Patents by Inventor Harry Atwater

Harry Atwater 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).

  • Compactable Power Generation Arrays
    Publication number: 20170047886
    Abstract: Compactable power generation arrays are provided. The compactable power generation arrays may include a structural substrate body having an array of solar concentrators configured to receive and re-direct solar radiation onto a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) cells. In many other embodiments the PV cells may be disposed upon a back surface of each of the solar concentrators such that an adjacent solar concentrator is configured to re-direct solar radiation onto the PV cell disposed on the back surface of the adjacent solar concentrator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Sergio Pellegrino, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Emily C. Warmann, Dennis Callahan, Jeffrey P. Bosco
  • Systems and Methods for Performing Shape Estimation Using Sun Sensors in Large-Scale Space-Based Solar Power Stations
    Publication number: 20170047987
    Abstract: A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. In many embodiments, a reference signal is distributed within the space-based solar power station to coordinate the phased array. In several embodiments, determinations of the relative locations of the antennas in the array are generated by an array of sun sensors that estimate the shape of the module to evaluate the phase shift and/or amplitude modulation to apply to the reference signal at each power transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sergio Pellegrino, Seyed All Hajimiri, Harry A. Atwater, Thibaud Talon
  • OPTICAL MODULATING DEVICE HAVING GATE STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20170031183
    Abstract: An optical modulating device includes a permittivity change layer having a variable permittivity, a dielectric layer disposed on the permittivity change layer, a nanoantenna disposed on the dielectric layer, and a light-emitting structure disposed adjacent to the permittivity change layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seunghoon HAN, Ruzan SOKHOYAN, Harry ATWATER, Ghazaleh KAFAIE, Ragip PALA, Yu-Jung LU, Ho Wai LEE, Yao-Wei HUANG, Krishnan THYAGARAJAN
  • Large-Area Structures for Compact Packaging
    Publication number: 20170021947
    Abstract: A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom, and/or compactible structures and deployment mechanisms used to form and deploy such satellite modules and power generation tiles associated therewith are provided. Each satellite module and/or power generation tile may be formed of a compactable structure and deployment mechanism capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station and reliably deploy it once in orbit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Sergio Pellegrino, Harry A. Atwater, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Manan Arya, Christophe Leclerc, Nicolas Lee
  • Mirrors Transparent to Specific Regions of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
    Publication number: 20170025992
    Abstract: Systems and methods in accordance with various embodiments of the invention implement mirrors that are more transparent to specific regions of the electromagnetic spectrum (e.g. the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum) relative to conventional metallic mirrors (e.g. mirrors made form aluminum or silver). In one embodiment, a space-based solar power system includes: a photovoltaic material; and a mirror that is—relative to a 10 ?m thick sheet of aluminum—more transparent to at least one of a substantial portion of the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum and a substantial portion of the radio wave region of the electromagnetic spectrum; where the mirror is configured to focus incident visible light onto the photovoltaic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Sergio Pellegrino, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Emily C. Warmann
  • OPTICAL MODULATOR INCLUDING NANOSTRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20170023803
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes a plurality of nanostructures, each nanostructure of the plurality of nanostructures having a refractive index that is variable; a first insulation layer having a refractive index that is less than the individual refractive indexes of the plurality of nanostructures and surrounding the plurality of nanostructures; and a refractive index changer configured to change the refractive indexes of the plurality of nanostructures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Publication date: January 26, 2017
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seunghoon HAN, Muhammad Zulfiker ALAM, Harry ATWATER
  • SPECTRAL LIGHT SPLITTING MODULE AND PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170012157
    Abstract: A light splitting optical module that converts incident light into electrical energy, the module including a solid optical element comprising an input end for receiving light, a first side, and a second side spaced from the first side, a first solar cell adjacent to the first side of the solid optical element, and a second solar cell adjacent to the second side of the solid optical element. The first solar cell is positioned to absorb a first subset of incident light and reflect a first remainder of the incident light to the second solar cell through the solid optical element, wherein the first solar cell has a lower band gap than the second cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2014
    Publication date: January 12, 2017
    Inventors: Carissa Eisler, Weijun Zhou, Emily D. Kosten, Emily C. Warmann, Carrie E. Hofmann, Harry A. Atwater, Rebekah K. Feist, James C. Stevens
  • Large-Scale Space-Based Solar Power Station: Multi-Scale Modular Space Power
    Publication number: 20160380580
    Abstract: A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Each solar power station includes a plurality of satellite modules. The plurality of satellite modules each include a plurality of modular power generation tiles including a photovoltaic solar radiation collector, a power transmitter and associated control electronics. The power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. Each satellite module may be formed of a compactable structure capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Sergio Pellegrino, Behrooz Abiri, Florian Bohn, Jeffrey P. Bosco, Dennis Callahan, Emily C. Warmann, Manan Arya, Nicolas Lee, Melanie Delapierre
  • Large-Scale Space-Based Solar Power Station: Packaging, Deployment and Stabilization of Lightweight Structures
    Publication number: 20160376037
    Abstract: A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom, and/or compactible structures and deployment mechanisms used to form and deploy such satellite modules and power generation tiles associated therewith are provided. Each satellite module and/or power generation tile may be formed of a compactable structure and deployment mechanism capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station and reliably deploy it once in orbit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Sergio Pellegrino, Harry A. Atwater, Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Manan Arya, Nicolas Lee, Melanie Delapierre
  • Large-Scale Space-Based Solar Power Station: Power Transmission Using Steerable Beams
    Publication number: 20160380486
    Abstract: A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. In many embodiments, a reference signal is distributed within the space-based solar power station to coordinate the phased array. In several embodiments, determinations of the relative locations of the antennas in the array are utilized to evaluate the phase shift and/or amplitude modulation to apply the reference signal at each power transmitter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Seyed Ali Hajimiri, Harry A. Atwater, Sergio Pellegrino, Behrooz Abiri, Florian Bohn
  • Three-dimensional patterning methods and related devices
    Patent number: 9530912
    Abstract: Three-dimensional patterning methods of a three-dimensional microstructure, such as a semiconductor wire array, are described, in conjunction with etching and/or deposition steps to pattern the three-dimensional microstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: The California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Morgan C. Putnam, Michael D. Kelzenberg, Harry A. Atwater, Shannon W. Boettcher, Nathan S. Lewis, Joshua M. Spurgeon, Daniel B. Turner-Evans, Emily L. Warren
  • Nanoscale plasmonic field-effect modulator
    Patent number: 9494715
    Abstract: A plasmonic device having a transparent conducting oxide (TCO) waveguide and a tunable voltage applied across the TCO and a metal layer for modulating an input optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ho Wai Lee, Stanley Burgos, Georgia Papadakis, Harry A. Atwater
  • Solar Cells and Methods of Manufacturing Solar Cells Incorporating Effectively Transparent 3D Contacts
    Publication number: 20160322514
    Abstract: Solar cells in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention incorporate effectively transparent 3D contacts that redirect light incident on the contacts onto the photoabsorbing surfaces of the solar cells. One embodiment includes a photoabsorbing surface and a plurality of three-dimensional contacts formed on the photoabsorbing surface. The plurality of three-dimensional contacts are spaced apart so that radiation is incident on a portion of the photoabsorbing surface. In addition, the three-dimensional contacts include at least one surface that redirects radiation incident on the three-dimensional contacts onto the photoabsorbing surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Applicant: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Rebecca Saive, Aleca M. Borsuk, Hal Emmer, Colton Bukowsky, Sisir Yalamanchili
  • Virtual substrates for epitaxial growth and methods of making the same
    Patent number: 9455146
    Abstract: A virtual substrate includes a handle support and a strain-relieved single crystalline layer on the handle support. A method of making the virtual substrate includes growing a coherently-strained single crystalline layer on an initial growth substrate, removing the initial growth substrate to relieve the strain on the single crystalline layer, and applying the strain-relieved single crystalline layer on a handle support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Harry A. Atwater, Marina S. Leite, Emily C. Warmann, Dennis M. Callahan
  • OPTICAL MODULATING DEVICE HAVING GATE STRUCTURE
    Publication number: 20160223723
    Abstract: An optical modulation device includes a plasmonic nano-antenna layer, a metal layer that faces the plasmonic nano-antenna layer, and a permittivity variation layer and a dielectric material layer between the plasmonic nano-antenna layer and the metal layer. An active area formed in the permittivity variation layer according to an external signal may function as a gate that controls optical modulation performance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Applicants: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD., CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Seunghoon HAN, Yao-Wei HUANG, Harry A. ATWATER, Ho Wai LEE, Ruzan SOHKOYAN, Georgia PAPADAKIS, Krishnan THYAGARAJAN
  • Rapid self-assembly of block copolymers to photonic crystals
    Patent number: 9382387
    Abstract: The invention provides a class of copolymers having useful properties, including brush block copolymers, wedge-type block copolymers and hybrid wedge and polymer block copolymers. In an embodiment, for example, block copolymers of the invention incorporate chemically different blocks comprising polymer size chain groups and/or wedge groups that significantly inhibit chain entanglement, thereby enhancing molecular self-assembly processes for generating a range of supramolecular structures, such as periodic nanostructures and microstructures. The present invention also provides useful methods of making and using copolymers, including block copolymers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yan Xia, Benjamin R Sveinbjornsson, Robert H Grubbs, Raymond Weitekamp, Garret M Miyake, Harry A Atwater, Victoria Piunova, Christopher Scot Daeffler, Sung Woo Hong, Weiyin Gu, Thomas P. Russell
  • Optoelectronic device with enhanced efficiency and method of use
    Patent number: 9356183
    Abstract: A compound III/V optoelectronic device and method associated with such a device is disclosed. In one aspect, a method for an improved III/V compound optoelectronic device is disclosed. The method comprises applying a sulfur surfactant on the III/V compound optoelectronic device to improve passivation of the III/V compound optoelectronic device. In a second aspect, a III/V compound optoelectronic device is disclosed. The III/V compound optoelectronic device comprises a thin film device with a III/V compound semiconductor absorbing material, and a sulfur surfactant on the III/V compound thin film device to improve passivation of the III/V compound optoelectronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Matthew Sheldon, Carissa N. Eisler, Harry A. Atwater
  • PHOTON AND CARRIER MANAGEMENT DESIGN FOR NONPLANAR THIN-FILM COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM DISELENIDE PHOTOVOLTAICS
    Publication number: 20160111563
    Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are disclosed. The structures can comprise randomly or periodically structured layers, a dielectric layer to reduce back diffusion of charge carriers, and a metallic layer to reflect photons back towards the absorbing semiconductor layers. This design can increase efficiency of photovoltaic structures. The structures can be fabricated by nanoimprint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2015
    Publication date: April 21, 2016
    Inventors: Harry A. ATWATER, Dennis CALLAHAN, Colton BUKOWSKY
  • Method of making photovoltaic devices incorporating improved pnictide semiconductor films
    Patent number: 9287435
    Abstract: The present invention uses a treatment that involves an etching treatment that forms a pnictogen-rich region on the surface of a pnictide semiconductor film The region is very thin in many modes of practice, often being on the order of only 2 to 3 nm thick in many embodiments. Previous investigators have left the region in place without appreciating the fact of its presence and/or that its presence, if known, can compromise electronic performance of resultant devices. The present invention appreciates that the formation and removal of the region advantageously renders the pnictide film surface highly smooth with reduced electronic defects. The surface is well-prepared for further device fabrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignees: Dow Global Technologies LLC, California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Gregory M. Kimball, Harry A. Atwater, Nathan S. Lewis, Jeffrey P. Bosco, Rebekah K. Feist
  • METHOD OF MAKING PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH REDUCED CONDUCTION BAND OFFSET BETWEEN PNICTIDE ABSORBER FILMS AND EMITTER FILMS
    Publication number: 20160071994
    Abstract: The principles of the present invention are used to reduce the conduction band offset between chalcogenide emitter and pnictide absorber films. Alternatively stated, the present invention provides strategies to more closely match the electron affinity characteristics between the absorber and emitter components. The resultant photovoltaic devices have the potential to have higher efficiency and higher open circuit voltage. The resistance of the resultant junctions would be lower with reduced current leakage. In illustrative modes of practice, the present invention incorporates one or more tuning agents into the emitter layer in order to adjust the electron affinity characteristics, thereby reducing the conduction band offset between the emitter and the absorber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Bosco, Gregory M. Kimball, Harry A. Atwater, Nathan S. Lewis, Rebekah K. Feist, Marty W. DeGroot