Patents by Inventor Louis M. Fraas

Louis M. Fraas 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: 5248346
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell (20) with a single pn-junction (46) is disclosed that is capable of functioning as both a current source and a bypass diode. The photovoltaic cell is made of material that has a low bandgap energy, 1.0 eV, or less. One version of the photovoltaic cell is formed of a GaSb wafer doped with Te to form an n-region (22); the Te concentration is between 3 and 15.times.10.sup.17 atoms/cm.sup.3. Multiple photovoltaic cells of this invention can be connected in series and placed in parallel across a like number of photovoltaic cells (76) that do not function as tunnel diodes in order to form a power-generating array (70). The photovoltaic cells are arranged in tandem pairs so that the photovoltaic cells (76), which are transparent to the light absorbed by the photovoltaic cells (20), overlie the photovoltaic cells (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Louis M. Fraas, James E. Avery