Patents by Inventor Christopher M. Fetzer

Christopher M. Fetzer 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: 20180277702
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10069026
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for a dual heterojunction multijunction solar cell are disclosed. A method in accordance with the present invention comprises growing a base material for a solar cell, growing at least one dual heterojunction on the base material, and growing an emitter on the at least one dual heterojunction. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a substrate, and a first subcell, coupled to the substrate, wherein the first subcell comprises a base region, coupled to the substrate, an emitter region, and at least one dual heterojunction, coupled between the base region and the emitter region, wherein the at least one dual heterojunction has a lower bandgap than the emitter region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fetzer, Dmitri D. Krut, David E. Joslin, Sara R. Joslin, Richard R. King
  • Patent number: 10066318
    Abstract: A method of disordering a layer of an optoelectronic device including; growing a plurality of lower layers; introducing an isoelectronic surfactant; growing a layer; allowing the surfactant to desorb; and growing subsequent layers all performed at a low pressure of 25 torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fetzer, James H. Ermer, Richard R. King, Peter C. Colter
  • Publication number: 20180248067
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20180190851
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20180190850
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Publication date: July 5, 2018
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20180166602
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes a base substrate comprising a Group IV semiconductor and a dopant of a first carrier type. A patterned emitter is formed at a first surface of the base substrate. The patterned emitter comprises a plurality of well regions doped with a dopant of a second carrier type in the Group IV semiconductor. The base substrate including the patterned emitter form a first solar subcell. The multijunction solar cell further comprises an upper structure comprising one or more additional solar subcells over the first solar subcell. Methods of making a multijunction solar cell are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fetzer, Peter Hebert
  • Patent number: 9997659
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20180151304
    Abstract: Provided is a multijunction photovoltaic device, including: a first subcell and a second subcell. The first cell includes a base semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer. The base semiconductor layer includes a Group III-V semiconductor material. The second subcell includes an absorber layer. The absorber layer includes an organometallic halide ionic solid perovskite semiconductor material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Publication number: 20180151301
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate and at least one perovskite layer disposed on the substrate. The semiconductor substrate includes a single-crystal semiconductor and the at least one perovskite layer includes a single-crystal organometallic-halide ionic solid perovskite.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Publication date: May 31, 2018
    Inventor: Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Patent number: 9985160
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 9954128
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a solar cell device that a first Bragg reflector disposed below a first solar cell and a second Bragg reflector disposed below the first Bragg reflector, wherein the first solar cell comprises a dilute nitride composition and has a first bandgap, wherein the first Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a first range of radiation wavelengths back into the first solar cell and the second Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a third range of wavelengths back into the first solar cell, and the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector are operable to cool the solar cell device by reflecting a second range of radiation wavelengths that are outside the photogeneration wavelength range of the first solar cell or that are weakly absorbed by the first solar cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Moran Haddad, Philip T. Chiu, Xingquan Liu, Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Patent number: 9947823
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20170321347
    Abstract: A method of disordering a layer of an optoelectronic device including; growing a plurality of lower layers; introducing an isoelectronic surfactant; growing a layer; allowing the surfactant to desorb; and growing subsequent layers all performed at a low pressure of 25 torr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Publication date: November 9, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. FETZER, James H. ERMER, Richard R. KING, Peter C. COLTER
  • Patent number: 9745668
    Abstract: A method of disordering a layer of an optoelectronic device including; growing a plurality of lower layers; introducing an isoelectronic surfactant; growing a layer; allowing the surfactant to desorb; and growing subsequent layers all performed at a low pressure of 25 torr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fetzer, James H. Ermer, Richard R. King, Peter C. Colter
  • Patent number: 9722131
    Abstract: A highly doped layer for interconnecting tunnel junctions in multijunction solar cells is presented. The highly doped layer is a delta doped layer in one or both layers of a tunnel diode junction used to connect two or more p-on-n or n-on-p solar cells in a multijunction solar cell. A delta doped layer is made by interrupting the epitaxial growth of one of the layers of the tunnel diode, depositing a delta dopant at a concentration substantially greater than the concentration used in growing the layer of the tunnel diode, and then continuing to epitaxially grow the remaining tunnel diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Publication number: 20170200845
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a solar cell device that a first Bragg reflector disposed below a first solar cell and a second Bragg reflector disposed below the first Bragg reflector, wherein the first solar cell comprises a dilute nitride composition and has a first bandgap, wherein the first Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a first range of radiation wavelengths back into the first solar cell and the second Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a third range of wavelengths back into the first solar cell, and the first Bragg reflector and the second Bragg reflector are operable to cool the solar cell device by reflecting a second range of radiation wavelengths that are outside the photogeneration wavelength range of the first solar cell or that are weakly absorbed by the first solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Moran Haddad, Philip T. Chiu, Xingquan Liu, Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Publication number: 20170200849
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to a solar cell device that includes a substrate comprising a front side surface and a backside surface; an epitaxial region overlying the substrate, wherein the epitaxial region comprises a first Bragg reflector disposed below a first solar cell, wherein the first solar cell has a first bandgap, wherein the first Bragg reflector is operable to reflect a first range of radiation wavelengths back into the first solar cell, and is operable to cool the solar cell device by reflecting a second range of radiation wavelengths that are outside the photogeneration wavelength range of the first solar cell or that are weakly absorbed by the first solar cell, and may additionally comprise a second Bragg reflector operable to reflect a third range of radiation wavelengths back into the first solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2016
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Moran Haddad, Philip T. Chiu, Xingquan Liu, Christopher M. Fetzer
  • Publication number: 20170191185
    Abstract: A method of disordering a layer of an optoelectronic device including; growing a plurality of lower layers; introducing an isoelectronic surfactant; growing a layer; allowing the surfactant to desorb; and growing subsequent layers all performed at a low pressure of 25 torr.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Publication date: July 6, 2017
    Inventors: Christopher M. Fetzer, James H. Ermer, Richard R. King, Peter C. Colter
  • Publication number: 20170092798
    Abstract: In one aspect, semiconductor structures are described herein. A semiconductor structure, in some implementations, comprises a first semiconductor layer having a first bandgap and a first lattice constant and a second semiconductor layer having a second bandgap and a second lattice constant. The second lattice constant is lower than the first lattice constant. Additionally, a transparent metamorphic buffer layer is disposed between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer. The buffer layer has a constant or substantially constant bandgap and a varying lattice constant. The varying lattice constant is matched to the first lattice constant adjacent the first semiconductor layer and matched to the second lattice constant adjacent the second semiconductor layer. The buffer layer comprises a first portion comprising AlyGazIn(1-y-z)As and a second portion comprising GaxIn(1-x)P.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2016
    Publication date: March 30, 2017
    Inventors: Xing-Quan Liu, Christopher M. Fetzer, Daniel C. Law, Richard R. King