Patents by Inventor Deborah A. KAMINSKI

Deborah A. KAMINSKI 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).

  • Patent number: 11955575
    Abstract: A system for providing a solar harvesting building envelope is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of solar harvesting apparatus configured to be installed as or on a building envelope in a manner like that of traditional shingles or siding. The apparatus includes a frame having a photovoltaic end wall, and reflective base and side walls. A translucent, wedge-shaped body layer is positioned on the frame. A luminescent species film is positioned at and substantially parallel to a base of the wedge-shaped body layer, such that the luminescent species film is positioned at an angle relative to the photovoltaic end wall. Light incident on the wedge-shaped body layer is concentrated towards the photovoltaic end wall, such as through absorption and re-emission along with scattering by the luminescent species film and internal reflection by the wedge-shaped body layer and the reflective base and side walls of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Michael Hughes, Diana-Andra Borca-Tasciuc, Deborah A. Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20220302333
    Abstract: A system for providing a solar harvesting building envelope is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of solar harvesting apparatus configured to be installed as or on a building envelope in a manner like that of traditional shingles or siding. The apparatus includes a frame having a photovoltaic end wall, and reflective base and side walls. A translucent, wedge-shaped body layer is positioned on the frame. A luminescent species film is positioned at and substantially parallel to a base of the wedge-shaped body layer, such that the luminescent species film is positioned at an angle relative to the photovoltaic end wall. Light incident on the wedge-shaped body layer is concentrated towards the photovoltaic end wall, such as through absorption and re-emission along with scattering by the luminescent species film and internal reflection by the wedge-shaped body layer and the reflective base and side walls of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2022
    Publication date: September 22, 2022
    Applicant: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Michael Hughes, Diana-Andra Borca-Tasciuc, Deborah A. Kaminski
  • Patent number: 11251323
    Abstract: A system for providing a solar harvesting building envelope is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of solar harvesting apparatus configured to be installed as or on a building envelope in manner like that of traditional shingles or siding. The apparatus includes a frame having a photovoltaic end wall, as well as reflective base and side walls. A translucent, wedge-shaped body layer is positioned on the frame. A luminescent species film is positioned at and substantially parallel to a base of the wedge-shaped body layer, such that the luminescent species film is positioned at an angle relative to the photovoltaic end wall. Light incident on the wedge-shaped body layer is concentrated towards the photovoltaic end wall, such as through absorption and re-emission along with scattering by the luminescent species film and internal reflection by the wedge-shaped body layer and the reflective base and side walls of the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Michael Hughes, Diana-Andra Borca-Tasciuc, Deborah A. Kaminski
  • Publication number: 20190245105
    Abstract: A system for providing a solar harvesting building envelope is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of solar harvesting apparatus configured to be installed as or on a building envelope in manner like that of traditional shingles or siding. The apparatus includes a frame having a photovoltaic end wall, as well as reflective base and side walls. A translucent, wedge-shaped body layer is positioned on the frame. A luminescent species film is positioned at and substantially parallel to a base of the wedge-shaped body layer, such that the luminescent species film is positioned at an angle relative to the photovoltaic end wall. Light incident on the wedge-shaped body layer is concentrated towards the photovoltaic end wall, such as through absorption and re-emission along with scattering by the luminescent species film and internal reflection by the wedge-shaped body layer and the reflective base and side walls of the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Applicant: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
    Inventors: Michael HUGHES, Diana-Andra BORCA-TASCIUC, Deborah A. KAMINSKI