Patents by Inventor Nick Powell

Nick Powell 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).

  • METHODS FOR FABRICATING PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES BY TUNING THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS
    Publication number: 20140366939
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic module, and the resulting photovoltaic module, are provided and include selecting a photovoltaic cell operable to convert photons to electrons, selecting a light transparent superstrate material having a superstrate absorption coefficient and a superstrate refractive index, and selecting an encapsulant having an encapsulant absorption coefficient and an encapsulant refractive index, wherein an absorption coefficient relationship between the superstrate absorption coefficient and the encapsulant absorption coefficient and a refractive index relationship between the superstrate refractive index and the encapsulant refractive index are selected such that there is a gain in efficiency, and assembling the photovoltaic module using the selected materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Publication date: December 18, 2014
    Inventors: Barry Ketola, Ann Norris, Nick Powell, Keith McIntosh
  • Methods for fabricating photovoltaic modules by tuning the optical properties of individual components
    Patent number: 8796532
    Abstract: Methods for fabricating a photovoltaic module, and the resulting photovoltaic module, are provided and include selecting a photovoltaic cell operable to convert photons to electrons, selecting a light transparent superstrate material having a superstrate absorption coefficient and a superstrate refractive index, and selecting an encapsulant having an encapsulant absorption coefficient and an encapsulant refractive index, wherein an absorption coefficient relationship between the superstrate absorption coefficient and the encapsulant absorption coefficient and a refractive index relationship between the superstrate refractive index and the encapsulant refractive index are selected such that there is a gain in efficiency, and assembling the photovoltaic module using the selected materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation, The Australian National University
    Inventors: Barry Ketola, Ann Norris, Nick Powell, Keith McIntosh, James Cotsell