Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090078579 | Systems And Methods For Electroplating Embossed Features On Substrates - Systems and methods for electroplating embossed features on substrates are disclosed. In an exemplary implementation, a method may include positioning a device in close proximity to an anode. The device may have embossed trenches. The method may also include delivering pressurized electrolyte to the anode. The method may also include activating electrical power between the anode and the device. The metal ions migrate into the embossed trenches to form electroplated metal traces on the device | 03-26-2009 |
20100288331 | FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL SUBSTRATE - A flexible substrate layer having metallic bus-lines and connecting stitches is formed. A trace layer having electrical traces and thermal vias is also formed. The substrate layer and the trace layer are bonded together by way of respective thermal pathways and electrically interconnected. The resulting layer-wise assembly is configured to support and electrically interconnect an array of photovoltaic cells and to channel away heat during operation. | 11-18-2010 |
20110134514 | Flexible Substrate Having Electrical And Optical Functions - A flexible substrate having electrical and optical functions. The substrate includes a planar non-conductive film. The substrate also includes a seed layer on a first region of the film for fabrication of conductive traces to couple to an electro-optical component disposed adjacent the first region. The substrate further includes a smooth optically reflective layer disposed on a second region of the film. | 06-09-2011 |
20110139217 | PHOTOVOLTAIC ARRAY WITH ANGULAR ADJUSTMENT - Apparatus are provided for use in photovoltaic systems. A photovoltaic array includes a rigid transparent material supporting a flexible material there beneath. Numerous photovoltaic cells are supported by the flexible material and are electrically coupled to circuit pathways borne there on. A positioner operates to shift the flexible material thus adjusting respective angular relationships between the photovoltaic cells and the overlying transparent material. Photovoltaic cells are reoriented in accordance with daily or seasonal variations in the suns position by way of the present teachings. | 06-16-2011 |
20110212306 | FORMED ENTITIES FROM FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIALS - Apparatus and methods are provided. A first sheet of flexible material is placed against a surface of a form. The first sheet bears an adhesive on one side. A second sheet of flexible material is brought into contact with the adhesive and the two sheets are pressed into conformant contact with the surface of the form. The first and second sheets are thus bonded to form a rigid or semi-rigid entity having a cross-sectional shape in accordance with the surface contours of the form. | 09-01-2011 |
20110308571 | Light assembly having parabolic sheets - A light assembly includes a first sheet and a second sheet below the first sheet. The first and the second sheets are parabolic in shape. The first sheet has a dichroic surface. The second sheet has a reflective surface. | 12-22-2011 |
20120067412 | SOLDER BONDING ENTITIES TO SOLID MATERIAL - Methods and apparatus are provided for solder bonding entities to solid materials. One or more through apertures are formed in a solid material. Solder paste is introduced into each through aperture. Respective entities having solderable surface features are disposed in overlying alignment with the through apertures. The arrangement is heated causing molten solder paste to wet the solderable surface features and the solid material. Cooling results in the electrical and mechanical bonding of the entities to the solid material. Devices having substantially planar form factors and without lead wires can be electrically and mechanically secured to a supporting conductive stratum. | 03-22-2012 |
20120132614 | FLEXIBLE ELECTRICAL SUBSTRATE - A flexible substrate layer haying metallic bus-lines and connecting stitches is formed. A trace layer haying electrical traces and thermal vias is also formed. The substrate layer and the trace layer are bonded together by way of respective thermal pathways and electrically interconnected. The resulting layer-wise assembly is configured to support and electrically interconnect an array of photovoltaic cells and to channel away heat during operation. | 05-31-2012 |
20120138122 | PARABOLIC LIGHT CONCENTRATING TROUGH - Apparatus and methods are provided for use with photovoltaic cells, light emitting devices and the like. Reflective regions are formed on a sheet of flexible, non-metallic sheet material. The sheet material is folded to at least partially define a finished shape. Supports complete and maintain the folded condition such that one or more truncated parabolic troughs are defined. Incident light may be received and concentrated, or emitted light concentrated and projected, by way of the troughs. | 06-07-2012 |
