Patents by Inventor David C. Okawa
David C. Okawa 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: 11646387Abstract: A method of fabricating solar cell, solar laminate and/or solar module string is provided. The method may include: locating a metal foil over a plurality of semiconductor substrates; exposing the metal foil to laser beam over selected portions of the plurality of semiconductor substrates, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms a plurality conductive contact structures having of locally deposited metal portion electrically connecting the metal foil to the semiconductor substrates at the selected portions; and selectively removing portions of the metal foil, wherein remaining portions of the metal foil extend between at least two of the plurality of semiconductor substrates.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: May 9, 2023Assignee: Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.Inventors: Pei Hsuan Lu, Benjamin I. Hsia, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, David C. Okawa, David F. Kavulak, Lewis C. Abra, George G. Correos, Richard Hamilton Sewell, Ryan Reagan, Tamir Lance, Thierry Nguyen
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Publication number: 20230086161Abstract: Photovoltaic panels may be aggregated in various ways and may be aggregated with the use of a backplane where the backplane comprises electrical connectors positioned to electrically connect the PV panels. The PV panels may have various sizes and shapes and may overlap one or more other PV panels or PV panels being aggregated.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2022Publication date: March 23, 2023Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: David C. Okawa, Zachary S. Judkins, Tamir Lance, Tyler D. Newman, Thierry H. Nguyen, Ryan Reagan
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Publication number: 20230055522Abstract: Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2022Publication date: February 23, 2023Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, David C. Okawa, Brian S. Wares, Tamir Lance, Patrick L. Chapman
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Patent number: 11527990Abstract: Photovoltaic panels may be aggregated in various ways and may be aggregated with the use of a backplane where the backplane comprises electrical connectors positioned to electrically connect the PV panels. The PV panels may have various sizes and shapes and may overlap one or more other PV panels or PV panels being aggregated.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: David C. Okawa, Zachary S. Judkins, Tamir Lance, Tyler D. Newman, Thierry H. Nguyen, Ryan Reagan
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Patent number: 11495698Abstract: Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, David C. Okawa, Brian S. Wares, Tamir Lance, Patrick L. Chapman
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Publication number: 20210408313Abstract: Strings of solar cells having laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures, and their methods of manufacture, are described. For example, a solar cell string includes a first solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a first metal foil to the back side of the first solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a second solar cell having a front side and a back side, and one or more laser assisted metallization conductive contact structures electrically connecting a second metal foil to the back side of the second solar cell. The solar cell string also includes a conductive interconnect coupling the first and second solar cells, the conductive interconnect including a strain relief feature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 23, 2021Publication date: December 30, 2021Inventors: Pei Hsuan Lu, Tyler D. Newman, Paul W. Loscutoff, George G. Correos, Yafu Lin, Andrea R. Bowring, David C. Okawa, Matthew T. Matsumoto, Benjamin I. Hsia, Arbaz Ahmed Shakir, John H. Lippiatt, Simone I. Nazareth, Ryan Reagan, Todd R. Johnson, Ned Western, Tamir Lance, Marc Robinson
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Patent number: 11005416Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
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Patent number: 10972046Abstract: A solar device system includes one or more solar devices shingled into an array of solar devices. Each solar device includes one or more current generation cells configured to generate electric current, a plurality of current buses, and a control circuit configured to distribute the generated electric current to the plurality of current buses, and route the generated electric current to an adjacent solar device. Additionally, the solar device system includes an array collector electrically connected to the one or more solar devices, the array collector being configured to collect the generated electrical current from the one or more solar devices and direct the generated electrical current to an inverter or a power grid.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2018Date of Patent: April 6, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
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Publication number: 20200266759Abstract: Photovoltaic panels may be aggregated in various ways and may be aggregated with the use of a backplane where the backplane comprises electrical connectors positioned to electrically connect the PV panels. The PV panels may have various sizes and shapes and may overlap one or more other PV panels or PV panels being aggregated.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 12, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: David C. Okawa, Zachary S. Judkins, Tamir Lance, Tyler D. Newman, Thierry H. Nguyen, Ryan Reagan
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Publication number: 20200153384Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2020Publication date: May 14, 2020Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
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Patent number: 10581372Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: March 3, 2020Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
