Patents by Inventor Robert Brainard

Robert Brainard 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: 11588064
    Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
  • Publication number: 20210111293
    Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2020
    Publication date: April 15, 2021
    Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
  • Patent number: 10886424
    Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. A solder is plated on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements while on the mandrel. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements. The solder on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements is not blackened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
  • Publication number: 20200013913
    Abstract: A method includes providing an electrically conductive mandrel having an outer surface layer comprising a preformed pattern. The metallic article is electroformed. The metallic article includes a plurality of electroformed elements formed in the preformed pattern on the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements have a first side adjacent to the outer surface layer of the mandrel and a second side. A solder is plated on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements while on the mandrel. The metallic article is separated from the mandrel. The plurality of electroformed elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. A solution is applied to create a blackening of the first side of the plurality of electroformed elements. The solder on the second side of the plurality of electroformed elements is not blackened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2019
    Publication date: January 9, 2020
    Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arvind Chari, Venkatesan Murali, Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, Jesse Dam
  • Publication number: 20170288081
    Abstract: A photovoltaic module has a flexible backing substrate, a plurality of photovoltaic cells, and an electrical conduit. The photovoltaic cells are mounted on the backing substrate. Each photovoltaic cell has a metallic article, the metallic article including a plurality of electroformed elements comprising a cell interconnection element integral with a continuous grid having a plurality of first elements intersecting a plurality of second elements. The electroformed elements are interconnected and integral, with the continuous grid in contact with the light-incident surface of the photovoltaic cell. The cell interconnection element extends beyond the light-incident surface and couples the continuous grid to a neighboring photovoltaic cell. The electrical conduit has a flexible strip of electrically conductive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Publication date: October 5, 2017
    Applicant: Merlin Solar Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu, Prashant Ramesh, Vishal Chandrashekar
  • Patent number: 9372402
    Abstract: Described herein are organometallic or inorganic complexes with high extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical density (OD) and high mass density for use in thin films. These thin films are used as high resolution, low line edge roughness (LER) EUV photoresists. The complexes may also be included in nanoparticle form for use in photoresists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
    Inventors: Daniel Freedman, Miles Marnell, Robert Brainard, Brian Cardineau
  • Publication number: 20160027947
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
  • Patent number: 9054238
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell and method of forming the cell includes providing an electroformed metallic article having a plurality of electroformed elements that form a free-standing, unitary piece. The metallic article has gridlines that are spaced apart at a pitch PM. A semiconductor substrate has a top surface with a plurality of silver, where at least one of the silver patterns comprises pattern segments spaced apart at a pitch PS. The pattern segments have a length LS defined by the equation LS=PM?k*PS/2, k being a value from 1.0 to 1.4. The metallic article is coupled to the semiconductor substrate, in which a first electroformed element in the plurality of electroformed elements is coupled to a first silver pattern in the plurality of silver patterns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Brainard, Gopal Prabhu, David Tanner, Dong Xu
  • Publication number: 20150129024
    Abstract: An electrical component, and method of making the component, includes a metallic article having a plurality of elongated elements that are configured to serve as electrical conduits for a photovoltaic cell. The elongated elements are interconnected such that the metallic article forms a unitary, free-standing piece. An elongated element in the plurality of elongated elements has an expansion segment along its length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: GTAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert Brainard, David Tanner
  • Publication number: 20150079393
    Abstract: Described herein are organometallic or inorganic complexes with high extreme ultraviolet (EUV) optical density (OD) and high mass density for use in thin films. These thin films are used as high resolution, low line edge roughness (LER) EUV photoresists. The complexes may also be included in nanoparticle form for use in photoresists.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Applicant: The Research Foundation for the State University of New York
    Inventors: Daniel FREEDMAN, Miles MARNELL, Robert BRAINARD, Brian CARDINEAU
  • Patent number: 8940998
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
  • Patent number: 8936709
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell. A first electroformed element has at least one of: a) a non-uniform width along a first length of the first element, b) a change in conduit direction along the first length of the first element, c) an expansion segment along the first length of the first element, d) a first width that is different from a second width of a second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, e) a first height that is different from a second height of the second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, and f) a top surface that is textured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
  • Publication number: 20150007877
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a photovoltaic cell, and a device produced by such a method, are described. The method includes providing a semiconductor substrate and electrically coupling an electrically conductive article to a top surface of the semiconductor substrate. An anti-reflective coating is formed over the semiconductor substrate and the electrically conductive article, in which the anti-reflective coating has a plurality of sub-layers. Each of the sub-layers comprises polysilazane and has a different index of refraction from the other sub-layers. A photovoltaic cell is formed from the semiconductor substrate, the electrically conductive article and the anti-reflective coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Robert Brainard, Venkatesan Murali
  • Patent number: 8916038
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
  • Publication number: 20140261654
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GTAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
  • Publication number: 20140262793
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell. A first electroformed element has at least one of: a) a non-uniform width along a first length of the first element, b) a change in conduit direction along the first length of the first element, c) an expansion segment along the first length of the first element, d) a first width that is different from a second width of a second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, e) a first height that is different from a second height of the second element in the plurality of electroformed elements, and f) a top surface that is textured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GTAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
  • Publication number: 20140261661
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface layer having a preformed pattern. The outer surface layer has a dielectric region and an exposed metal region. The metallic article has a plurality of electroformed elements that are formed on the exposed metal region of the outer surface layer of the electrically conductive mandrel. A first electroformed element has an overplated portion formed above the outer surface layer of the mandrel. The metallic article is configured to serve as an electrical conduit for a photovoltaic cell, and forms a unitary, free-standing piece when separated from the electrically conductive mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GTAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Arthur Rudin, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, David Tanner, Dong Xu
  • Publication number: 20140261659
    Abstract: A free-standing metallic article, and method of making, is disclosed in which the metallic article is electroformed on an electrically conductive mandrel. The mandrel has an outer surface with a preformed pattern, wherein at least a portion of the metallic article is formed in the preformed pattern. The metallic article is separated from the electrically conductive mandrel, which forms a free-standing metallic article that may be coupled with the surface of a semiconductor material for a photovoltaic cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GTAT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steve Babayan, Robert Brainard, Arvind Chari, Alejandro de la Fuente Vornbrock, Venkatesan Murali, Gopal Prabhu, Venkateswaran Subbaraman, Dong Xu, Arthur Rudin, David Tanner
  • Patent number: 8747598
    Abstract: A method is described for forming a permanently supported thin lamina using decomposable adhesives between a lamina and a temporary support element. The temporary support element may be bonded to a first surface of the lamina. A permanent support element may be applied to a second surface of the lamina, and the temporary support element debonded from the lamina by decomposing the adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Brainard, Bin Zhang
  • Publication number: 20130284353
    Abstract: A method is described for forming a permanently supported thin lamina using decomposable adhesives between a lamina and a temporary support element. The temporary support element may be bonded to a first surface of the lamina. A permanent support element may be applied to a second surface of the lamina, and the temporary support element debonded from the lamina by decomposing the adhesive.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: TWIN CREEKS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Brainard, Bin Zhang