| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090146501 | DISTRIBUTED SOLAR POWER PLANT AND A METHOD OF ITS CONNECTION TO THE EXISTING POWER GRID - A method and apparatus is provided for using a renewable source of energy such as solar, wind or geothermal energy. The method includes generating electric energy from a renewable form of energy at a plurality of locations at which reside an electric power line associated with an electric power grid. The electric energy generated at each location is transferred to the electric power line to thereby supply electric energy to the electric power grid. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090211622 | MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES - A laminate film includes a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other. Each of the modules includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. At least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090215215 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES - A method is provided for producing a hybrid multi-junction photovoltaic device. The method begins by providing a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules. Each of the modules is a fully functional, thin-film, photovoltaic device and includes first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. The method continues by disposing the modules one on top of another and hybridly adhering them to each other. At least one of the modules is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least part of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090218651 | COMPOSITE SUBSTRATES FOR THIN FILM ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES - An electro-optic device includes at least one electro-optic module having first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. At least one optically transparent, electrically insulating base substrate is disposed on the module. The base substrate has a plurality of grooves disposed therein and an electrically conducting material filling the grooves. Electrical contact is established between the conducting material and at least one of the conducting layers of the module. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090221111 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING COMPOSITE SUBSTRATES FOR THIN FILM ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES - A method is provided for producing an electro-optic device having at least one optically transparent conducting layer with low electrical resistance. The method includes providing a composite substrate that includes an optically transparent and electrically insulating base substrate and an electrically conducting grid disposed in grooves located in the base substrate. Also provided is an electro-optical module having at least one transparent conducting layer. The composite substrate is attached onto the electro-optic module such that electrical contact is established between the grid and the transparent conducting layer of the electro-optic module. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090250722 | METHOD FOR FORMING A COMPOUND SEMI-CONDUCTOR THIN-FILM - A method is provided for fabricating a thin film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor target material. The compound semiconductor target material is deposited onto a substrate to form a thin film having a composition substantially the same as a composition of the compound semiconductor target material. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090255567 | MULTI-JUNCTION SOLAR ARRAY - A photovoltaic device includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed in an array in which each cell is adjacent to another cell. Each of the cells includes first and second photovoltaic modules. The first photovoltaic module of each cell is configured to convert a first part of light energy incident thereon into electrical energy and to reflect to the second photovoltaic module of an adjacent cell at least some of a remaining portion of light energy incident thereon. The second photovoltaic module of each cell is configured to convert into electrical energy the remaining portion of the light energy received from the first photovoltaic module of an adjacent cell. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100084924 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AC POWER - A multi-input electrical power conversion device is provided for converting multiple DC energies each arising from different junctions in a multi-junction solar cells into AC energy. The device includes a plurality of electrical inputs for receiving the multiple DC energies from at least one multi junction solar cell. The number of DC energies id no less than the number of junctions in the multi-junction solar cell. The device also includes at least one DC-to-AC circuit for receiving the multiple DC energies from the plurality of electrical inputs and at least one electrical output receiving at least one AC energy from the DC to AC circuit. The device also includes at least one MPPT circuit operatively coupled to the DC to AC circuit. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100089441 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A method is provided for producing a thin-film device such as a photovoltaic device. The method begins by forming at least one semiconductor device on a first substrate. At least one secondary substrate having a plurality of indentations is attached to the at least one semiconductor device. The at least one semiconductor device is separated from the at least one first substrate. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100098854 | PRESSURE CONTROLLED DROPLET SPRAYING (PCDS) METHOD FOR FORMING PARTICLES OF COMPOUND MATERIALS FROM MELTS - A method and apparatus of forming compositionally homogeneous particles is provided. The method includes forming a homogenous melt from a plurality of constituent materials under a first pressure sufficient to prevent substantial vaporization of the constituent materials. Droplets are generated from the homogenous melt. The droplets are cooled under a second pressure sufficient to prevent substantial vaporization of the constituent materials at least until the homogeneous particles formed therefrom have stabilized. | 04-22-2010 |
| 20100129957 | THIN-FILM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A method is provided for producing a thin-film photovoltaic device. The method includes forming on a substrate a first thin-film absorber layer using a first deposition process. A second thin-film absorber layer is formed on the first thin-film absorber layer using a second deposition process different from the first deposition process. The first and second thin-film absorber layers are each photovoltaically active regions and the second thin-film absorber layer has a smaller concentration of defects than the first thin-film absorber layer. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100170556 | MULTI-JUNCTION PV MODULE - A photovoltaic device is provided which includes a plurality of junction layers. Each junction layer includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells electrically connected to one another. At least one of the junction layers is at least in part optically transmissive. The junction layers are arranged in a stack on top of each other. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100218897 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES - A method is provided for producing a hybrid multi junction photovoltaic device. The method begins by providing a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules. Each of the modules is a fully functional, thin-film, photovoltaic device and includes first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. The method continues by disposing the modules one on top of another and hybridly adhering them to each other. At least one of the modules is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least part of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage. | 09-02-2010 |
