Patents by Inventor Gabriela Bunea
Gabriela Bunea 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: 11283394Abstract: A system including a solar module installed on a roof deck, including a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. An upper surface of the superstrate layer includes an indentation pattern. The indentation pattern includes a mesh of indentations indented into the upper surface of the superstrate layer and a plurality of openings defined by the mesh of indentations.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2021Date of Patent: March 22, 2022Assignee: GAF ENERGY LLCInventors: Richard Perkins, Alex Sharenko, Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Anna Wojtowicz
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Patent number: 11251744Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic shingles installed on a roof deck, each of the shingles having a first layer including a head lap portion, and a second layer including at least one solar cell. A first photovoltaic shingle overlays at least a part of the head lap portion of a second photovoltaic shingle. The system includes at least one wireway installed proximate to a first end of at least the first photovoltaic shingle.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: GAF Energy LLCInventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Michael David Kuiper, Evan Michael Wray, Lewis Abra, Peter Clemente, Brian West
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Publication number: 20210273599Abstract: A photovoltaic module having a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer being juxtaposed with a lower surface of the superstrate layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. A first portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant includes a first light scattering value as measured in accordance with an ASTM E430 standard, and a second portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant has a second light scattering value as measured in accordance with the ASTM E430 standard. The second light scattering value is greater than the first light scattering value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2021Publication date: September 2, 2021Inventors: Richard Perkins, Alex Sharenko, Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Anna Wojtowicz
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Publication number: 20210257961Abstract: A system including a solar module installed on a roof deck, including a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. An upper surface of the superstrate layer includes an indentation pattern. The indentation pattern includes a mesh of indentations indented into the upper surface of the superstrate layer and a plurality of openings defined by the mesh of indentations.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2021Publication date: August 19, 2021Inventors: Richard Perkins, Alex Sharenko, Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Anna Wojtowicz
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Publication number: 20210226576Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an integrated photovoltaic (PV) roofing shingle comprising a photovoltaic (PV) module and a roofing shingle. In some embodiments, the roofing shingle is bonded to the PV module. In some embodiments, a bond strength between the roofing shingle and the PV module is from 5 N/mm to 60 N/mm tested according to ASTM D1876. In some embodiments, the integrated PV roofing shingle has a mass per unit area of 0.5 lb per square foot to 5 lbs per square foot. Methods, systems, and kits including the integrated PV roofing shingle are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2021Publication date: July 22, 2021Inventors: Nathan Peterson, Richard Perkins, Alex Sharenko, Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20200350454Abstract: Photovoltaic (PV) cells that can be interconnected with improved interconnect joints to form PV cell strings and PV modules. The improved interconnect joints comprise at least two types of adhesive bonding regions to maximize both electrical conductivity and mechanical strength of interconnect joints coupling terminals of PV cells. The disclosed approaches to PV cell interconnection provide greater manufacturing rates and higher quality PV cell strings and PV modules.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2020Publication date: November 5, 2020Inventors: Sunny Sethi, Michele Guide, Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen
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Publication number: 20190157468Abstract: A bifacial solar cell module includes solar cells that are protected by front side packaging components and backside packaging components. The front side packaging components include a transparent top cover on a front portion of the solar cell module. The backside packaging components have a transparent portion that allows light coming from a back portion of the solar cell module to reach the solar cells, and a reflective portion that reflects light coming from the front portion of the solar cell module. The transparent and reflective portions may be integrated with a backsheet, e.g., by printing colored pigments on the backsheet. The reflective portion may also be on a reflective component that is separate from the backsheet. In that case, the reflective component may be placed over a clear backsheet before or after packaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Sung Dug KIM, Gabriela BUNEA
