Patents by Inventor Katherine M. Stika

Katherine M. Stika 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: 8338699
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains an oxidizable metal component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.5 to about 2 wt % of one or more chelating agent, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with an oxidizable metal component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Katherine M. Stika, Jason S. Wall
  • Patent number: 8330039
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains a silver component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.1 to about 2 wt % of one or more unsaturated heterocyclic compounds, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with a silver component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: E I du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Jason S. Wall, Katherine M. Stika
  • Publication number: 20120167958
    Abstract: Provided herein is a process for fabricating a solar cell module that is resistant to discoloration. The solar cell module comprises a solar cell assembly and an encapsulant. The solar cell assembly in turn comprises a solar cell and a metal component. The encapsulant is in contact with the metal component. The process comprises the step of applying an additive that prevents or reduces discoloration to the encapsulant or to the metal component. Further provided is a solar cell module that is a product of the process described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Jason S. Wall, Katherine M. Stika
  • Publication number: 20120160304
    Abstract: A solar cell module comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains a metal component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.001 to about 10.0 wt % of one or more aldehyde scavengers, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with a metal component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Jason S. Wall, Katherine M. Stika
  • Publication number: 20110114159
    Abstract: A solar cell module comprises a solar cell assembly and a polymeric encapsulant material. The polymeric encapsulant material is in contact with components of the solar cell assembly that comprise oxidizable metals, such as silver. Discoloration may result when metal cations migrate into the encapsulant material. An improved encapsulant material described herein includes one or more reducing agents to lessen or prevent this discoloration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: E.I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Richard Allen Hayes, Katherine M. Stika
  • Publication number: 20100180943
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains an oxidizable metal component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.5 to about 2 wt % of one or more chelating agent, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with an oxidizable metal component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Katherine M. Stika, Jason S. Wall
  • Publication number: 20100180942
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains an oxidizable metal component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.5 to about 2 wt % of one or more hindered amine, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with an oxidizable metal component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Rebecca L. Smith, Katherine M. Stika, Jason S. Wall
  • Publication number: 20100180947
    Abstract: Provided is a solar cell module that comprises a solar cell assembly. The solar cell assembly is encapsulated by a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant and contains a silver component that is at least partially in contact with the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. The poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant comprises poly(vinyl butyral), about 15 to about 45 wt % of one or more plasticizers, and about 0.1 to about 2 wt % of one or more unsaturated heterocyclic compounds, based on the total weight of the poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant. Further provided are an assembly for preparing the solar cell module; a process for preventing or reducing the discoloration of a poly(vinyl butyral) encapsulant in contact with a silver component in the solar cell module; and the use of the solar cell module to convert solar energy to electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: E. I. DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: REBECCA L. SMITH, Jason S. Wall, Katherine M. Stika