Patents by Inventor Rob Van Erven

Rob Van Erven 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: 20120192933
    Abstract: A light trapping layer for use in a thin film solar cell is provided. The light trapping texture enhances efficiency of the thin film solar cell. The light trapping layer has a plurality of substantially flat areas between a plurality of periodically repeating non-pointed depressions with rounded edges. The plurality of substantially flat areas facilitates deposition and growth of a layer of transparent conductive oxide over said light trapping layer. The plurality of periodically repeating non-pointed depressions with rounded edges limit formation of at least one of cracks, voids, and low density areas in semiconductor layers of the thin film solar cell. Period of the non-pointed depressions ranges between 100 nanometers and 1500 nanometers, and depth of said non-pointed depressions ranges between 50 nanometers and 1200 nanometers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mark Steltenpool, Rob Van Erven