Patents by Inventor John M. Kenkel

John M. Kenkel 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: 11874711
    Abstract: Systems and methods of generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell are described herein. In some embodiments, a dual-cell arrangement of photovoltaic cells may be disposed on a face. Equal parts of a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell may be disposed on the face such that when a portion of the face is shaded, the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell receive substantially equal amounts of electromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of sub-cell connected in series and parallel to optimize the power output form the partially exposed cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Inventors: John M. Kenkel, Mohamed Bouchoucha, Jing-Yi Wang
  • Publication number: 20230261121
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell is described herein. The photovoltaic cell may be disposed over a display of an electronic device. The photovoltaic cell may comprise first and second conductive layers and a photovoltaic layer. The first conductive layer may be etched such that a width of the metal layer is less than a width of the photovoltaic layer providing visibility to the display disposed below. In some embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor is disposed between the metal layer and the absorber layer for providing interaction with a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 17, 2023
    Inventors: Lionel J. Dupuy, John M. Kenkel
  • Publication number: 20230187822
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a housing, a display stack, a bezel, a solar cell, and a first antenna. The housing includes a bottom wall and a side wall coupled to the bottom wall, the side wall and the bottom wall define a portion of an internal cavity. The display stack includes a display cover and a solar cell configured to output an electric power having a power level corresponding to an intensity of light received by the solar cell. The bezel is coupled to an upper edge of the side wall of the housing, the bezel enclosing the display cover. The solar cell includes a substrate and a photovoltaic layer, the photovoltaic layer including a mesh of electrically conductive material positioned on the substrate and a first opening. The first antenna is formed by the first opening of the photovoltaic layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2022
    Publication date: June 15, 2023
    Inventors: Abu T. Sayem, Juhi H. Godhwani, Mohamed Bouchoucha, Jacob T. Zeller, John M. Kenkel, Oliver R. F. Gagliano, Georgios Atmatzakis, Lionel J. Dupuy
  • Patent number: 11670724
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell is described herein. The photovoltaic cell may be disposed over a display of an electronic device. The photovoltaic cell may comprise first and second conductive layers and a photovoltaic layer. The first conductive layer may be etched such that a width of the metal layer is less than a width of the photovoltaic layer providing visibility to the display disposed below. In some embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor is disposed between the metal layer and the absorber layer for providing interaction with a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventors: Lionel J. Dupuy, John M. Kenkel
  • Publication number: 20210296518
    Abstract: Systems and methods of generating electrical power for a portable electronic device from a photovoltaic power system are described herein. In some embodiments, a photovoltaic module comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface. The interior photovoltaic cells may be disposed in photovoltaic stripes on the interior surface and exterior photovoltaic cells may be disposed on the exterior surface. Substantially opaque materials are employed to provide a photovoltaic-powered portable electric device with an improved appearance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Mohamed Bouchoucha, John M. Kenkel, Wen-Yu Wu, Yu-Hung Lin
  • Publication number: 20210294395
    Abstract: Systems and methods of generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell are described herein. In some embodiments, a dual-cell arrangement of photovoltaic cells may be disposed on a face. Equal parts of a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell may be disposed on the face such that when a portion of the face is shaded, the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell receive substantially equal amounts of electromagnetic radiation. In some embodiments, the first photovoltaic cell and the second photovoltaic cell comprises a plurality of sub-cell connected in series and parallel to optimize the power output form the partially exposed cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: John M. Kenkel, Mohamed Bouchoucha, Jing-Yi Wang
  • Publication number: 20210296514
    Abstract: Systems and methods for generating electrical current from at least one photovoltaic cell is described herein. The photovoltaic cell may be disposed over a display of an electronic device. The photovoltaic cell may comprise first and second conductive layers and a photovoltaic layer. The first conductive layer may be etched such that a width of the metal layer is less than a width of the photovoltaic layer providing visibility to the display disposed below. In some embodiments, a capacitive touch sensor is disposed between the metal layer and the absorber layer for providing interaction with a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Inventors: Lionel J. Dupuy, John M. Kenkel
  • Patent number: 10971805
    Abstract: A wrist-worn electronic device configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in two frequency bands comprises a bezel loop antenna, first and second signal processing elements, a diplexer, and a tuning element. The bezel loop antenna has a first impedance and is configured to wirelessly receive first and second electronic signals simultaneously. The first and second signal processing elements process the first electronic signal having a frequency in a first frequency band and the second electronic signal having a frequency in a second frequency band. The diplexer is configured to receive the first and second electronic signals and output the first electronic signal to the first signal processing element and the second electronic signal to the second signal processing element. The tuning element has a second impedance causing the bezel loop antenna to wirelessly receive electronic signals in the first frequency band and electronic signals in the second frequency band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Inventors: John M. Kenkel, Abu T. Sayem, Ting-Ying Chen
  • Publication number: 20190379122
    Abstract: A wrist-worn electronic device configured to transmit and receive wireless signals in two frequency bands comprises a bezel loop antenna, first and second signal processing elements, a diplexer, and a tuning element. The bezel loop antenna has a first impedance and is configured to wirelessly receive first and second electronic signals simultaneously. The first and second signal processing elements process the first electronic signal having a frequency in a first frequency band and the second electronic signal having a frequency in a second frequency band. The diplexer is configured to receive the first and second electronic signals and output the first electronic signal to the first signal processing element and the second electronic signal to the second signal processing element. The tuning element has a second impedance causing the bezel loop antenna to wirelessly receive electronic signals in the first frequency band and electronic signals in the second frequency band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Inventors: John M. Kenkel, Abu T. Sayem, Ting-Ying Chen