Patents by Inventor Nicholas Boitnott

Nicholas Boitnott 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: 12009773
    Abstract: A system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Assignee: GAF Energy LLC
    Inventors: Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, Richard Perkins, David Kavulak
  • Publication number: 20240186938
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods that may include attaching a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module to a back-sheet, wherein the first photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end; forming a seam on the back-sheet between the first and second photovoltaic modules; forming an electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules by electrically connecting the first end of the first photovoltaic module to the second end of the second photovoltaic module; and separating the first and second photovoltaic modules along the seam while maintaining the electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to roofing systems that may include photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2023
    Publication date: June 6, 2024
    Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Richard Perkins, Nicholas Boitnott, David Kavulak, Lewis Abra
  • Publication number: 20240072187
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules installed on a roof deck. Each of the photovoltaic modules includes solar cells, a first encapsulant encapsulating the solar cells, a frontsheet and a backsheet. The front sheet includes a glass layer. The backsheet includes a first layer and a second layer. Each of the first and second layers includes first, second, third and fourth edges. The first edge of the first layer is offset from the first edge of the second layer, the second edge of the first layer is offset from the second edge of the second layer, the third edge of the first layer is offset from the third edge of the second layer, and the fourth edge of the first layer is offset from the fourth edge of the second layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2023
    Publication date: February 29, 2024
    Inventors: William Sirski, Emma Dohner, Nicholas Boitnott
  • Patent number: 11869997
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the solar cell, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The encapsulant and the frontsheet are transparent. The backsheet includes a first section and a second section juxtaposed with the first section. The first section is transparent and the second section is non-transparent. A first end of the frontsheet, a first end of the encapsulant, and the first section of the backsheet form a transparent portion. A first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of a second photovoltaic module. The transparent portion of the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the at least one solar cell of the second photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: GAF Energy LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Boitnott
  • Patent number: 11824487
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods that may include attaching a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module to a back-sheet, wherein the first photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end; forming a seam on the back-sheet between the first and second photovoltaic modules; forming an electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules by electrically connecting the first end of the first photovoltaic module to the second end of the second photovoltaic module; and separating the first and second photovoltaic modules along the seam while maintaining the electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to roofing systems that may include photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: GAF Energy LLC
    Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Richard Perkins, Nicholas Boitnott, David Kavulak, Lewis Abra
  • Publication number: 20230336110
    Abstract: A system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: October 19, 2023
    Inventors: Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, Richard Perkins, David Kavulak
  • Publication number: 20230291347
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods that may include attaching a first photovoltaic module and a second photovoltaic module to a back-sheet, wherein the first photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end, and wherein the second photovoltaic module includes a first end and a second end; forming a seam on the back-sheet between the first and second photovoltaic modules; forming an electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules by electrically connecting the first end of the first photovoltaic module to the second end of the second photovoltaic module; and separating the first and second photovoltaic modules along the seam while maintaining the electrical connection between the first and second photovoltaic modules. Some embodiments of the present disclosure relate to roofing systems that may include photovoltaic modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2023
    Publication date: September 14, 2023
    Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Richard Perkins, Nicholas Boitnott, David Kavulak, Lewis Abra
  • Patent number: 11728759
    Abstract: A system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: GAF Energy LLC
    Inventors: Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, Richard Perkins, David Kavulak
  • Publication number: 20230203815
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of roofing modules and a plurality of photovoltaic modules. The roofing modules include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a first surface that is textured. The roofing modules are configured to be installed on the roof deck of a structure proximate to the photovoltaic modules. An appearance of the roofing modules aesthetically matches an appearance of the photovoltaic modules when viewed from a vantage point located at a ground level of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: June 29, 2023
    Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Richard Perkins, Michael Kuiper, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, David Kavulak, Alex Sharenko, Anna Wojtowicz, William Sirski, Ray Lu, Caleb Cheung, Nathan Peterson
  • Publication number: 20230092414
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the solar cell, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The encapsulant and the frontsheet are transparent. The backsheet includes a first section and a second section juxtaposed with the first section. The first section is transparent and the second section is non-transparent. A first end of the frontsheet, a first end of the encapsulant, and the first section of the backsheet form a transparent portion. A first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of a second photovoltaic module. The transparent portion of the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the at least one solar cell of the second photovoltaic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2022
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventor: Nicholas Boitnott
  • Publication number: 20230076117
    Abstract: A system includes a roof deck having a slope of 0.25 inch to 3 inches per foot and a roofing membrane is composed of a first material, and at least one photovoltaic module installed on the roof deck. The photovoltaic module includes at least one solar cell, an encapsulant, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The backsheet includes a head flap located at a first end of the backsheet, and a bottom flap located at a second end of the backsheet. The backsheet is composed of the first material. At least a first portion of the head flap is attached to the roofing membrane, and at least a second portion of the bottom flap is attached to the roofing membrane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2022
