Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080223435 | Micron gap thermal photovoltaic device and method of making the same - A method of making a micron gap thermal photovoltaic device wherein at least one standoff is formed on a photovoltaic substrate, a sacrificial layer is deposited on the photovoltaic substrate and about the standoff, an emitter is attached to the standoff and has a lower planar surface separated from the photovoltaic substrate by the sacrificial layer, and the sacrificial layer is removed to form a sub-micron gap between the photovoltaic substrate and the lower planar surface of the emitter. | 09-18-2008 |
20090277488 | Method and structure, using flexible membrane surfaces, for setting and/or maintaining a uniform micron/sub-micron gap separation between juxtaposed photosensitive and heat-supplying surfaces of photovoltaic chips and the like for the generation of electrical power - A near-field energy conversion structure and method of assembling the same, utilizing a sub-micrometer “near field” gap between juxtaposed photocell infrared radiation receiver and heat emitter surfaces, wherein compliant membrane structures, preferably fluid-filled, are interposed in the structure. | 11-12-2009 |
20100319749 | Sub-micrometer gap thermophotovoltaic structure (MTPV) and fabrication method therefor - An MTPV thermophotovoltaic chip comprising a photovoltaic cell substrate, micron/sub-micron gap-spaced from a juxtaposed heat or infrared radiation-emitting substrate, with a radiation-transparent intermediate window substrate preferably compliantly adhered to the photovoltaic cell substrate and bounding the gap space therewith. | 12-23-2010 |
20110209748 | Thermally resistant spacers for a submicron gap thermo-photo-voltaic device and method - A micron gap thermo-photo-voltaic device including a photovoltaic substrate, a heat source substrate, and a plurality of spacers separating the photovoltaic substrate from the heat source substrate by a submicron gap. Each spacer includes an elongated thin-walled structure disposed in a well formed in the heat source substrate and having a top surface less than a micron above the heat source substrate. Also disclosed are methods of making the spacers. | 09-01-2011 |
20120060883 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR PROVIDING A UNIFORM MICRON/SUB-MICRON GAP SEPARATION WITHIN MICRO-GAP THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTRICAL POWER - A near-field energy conversion method, utilizing a sub-micrometer “near-field” gap between juxtaposed infrared radiation receiver and emitter surfaces, wherein compliant membrane structures, preferably fluid-filled, are interposed in the structure for maintaining uniform gap separation. Thermally resistant gap spacers are also used to maintain uniform gap separation. Means are provided for cooling a receiver substrate structure and for conducting heat to an emitter substrate structure. The gap may also be evacuated for more effective operation. | 03-15-2012 |
20130092212 | Submicron Gap Thermophotovoltaic Structure and Method - An improved submicron gap thermophotovoltaic structure and method comprising an emitter substrate with a first surface for receiving heat energy and a second surface for emitting infrared radiation across an evacuated submicron gap to a juxtaposed first surface of an infrared radiation-transparent window substrate having a high refractive index. A second surface of the infrared radiation-transparent substrate opposite the first surface is affixed to a photovoltaic cell substrate by an infrared-transparent compliant adhesive layer. Relying on the high refractive index of the infrared radiation-transparent window substrate, the low refractive index of the submicron gap and Snell's law, the infrared radiation received by the first surface of the infrared radiation-transparent window substrate is focused onto a more perpendicular path to the surface of the photovoltaic cell substrate. This results in increased electrical power output and improved efficiency by the thermophotovoltaic structure. | 04-18-2013 |
20130298963 | LATERAL PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE FOR NEAR FIELD USE - A device, method and process of fabricating an interdigitated multicell thermo-photo-voltaic component that is particularly efficient for generating electrical energy from photons in the red and near-infrared spectrum received from a heat source in the near field. Where the absorbing region is germanium, the device is capable of generating electrical energy by absorbing photon energy in the greater than 0.67 electron volt range corresponding to radiation in the infrared and near-infrared spectrum. Use of germanium semiconductor material provides a good match for converting energy from a low temperature heat source. The side that is opposite the photon receiving side of the device includes metal interconnections and dielectric material which provide an excellent back surface reflector for recycling below band photons back to the emitter. Multiple cells may be fabricated and interconnected as a monolithic large scale array for improved performance. | 11-14-2013 |
