Patents by Inventor Murat Okandan

Murat Okandan 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: 20240413262
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for annealing solar cells that can contain lithium or hydrogen. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with illumination from the sun or a controlled light source, which can be directed using reflectors, to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. Larger amounts of additional energy are harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Illuminating the cells with specific wavelengths of light can enhance the diffusion of the lithium or hydrogen, or their binding and unbinding from dopants or defects, in the silicon lattice. The lithium or hydrogen can diffuse into the cells via their inclusion in the polysilicon layer forming a tunneling oxide passivated contact. Dopants in the silicon can reduce annealing time and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2024
    Publication date: December 12, 2024
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Publication number: 20240332446
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for annealing micro-scale or macro solar cells that can contain lithium. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with a laser or other light source to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. While a small amount of energy is used for heating up the small thermal mass of the micro-cells and macro cells to the desired annealing temperature, much larger amounts of additional energy is harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Maintaining a desired temperature for operation of cells takes very little energy owing to the small thermal mass of the cells and controlled thermal conduction of the materials in contact with the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Kaveh Rouhani
  • Publication number: 20240333197
    Abstract: Photovoltaic systems and methods for illuminating photovoltaic cells with light just above the cell bandgap. One or more reflectors reflect light incident on the cells that is outside a desired wavelength range, thereby increasing the efficiency of the system. Energy that is available from radioactive decay products, such as fission fragments, electrons, protons, and high energy photons can also be converted to generate light in the desired wavelength range to efficiently couple into the photovoltaic devices. Silicon photovoltaic cells can be used, unlike the complex multi-junction photovoltaic cells of most systems, which also require extensive and costly manufacturing processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2022
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Patent number: 12009451
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for annealing micro-scale or macro solar cells that can contain lithium. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with a laser or other light source to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. While a small amount of energy is used for heating up the small thermal mass of the micro-cells and macro cells to the desired annealing temperature, much larger amounts of additional energy is harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Maintaining a desired temperature for operation of cells takes very little energy owing to the small thermal mass of the cells and controlled thermal conduction of the materials in contact with the cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Kaveh Rouhani
  • Patent number: 11621542
    Abstract: A laser array (100) is described herein, wherein the laser array comprises semiconductor lasers (102, 104) that are precisely controlled such that an optical beam output by the laser array has desired shape and direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Publication number: 20230045136
    Abstract: Structured photovoltaic assemblies and method of manufacture therefor. The assemblies can be assembled similar to flex circuits and have mechanical support structures disposed within the assembly. The supports can be sized and shaped to one or a group of solar cells in the assembly. The solar cells supported by a particular support may be interconnected with cells supported by a different support. The supports can be transparent. The connection of the interconnects to the solar cells can be enhanced by forming protrusions in vias through openings in the Insulating layer that are aligned with the solar cells. Alternatively, the openings can be filled with a conductive material in such forms as powder, ink, paste, or metal nanoparticles, and a laser can be used to melt and/or sinter the material to form the connection to the solar cell. These techniques can withstand large temperature swings over a large number of cycles, which occur in, for example, space applications.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2021
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Patent number: 11552211
    Abstract: A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Nelson, Michael Hibbs, Gregory N. Nielson, Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez, Vipin P. Gupta, Peggy J. Clews
  • Publication number: 20220262973
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for annealing micro-scale or macro solar cells that can contain lithium or hydrogen. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with a laser or other light source to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. Larger amounts of additional energy are harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Illuminating the cells with specific wavelengths of light can enhance the diffusion of the lithium or hydrogen, or their binding and unbinding from dopants or defects, in the silicon lattice. The lithium or hydrogen can diffuse into the cells via their inclusion in the polysilicon layer forming a tunneling oxide passivated contact. Dopants in the silicon can reduce annealing time and temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2022
    Publication date: August 18, 2022
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Patent number: 10914848
    Abstract: Radiation detectors and methods of use thereof that produce more accurate results. A region of the radiation detector is covered by a conversion layer. A reference region is covered by a light barrier material such as a metal, and not the conversion layer. The reference region incurs less radiation damage than the region under the conversion layer. The dark current produced by the reference region can be used to more accurately calibrate the detector, provide real time normalization of the current produced by the conversion layer region, and determine when the detector has been damaged sufficiently to be replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Patent number: 10892372