    Publication date: March 9, 2023
    Inventors: Thierry Nguyen, Gabriela Bunea, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, Richard Perkins, David Kavulak
  • Patent number: 11527665
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the solar cell, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The encapsulant and the frontsheet are transparent. The backsheet includes a first section and a second section juxtaposed with the first section. The first section is transparent and the second section is non-transparent. A first end of the frontsheet, a first end of the encapsulant, and the first section of the backsheet form a transparent portion. A first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of a second photovoltaic module. The transparent portion of the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the at least one solar cell of the second photovoltaic module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: GAF Energy LLC
    Inventor: Nicholas Boitnott
  • Publication number: 20220393637
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of roofing modules and a plurality of photovoltaic modules. The roofing modules include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer has a first surface that is textured. The roofing modules are configured to be installed on the roof deck of a structure proximate to the photovoltaic modules. An appearance of the roofing modules aesthetically matches an appearance of the photovoltaic modules when viewed from a vantage point located at a ground level of the structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Inventors: Gabriela Bunea, Thierry Nguyen, Richard Perkins, Michael Kuiper, Gary Rossi, Nicholas Boitnott, David Kavulak, Alex Sharenko, Anna Wojtowicz
  • Publication number: 20220359776
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of photovoltaic modules, each having at least one solar cell, an encapsulant encapsulating the solar cell, a frontsheet, and a backsheet. The encapsulant and the frontsheet are transparent. The backsheet includes a first section and a second section juxtaposed with the first section. The first section is transparent and the second section is non-transparent. A first end of the frontsheet, a first end of the encapsulant, and the first section of the backsheet form a transparent portion. A first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of a second photovoltaic module. The transparent portion of the first photovoltaic module overlays at least a portion of the at least one solar cell of the second photovoltaic module.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 10, 2022
    Inventor: Nicholas Boitnott
  • Publication number: 20170271538
    Abstract: A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backside of the solar cells. An encapsulant protectively packages the solar cells. The encapsulant and the transparent cover forms a top protection package that has a combined UV transmission curve and volume specific resistance that addresses polarization. The encapsulant has a relatively wide UV transmission curve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2017
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Applicant: SUNPOWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gabriela BUNEA, Nicholas BOITNOTT
  • Patent number: 9312425
    Abstract: A crack resistant solar cell module includes a protective package mounted on a frame. The protective package includes a polyolefin encapsulant that protectively encapsulates solar cells. The polyolefin has less than five weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in the backbone or side chain. In other words, the combined weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in any location in the molecular structure of the polyolefin is less than five. The polyolefin also has a complex viscosity less than 10,000 Pa second at 90° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) before any thermal processing of the polyolefin. The protective package includes a top cover, the encapsulant, and a backsheet. The solar cell module allows for shipping, installation, and maintenance with less risk of developing cracks on the surfaces of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Dug Kim, Nicholas Boitnott
  • Publication number: 20150221813
    Abstract: A crack resistant solar cell module includes a protective package mounted on a frame. The protective package includes a polyolefin encapsulant that protectively encapsulates solar cells. The polyolefin has less than five weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in the backbone or side chain. In other words, the combined weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in any location in the molecular structure of the polyolefin is less than five. The polyolefin also has a complex viscosity less than 10,000 Pa second at 90° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) before any thermal processing of the polyolefin. The protective package includes a top cover, the encapsulant, and a backsheet. The solar cell module allows for shipping, installation, and maintenance with less risk of developing cracks on the surfaces of the solar cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 6, 2015
    Applicant: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Dug KIM, Nicholas BOITNOTT
  • Patent number: 9035172
    Abstract: A crack resistant solar cell module includes a protective package mounted on a frame. The protective package includes a polyolefin encapsulant that protectively encapsulates solar cells. The polyolefin has less than five weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in the backbone or side chain. In other words, the combined weight percent of oxygen and nitrogen in any location in the molecular structure of the polyolefin is less than five. The polyolefin also has a complex viscosity less than 10,000 Pa second at 90° C. as measured by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) before any thermal processing of the polyolefin. The protective package includes a top cover, the encapsulant, and a backsheet. The solar cell module allows for shipping, installation, and maintenance with less risk of developing cracks on the surfaces of the solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SunPower Corporation
    Inventors: Sung Dug Kim, Nicholas Boitnott
  • Publication number: 20140352761
    Abstract: Optoelectronic devices with bypass diodes are described. An optoelectronic device includes a bypass diode, a heat spreader unit disposed above, and extending over, the bypass diode, and a heat sink disposed above the heat spreader unit. Another optoelectronic device includes a bypass diode, a heat spreader unit disposed above, but not extending over, the bypass diode, and a heat sink disposed above the heat spreader unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Ryan Linderman, Doug Rose, Nicholas Boitnott, Keith Johnston, David B. DeGraaff
  • Patent number: 8809671
    Abstract: Optoelectronic devices with bypass diodes are described. An optoelectronic device includes a bypass diode, a heat spreader unit disposed above, and extending over, the bypass diode, and a heat sink disposed above the heat spreader unit. Another optoelectronic device includes a bypass diode, a heat spreader unit disposed above, but not extending over, the bypass diode, and a heat sink disposed above the heat spreader unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Sunpower Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan Linderman, Doug Rose, Nicholas Boitnott, Keith Johnston, David B. DeGraaff