Patents by Inventor Thomas Fromherz

Thomas Fromherz 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: 20100140661
    Abstract: An apparatus is described for converting infrared radiation into electric current with a photodiode which comprises two semiconductor layers (1, 2) with a heterojunction which are each connected to an electrode (3, 4) and of which one consists of a doped inorganic semiconductor. In order to ensure advantageous detection it is proposed that the inorganic semiconductor layer (1) forms the heterojunction with an organic semiconductor layer (2) and a cooling device is associated with the two semiconductor layers (1, 2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventors: Gebhard Matt, Thomas Fromherz
  • Publication number: 20060107996
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is described having a photoactive layer (4) made of two components, namely a conjugated polymer component as an electron donor and a fullerene component as an electron acceptor. In order to provide advantageous conditions, it is suggested that the two components and their mixed phases have an average largest grain size smaller than 500 nm in at least some sections of photoactive layer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: May 25, 2006
    Inventors: Sean Shaheen, Christoph Brabec, Thomas Fromherz, Franz Padinger, Serdar Sariciftci, Erhard Gloetzl
  • Patent number: 6933436
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is described, having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 5) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4). In order to provide advantageous construction ratios, it is suggested that an electrically insulating transition layer (6), having a thickness of at most 5 nm, be provided between at least one electrode (5) and the photoactive layer (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: Konarka Austria Forschungs und Entwicklungs GmbH
    Inventors: Sean Shaheen, Christoph Brabec, Thomas Fromherz, Franz Padinger, Sedar Sariciftci, Erhard Gloetzl
  • Patent number: 6812399
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is described, having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 6) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4). In order to provide advantageous construction conditions, it is suggested that an intermediate layer (5) made of a conjugated polymer, which has doping corresponding to the electrode potential and, in regard to the electron energy, has a band gap between the valence band and the conduction band of at least 1.8 eV, be provided between the photoactive layer (4) and at least one electrode (2,6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: QSEL-Quantum Solar Energy Linz Forschungs-Und Entwick-Lungs-Gesellsch
    Inventors: Sean Shaheen, Christoph Brabec, Thomas Fromherz, Franz Padinger, Sedar Sariciftci, Erhard Gloetzl
  • Publication number: 20040094196
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is described, having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 5) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4). In order to provide advantageous construction ratios, it is suggested that an electrically insulating transition layer (6), having a thickness of at most 5 nm, be provided between at least one electrode (5) and the photoactive layer (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventors: Sean Shaheen, Christoph Brabec, Thomas Fromherz, Franz Padinger, Sedar Sariciftci, Erhard Gloetzl
  • Publication number: 20030159729
    Abstract: A photovoltaic cell is described, having a photoactive layer (4) made of two molecular components, namely an electron donor and an electron acceptor, particularly a conjugated polymer component and a fullerene component, and having two metallic electrodes (2, 6) provided on both sides of the photoactive layer (4). In order to provide advantageous construction conditions, it is suggested that an intermediate layer (5) made of a conjugated polymer, which has doping corresponding to the electrode potential and, in regard to the electron energy, has a band gap between the valence band and the conduction band of at least 1.8 eV, be provided between the photoactive layer (4) and at least one electrode (2,6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: Sean Shaheen, Christoph Brabec, Thomas Fromherz, Franz Padinger, Sedar Sariciftci, Erhard Gloetzl