    Abstract: High performance single crystal silicon cells and arrays thereof are manufactured using a rapid process flow. Tunneling junctions formed in the process provide performance benefits, such as higher efficiency and a lower power temperature coefficient. The process generates a large array of interconnected high performance cells smaller than typical cells without requiring additional process steps, and simplifies integration of these coupons into the final product. The cells can have different shapes, sizes, and orientations, enabling the array to be flexible in any desired direction. Higher efficiencies and lower hot spotting under shading is achieved by connecting small low current, high voltage cells in dense series and parallel configurations. Low current cells also require much less metallization than typical solar cells and arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa
  • Publication number: 20200350745
    Abstract: A laser array (100) is described herein, wherein the laser array comprises semiconductor lasers (102, 104) that are precisely controlled such that an optical beam output by the laser array has desired shape and direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventor: Murat Okandan
  • Publication number: 20200035853
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for annealing micro-scale or macro solar cells that can contain lithium. Heaters, a current that is applied in forward or reverse direction, or open-circuiting the cells are used optionally with a laser or other light source to increase the temperature of the cells to perform periodic anneals to recover energy conversion efficiency lost due to environmental conditions such as radiation damage and maintain desired operational conditions. While a small amount of energy is used for heating up the small thermal mass of the micro-cells and macro cells to the desired annealing temperature, much larger amounts of additional energy is harvested with the improved efficiency of the cells. Maintaining a desired temperature for operation of cells takes very little energy owing to the small thermal mass of the cells and controlled thermal conduction of the materials in contact with the cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Kaveh Rouhani
  • Patent number: 10483316
    Abstract: Curved, flexible arrays of radiation detectors are formed by using standard silicon semiconductor processing materials and techniques and additional functionalization through integration of conversion and shielding materials. The resulting flexible arrays can be handled, integrated, further functionalized and deployed for a wide variety of applications where conventional sensors do not provide the desired functionality, form factors and/or reliability. The arrays can be stacked and include multiple types and thicknesses of conversion layers, enabling the detector to simultaneously detect multiple radiation types, and perform complex, simultaneous functions such as energy discrimination, spectroscopy, directionality detection, and particle trajectory tracking of incident radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Markku Juhani Koskelo
  • Patent number: 10304977
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus including a device cell having a top side, a bottom side and opposing side walls. A passivation layer is formed along the top side, the bottom side and opposing side walls of the device cell. The passivation layer serves to passivate the device cell and facilitate carrier collection around the device cell. An anti-reflective layer is formed over the passivation layer and an optical layer is formed on the top side of the device cell. The optical layer reflects light within the device cell. The apparatus may further include a reflective layer formed along the bottom side of the device cell, the reflective layer to reflect light internally within the device cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Gregory N. Nielson, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez
  • Patent number: 10243095
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a molded photovoltaic module. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Nelson, Michael Hibbs, Gregory N. Nielson, Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez, Vipin P. Gupta, Peggy J. Clews
  • Publication number: 20180323325
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a molded photovoltaic module. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Nelson, Michael Hibbs, Gregory N. Nielson, Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez, Vipin P. Gupta, Peggy J. Clews
  • Publication number: 20180323324
    Abstract: A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Nelson, Michael Hibbs, Gregory N. Nielson, Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez, Vipin P. Gupta, Peggy J. Clews
  • Patent number: 10038113
    Abstract: A moldable photovoltaic module is provided. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Nelson, Michael Hibbs, Gregory N. Nielson, Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Paul J. Resnick, Carlos Anthony Sanchez, Vipin P. Gupta, Peggy J. Clews
  • Publication number: 20180166598
    Abstract: High performance single crystal silicon cells and arrays thereof are manufactured using a rapid process flow. Tunneling junctions formed in the process provide performance benefits, such as higher efficiency and a lower power temperature coefficient. The process generates a large array of interconnected high performance cells smaller than typical cells without requiring additional process steps, and simplifies integration of these coupons into the final product. The cells can have different shapes, sizes, and orientations, enabling the array to be flexible in any desired direction. Higher efficiencies and lower hot spotting under shading is achieved by connecting small low current, high voltage cells in dense series and parallel configurations. Low current cells also require much less metallization than typical solar cells and arrays.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2017
    Publication date: June 14, 2018
    Applicant: mPower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Murat Okandan, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa
  • Patent number: 9978895
    Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system, the apparatus and system including a flexible microsystems enabled microelectronic device package including a microelectronic device positioned on a substrate; an encapsulation layer encapsulating the microelectronic device and the substrate; a protective layer positioned around the encapsulating layer; and a reinforcing layer coupled to the protective layer, wherein the substrate, encapsulation layer, protective layer and reinforcing layer form a flexible and optically transparent package around the microelectronic device. The method including encapsulating a microelectronic device positioned on a substrate within an encapsulation layer; sealing the encapsulated microelectronic device within a protective layer; and coupling the protective layer to a reinforcing layer, wherein the substrate, encapsulation layer, protective layer and reinforcing layer form a flexible and optically transparent package around the microelectronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Benjamin John Anderson, Gregory N. Nielson, Jose Luis Cruz-Campa, Murat Okandan, Anthony L. Lentine, Paul J. Resnick