| 20100229923 | Stretchable photovoltaic devices and carriers - A stretchable photovoltaic device, a stretchable photovoltaic module and a carrier for facilitating formation of a stretchable photovoltaic device and/or module are provided. The stretchable photovoltaic device includes a stretchable part, at least one photovoltaic cell and a surface over which that at least one photovoltaic cell is disposed. The stretchable part has a given length that is operable to change in response to a force being applied to the device. The given length may, for example, elongate when the force causes the device to elongate. Alternative and/or additionally, the given length may compress when the force causes the device to compress. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100233843 | Formation of stretchable photovoltaic devices and carriers - Formation of stretchable photovoltaic devices and carriers is described. In some examples, a formation method includes: forming a stretchable carrier including a stretchable part having a given length, the given length being operable to change in response to a force being applied to the stretchable carrier; depositing a photovoltaic cell over a surface of the stretchable carrier; and interconnecting the photovoltaic cell to output terminals. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100288335 | DEGRADATION-RESISTANT PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A degradation-resistant photovoltaic device is provided. The device includes an active area and at least one photovoltaic cell located in the active area. The photovoltaic cell has an elongated shape with a characteristic width and a characteristic length. The characteristic length is greater than the characteristic width and an average distance from the photovoltaic cell to any edge of the active area is greater than the characteristic width. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100288358 | REACTED PARTICLE DEPOSITION (RPD) METHOD FOR FORMING A COMPOUND SEMI-CONDUCTOR THIN-FILM - A method is provided for fabricating a thin-film semiconductor device. The method includes providing a plurality of raw semiconductor materials. The raw semiconductor materials undergo a pre-reacting process to form a homogeneous compound semiconductor material. This pre-reaction typically includes processing above the liquidus temperature of the compound semiconductor. The compound semiconductor material is reduced to a particulate form and deposited onto a substrate to form a thin-film having a composition and atomic structure substantially the same as a composition and atomic structure of the compound semiconductor material. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20100294346 | THREE-STAGE FORMATION OF THIN-FILMS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES. - A method for producing a film of compound semiconductor includes providing a substrate and a compound bulk material having a first chemical composition that includes at least one first chemical element and a second chemical element. A film is deposited on the substrate using the compound bulk material as a single source of material. The deposited film has a composition substantially the same as the first chemical composition. A residual chemical reaction is induced in the deposited film using a source containing the second chemical element to thereby increase the content of the second chemical element in the deposited film so that the deposited film has a second chemical composition. The film may be employed in a photovoltaic device. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100294354 | PATTERNED PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES - A patterned photovoltaic device includes at least one photovoltaic cell, at least one carrier substrate attached to the cell, and at least one opening extending through the cell and the carrier substrate. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100314238 | HYBRID SOLAR DESALINATION SYSTEM - A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit. The unit also includes a heat exchanger through which a portion of the fresh water conduit and the feed water conduit pass to thereby extract residual heat from the fresh water such that the residual heat heats the feed water. | 12-16-2010 |
| 20110024724 | MULTI-LAYERED ELECTRO-OPTIC DEVICES - A laminate film includes a plurality of planar photovoltaic semi-transparent modules disposed one on top of another and laminated to each other. Each of the modules includes a substrate, first and second conductive layers and at least first and second semiconductor layers disposed between the conductive layers. The first and second semiconductor layers define a junction at an interface therebetween. At least one of the junctions is configured to convert a first spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage and transmit a second spectral portion of optical energy to another of the junctions that is configured to convert at least a portion of the second spectral portion of optical energy into an electrical voltage. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110067757 | COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SELENIDE (CIGS) THIN FILMS WITH COMPOSITION CONTROLLED BY CO-SPUTTERING - A method and apparatus for forming a thin film of a copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS)-type material are disclosed. The method includes providing first and second targets in a common sputtering chamber. The first target includes a source of CIGS material, such as an approximately stoichiometric polycrystalline CIGS material, and the second target includes a chalcogen, such as selenium, sulfur, tellurium, or a combination of these elements. The second target provides an excess of chalcogen in the chamber. This can compensate, at least in part, for the loss of chalcogen from the CIGS-source in the first target, resulting in a thin film with a controlled stoichiometry which provides effective light absorption when used in a solar cell. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110067997 | SYNTHESIS OF HIGH-PURITY BULK COPPER INDIUM GALLIUM SELENIDE MATERIALS - A method for forming a high purity, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) bulk material is disclosed. The method includes sealing precursor materials for forming the bulk material in a reaction vessel. The precursor materials include copper, at least one chalcogen selected from selenium, sulfur, and tellurium, and at least one element from group IIIA of the periodic table, which may be selected from gallium, indium, and aluminum. The sealed reaction vessel is heated to a temperature at which the precursor materials react to form the bulk material. The bulk material is cooled in the vessel to a temperature below the solidification temperature of the bulk material and opened to release the formed bulk material. A sputtering target formed by the method can have an oxygen content of 10 ppm by weight, or less. | 03-24-2011 |
