Patents by Inventor Lowell J. Berg
Lowell J. Berg 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: 20230278687Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2022Publication date: September 7, 2023Inventors: Lowell J. Berg, Jonathan Barrows, Eamon Carrig, Carl Nelson
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Patent number: 11498650Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: Signal Ventures LTDInventors: Lowell J. Berg, Jonathan Barrows, Eamon Carrig, Carl Nelson
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Patent number: 10921809Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a rudder. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The rudder may be mechanically coupled to the hull. A heading of the autonomous sailing vessel may be regulated by actively controlling the rudder without actively controlling the sail. Alternatively or additionally, the autonomous sailing vessel may include an anticapsize stabilizer tank, a lidar system, and/or marine mammal monitoring and identification.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Autonomous Marine Systems, Inc.Inventors: Lowell J. Berg, Eamon Carrig, Shawn Dooley, Ravijit Paintal
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Publication number: 20200262532Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a sail release device. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The sail release device may be operably coupled to the sail and may be configured to automatically release the sail to spill excess wind. Alternatively or additionally, the sail may include a fore sail element coupled to the mast and an aft sail element rotatably coupled at a fore of the aft sail element to an aft of the fore sail element. In this and other embodiments, the autonomous sailing vessel may further include a camber control assembly to automatically set a camber angle between the fore and aft sail elements.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 19, 2020Publication date: August 20, 2020Inventors: Lowell J. Berg, Jonathan Barrows, Eamon Carrig, Carl Nelson
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Publication number: 20190339700Abstract: An autonomous sailing vessel may include a hull, a mast, a sail, and a rudder. The mast may be mechanically coupled to the hull. The sail may be mechanically coupled to the mast. The rudder may be mechanically coupled to the hull. A heading of the autonomous sailing vessel may be regulated by actively controlling the rudder without actively controlling the sail. Alternatively or additionally, the autonomous sailing vessel may include an anticapsize stabilizer tank, a lidar system, and/or marine mammal monitoring and identification.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 2, 2019Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Lowell J. Berg, Eamon Carrig, Shawn Dooley, Ravijit Paintal
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Patent number: 9773933Abstract: In an embodiment, a solar energy system includes multiple photovoltaic modules, each oriented substantially at a same angle relative to horizontal. The angle is independent of a latitude of an installation site of the solar energy system and is greater than or equal to 15 degrees. The solar energy system defines a continuous area within a perimeter of the solar energy system. The solar energy system is configured to capture at the photovoltaic modules substantially all light incoming towards the continuous area over an entire season.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2013Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: TENKSOLAR, INC.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Kurt Korkowski, Lance E. Stover, Thomas L. Murnan, Orville Dodd
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Publication number: 20170085094Abstract: In an example embodiment, a method to operate a PV module includes measuring module output power collectively generated by a plurality of power conversion circuits of the PV module. The module output power collectively generated by the plurality of power conversion circuits is characterized by a module power output curve having a peak. A current measured output power is compared to a preceding measured output power. Based on a preceding direction variable indicating a side of the peak on which the PV module was previously operating and the comparison of the current measured output power to the preceding measured output power: a current direction variable indicating a side of the peak on which the PV module is currently operating is determined, and a switching period of the power conversion circuits is adjusted.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 2, 2016Publication date: March 23, 2017Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Forrest C. Meyer, Raymond W. Knight, Steven E. Wheeler, John P. Novotny
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Publication number: 20170070188Abstract: An asymmetric wave photovoltaic (PV) system includes at least one asymmetric wavelet coupled. The at least one asymmetric wavelet includes front and rear PV modules of equal size. The front and rear PV modules are coupled together to form a peak of the at least one asymmetric wavelet. The front PV module is supported at a first angle. The rear PV module is supported at a second angle that is different than the first angle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2016Publication date: March 9, 2017Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Richard Amy, Thomas L. Murnan, Lance E. Stover, Raymond W. Knight, Kevin Batko, Dan Heneman, Steve Sazama, Larry Weiss, Timothy C. Johnson
