Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric inventions 12/08

20080314430 - Line-voltage-powered thermoelectric device: An apparatus, which may be a heater or cooler, includes a thermoelectric device group having at least one thermoelectric device and an electrical subsystem. The electrical subsystem interfaces the thermoelectric device group to an alternating current (AC) line voltage without utilizing a magnetically coupled structure. In some embodiments the electrical... Agent: Zagorin O'brien Graham LLP

20080314429 - Method for thermal matching of a thermoelectric generator with a heat source having high thermal resistance and thermoelectric generator thus obtained: The present disclosure relates to thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and more specifically to TEGs operated with a heat source having a high thermal resistance, more specifically to TEGs operated under conditions of non-constant heat flow and non-constant temperature difference between a hot plate and a cold plate. A thermoelectric generator for... Agent: Mcdonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP

20080314431 - Thermal cycler for pcr: An instrument for performing highly accurate PCR employing an assembly, a heated cover, and an internal computer, is provided. The assembly is made up of a sample block, a number of Peltier thermal electric devices, and a heat sink, clamped together. A control algorithm manipulates the current supplied to thermoelectric... Agent: Kilyk & Bowersox, P.l.l.c.

20080314432 - Photovoltaic module utilizing an integrated flex circuit and incorporating a bypass diode: One photovoltaic module has a plurality of photovoltaic cells including a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, a collector-connector configured to collect a current from the first photovoltaic cell and electrically connect the first photovoltaic cell to the second photovoltaic cell and at least one diode configured to... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20080314433 - Substrate structures for integrated series connected photovoltaic arrays and process of manufacture of such arrays: This invention comprises manufacture of photovoltaic cells by deposition of thin film photovoltaic junctions on metal foil substrates. The photovoltaic junctions may be heat treated if appropriate following deposition in a continuous fashion without deterioration of the metal support structure. In a separate operation, an interconnection substrate structure is provided,... Agent: Daniel Luch

20080314434 - Photovoltaic panel: A photovoltaic panel (PV panel) includes a plurality of rigid solar or photovoltaic modules attached to a flexible membrane. The PV modules are arranged adjacent to each other, e.g., side-by-side or end-to-end, and are spaced apart from each other so as to allow each PV module to be folded over... Agent: Christie, Parker & Hale, LLP

20080314437 - Multiple heliostats concentrator: A multi heliostat concentrating (MHC) system for utilizing sun energy has at least on MHC module. A MHC module has at least one optical concentrator having a focusin reflective surface, aperture and an optical axis. A plurality of heliostats, which are preferably located symmetrically relative to the optical axis of... Agent: Yoram Tsivion

20080314435 - Nano engineered photo electrode for photoelectrochemical, photovoltaic and sensor applications: A unit nano photo cell comprised of a first component of conductive or semi conductive crystalline material, forming a backbone which spreads out in a three dimensional structural fashion, a second component of at least one photo active material bound to the first component, and a third component of carrier... Agent: Zuber & Taillieu LLP

20080314436 - Solar augmentation system: The present invention relates to a solar panel condenser apparatus that includes an optical condenser and a photovoltaic cell. The optical condenser may be two or more stages of Fresnel lenses. The optical condenser may also include one or more optical devices to separate sunlight into frequency bands so that... Agent: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

20080314438 - Integrated concentrator photovoltaics and water heater: An energy device includes a solar concentrator that concentrates at least 20 suns on a predetermined spot; a solar cell positioned on the predetermined spot to receive concentrated solar energy from the solar concentrator; and a water heater pipe thermally coupled to the solar cell to remove heat from the... Agent: Bao Q. Tran

20080314439 - Array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells and associated methods: A process of forming an array of monolithically integrated thin film photovoltaic cells from a stack of thin film layers formed on an insulating substrate includes forming at least one cell isolation scribe in the stack of thin film layers. A second electrical contact layer isolation scribe is formed for... Agent: Lathrop & Gage Lc

20080314440 - Photovoltaic collection systems, friction drives, and method for tracking the sun and avoiding wind damage: Disclosed are photovoltaic collection systems, friction drives, and method for tracking the sun and avoiding wind damage without the use of complicated or expensive mechanical systems. In particular, disclosed is friction drive system for coupling a support beam supporting a photovoltaic collection assembly to a support pillar. The frictional drive... Agent: Jenkins, Wilson, Taylor & Hunt, P. A.

20080314441 - Structure with profiled surface for variable visual effects: A structure, substrate or other article having a profiled surface comprising a plurality of profiled, in a length direction extending ridges, each ridge having a peak and on opposite sides of the peak a sloping side and an opposite, downwardly directed side, wherein the downwardly directed side comprises an undercutting... Agent: Novak Druce + Quigg, LLP

20080314443 - Back-contact solar cell for high power-over-weight applications: A solar cell is described. The solar cell is fabricated on a substrate, the substrate having a front surface and a back surface. The substrate includes, at the front surface, a first region having a first global thickness and a second region having a second global thickness. The second global... Agent: Blakely Sokoloff Taylor & Zafman LLP

