Patents by Inventor Ruth A. Betcher

Ruth A. Betcher 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: 20150068586
    Abstract: A solar energy harvesting and storage system is disclosed having a dual-sided lithographically integrated light-to-electrical energy converter. The integrated light-to-electrical energy converter has at least one array of photovoltaic, cells having an array of optoelectronic components, each of which have a compound optical structure that spatially separates light into multiple wavelengths and a P/N junction having a gradient of semiconductor materials and/or dopants responsive to a narrow band of wavelengths. A common electrode connects the optoelectronic components and the common electrode is electrically connected to at least one integrated DC to AC inverter. Also disclosed is a dual-axis solar tracking system upon which the dual-sided lithographically integrated light-to-electrical energy converter is mounted. The dual-axis solar tracking system has two stages of tracking mounts, each tracking mount has a plurality of leaf-springs in a vertical arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: John C. Willis, Richard G. Munden, Ruth A. Betcher, Samad Moini
  • Patent number: 8571421
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the optical generation of clock signals with tunable frequency and low jitter. A laser source serves as both the carrier used to transmit the clock signal for use by other optical, electronic or hybrid circuit elements and the original modulation time base. A fraction of the original laser source undergoes one or more stages of frequency division before being recombined as a modulation signal with the remaining laser beam. Transmission of the resulting signal via single mode fiber and dividers retains the low jitter properties of the modulated signal. By starting with a clock signal of optical frequency then dividing downward in frequency, comparatively high frequency clocks may be generated, notably in the GigaHertz and TeraHertz frequency ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: FTL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Willis, Ruth A. Betcher
  • Publication number: 20120260969
    Abstract: A solar energy harvesting and storage system is disclosed having a dual-sided lithographically integrated light-to-electrical energy converter. The integrated light-to-electrical energy converter has a dual-sided photovoltaic cell, a compound optical structure and a plurality of integrated DC to AC converters. Also disclosed is a dual-axis solar tracking system upon which the dual-sided lithographically integrated light-to-electrical energy converter is mounted. The dual-axis solar tracking system has two stages of tracking mounts, each tracking mount has a plurality of leaf-springs in a vertical arrangement. The leaf springs have differential coefficients of expansion and contraction so that each tracking mount tracks a solar light source in an orthogonal direction from the other tracking mount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: FTL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Willis, Richard G. Munden, Ruth A. Betcher, Samad Moini
  • Publication number: 20100232811
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the optical generation of clock signals with tunable frequency and low jitter. A laser source serves as both the carrier used to transmit the clock signal for use by other optical, electronic or hybrid circuit elements and the original modulation time base. A fraction of the original laser source undergoes one or more stages of frequency division before being recombined as a modulation signal with the remaining laser beam. Transmission of the resulting signal via single mode fiber and dividers retains the low jitter properties of the modulated signal. By starting with a clock signal of optical frequency then dividing downward in frequency, comparatively high frequency clocks may be generated, notably in the GigaHertz and TeraHertz frequency ranges.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: FTL Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John C. Willis, Ruth A. Betcher