Patents by Inventor Kevin R. Gibson
Kevin R. Gibson 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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Publication number: 20100282316Abstract: A solar concentrator structure including a plurality of glass concentrator elements with a notch design. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a solar cell concentrator structure. The structure includes an outside surface. The structure also includes an inside surface, the inside surface being substantially flat. The structure includes a first concentrator element integrally formed on the outside surface, the first concentrator element having a first curved surface, the curved surface being characterized by a radius of at least 1 mm, the curved surface having a first flat region of at least 0.25 mm, the flat region being at least 4 mm from the inside surface. The structure includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element and the outside surface, the second concentrator element including a second curved surface and a second flat region.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Abhay Maheshwari
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Publication number: 20100186819Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 26, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: Solarie CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie Funcell
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Publication number: 20100071753Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2009Publication date: March 25, 2010Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie Funcell
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Publication number: 20090266403Abstract: A method of forming a solar device. The method includes providing one or more photovoltaic cells having a front surface region and a back surface region. The method includes providing a first conductor element having a first side operably coupled to a first region of the front surface region of the one or more photovoltaic cells and a second side. In a specific embodiment, the conductor element includes a first anisotropic conducting tape material or a first conducting tape material, the first conducting element having a first thickness, a first length, and a first width. The method performs a bonding process to cause the first conductor element to conduct electric current in a first selected direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2009Publication date: October 29, 2009Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Shirish Shah, Abhay Maheshwari, Kevin R. Gibson
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Publication number: 20090188563Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2009Publication date: July 30, 2009Applicant: SOLARIA CORPORATIONInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie Funcell
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Publication number: 20090152745Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated solar cell and concentrator. The method includes providing a first photovoltaic region and a second photovoltaic region disposed within a first mold member. A second mold member is coupled to the first mold member to form a cavity region. The cavity region forms a first concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the first photovoltaic region and a second concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the second photovoltaic region. The method includes transferring a molding compound in a fluidic state into the cavity region to fill the cavity region with the molding compound and initiating a curing process of the molding compound to form a first concentrator element and a second concentrator element overlying the respective photovoltaic regions.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 11, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: KEVIN R. GIBSON, ABHAY MAHESHWARI
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Publication number: 20090151770Abstract: A method and system for manufacturing an integrated concentrator photovoltaic device is disclosed. In an embodiment, the invention includes a one step process using a sheet of coupling material provided in a pre-arranged pattern to couple an array of photovoltaic members to an array of respective optical concentrating members.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2008Publication date: June 18, 2009Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: KEVIN R. GIBSON, Alelie Funcell, Abhay Maheshwari, Shirish Shah
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Publication number: 20090056788Abstract: The invention provides a solar concentrator structure including a first concentrating element. The first concentrating element includes a first aperture region, a first exit region, a first side and a second side. The solar concentrator structure further includes a second or more concentrating elements integrally coupled with the first concentrating element in a parallel manner. The second concentrating element includes a second aperture region, a second exit region, the third side, and a fourth side. The third side joins with the second side to form an apex notch structure characterized by a radius of curvature. Additionally, the solar concentrator structure includes a separation region by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region and a triangular region including the apex notch structure and a base defined by the separation region and a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: SOLARIA CORPORATIONInventor: KEVIN R. GIBSON
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Publication number: 20090056806Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: March 5, 2009Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie Funcell
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Publication number: 20090038343Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass concentrator for a solar module. The method includes providing a glass material in a molten state and processing the glass material in the molten state to form a ribbon glass including a first surface and a second surface. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the first surface to one or more drum members to form a plurality of concentrating structures while continuously passing the ribbon glass via the second surface over a plurality of rollers. Each of the concentrating structures includes an aperture region, an exit region, and one or more reflection regions. The aperture region is configured to receive incoming light and the one or more reflection regions are configured to concentrate the received incoming light to the exit region. The method further includes cutting the ribbon glass into one or more sheets of glasses including a predetermined number of the plurality of concentrating structures.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2008Publication date: February 12, 2009Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventor: KEVIN R. GIBSON
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Publication number: 20080289689Abstract: A glass concentrator for manufacture of solar energy conversion module is provided including a webbing that has a load sustenance characteristic and a hail impact resistance characteristic based on a first thickness of the webbing. The concentrator also includes a plurality of elongated concentrating elements integrally formed with the webbing. Each of the elongated concentrating elements has an aperture region, an exit region and two side regions, which bears a geometric concentration characteristic provided by a highly reflective side regions and an aperture-to-exit scale ratio in a range from about 1.8 to about 4.5. The glass concentrator can be attached with a plurality of photovoltaic strips cumulatively on each and every exit regions and clamped with a rigid or flexible back cover member to form a solar concentrator module for converting sunlight to electric energy. The solar concentrator module based on certain embodiments meets the industrial qualification standards.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2008Publication date: November 27, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventor: KEVIN R. GIBSON
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Publication number: 20080236651Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure. The structure has a first concentrator element, which has a first aperture region and a first exit region. The structure has a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region. The structure has a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the separation region is characterized by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a triangular shaped region including an apex defined by the radius of curvature and a base defined by the separation region.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2007Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventor: KEVIN R. GIBSON
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Publication number: 20080236649Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie T. Funcell
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Publication number: 20080236650Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie T. Funcell
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Publication number: 20080236664Abstract: Method and system for assembling a solar cell package. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating solar cells for a solar panel. The method includes providing a first substrate member comprising a plurality of photovoltaic strips thereon. The method also includes providing an optical elastomer material overlying a portion of the first substrate member. The method further includes aligning a second substrate member comprising a plurality of optical concentrating elements thereon such that at least one of the optical concentrating elements being operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic strips, the second substrate member comprising an aperture surface region and an exit surface region. In addition, the method includes coupling the first substrate member to the second substrate member to form an interface region along a first peripheral region of the first substrate member and along a second peripheral region of the second substrate member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Ramon Rosal Reglos
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Publication number: 20080236740Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie T. Funcell
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Publication number: 20080235949Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: October 2, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie T. Funcell
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Publication number: 20080178922Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2006Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: Solaria CorporationInventors: Kevin R. Gibson, Alelie T. Funcell