Patents by Inventor Gopal Prabhu
Gopal Prabhu 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: 11588064Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2020Date of Patent: February 21, 2023Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
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Patent number: 11349040Abstract: In embodiments, a photovoltaic cell has an expanded metal article configured as a mesh, a semiconductor material, and a front metallic article. The expanded metal article has a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings, and has a plurality of cuts in the mesh. The expanded metal article is electrically coupled to a back surface of the semiconductor material. The front metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled to a front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged on the photovoltaic cell to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20210111293Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2020Publication date: April 15, 2021Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
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Patent number: 10886424Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. A solder is plated on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements while on the mandrel. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements. The solder on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements is not blackened.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2019Date of Patent: January 5, 2021Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
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Publication number: 20200295212Abstract: In embodiments, a photovoltaic cell has an expanded metal article configured as a mesh, a semiconductor material, and a front metallic article. The expanded metal article has a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings, and has a plurality of cuts in the mesh. The expanded metal article is electrically coupled to a back surface of the semiconductor material. The front metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled to a front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged on the photovoltaic cell to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 28, 2020Publication date: September 17, 2020Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Patent number: 10672927Abstract: Methods include providing an expanded metal article configured as a mesh. The expanded metal article has a plurality of cuts in the mesh and has a surface comprising a plurality of solder pads. A semiconductor material is provided, having a back surface comprising a plurality of silver pads. A front surface of the semiconductor material serves as a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. A front metallic article is provided, the front metallic article comprising a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled with the front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2019Date of Patent: June 2, 2020Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20200013913Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. A solder is plated on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements while on the mandrel. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements. The solder on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements is not blackened.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 27, 2019Publication date: January 9, 2020Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
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Patent number: 10411152Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a heat source, a first plate, a second plate, and an actuation mechanism. The first plate is coupled to the heat source. The first and second plates are thermally conductive and configured to cover an entire solar cell. The actuation mechanism moves the bonding apparatus between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first plate and the second plate contact opposite surfaces of the solar cell. The second plate is configured to dissipate heat such that the second plate has a lower temperature than the first plate when in the closed position. The first plate and the second plate apply a force to the solar cell, the force at a first end of the solar cell being different than at a second end of the solar cell when the bonding apparatus is in or moving to the closed position.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2017Date of Patent: September 10, 2019Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kent Riley Child, Jesse Dam, Arthur Rudin, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali
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Publication number: 20190140125Abstract: Methods include providing an expanded metal article configured as a mesh. The expanded metal article has a plurality of cuts in the mesh and has a surface comprising a plurality of solder pads. A semiconductor material is provided, having a back surface comprising a plurality of silver pads. A front surface of the semiconductor material serves as a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. A front metallic article is provided, the front metallic article comprising a plurality of electroformed elements interconnected to form a unitary, free-standing piece comprising a continuous grid. The continuous grid of the front metallic article is electrically coupled with the front surface of the semiconductor material. The plurality of cuts of the expanded metal article is arranged to relieve stresses induced by the front metallic article on the front surface of the semiconductor material.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 3, 2019Publication date: May 9, 2019Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Patent number: 10181542Abstract: A method comprises providing an expanded metal article having a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings. The expanded metal article has a surface comprising a plurality of solder pads. A semiconductor material with a top surface and a bottom surface is provided, the bottom surface having a plurality of silver pads and the top surface serving as a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. At a plurality of soldering locations, a majority of the plurality of solder pads on the surface of the expanded metal article is electrically coupled with the plurality of silver pads on the bottom surface of the semiconductor material. Also disclosed is a photovoltaic cell resulting from this method.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2016Date of Patent: January 15, 2019Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20170373217Abstract: A bonding apparatus includes a heat source, a first plate, a second plate, and an actuation mechanism. The first plate is coupled to the heat source. The first and second plates are thermally conductive and configured to cover an entire solar cell. The actuation mechanism moves the bonding apparatus between an open position and a closed position. In the closed position, the first plate and the second plate contact opposite surfaces of the solar cell. The second plate is configured to dissipate heat such that the second plate has a lower temperature than the first plate when in the closed position. The first plate and the second plate apply a force to the solar cell, the force at a first end of the solar cell being different than at a second end of the solar cell when the bonding apparatus is in or moving to the closed position.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2017Publication date: December 28, 2017Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Kent Riley Child, Jesse Dam, Arthur Rudin, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali