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Publication number: 20190386608Abstract: Modular photovoltaic (PV) panel, system, and method of mounting. The system including a mounting flashing configured to mounted to a mounting surface and a folding PV panel. The folding PV panel including: a first subpanel including first PV cells, wherein the first subpanel extends along a first lateral plane and comprises a plurality of mounting hooks extending laterally from and affixed to a backside of the first subpanel, the mounting hooks configured to couple to the mounting flashing; a second subpanel including second PV cells, wherein the second subpanel extends along a second lateral plane, wherein the second subpanel comprises a front edge support configured to hold a front edge of the second subpanel away from the mounting surface; and a hinge assembly rotationally coupling the first subpanel and the second subpanel to allow an angle between the first lateral plane and the second lateral plane to change.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2018Publication date: December 19, 2019Inventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance
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Publication number: 20190312166Abstract: A method of fabricating solar cell, solar laminate and/or solar module string is provided. The method may include: locating a metal foil over a plurality of semiconductor substrates; exposing the metal foil to laser beam over selected portions of the plurality of semiconductor substrates, wherein exposing the metal foil to the laser beam forms a plurality conductive contact structures having of locally deposited metal portion electrically connecting the metal foil to the semiconductor substrates at the selected portions; and selectively removing portions of the metal foil, wherein remaining portions of the metal foil extend between at least two of the plurality of semiconductor substrates.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Inventors: Pei Hsuan Lu, Benjamin I. Hsia, David Aaron Randolph Barkhouse, David C. Okawa, David F. Kavulak, Lewis C. Abra, George G. Correos, Richard Hamilton Sewell, Ryan Reagan, Tamir Lance, Thierry Nguyen
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Publication number: 20190312159Abstract: Reconfigurable PV panels can have features that include cut lines for separating full panels into smaller subpanels, connector ribbons for assembling several reconfigurable PV panels into a one-dimensional or two-dimensional array and can be stacked upon each other and unstacked by rotating them about a shared connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2019Publication date: October 10, 2019Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Zachary S. Judkins, David C. Okawa, Brian S. Wares, Tamir Lance, Patrick L. Chapman
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Publication number: 20190074795Abstract: A solar device system includes one or more solar devices shingled into an array of solar devices. Each solar device includes one or more current generation cells configured to generate electric current, a plurality of current buses, and a control circuit configured to distribute the generated electric current to the plurality of current buses, and route the generated electric current to an adjacent solar device. Additionally, the solar device system includes an array collector electrically connected to the one or more solar devices, the array collector being configured to collect the generated electrical current from the one or more solar devices and direct the generated electrical current to an inverter or a power grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2018Publication date: March 7, 2019Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Jonathan L. Ehlmann, Lee J. Gorny, Thierry H. Nguyen, David C. Okawa
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Patent number: 8822618Abstract: An embodiment of a microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of making microcapsules includes forming a mixture of a light absorbing material and an organic solution. An emulsion of the mixture and an aqueous solution is then formed. A polymerization agent is added to the emulsion, which causes microcapsules to be formed. Each microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of using microcapsules includes providing phototriggerable microcapsules within a bulk material. Each of the phototriggerable microcapsules includes a shell surrounding a space, a chemically reactive material within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the shell.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: September 2, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: David C. Okawa, Stefan J. Pastine, Alexander K. Zettl, Jean M. J. Frechet
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Publication number: 20120253000Abstract: An embodiment of a microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of making microcapsules includes forming a mixture of a light absorbing material and an organic solution. An emulsion of the mixture and an aqueous solution is then formed. A polymerization agent is added to the emulsion, which causes microcapsules to be formed. Each microcapsule includes a shell surrounding a space, a liquid within the shell, and light absorbing material within the liquid. An embodiment of a method of using microcapsules includes providing phototriggerable microcapsules within a bulk material. Each of the phototriggerable microcapsules includes a shell surrounding a space, a chemically reactive material within the shell, and a light absorbing material within the shell.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: October 4, 2012Applicant: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventors: David C. Okawa, Stefan J. Pastine, Alexander K. Zettl, Jean M.J. Frechet
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Patent number: D921573Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2018Date of Patent: June 8, 2021Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Brian Wares, David C. Okawa, Tamir Lance