Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080196759 | Photovoltaic assembly with elongated photovoltaic devices and integrated involute-based reflectors - A photovoltaic assembly has elongated photovoltaic modules. The photovoltaic modules each have a substrate with a photovoltaic material disposed on the substrate. Each respective photovoltaic module lies in the concave structure of a corresponding concentrator assembly. The concentrator assemblies have surfaces made with reflective material that form such concave structures. The concentrator assemblies each transmit light to their corresponding photovoltaic module. The surfaces of each concentrator assembly are shaped at least in part as an involute of the surface of their corresponding photovoltaic modules, and do not exceed the height of the their corresponding module. A frame is provided having a first support and a second support, where the modules extend between the supports. The concentrator is mechanically attached to the frame. A substantial portion of light striking the concentrator is ultimately redirected to the modules without associated tracking and/or control devices. | 08-21-2008 |
20080302415 | Elongated photovoltaic cells in casings with a filling layer - A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The tubular shaped solar cell comprises a back-electrode, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The transparent tubular casing is circumferentially sealed onto the transparent conductive layer of the cylindrical shaped solar cell. A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell, a filler layer, and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The cylindrical shaped solar cell comprises a cylindrical substrate, a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the cylindrical substrate, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The filler layer is circumferentially disposed on the transparent conductive layer and the transparent tubular casing is circumferentially disposed onto the filler layer. | 12-11-2008 |
20080308751 | MULTI-FUNCTION MODULE FOR AN ELECTRON BEAM COLUMN - A multifunction module for an electron beam column comprises upper and lower electrodes, and a central ring electrode. The upper and lower electrodes have multipoles and are capable of deflecting, or correcting an aberration of, an electron beam passing through the electrodes. A voltage can be applied to the central ring electrode independently of the voltages applied to the upper and lower electrodes to focus the electron beam on a substrate. | 12-18-2008 |
20090007963 | ELONGATED PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS IN CASINGS WITH A FILLING LAYER - A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The tubular shaped solar cell comprises a back-electrode, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The transparent tubular casing is circumferentially sealed onto the transparent conductive layer of the cylindrical shaped solar cell. A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell, a filler layer, and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The cylindrical shaped solar cell comprises a cylindrical substrate, a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the cylindrical substrate, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The filler layer is circumferentially disposed on the transparent conductive layer and the transparent tubular casing is circumferentially disposed onto the filler layer. | 01-08-2009 |
20090114268 | REINFORCED SOLAR CELL FRAMES - A solar assembly apparatus is provided that comprises one or more photovoltaic modules, a first end rail to which the first ends of the one or more photovoltaic modules are fixed and a first stiffening member to which the first end rail is attached. In some instances, the one or more photovoltaic modules are a plurality of electrically-interconnected elongated photovoltaic modules forming an array and each elongated photovoltaic module in the plurality of elongated photovoltaic modules is elongated along an axis and has a first end and a second end that are axially opposite each other. Furthermore, in such instances, each elongated photovoltaic module in the plurality of elongated photovoltaic modules has photovoltaic surface portions facing away from the axis in different directions to receive light to generate electricity. | 05-07-2009 |
20090120486 | Bifacial Solar Cell Array - First and second solar panels are mounted in an operative position. Each panel includes an upward-facing photovoltaic surface and a downward-facing photovoltaic surface that are configured to photovoltaically generate electricity from light. The downward-facing photovoltaic surface is spaced above a reflective surface. The first and second panels are spaced apart in a first direction by a spacing distance that is about 25% to about 100% of the width of the first panel in the first direction. Some downwardly-directed light rays can strike the upward-facing photovoltaic surfaces of the panels. Other downwardly-directed light rays can pass between the first and second panels and be reflected upward by the reflective surface to strike the downward-facing photovoltaic surfaces of the panels. | 05-14-2009 |
20100326429 | Hermetically sealed cylindrical solar cells - A cylindrical shaped solar cell having a water vapor transmission rate of 10 | 12-30-2010 |
20110000534 | Elongated photovoltaic cells in casings with a filling layer - A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The tubular shaped solar cell comprises a back-electrode, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The transparent tubular casing is circumferentially sealed onto the transparent conductive layer of the cylindrical shaped solar cell. A solar cell unit comprising a cylindrical shaped solar cell, a filler layer, and a transparent tubular casing is provided. The cylindrical shaped solar cell comprises a cylindrical substrate, a back-electrode circumferentially disposed on the cylindrical substrate, a semiconductor junction circumferentially disposed on the back-electrode, and a transparent conductive layer disposed on the semiconductor junction. The filler layer is circumferentially disposed on the transparent conductive layer and the transparent tubular casing is circumferentially disposed onto the filler layer. | 01-06-2011 |
20110168230 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR CONNECTING MULTIPLE PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULES - In some embodiments, an apparatus for electrically connecting a plurality of photovoltaic modules in a solar panel includes a first electrically conductive line engageable with and capable of electrically connecting a plurality of first output contacts of the photovoltaic modules along a common axis. | 07-14-2011 |
20130037992 | LASER SCRIBING APPARATUS, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Apparatus, systems, and methods for forming a photovoltaic cell from a common layer on a substrate are provided. A first pass is made with a first laser beam over an area on the common layer. The first pass forms a groove in the common layer. The first pass forms within the common layer a first edge and a second edge. The first edge is separated from the second edge by the groove. The groove provides a first level of electrical isolation between the first edge and the second edge. A second pass is made with a second laser beam over approximately the same area on the common layer. The second pass provides a second level of electrical isolation between the first edge and the second edge. The second level of electrical isolation is greater than the first level of electrical isolation. | 02-14-2013 |
20140144489 | Arrangement for Securing Elongated Solar Cells - A solar panel apparatus includes a set of photovoltaic modules. The modules are configured to photovoltaically generate electricity from light. Each module is elongated along an axis and has first and second axially opposite ends. An end rail has a groove into which the first end of each module is potted in place with potting material. | 05-29-2014 |