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Patent number: 9543890Abstract: In one example, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of discrete photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of cell rows, and a substantially electrically conductive and continuous area backsheet. The photovoltaic cells in each cell row are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The cell rows are electrically connected in series to each other and include a first row and a last row. The backsheet forms a current return path between the first and last rows. The photovoltaic cells are configured such that, in operation, current flows substantially uni-directionally through the plurality of photovoltaic cells between the first row and the last row.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2013Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Assignee: TENKSOLAR, INC.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Forrest C. Meyer, Raymond W. Knight, Steven E. Wheeler, John P. Novotny
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Publication number: 20160111573Abstract: In an example, a photovoltaic (PV) module includes multiple PV cells, a continuous backsheet, a circuit card, and a buried first polarity contact. The PV cells are arranged in rows and columns. The continuous backsheet is positioned behind the PV cells, includes a ground plane for the PV cells, and is electrically coupled between a first row and a last row of the PV cells. The circuit card is mechanically coupled to a back of the PV module and includes a first connector with a first polarity and a second connector with an opposite second polarity. The buried first polarity contact is positioned behind the PV cells, is electrically coupled to a back of each PV cell in one of the rows of the PV cells, and extends through a slot formed in the continuous backsheet to electrical contact with the first connector of the circuit card.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2015Publication date: April 21, 2016Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Steven E. Wheeler
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Publication number: 20140360561Abstract: In an embodiment, a photovoltaic (PV) system includes a direct current (DC) bus, multiple PV modules and multiple inverter units. The PV modules are electrically coupled in parallel to the DC bus. The inverter units have DC inputs electrically coupled in parallel to the DC bus and have alternating current (AC) outputs electrically coupled to an AC grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2014Publication date: December 11, 2014Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Joel Cannon, Shady Gross, Lance E. Stover
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Patent number: 8829330Abstract: In an example, a solar energy system includes multiple PV modules, multiple reflectors, and a racking assembly. Each of the reflectors is positioned opposite a corresponding one of the PV modules. The racking assembly mechanically interconnects the PV modules and the reflectors to form an interconnected system. The racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent PV modules and reflectors. The interconnected system includes multiple contact points associated with the gaps. The gaps and contact points configure the interconnected system to accommodate surface unevenness of an installation surface up to a predetermined surface unevenness.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2011Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: Tenksolar, Inc.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Lance E. Stover, Orville D. Dodd, Thomas L. Murnan
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Publication number: 20140174535Abstract: In an example, a solar energy system includes multiple PV modules, multiple reflectors, and a racking assembly. Each of the reflectors is positioned opposite a corresponding one of the PV modules. The racking assembly mechanically interconnects the PV modules and the reflectors to form an interconnected system. The racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent PV modules and reflectors. The interconnected system includes multiple contact points associated with the gaps. The gaps and contact points configure the interconnected system to accommodate surface unevenness of an installation surface up to a predetermined surface unevenness.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 26, 2014Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: TENKSOLAR, INC.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Lance E. Stover, Orville D. Dodd, Thomas L. Murnan
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Publication number: 20140035373Abstract: In one example, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of discrete photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of cell rows, and a substantially electrically conductive and continuous area backsheet. The photovoltaic cells in each cell row are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The cell rows are electrically connected in series to each other and include a first row and a last row. The backsheet forms a current return path between the first and last rows. The photovoltaic cells are configured such that, in operation, current flows substantially uni-directionally through the plurality of photovoltaic cells between the first row and the last row.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: TenKsolar, Inc.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Forrest C. Meyer, Raymond W. Knight, Steven E. Wheeler, John P. Novotny
