Abstract: A solar panel apparatus includes a set of photovoltaic modules. The modules are configured to photovoltaically generate electricity from light. Each module is elongated along an axis and has first and second axially opposite ends. An end rail has a groove into which the first end of each module is potted in place with potting material.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus includes a set of photovoltaic modules. The modules are configured to photovoltaically generate electricity from light. Each module is elongated along an axis and has first and second axially opposite ends. An end rail has a groove into which the first end of each module is potted in place with potting material.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device having (i) an outer transparent casing, (ii) a substrate, the substrate and the outer transparent casing defining an inner volume, (iii) at least one solar cell on the substrate, (iv) a filler layer sealing the at least one solar cell and (v) a container within the inner volume is provided. The container decreases in volume when the filler layer expands, and increases in volume when the filler layer contracts. In some instances, the container is sealed and has a plurality of ridges. In some instances, the container has an opening that is sealed by a spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening is sealed by a first spring loaded seal and the second opening is sealed by a second spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has an elongated asteroid shape.

Abstract: A cylindrical shaped solar cell having a water vapor transmission rate of 10?4 g/m2·day or less is provided. The cylindrical shaped solar cell unit comprises a substrate that is either (i) tubular shaped or (ii) rigid solid rod shaped, a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the substrate, a semiconductor junction layer circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer circumferentially disposed on the semiconductor junction. A transparent tubular casing is circumferentially disposed onto the cylindrical shaped solar cell. A first sealant cap is hermetically sealed to a first end of the transparent tubular casing. A second sealant cap is hermetically sealed to a second end of the transparent tubular casing. In some instances, the solar cell unit is a monolithically integrated arrangement of solar cells. In some instances, the solar cell unit is a solar cell.

Abstract: A nonplanar solar cell having a water vapor transmission rate of 10?4 g/m2 day or less is provided. The nonplanar solar cell unit comprises a nonplanar substrate, a back-electrode disposed on the substrate, a semiconductor junction layer disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. A transparent nonplanar tubular casing is disposed onto the nonplanar solar cell. A first sealant cap is hermetically sealed to a first end of the nonplanar tubular casing. A second sealant cap is hermetically sealed to a second end of the nonplanar tubular casing. In some instances, the solar cell unit is a monolithically integrated arrangement of solar cells. In some instances, the solar cell unit is a solar cell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device having (i) an outer transparent casing, (ii) a substrate, the substrate and the outer transparent casing defining an inner volume, (iii) at least one solar cell on the substrate, (iv) a filler layer sealing the at least one solar cell and (v) a container within the inner volume is provided. The container decreases in volume when the filler layer expands, and increases in volume when the filler layer contracts. In some instances, the container is sealed and has a plurality of ridges. In some instances, the container has an opening that is sealed by a spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening is sealed by a first spring loaded seal and the second opening is sealed by a second spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has an elongated asteroid shape.

Abstract: An assembly for producing photovoltaic electricity has an outer assembly having at least one portion transparent to light energy. The outer assembly defines an inner volume. The outer assembly can be made of a first structural member having an opening to an external environment, where the opening is defined by at least one edge. The outer assembly also has a second structural member with a recess that corresponds to the edge at the opening. In this manner the edge of the first structural member conjoins with the corresponding recess of the second structural member, and the edge is conjoined to the corresponding recess with a seal. One or more photovoltaic devices are disposed within the inner assembly volume. Each such photovoltaic device is operable to receive the light and produce photovoltaic electricity in response to it.

Abstract: An elongated solar cell unit comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) one or more solar cells disposed on the substrate, (iii) a transparent casing disposed onto the one or more solar cells, the transparent nonplanar casing having a first end and a second end; and (iv) a first sealant cap that is hermetically sealed to the first end of the transparent nonplanar casing is provided. A solar cell unit comprising (i) a substrate, (ii) one or more bifacial or omnifacial solar cells disposed on the substrate, (iii) a transparent casing disposed onto the one or more bifacial or omnifacial solar cells, the transparent nonplanar casing having a first end and a second end and (iv) a first sealant cap that is hermetically sealed to the first end of the transparent nonplanar casing is provided.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module comprising an elongated substrate in which at least a portion of the elongated substrate is rigid is provided. One or more solar cells are disposed on the elongated substrate and each comprise: (i) a back-electrode disposed on the elongated substrate, (ii) a semiconductor junction layer disposed on all or a portion of a surface of the back-electrode, and (iii) a transparent conductive layer, having a first refractive index, is disposed on all or a portion of a surface of the semiconductor junction. The photovoltaic module further comprises a filler material, having a second refractive index that is smaller or equal in value to the first refractive index, disposed on the transparent conductive layer of the one or more solar cells. The photovoltaic module further comprises a transparent casing disposed on the filler material thereby sealing the photovoltaic module.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device having (i) an outer transparent casing, (ii) a substrate, the substrate and the outer transparent casing defining an inner volume, (iii) at least one solar cell on the substrate, (iv) a filler layer sealing the at least one solar cell and (v) a container within the inner volume is provided. The container decreases in volume when the filler layer expands, and increases in volume when the filler layer contracts. In some instances, the container is sealed and has a plurality of ridges. In some instances, the container has an opening that is sealed by a spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has a first opening and a second opening, where the first opening is sealed by a first spring loaded seal and the second opening is sealed by a second spring loaded seal. In some instances, the container has an elongated asteroid shape.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus includes a set of photovoltaic modules. The modules are configured to photovoltaically generate electricity from light. Each module is elongated along an axis and has first and second axially opposite ends. An end rail has a groove into which the first end of each module is potted in place with potting material.