20120266936 | PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH ELECTRICALLY COUPLED SUPPORTS - Apparatus and methods related to photovoltaic energy are provided. A device includes electrically conductive supports in electrical contact with one or more photovoltaic cells. The photovoltaic cells are secured with respect to the supports by a clamping force soldering or other means. Optics concentrate and guide photonic energy onto the photovoltaic cells. Generated electrical energy is coupled to a load using the conductive supports. Heat is rejected from the photovoltaic cells using at least one of the supports and a fluid flow, thermal conduction, and so on. | 10-25-2012 |
20130008484 | INCREMENTALLY POSITIONED SOLAR ARRAY - Apparatus and methods related to solar energy are provided. A system includes a solar array supported to be angularly repositionable. A shuttle and linkage arrangement is coupled to the solar array. Thermally activated actuators sequentially control the linear translation of the shuttle such that the solar array is incrementally angularly repositioned over the course of a daylight period. Concentrated solar energy is used to heat the actuators in their sequential order. Systems for generating electrical and/or thermal energy, embodied as panels or other form-factors, are contemplated. | 01-10-2013 |
20130025922 | BONDING ENTITIES TO CONJOINED STRIPS OF CONDUCTIVE MATERIAL - Methods and apparatus are provided for mass production of electronic devices. Rows of perforation are formed across a sheet of conductive material such that plural conjoined strips are defined. Respective electronic entities are soldered to each of the conjoined strips. The strips are separated by severing the perforations such that plural discrete electronic devices are defined. Solar panels, electronic circuits and other apparatus can be formed in this way. | 01-31-2013 |
20130048050 | PHOTONIC ENERGY CONCENTRATORS BY WAY OF FOLDED MATERIAL - Apparatus and methods related to solar energy are provided. A reflector array is formed from a sheet material. The reflector array includes light concentrators and hinge features. A reflective surface treatment is applied to at least some portions of the reflector array. The reflector array is folded from an initial configuration into an operable configuration by way of the hinges. Housing, framework, foam material or other supports maintain the operable configuration. Photovoltaic cells or other entities are disposed at respective target locations so as receive concentrated photonic energy by way of the light concentrators. | 02-28-2013 |
20130068282 | SOLAR TRACKING WITH HEAT REJECTION - Apparatus and methods related to solar energy are provided. A modular solar panel includes heat pipes to transfer heat away from photovoltaic cells. The solar panel is supported on a tracking mechanism and the heat pipes are coupled in thermal communication with heat exchangers. The solar panel is positioned by the tracking mechanism to follow the sun across the sky. Heat is transferred from the photovoltaic cells to the heat pipes and in turn to the heat exchangers, and is ultimately rejected from the system. | 03-21-2013 |
20130087196 | Photonic Energy Concentrators Arranged on Plural Levels - Apparatus and methods related to solar energy are provided. Light concentrators are mechanically coupled and arranged as respective groups within a system. Groups are disposed along upper and lower levels. Lower level groups are aligned with respective gaps defined between upper level groups. Angular positioning of the light concentrators tracks the motion of the sun, resulting in varying gap widths. Light concentrators on the lower level receive varying amounts of sunlight accordingly, yet contribute to the overall energy yield from the system. | 04-11-2013 |
20130104962 | PHOTONIC ENERGY CONCENTRATORS WITH STRUCTURAL FOAM | 05-02-2013 |
20130138393 | INCLINOMETER - An inclinometer and method for use in the same are disclosed herein. An example of such an inclinometer includes a substrate and a heater on the substrate. The inclinometer also includes a plurality of fluid passageways coupled to the substrate and configured to conduct fluid past the heater to an exit. The inclinometer additionally includes a. temperature sensor adjacent the exit which is configured to measure a temperature in each of the fluid passageways. The inclinometer may further include a processor coupled to the temperature sensor to receive the temperature measured in each of the fluid passageway's which is configured to determine an angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium may store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to determine the angle of inclination based on the measured temperatures. | 05-30-2013 |