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Publication number: 20130312812Abstract: In an embodiment, a solar energy system includes multiple photovoltaic modules, each oriented substantially at a same angle relative to horizontal. The angle is independent of a latitude of an installation site of the solar energy system and is greater than or equal to 15 degrees. The solar energy system defines a continuous area within a perimeter of the solar energy system. The solar energy system is configured to capture at the photovoltaic modules substantially all light incoming towards the continuous area over an entire season.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2013Publication date: November 28, 2013Applicant: Tenksolar, IncInventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Kurt Korkowski, Lance E. Stover, Thomas L. Murnan, Orville Dodd
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Patent number: 8563847Abstract: In one example, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of discrete photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of cell rows, and a substantially electrically conductive and continuous area backsheet. The photovoltaic cells in each cell row are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The cell rows are electrically connected in series to each other and include a first row and a last row. The backsheet forms a current return path between the first and last rows. The photovoltaic cells are configured such that, in operation, current flows substantially uni-directionally through the plurality of photovoltaic cells between the first row and the last row.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: October 22, 2013Assignee: Tenksolar, IncInventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Forrest C. Meyer, Raymond W. Knight, Steven E. Wheeler, John P. Novotny
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Publication number: 20120204935Abstract: In an example, a solar energy system includes multiple PV modules, multiple reflectors, and a racking assembly. Each of the reflectors is positioned opposite a corresponding one of the PV modules. The racking assembly mechanically interconnects the PV modules and the reflectors to form an interconnected system. The racking assembly defines gaps within the racking assembly and between adjacent PV modules and reflectors. The interconnected system includes multiple contact points associated with the gaps. The gaps and contact points configure the interconnected system to accommodate surface unevenness of an installation surface up to a predetermined surface unevenness.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: tenKsolarInventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Lance E. Stover, Orville D. Dodd, Thomas L. Murnan
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Publication number: 20100282293Abstract: In one example, a photovoltaic module includes a plurality of discrete photovoltaic cells arranged in a plurality of cell rows, and a substantially electrically conductive and continuous area backsheet. The photovoltaic cells in each cell row are electrically connected in parallel to each other. The cell rows are electrically connected in series to each other and include a first row and a last row. The backsheet forms a current return path between the first and last rows. The photovoltaic cells are configured such that, in operation, current flows substantially uni-directionally through the plurality of photovoltaic cells between the first row and the last row.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: TENKSOLARInventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Forrest C. Meyer, Raymond W. Knight, Steven E. Wheeler, John P. Novotny
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Publication number: 20100212720Abstract: In one embodiment, a solar energy system includes a plurality of module rows and a plurality of reflector rows. Each module row includes a plurality of PV modules. Each PV module includes a plurality of PV cells arranged in a plurality of cell rows, the PV cells in each cell row being electrically connected in parallel to each other, and the plurality of cell rows being electrically connected in series to each other. Each reflector row includes a plurality of reflectors. The reflector rows are interposed between the module rows such that each reflector row is mechanically interconnected between two adjacent module rows and is arranged to reflect light having some incident angles on to one of the two adjacent module rows.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 23, 2010Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: TENKSOLAR, INC.Inventors: Dallas W. Meyer, Lowell J. Berg, Thomas L. Murnan, Orville D. Dodd
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Patent number: 6870707Abstract: A method of contouring a surface of a slider for supporting a transducer relative to a data storage medium includes applying a lithographic resist layer to the slider surface. The resist layer is then exposed through a single mask having 3a mask pattern defined by variation in an optical density through the mask. The resist layer is exposed in an exposure pattern corresponding to the mask pattern. Portions of the resist layer are removed as a function of the exposure pattern to produce a vertically contoured resist layer. The slider surface is etched through the vertically contoured resist layer during a single etching step to form a vertically contoured surface feature within the slider surface.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2001Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Seagate Technology LLCInventors: Lanshi Zheng, Lance E. Stover, Jianxin Zhu, Weimin Qian, Lowell J. Berg, Moshe Olim