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Publication number: 20170288081Abstract: A photovoltaic module has a flexible backing substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and an electrical conduit. The photovoltaic cells are mounted on the backing substrate. Each photovoltaic cell has a metallic article, the metallic article including a plurality of electroformed elements comprising a cell interconnection element integral with a continuous grid having a plurality of first elements intersecting a plurality of second elements. The electroformed elements are interconnected and integral, with the continuous grid in contact with the light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. The cell interconnection element extends beyond the light-incident surface and couples the continuous grid to a neighboring photovoltaic cell. The electrical conduit has a flexible strip of electrically conductive material.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2017Publication date: October 5, 2017Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu, Prashant Ramesh, Vishal Chandrashekar
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Publication number: 20170098728Abstract: A method comprises providing an expanded metal article having a plurality of first segments intersecting a plurality of second segments thereby forming a plurality of openings. The expanded metal article has a surface comprising a plurality of solder pads. A semiconductor material with a top surface and a bottom surface is provided, the bottom surface having a plurality of silver pads and the top surface serving as a light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. At a plurality of soldering locations, a majority of the plurality of solder pads on the surface of the expanded metal article is electrically coupled with the plurality of silver pads on the bottom surface of the semiconductor material. Also disclosed is a photovoltaic cell resulting from this method.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2016Publication date: April 6, 2017Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, David Tanner
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Publication number: 20160204303Abstract: Methods include providing a metallic article that is configured to serve as an electrical conduit within a photovoltaic cell. The processes further include providing a semiconductor substrate that includes a coating at a top surface of the semiconductor substrate, where the coating is a dielectric anti-reflective coating, a transparent conductive oxide or an amorphous silicon. The metallic article is coupled to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate, including soldering a first surface of the metallic article to the top surface of the semiconductor substrate using an active solder.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2014Publication date: July 14, 2016Inventors: Gopal Prabhu, Dong Xu, Venkatesan Murali
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Publication number: 20160027947Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 10, 2014Publication date: January 28, 2016Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Patent number: 9054238Abstract: A photovoltaic cell and method of forming the cell includes providing an electroformed metallic article having a plurality of electroformed elements that form a free-standing, unitary piece. The metallic article has gridlines that are spaced apart at a pitch PM. A semiconductor substrate has a top surface with a plurality of silver, where at least one of the silver patterns comprises pattern segments spaced apart at a pitch PS. The pattern segments have a length LS defined by the equation LS=PM?k*PS/2, k being a value from 1.0 to 1.4. The metallic article is coupled to the semiconductor substrate, in which a first electroformed element in the plurality of electroformed elements is coupled to a first silver pattern in the plurality of silver patterns.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2014Date of Patent: June 9, 2015Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, David Tanner, Dong Xu
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Publication number: 20150037537Abstract: A method of removing material from a sapphire article is described. In particular, the method comprises the step of providing an initial sapphire layer and reducing the thickness of the layer while not significantly increasing the surface roughness of the layer. Cover plates for electronic device and methods of preparing them are also disclosed, along with a method of analyzing a sapphire article produced by the present method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali
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Publication number: 20150037897Abstract: A method of removing material from a sapphire article is described. In particular, the method comprises the step of providing an initial sapphire layer and reducing the thickness of the layer while not significantly increasing the surface roughness of the layer, Cover plates for electronic device and methods of preparing them are also disclosed, along with a method of analyzing a sapphire article produced by the present method.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2014Publication date: February 5, 2015Inventors: Gopal Prabhu, Venkatesan Murali, Daniel Squiller
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Patent number: 8940998Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2013Date of Patent: January 27, 2015Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
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Patent number: 8936709Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell. A first electroformed element has at least one of: a) a non-uniform width along a first length of the first element, b) a change in conduit direction along the first length of the first element, c) an expansion segment along the first length of the first element, d) a first width that is different from a second width of a second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, e) a first height that is different from a second height of the second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, and f) a top surface that is textured.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2013Date of Patent: January 20, 2015Assignee: GTAT CorporationInventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu