Abstract: A new type of PV cell is comprised of a purposefully unique spatial configuration of multiple pairs of transparent thin PV films stacked top down in order of decreasing bandgaps corresponding to increasing wavelengths. Each thin-film pair is made of a material of desirable bandgap, and consecutive films separated from each other in space by a layer of air to force confinement of light waves of wavelength matching bandgap, enabling an infinite number of reflections until the wave energy corresponding to each desired wavelength is absorbed. The PV thin-films are coated to ensure that light of each wavelength is confined as intended. They are passivated to minimize surface recombination. This spatial arrangement provides multiple opportunities for photovoltaic conversion of each intended wavelength hence increasing overall conversion efficiency.

Abstract: A system and method for integrated charging a vehicle includes a hybrid excitation machine, operable as a traction motor and including a rotor separated by an air gap from a stator with AC windings. An AC utility line power supply is connected to the AC windings providing an electrical current to the vehicle and inducing a magnetic flux across the air gap and in the rotor. A short circuit, an open circuit, or a DC voltage may be applied to a DC winding in the stator to reduce the magnetic flux into the rotor. A field coil in the rotor may be excited with a DC voltage using a secondary coil on the rotor in a traction mode. The secondary coil is excited by the stator windings using field-oriented control in a “self-excited machine” embodiment, and is directly excited by a separate primary coil in an “externally-excited machine” embodiment.

Abstract: A metasurface lens assembly to perform chromatic separation includes a first layer with a plurality of nanofins extending transversely there from and each being optically anisotropic and transmissive to light in the visible spectrum and having an optical characteristic that is set according to a phase profile. A second layer is spaced apart from the first layer and includes a plurality of photosensitive subpixels each associated with a different color. In operation, many beams of light may be directed onto the metasurface lens from a source with each beam of light having a plurality of component colors. The nanofins may function in combination with one another according to the phase profile to bend and focus the beams of light onto the second layer with each of the component colors being bent and focused differently to direct the component colors onto corresponding ones of the photosensitive subpixels.

Abstract: A multilevel power converter, or inverter, for converting a direct current electrical power to an alternating current electrical power includes one or more 2-level converters each including gallium nitride (GaN) transistors configured to switch two input lines to a three-phase output line. The multilevel power converter may be used in a motor drive circuit, which may provide a 3-phase AC supply. Two power converters, which may be 2-level or 3-level power converters, may be alternately switched to provide the AC power to an AC motor by an output stage including bi-directional switching transistors configured to switch a corresponding three-phase output lines from the multilevel power converters. The multilevel power converters switch input lines from a neutral-point clamped input stage including capacitors connected in series across input terminals having a DC voltage therebetween to energize a midpoint terminal with an intermediate voltage half of the voltage between the input terminals.

Abstract: A system and method for integrated charging a vehicle includes a hybrid excitation machine, operable as a traction motor and including a rotor separated by an air gap from a stator with AC windings. An AC utility line power supply is connected to the AC windings providing an electrical current to the vehicle and inducing a magnetic flux across the air gap and in the rotor. A short circuit, an open circuit, or a DC voltage may be applied to a DC winding in the stator to reduce the magnetic flux into the rotor. A field coil in the rotor may be excited with a DC voltage using a secondary coil on the rotor in a traction mode. The secondary coil is excited by the stator windings using field-oriented control in a “self-excited machine” embodiment, and is directly excited by a separate primary coil in an “externally-excited machine” embodiment.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system for a vehicle included within a radiator module having a plurality of fins. At least two thermophysical batteries are provided, each including an adsorption bed unit and an evaporator condenser unit. At least one upper coolant line extends along the adsorption bed unit of each of the thermophysical batteries and is configured to be connected to a source of waste heat of the vehicle for transferring heat from the source of waste heat to a coolant contained in the coolant line and to the adsorption bed units to recharge the adsorption bed unit. At least one distribution element configured in discharge mode to convey heated fluids from adjacent the adsorption bed units or cooled fluids from adjacent to the evaporator condenser units to another region of the vehicle.

Abstract: A motor drive for providing AC power to an electric motor includes a DC bus and three output terminals for connection to the electric motor. A positive switch selectively connects a positive conductor of the DC bus with each of the output terminals and a negative switch selectively connects a negative conductor of the DC bus with each of the output terminals. Each of the switches are Gallium Nitride (GaN) power switches. A controller commands each of the switches at a high switching speed between 10 kHz and 100 kHz using pulse width modulation to approximate an AC waveform on each of the output terminals. A dead time between activation of corresponding two of the switches conn to be selected to minimize a fifth-order harmonic distortion current.

Abstract: A metasurface lens assembly to perform chromatic separation includes a first layer with a plurality of nanofins extending transversely there from and each being optically anisotropic and transmissive to light in the visible spectrum and having an optical characteristic that is set according to a phase profile. A second layer is spaced apart from the first layer and includes a plurality of photosensitive subpixels each associated with a different color. In operation, many beams of light may be directed onto the metasurface lens from a source with each beam of light having a plurality of component colors. The nanofins may function in combination with one another according to the phase profile to bend and focus the beams of light onto the second layer with each of the component colors being bent and focused differently to direct the component colors onto corresponding ones of the photosensitive subpixels.

Abstract: A heating and cooling system for a vehicle included within a radiator module having a plurality of fins. At least two thermophysical batteries are provided, each including an adsorption bed unit and an evaporator condenser unit. At least one upper coolant line extends along the adsorption bed unit of each of the thermophysical batteries and is configured to be connected to a source of waste heat of the vehicle for transferring heat from the source of waste heat to a coolant contained in the coolant line and to the adsorption bed units to recharge the adsorption bed unit. At least one distribution element configured in discharge mode to convey heated fluids from adjacent the adsorption bed units or cooled fluids from adjacent to the evaporator condenser units to another region of the vehicle.