Patents by Inventor Philip C. Hobbs

Philip C. Hobbs 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).

  • Method of concetrating solar energy
    Patent number: 8569616
    Abstract: A method of concentrating solar energy includes receiving solar energy through a surface of an optically clear shell, guiding the solar energy through a liquid contained in the optically clear shell, folding the solar energy back through the liquid toward a solar receiver, and shifting the solar receiver within the optically clear shell to track the sun, wherein the solar energy collected by the solar receiver is converted into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Supratik Guha, Philip C. Hobbs, Yves C. Martin, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • METHOD OF CONCETRATING SOLAR ENERGY
    Publication number: 20120006318
    Abstract: A method of concentrating solar energy includes receiving solar energy through a surface of an optically clear shell, guiding the solar energy through a liquid contained in the optically clear shell, folding the solar energy back through the liquid toward a solar receiver, and shifting the solar receiver within the optically clear shell to track the sun, wherein the solar energy collected by the solar receiver is converted into electrical energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Supratik Guha, Philip C. Hobbs, Yves C. Martin, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • Solar concentration system
    Patent number: 8026439
    Abstract: A solar concentration system includes an optically clear shell member having an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface defining a hollow interior portion, a liquid contained within the hollow interior portion of the optically clear shell, and a solar collection system contained within the hollow interior portion of the optically clear shell. The solar collection system includes a tracking system configured and disposed to selectively shift within the hollow interior portion, a reflector member mounted to the tracking system, and a solar receiver mounted to the tracking system. The tracking system being configured and disposed orient the reflector member and the solar receiver to follow a path of the sun enhancing the collection of solar energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Supratik Guha, Philip C. Hobbs, Yves C. Martin, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel
  • SOLAR CONCENTRATION SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20100218817
    Abstract: A solar concentration system includes an optically clear shell member having an outer surface and an inner surface, with the inner surface defining a hollow interior portion, a liquid contained within the hollow interior portion of the optically clear shell, and a solar collection system contained within the hollow interior portion of the optically clear shell. The solar collection system includes a tracking system configured and disposed to selectively shift within the hollow interior portion, a reflector member mounted to the tracking system, and a solar receiver mounted to the tracking system. The tracking system being configured and disposed orient the reflector member and the solar receiver to follow a path of the sun enhancing the collection of solar energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Supratik Guha, Philip C. Hobbs, Yves C. Martin, Robert L. Sandstrom, Theodore G. van Kessel