Patents by Inventor Paul R. Sharps

Paul R. Sharps 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: 10381501
    Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Yong Lin, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho
  • Patent number: 10381505
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap, a second solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap, and a first graded interlayer composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs adjacent to the second solar subcell. The first graded interlayer has a third band gap greater than the second band gap subject to the constraints of having the in-plane lattice parameter greater or equal to that of the second subcell and less than or equal to that of the third subcell, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, and x and y are selected such that the band gap of the first graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness at 1.5 eV. A third solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer and has a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Pravin Patel, Arthur Cornfeld, John Spann, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken
  • Patent number: 10374112
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell, a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell, a third solar subcell adjacent to the second solar subcell, and a graded interlayer adjacent to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer has a band gap that is greater than the band gap of the third solar subcell and is composed of a compositionally step-graded series of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs layers with monotonically changing lattice constant, with x and y having respective values such that the band gap of the graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness, and wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1. A fourth solar subcell is adjacent to the graded interlayer and is lattice mismatched with respect to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer provides a transition in lattice constant from the third solar subcell to the fourth solar subcell. A lower fifth solar subcell is adjacent to the fourth solar subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken, John Spann
  • Publication number: 20180351022
    Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Inventors: Yong Lin, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho
  • Publication number: 20180102454
    Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: April 12, 2018
    Inventors: Yong Lin, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho
  • Publication number: 20170162739
    Abstract: The disclosure describes multi-junction solar cell structures that include two or more graded interlayers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Yong Lin, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho
  • Publication number: 20160329454
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell having a first band gap, a second solar subcell having a second band gap smaller than the first band gap, and a first graded interlayer composed of (InxGa1-x)yAl1-yAs adjacent to the second solar subcell. The first graded interlayer has a third band gap greater than the second band gap subject to the constraints of having the in-plane lattice parameter greater or equal to that of the second subcell and less than or equal to that of the third subcell, wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1, and x and y are selected such that the band gap of the first graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness at 1.5 eV. A third solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer and has a fourth band gap smaller than the second band gap such that the third subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the second subcell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Pravin Patel, Arthur Cornfeld, John Spann, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken
  • Publication number: 20160190378
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell includes an upper first solar subcell, a second solar subcell adjacent to the first solar subcell, a third solar subcell adjacent to the second solar subcell, and a graded interlayer adjacent to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer has a band gap that is greater than the band gap of the third solar subcell and is composed of a compositionally step-graded series of (InxGa1-x)y Al1-yAs layers with monotonically changing lattice constant, with x and y having respective values such that the band gap of the graded interlayer remains constant throughout its thickness, and wherein 0<x<1 and 0<y<1. A fourth solar subcell is adjacent to the graded interlayer and is lattice mismatched with respect to the third solar subcell. The graded interlayer provides a transition in lattice constant from the third solar subcell to the fourth solar subcell. A lower fifth solar subcell is adjacent to the fourth solar subcell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2016
    Publication date: June 30, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken, John Spann
  • Patent number: 9356176
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell having at least four solar subcells includes a first solar subcell having a first band gap. A first graded interlayer adjacent to the first solar subcell and has a second band gap greater than the first band gap and that is constant at 1.5 eV throughout the thickness of the first graded interlayer. A second solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer and has a third band gap smaller than the first band gap of the first solar subcell. The second solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the first solar subcell. A second graded interlayer is adjacent to the second solar subcell and has a fourth band gap greater than the third band gap of the second solar subcell and that is constant at 1.1 eV throughout the thickness of the second graded interlayer. A third solar subcell is adjacent to the second graded interlayer and has a fifth band gap smaller than the third band gap of the second solar subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken, John Spann
  • Publication number: 20160013348