20140137921 | SUBMICRON GAP THERMOPHOTOVOLTAIC STRUCTURE AND FABRICATION METHOD - An MTPV thermophotovoltaic chip comprising a photovoltaic cell substrate, micron/sub-micron gap-spaced from a juxtaposed heat or infrared radiation-emitting substrate, with a radiation-transparent intermediate window substrate preferably compliantly adhered to the photovoltaic cell substrate and bounding the gap space therewith. | 05-22-2014 |
20140261618 | METHOD AND STRUCTURE FOR MULTICELL DEVICES WITHOUT PHYSICAL ISOLATION - The present invention relates to multi-cell devices fabricated on a common substrate that are more desirable than single cell devices, particularly in photovoltaic applications. Multi-cell devices operate with lower currents, higher output voltages, and lower internal power losses. Prior art multi-cell devices use physical isolation to achieve electrical isolation between cells. In order to fabricate a multicell device on a common substrate, the individual cells must be electrically isolated from one another. In the prior art, isolation generally required creating a physical dielectric barrier between the cells, which adds complexity and cost to the fabrication process. The disclosed invention achieves electrical isolation without physical isolation by proper orientation of interdigitated junctions such that the diffusion fields present in the interdigitated region essentially prevent the formation of a significant parasitic current which would be in opposition to the output of the device. | 09-18-2014 |
20140349436 | METHOD FOR MAKING A SPACER IN A PHOTOVOLTAIC SUBSTRATE - A micron gap thermo-photo-voltaic device including a photovoltaic substrate, a heat source substrate, and a plurality of spacers separating the photovoltaic substrate from the heat source substrate by a submicron gap. Each spacer includes an elongated thin-walled structure disposed in a well formed in the heat source substrate and having a top surface less than a micron above the heat source substrate. Also disclosed are methods of making the spacers. | 11-27-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090250923 | Unit With At Least Two Hydraulic Connections Fastened To It - An electrohydraulic unit assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a receiving body defining a sealing face and at least two connectors fastened to the receiving body of the unit, oriented substantially parallel one to another and separated by a defined distance from one another. Each connector is configured for connecting a fluid conduit to the unit. Each connector includes a screw fitting for fastening the respective hydraulic connection to the receiving body of the unit such that a sealing face of the screw fitting or a sealing face of the fluid conduit is seated on the sealing face of the receiving body. Each screw fitting is rotatably connected to the body and includes two spanner flat portions having different spanner widths. | 10-08-2009 |
20090250998 | Electronic Control Unit With Cooling by Means of a Valve Block - Disclosed are hydraulic/electronic control units ( | 10-08-2009 |
20090295221 | Hydraulic Trailer Brake System - A trailer device for driving stabilization of vehicle combinations is provided. In order to design a device for driving stabilization of passenger vehicle trailers in a cost-effective and simple manner, a brake system for braking the trailer by an overrun brake and for stability regulation is designed so as to have separating valves, switching valves, inlet and outlet valves and a pressure build-up pump. A stabilizing coupling is also connected by means of a second pressure medium pump to actuators which can vary the clamping force of the stabilizing coupling between the trailer and tractor vehicle if the second pressure medium pump conveys pressure medium from the storage tank into or out of the actuators. | 12-03-2009 |
20100231033 | HYDRAULIC UNIT FOR SLIP-CONTROLLED BRAKING SYSTEMS - A hydraulic unit for slip-controlled braking systems has a plurality of receiving holes for transport devices associated with a plurality of hydraulic circuits bundled into groups, wherein the receiving holes are disposed at a distance from each in parallel with the upper side and a drive shaft having eccentrics located at the plane spacing for driving the transport devices. In order to provide a compromise optimized for manufacturing a small, convenient hydraulic unit, it is proposed that three theoretical planes (E | 09-16-2010 |