrate; coupling an array of quarter-wave plates to a front surface of the back optical substrate such that the array of quarter-wave plates is aligned with the array of reflective polarizers; molding the back optical substrate with at least one initial mold, wherein the at least one initial mold defines an initial array of optical element surfaces that is aligned with the array of quarter-wave plates; and twin-sheet thermoforming, between a front twin-sheet mold and a back twin-sheet mold, the back optical substrate with a front optical substrate, wherein the front twin-sheet mold defines a front array of optical element surfaces and the back mold defines a back array of optical element surfaces. Various other methods, apparatuses, and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: April 4, 2024
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Gary D. Sharp, Keyuan Huang
  • Publication number: 20230367041
    Abstract: An example apparatus may include a display and an optical configuration configured to provide an image of a display, for example, in a head-mounted device. The optical configuration may include a Fresnel lens assembly including a Fresnel lens and a reflective polarizer. The Fresnel lens may have a structured surface including a plurality of facets, and there may be a step between pairs of neighboring facets. The reflective polarizer may include a plurality of reflective polarizer portions, where each reflective polarizer portion conforms to a corresponding facet of the Fresnel lens. The reflective polarizer may be configured to reflect a first polarization and transmit a second polarization of incident light. The optical configuration may form an image of the display viewable by a user when the user wears the apparatus. Other devices, methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2022
    Publication date: November 16, 2023
    Inventors: Andrew John Ouderkirk, Nagi Hosni Elabbasi, Liliana Ruiz Diaz, Sheng Ye, Ying Geng, Christopher Yuan Ting Liao, Taha Masood, Brent Bollman
  • Patent number: 8541048
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 1 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman
  • Patent number: 8525152
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20120329195
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 2 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: NANOSOLAR, INC.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman
  • Patent number: 8198117
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig R. Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20110120373
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in one or more steps in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Craig Leidholm, Nathanial Stanley, Matthew Rail
  • Publication number: 20110081487
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Nathaniel Stanley, Matthew Diego Rail
  • Publication number: 20110065224
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Craig Leidholm
  • Publication number: 20110059231
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Craig Leidholm
  • Publication number: 20100243049
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Patent number: 7732229
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20100028533
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in one or more steps in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Craig Leidholm, Nathaniel Stanley, Matthew Rail
  • Publication number: 20090305455
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 2 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman
  • Publication number: 20090305449
    Abstract: Methods and devices for high-throughput printing of a precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a precursor layer on a substrate, the precursor is subsequently processed in a VIA environment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Brent Bollman, Craig Leidholm
  • Publication number: 20090032108
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 1 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, Yann Roussillon
  • Publication number: 20080308148
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Inventors: Craig R. Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James R. Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin R. Roscheisen
  • Publication number: 20080302413
    Abstract: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is then rapidly heated from an ambient temperature to an average plateau temperature range of between about 200° C. and about 600° C. and maintained in the average plateau temperature range 1 to 30 minutes after which the temperature is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, Yann Roussillon
  • Publication number: 20070092648
    Abstract: A precursor material for forming a film of a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound and a method of making this film are disclosed. The film contains group IB-chalcogenide nanoparticles and/or group IIIA-chalcogenide nanoparticles and/or nanoglobules and/or nanodroplets and a source of extra chalcogen. Alternatively, the film may contain core-shell nanoparticles having core nanoparticles include group IB and/or IIIA elements, which are coated with a shell of elemental chalcogen material. The method of making a film of group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide compound includes mixing the nanoparticles and/or nanoglobules and/or nanodroplets to form an ink, depositing the ink on a substrate, heating to melt the extra chalcogen and to react the chalcogen with the group IB and group IIIA elements and/or chalcogenides to form a dense film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Publication date: April 26, 2007
    Applicant: Nanosolar, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeroen Duren, Brent Bollman, Martin Roscheisen, Brian Sager
  • Publication number: 20070000537
    Abstract: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one electrically conductive electrode layer above the diffusion barrier layer. The diffusion barrier layer may prevent chemical interaction between the aluminum foil substrate and the electrode layer. An absorber layer may be formed on the substrate. In one embodiment, the absorber layer may be a non-silicon absorber layer. In another embodiment, the absorber layer may be an amorphous silicon (doped or undoped) absorber layer. Optionally, the absorber layer may be based on organic and/or inorganic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 4, 2007
    Inventors: Craig Leidholm, Brent Bollman, James Sheats, Sam Kao, Martin Roscheisen