Patents by Inventor Miles C. Barr

Miles C. Barr 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).

  • Publication number: 20210050538
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are visibly transparent photovoltaic devices, such as color-neutral visibly transparent photovoltaic devices. A color-neutral visibly transparent photovoltaic device includes a visibly transparent substrate and a first visibly transparent electrode coupled to the visibly transparent substrate. The device also includes a second visibly transparent electrode and a visibly transparent photoactive layer between the first visibly transparent electrode and the second visibly transparent electrode. The visibly transparent photoactive layer is configured to convert at least one of NIR light or UV light into photocurrent and is characterized by an absorption spectrum with a peak in the NIR or UV spectrum. The device further includes a visibly absorbing material characterized by a second absorption spectrum with a second peak in the visible spectrum, where the second absorption spectrum is complementary to the absorption spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Ubiquitous Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Richa Pandey, Miles C. Barr, Matthew E. Sykes, John A. Love
  • Publication number: 20210050539
    Abstract: Photovoltaic devices having photoactive layers coupled to buffer layers are disclosed. Such devices may be transparent to visible light but absorb near-infrared light and/or ultraviolet light. The photovoltaic devices may include a p-phenylene layer that acts as a buffer layer. The photovoltaic devices may include one or more photoactive layers. The one or more photoactive layers may include a single planar heterojunction, a single bulk heterojunction (BHJ), or multiple stacked BHJs that have complementary absorption characteristics, among other possibilities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: February 18, 2021
    Applicant: Ubiquitous Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Richa Pandey, John A. Love, Matthew E. Sykes
  • Publication number: 20200091355
    Abstract: A transparent photovoltaic device includes a transparent substrate and a transparent bottom electrode coupled to the transparent substrate. The transparent photovoltaic device also includes an active layer coupled to the transparent bottom electrode and a transparent multilayer top electrode that includes a seed layer coupled to the active layer and a metal layer coupled to the seed layer. The transparent photovoltaic device is characterized by an average visible transmission (AVT) greater than 25% and a top electrode sheet resistance that is less than 100 Ohm/sq.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: Ubiquitous Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Richa Pandey, Matthew E. Sykes, John A. Love, Gabriel A. Flores
  • Patent number: 10403774
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method used to provide power or photovoltaic functionality to a display or device containing a display without impacting the visual perception of the display. The wavelength-selective photovoltaic (WPV) element is visibly transparent, in that it absorbs selectively around the visible emission (or reflection) peaks generated by the display. The photovoltaic material is able to cover a portion or the entire surface area of the display, without substantially blocking or perceptually impacting the emission (or reflection) of content from the display. The incident light that is absorbed by the photovoltaic element is then converted into electrical energy to provide power to the device, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: UBIQUITOUS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Ryan Salvas, Bart Anson Howe, Richard Royal Lunt, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Patent number: 9957618
    Abstract: Described herein are reactors capable of sequentially or simultaneously depositing thin-film polymers onto a substrate by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The single-unit CVD reactors allow for the use of more than one CVD process on the same substrate without the risk of inadvertently exposing the substrate to ambient conditions when switching processes. Furthermore, the ability to deposit simultaneously polymers made by two different CVD processes allows for the exploration of new materials. In addition to assisting in the deposition of polymer films, plasma processes may be used to pretreat substrate surfaces before polymer deposition, or to clean the internal surfaces of the reactor between experiments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dhiman Bhattacharyya, Karen K. Gleason, Miles C. Barr
  • Patent number: 9793479
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide methods for processing various polymer materials for use in devices, such as photovoltaic devices. In some cases, oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) may be used to process conjugated polymers, including relatively insoluble conjugated polymers. The methods described herein provide processing techniques that may be used to synthesize and/or process polymers, such as unsubstituted thiophene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Karen K. Gleason, Vladimir Bulovic, Miles C. Barr, David C. Borrelli
  • Patent number: 9553268
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to cathode buffer materials and devices and methods comprising the cathode buffer materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Eni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Karen K. Gleason, Chiara Carbonera, Riccardo Po, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Patent number: 9214639
    Abstract: A conducting material can include a fibrous substrate and a conductive polymer coating on a surface of the fibrous substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Karen K. Gleason, Vladimir Bulovic, Miles C. Barr, Jill A. Rowehl
  • Publication number: 20150311444
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrodes formed by oxidative chemical vapor deposition and related methods and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Rachel M. Howden, Karen K. Gleason, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Publication number: 20150255651
    Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method used to provide power or photovoltaic functionality to a display or device containing a display without impacting the visual perception of the display. The wavelength-selective photovoltaic (WPV) element is visibly transparent, in that it absorbs selectively around the visible emission (or reflection) peaks generated by the display. The photovoltaic material is able to cover a portion or the entire surface area of the display, without substantially blocking or perceptually impacting the emission (or reflection) of content from the display. The incident light that is absorbed by the photovoltaic element is then converted into electrical energy to provide power to the device, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: UBIQUITOUS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Ryan Salvas, Bart Anson Howe, Richard Royal Lunt, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Publication number: 20150044804
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to cathode buffer materials and devices and methods comprising the cathode buffer materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Applicants: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Eni S.p.A.
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Karen K. Gleason, Chiara Carbonera, Riccardo Po, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Publication number: 20150027529
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to electrodes formed by oxidative chemical vapor deposition and related methods and devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Miles C. Barr, Rachel M. Howden, Karen K. Gleason, Vladimir Bulovic
  • Publication number: 20130224380
    Abstract: Described herein are reactors capable of sequentially or simultaneously depositing thin-film polymers onto a substrate by oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD), initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD), and plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The single-unit CVD reactors allow for the use of more than one CVD process on the same substrate without the risk of inadvertently exposing the substrate to ambient conditions when switching processes. Furthermore, the ability to deposit simultaneously polymers made by two different CVD processes allows for the exploration of new materials. In addition to assisting in the deposition of polymer films, plasma processes may be used to pretreat substrate surfaces before polymer deposition, or to clean the internal surfaces of the reactor between experiments.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Dhiman Bhattacharyya, Karen K. Gleason, Miles C. Barr
  • Publication number: 20110315204
    Abstract: A conducting material can include a fibrous substrate and a conductive polymer coating on a surface of the fibrous substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Karen K. Gleason, Vladimir Bulovic, Miles C. Barr, Jill A. Rowehl