Patents by Inventor Nasser H. Karam

Nasser H. Karam 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: 20240379889
    Abstract: Photovoltaic cells including a first group-IV subcell including an n-type emitter layer comprising a first group-IV material selected from a first group consisting of Ge, SiGe and SiGeSn, and a second layer comprising a second group-IV material, the second group-IV material being different from the first group-IV material, and the n-type emitter layer being the primary photoabsorber of the first group-IV subcell. A p-n junction of the first group-IV subcell is formed at a heterojunction of the n-type emitter layer and second layer. The photovoltaic cell also includes a tunnel junction, and a second group-IV subcell, the tunnel junction interconnecting the first group IV subcell to the second group-IV subcell, the first group IV subcell and the second group IV subcell being a lowest two subcells of the photovoltaic cell, the first group IV subcell being between the second group-IV subcell and a plurality of HI-V subcells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2024
    Publication date: November 14, 2024
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. KING, Christopher M. FETZER, Nasser H. KARAM
  • Patent number: 12107182
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 12080820
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 12068426
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 12062732
    Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Daniel C. Law, Xing-Quan Liu, William D. Hong, Kenneth M. Edmondson, Dimitri D. Krut, Joseph C. Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 11646388
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least one layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 11495705
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20220216358
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Publication date: July 7, 2022
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. KING, Christopher M. FETZER, Nasser H. KARAM
  • Patent number: 11133429
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 11081609
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a bonding layer connecting a first semiconductor wafer layer to a second semiconductor wafer layer, the bonding layer including an electrically conductive carbonaceous component and a binder component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Andreea Boca, Daniel C. Law, Joseph Charles Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10998462
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20210104641
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Publication number: 20210104640
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2020
    Publication date: April 8, 2021
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10903383
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least as first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10896990
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10879414
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10811553
    Abstract: Device structures, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed for photovoltaic cells that may be a single-junction or multijunction solar cells, with at least a first layer comprising a group-IV semiconductor in which part of the cell comprises a second layer comprising a III-V semiconductor or group-IV semiconductor having a different composition than the group-IV semiconductor of the first layer, such that a heterostructure is formed between the first and second layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10693028
    Abstract: A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Nasser H. Karam, Dimitri D. Krut, Scott B. Singer
  • Publication number: 20190378950
    Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2019
    Publication date: December 12, 2019
    Applicant: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Daniel C. Law, Xing-Quan Liu, William D. Hong, Kenneth M. Edmondson, Dimitri D. Krut, Joseph C. Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam
  • Patent number: 10439091
    Abstract: In one aspect, optoelectronic devices are described herein. In some implementations, an optoelectronic device comprises a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell comprises a space-charge region, a quasi-neutral region, and a low bandgap absorber region (LBAR) layer or an improved transport (IT) layer at least partially positioned in the quasi-neutral region of the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard R. King, Christopher M. Fetzer, Daniel C. Law, Xing-Quan Liu, William D. Hong, Kenneth M. Edmondson, Dimitri D. Krut, Joseph C. Boisvert, Nasser H. Karam