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell having at least four solar subcells includes a first solar subcell having a first band gap, and a first graded interlayer adjacent to the first solar subcell, wherein the first graded interlayer has a second band gap greater than the first band gap and that is constant at 1.5 eV throughout the thickness of the first graded interlayer. A second solar subcell is adjacent to the first graded interlayer, wherein the second solar subcell has a third band gap smaller than the first band gap of the first solar subcell and wherein said second solar subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to the first solar subcell. A second graded interlayer is adjacent to the second solar subcell, wherein the second graded interlayer has a fourth band gap greater than the third band gap of the second solar subcell and that is constant at 1.1 eV throughout the thickness of the second graded interlayer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken, John Spann
  • Publication number: 20150280044
    Abstract: A solar cell module and method for fabricating the same are provided. The solar cell module comprises: an array of solar cells, each of the solar cells having an area of about 0.01 mm2 to about 9 cm2; interconnection component(s) for electrically connecting at least a part of the solar cells; and a support for supporting the solar cells and the interconnection components thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2015
    Publication date: October 1, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Derkacs, Daniel Aiken, Paul R. Sharps
  • Patent number: 9117966
    Abstract: A multijunction solar cell including an upper first solar subcell, and the base-emitter junction of the upper first solar subcell being a homojunction; a second solar subcell adjacent to said first solar subcell; a third solar subcell adjacent to said second solar subcell. A first graded interlayer is provided adjacent to said third solar subcell. A fourth solar subcell is provided adjacent to said first graded interlayer, said fourth subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said third subcell. A second graded interlayer is provided adjacent to said fourth solar subcell; and a lower fifth solar subcell is provided adjacent to said second graded interlayer, said lower fifth subcell is lattice mismatched with respect to said fourth subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: SolAero Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Arthur Cornfeld, John Spann, Pravin Patel, Mark A. Stan, Benjamin Cho, Paul R. Sharps, Daniel J. Aiken
  • Patent number: 8957306
    Abstract: A solar cell having a first subcell including a germanium (Ge) substrate having a diffusion region doped with n-type dopants including phosphorus and arsenic, wherein the upper portion of such diffusion region has a higher concentration of phosphorus (P) atoms than arsenic (As) atoms, and a second subcell including a layer of either gallium arsenide (GaAs) or indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs) disposed over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Mark A. Stan, Nein Y. Li, Frank A. Spadafora, Hong Q. Hou, Paul R. Sharps, Navid S. Fatemi
  • Patent number: 8859886
    Abstract: Methods of fabricating multijunction solar cells that may include providing a substrate, and depositing a nucleation first layer over and directly in contact with the substrate. The methods may also include depositing a second layer containing an arsenic dopant over the nucleation layer. The nucleation layer may serve as a diffusion barrier to the arsenic dopant such that diffusion of the arsenic dopant into the substrate is limited in depth by the nucleation layer. The methods may also include depositing a sequence of layers over the second layer forming at least one solar subcell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Stan, Nein Y. Li, Frank A. Spadafora, Hong Q. Hou, Paul R. Sharps, Navid S. Fatemi
  • Publication number: 20140182667
    Abstract: A multijunction photovoltaic cell including a top subcell; a second subcell disposed immediately adjacent to the top subcell and producing a first photo-generated current; and including a sequence of first and second different semiconductor layers with different lattice constant; and a lower subcell disposed immediately adjacent to the second subcell and producing a second photo-generated current substantially equal in amount to the first photo-generated current density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Inventors: Benjamin C. Richards, Yong Lin, Paul R. Sharps, Pravin Patel
  • Publication number: 20140166067
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power from solar radiation utilizing a thin film III-V compound multijunction semiconductor solar cell mounted on a support in a non-planar configuration is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McGlynn, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Mark A. Stan
  • Publication number: 20140116500
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a mounted solar cell by providing a first substrate; depositing on the first substrate a sequence of layers of semiconductor material to form a multijunction solar cell using an MOCVD process; depositing a metal electrode layer on its surface of the layers of semiconductor material; attaching a metallic flexible film comprising a nickel-cobalt ferrous alloy material, or a nickel iron alloy material, directly to the surface of the metal electrode layer of the semiconductor solar cell. The first substrate is removed, and an electrical interconnection member is attached to the solar cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Stan, Chelsea Mackos, Paul R. Sharps, Cory Tourino, Arthur Cornfeld
  • Patent number: 8686282
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power from solar radiation utilizing a thin film III-V compound multijunction semiconductor solar cell mounted on a support in a non-planar configuration is disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McGlynn, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Mark A. Stan
  • Publication number: 20130298961
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power from solar radiation utilizing a thin film III-V compound multijunction semiconductor solar cell mounted on a support in a non-planar configuration is disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Daniel McGlynn, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Mark A. Stan
  • Patent number: 8513518
    Abstract: A system for generating electrical power from solar radiation utilizing a thin film III-V compound multijunction semiconductor solar cell mounted on a support in a non-planar configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Emcore Solar Power, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel McGlynn, Paul R. Sharps, Arthur Cornfeld, Mark Stan