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Patent number: 10243087Abstract: A bifacial solar cell module includes solar cells that are protected by front side packaging components and backside packaging components. The front side packaging components include a transparent top cover on a front portion of the solar cell module. The backside packaging components have a transparent portion that allows light coming from a back portion of the solar cell module to reach the solar cells, and a reflective portion that reflects light coming from the front portion of the solar cell module. The transparent and reflective portions may be integrated with a backsheet, e.g., by printing colored pigments on the backsheet. The reflective portion may also be on a reflective component that is separate from the backsheet. In that case, the reflective component may be placed over a clear backsheet before or after packaging.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Sung Dug Kim, Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20180316302Abstract: This specification describes angled polymer solar modules, methods for producing angled polymer solar modules, and methods for installing angled polymer solar modules. In some examples, a method includes producing a flat polymer sheet including one or more photovoltaic cells. The method includes applying force to the flat polymer sheet to curve the flat polymer sheet in at least one region, forming an angled polymer sheet from the flat polymer sheet. The method includes mounting the angled polymer sheet on a roof deck such that the photovoltaic cells are angled with respect to the roof deck by virtue of the at least one region being curved.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 27, 2018Publication date: November 1, 2018Inventors: David Okawa, Tamir Lance, Gabriela Bunea, Brian Wares, Zachary Judkins
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Patent number: 10020412Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2016Date of Patent: July 10, 2018Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20180053860Abstract: A bifacial solar cell module includes solar cells that are protected by front side packaging components and backside packaging components. The front side packaging components include a transparent top cover on a front portion of the solar cell module. The backside packaging components have a transparent portion that allows light coming from a back portion of the solar cell module to reach the solar cells, and a reflective portion that reflects light coming from the front portion of the solar cell module. The transparent and reflective portions may be integrated with a backsheet, e.g., by printing colored pigments on the backsheet. The reflective portion may also be on a reflective component that is separate from the backsheet. In that case, the reflective component may be placed over a clear backsheet before or after packaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2017Publication date: February 22, 2018Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventors: Sung Dug KIM, Gabriela BUNEA
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Patent number: 9812590Abstract: A bifacial solar cell module includes solar cells that are protected by front side packaging components and backside packaging components. The front side packaging components include a transparent top cover on a front portion of the solar cell module. The backside packaging components have a transparent portion that allows light coming from a back portion of the solar cell module to reach the solar cells, and a reflective portion that reflects light coming from the front portion of the solar cell module. The transparent and reflective portions may be integrated with a backsheet, e.g., by printing colored pigments on the backsheet. The reflective portion may also be on a reflective component that is separate from the backsheet. In that case, the reflective component may be placed over a clear backsheet before or after packaging.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2012Date of Patent: November 7, 2017Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventors: Sung Dug Kim, Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20170271538Abstract: A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backside of the solar cells. An encapsulant protectively packages the solar cells. The encapsulant and the transparent cover forms a top protection package that has a combined UV transmission curve and volume specific resistance that addresses polarization. The encapsulant has a relatively wide UV transmission curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2017Publication date: September 21, 2017Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventors: Gabriela BUNEA, Nicholas BOITNOTT
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Publication number: 20170012152Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2016Publication date: January 12, 2017Applicant: SunPower CorporationInventor: Gabriela BUNEA
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Patent number: 9466752Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2014Date of Patent: October 11, 2016Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20140322855Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATIONInventor: Gabriela BUNEA
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Patent number: 8796061Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: SunPower CorporationInventor: Gabriela Bunea
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Publication number: 20140179050Abstract: Solar cells are packaged by placing the solar cells between sheets of encapsulants. The encapsulants are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light to cure the encapsulants and bond the encapsulants together to encapsulate the solar cells. The UV curing steps may be performed to bond one of the encapsulants to a transparent top cover and the solar cells, and to bond the other encapsulant to the solar cells and a backsheet. A protective package that includes the transparent top cover, encapsulated solar cells, and the backsheet is then optionally mounted on a frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Inventor: Gabriela BUNEA
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Publication number: 20110048505Abstract: A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backside of the solar cells. An encapsulant protectively packages the solar cells. The encapsulant and the transparent cover forms a top protection package that has a combined UV transmission curve and volume specific resistance that addresses polarization. The encapsulant has a relatively wide UV transmission curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Nicholas Boitnott