Abstract: An optical storage system and method having separate, independent format hologram writing and data writing mechanisms to allow optimization of data writing separately from format hologram recording. In its most general terms, the invention comprises an optical medium having a first, photoactive material responsive to a first, format hologram recording condition and a second photo-active material, responsive to a second, data writing condition, which is dispersed or dissolved in the first photoactive material. The second photoactive material may additionally be “erasable” under a third, erasing condition. The second photoactive material is preferably in the form of microparticles, microdroplets or microcapsules which are dispersed throughout the first photoactive material.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention pertains to an electrode that is substantially transparent and conductive and that is incorporated within an organic electronic device. This electrode includes a first layer and a second layer that is on the first layer. The electrode optionally includes a third layer on the second layer. The first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are exposed to a medium and reactions between various combinations of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the medium produce the substantially transparent and conductive electrode.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention pertains to an electrode that is substantially transparent and conductive and that is incorporated within an organic electronic device. This electrode includes a first layer and a second layer that is on the first layer. The electrode optionally includes a third layer on the second layer. The first layer, the second layer, and the third layer are exposed to a medium and reactions between various combinations of the first layer, the second layer, the third layer, and the medium produce the substantially transparent and conductive electrode.

Abstract: An optical storage system and method having separate, independent format hologram writing and data writing mechanisms to allow optimization of data writing separately from format hologram recording. In its most general terms, the invention comprises an optical medium having a first, photoactive material responsive to a first, format hologram recording condition, and a second photo-active material, responsive to a second data writing condition, which is dispersed or dissolved in the first photoactive material. The second photoactive material may additionally be “erasable” under a third, erasing condition. The second photoactive material is preferably in the form of microparticles, microdroplets or microcapsules which are dispersed throughout the first photoactive material.

Abstract: An optical data storage system and method comprising a photopolymer medium having generally a polymerizable monomer, an active binder, a first, hologram recording polymerization initiator, and a second, data writing polymerization initiator. The monomer is preferably a cationic ring-opening monomer. The hologram recording polymerization initiator preferably comprises a sensitizer and photoacid generator which initiate a first polymerization in the medium which defines a format hologram. The format hologram recording is carried out via interference of a signal and reference beam, with the sensitizer being specific for the wavelength(s) of the signal and reference beams. The hologram recording polymerization is only partial and does not consume all of the monomer present in the photopolymer medium.

Abstract: The present invention comprises an optical data storage system utilizing a host material and molecules that exhibit non-linear absorption dissolved therein. The non-linear absorbing molecules allow for energy in the form of heat to be generated during the optical data storage process. This heat provides for localized alterations to occur in the pre-formatted holographic grating. The non-linear feature of these molecules allow for alterations to occur at specific depths and locations within the storage medium while limiting the secondary effects on other locations within the storage medium. The molecules exhibiting non-linear absorption may be selected from the group of molecules exhibiting two-photon absorption or reverse saturable absorption. The invention also comprises a method for preparing the optical storage medium, an optical data storage device comprising the optical data storage medium and having a format hologram stored within the medium.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optical data storage and/or retrieval using an optical data storage medium having a spatially-modulated refractive index that can be altered locally with optical methods. Data can be written at a plurality of depths throughout the volume of the medium using a write beam and relatively simple and inexpensive optical components. The write beam stores data locally by physical distortion of the medium at discrete storage locations. The alterations can be detected as variations in the reflectivity of the storage locations using a retrieval beam.

Abstract: An optical data storage system and method comprising a photopolymer medium having generally a polymerizable monomer, an active binder, a first, hologram recording polymerization initiator, and a second, data writing polymerization initiator. The monomer is preferably a cationic ring-opening monomer. The hologram recording polymerization initiator preferably comprises a sensitizer and photoacid generator which initiate a first polymerization in the medium which defines a format hologram. The format hologram recording is carried out via interference of a signal and reference beam, with the sensitizer being specific for the wavelength(s) of the signal and reference beams. The hologram recording polymerization is only partial and does not consume all of the monomer present in the photopolymer medium.