20080314442 - Transparent substrate provided with an electrode: Transparent substrate, especially made of glass, associated with an electrode, especially one suitable for solar cells, characterized in that the electrode comprises a first transparent electrically conducting layer composed of an undoped mineral oxide, said first layer being coated with a second transparent electrically conducting layer composed of the same... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080314444 - Electrically conductive paste and solar cell: An electrically conductive paste which can be formed into an electrode by being fired at relatively low temperatures, which exhibits excellent adhesion strength between a light-receiving surface electrode and a semiconductor substrate, and which can satisfactorily reduce the contact resistance between the two, is provided. The electrically conductive paste used... Agent: Dickstein Shapiro LLP

20080314448 - Dye-sensitized solar cell fabricating kit, dye-sensitized solar cell and method of using the same: A dye-sensitized solar cell fabricating kit for fabricating a dye-sensitized solar cell includes a semiconductor electrode having a semiconductor layer carrying a dye, an opposite electrode disposed opposite the semiconductor electrode, and an electrolyte made by dissolving electrolyte in a solvent and caused to fill between the semiconductor electrode and... Agent: Smith, Gambrell & Russell

20080314445 - Method for the preparation of high purity silicon: A method of forming high-purity elemental silicon is disclosed. The method includes the step of heating a silica gel composition, or an intermediate composition derived from a silica gel composition, wherein the silica gel composition or intermediate composition includes at least about 5% by weight carbon, and the heating temperature... Agent: General Electric Company Global Research

20080314446 - Processes for the preparation of solar-grade silicon and photovoltaic cells: A process for the manufacture of high-purity elemental silicon is described. The process includes the step of preparing a silica gel composition by reacting at least one organosilane compound with an aqueous composition, so as to form granules of the silica gel. A hydrocarbon species is then decomposed by way... Agent: General Electric Company Global Research

20080314447 - Single p-n junction tandem photovoltaic device: A single P-N junction solar cell is provided having two depletion regions for charge separation while allowing the electrons and holes to recombine such that the voltages associated with both depletion regions of the solar cell will add together. The single p-n junction solar cell includes an alloy of either... Agent: Greenberg Traurig LLP (la)

20080308140 - Thermo-electric cooling device: A thermo-electric cooling device includes at least one-layer resin substrate having electric connection regions existing with a predetermined pattern, thermo-electric semiconductor elements including a plurality of p-type thermo-electric semiconductor elements and n-type thermo-electric semiconductor elements arranged so as to correspond to the electric connection regions, and an electric circuit metal... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080308141 - Photovoltaic power converter system with a controller configured to actively compensate load harmonics: Photovoltaic power converter system including a controller configured to reduce load harmonics is provided. The system comprises a photovoltaic array and an inverter electrically coupled to the array to generate an output current for energizing a load connected to the inverter and to a mains grid supply voltage. The system... Agent: General Electric Company Global Research

20080308142 - Solar collector devices and methods of assembly: In one embodiment, a method of assembling optical elements is provided. At least a portion of each optical element is disposed against at least a portion of a high precision surface. A structural frame is disposed adjacent the optical elements. At least two portions of the structural frame are aligned... Agent: Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP And The Boeing Company

20080308144 - Integrated thin-layer photovoltaic module: The present invention is an integral thin-layer photovoltaic device, comprising a substrate with a coated layer of semiconductor materials, for example amorphous silicon of i-type conductivity, and made up of alternating areas, having different type of conductivity, different amounts of doping and/or band gap width, transparent and clear coatings on... Agent: Elena Shembel

20080308143 - Thin film semi-conductor-on-glass solar cell devices: The present invention relates to semiconductor devices suitable for electronic, optoelectronic and energy conversion applications. In a particular form, the present invention relates to the fabrication of a thin film solar cells and thin film transistors through the advantageous combination of semiconductors, insulators, rare-earth based compounds and amorphous and/or ceramic... Agent: Fernandez & Associates LLP

20080308151 - Front electrode for use in photovoltaic device and method of making same: This invention relates to a front electrode/contact for use in an electronic device such as a photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode of a photovoltaic device or the like includes a multilayer coating including at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (e.g., of or including a... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080308146 - Front electrode including pyrolytic transparent conductive coating on textured glass substrate for use in photovoltaic device and method of making same: A photovoltaic device includes a front electrode on a textured front glass substrate. In certain example embodiments, the glass substrate is textured via roller(s) and/or etching to form a textured surface. Thereafter, a front electrode is formed on the textured surface of the glass substrate via pyrolysis. The front electrode... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080308145 - Front electrode including transparent conductive coating on etched glass substrate for use in photovoltaic device and method of making same: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a front electrode provided on an etched/patterned front glass substrate for use in a photovoltaic device or the like. The glass is a low-iron soda-lime-silica based glass. Etching of the glass may include immersing the soda-lime-silica based glass in an acid inclusive... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080308150 - Hot embossing of conductor tracks on a photovoltaic silicon wafer: There is described a process for the production of conductor tracks (322, 422, 522) on a silicon wafer (1) intended for photovoltaic cells. An electrically conductive transfer layer (22) is transferred completely or region-wise on to the surface of the silicon wafer (1) by an embossing film (2), in particular... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP

20080308148 - Photovoltaic devices with conductive barrier layers and foil substrates: Methods and devices are provided for absorber layers formed on foil substrate. In one embodiment, a method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices may be comprised of providing a substrate comprising of at least one electrically conductive aluminum foil substrate, at least one electrically conductive diffusion barrier layer, and at least one... Agent: Director Of Ip

20080308147 - Rear electrode structure for use in photovoltaic device such as cigs/cis photovoltaic device and method of making same: A photovoltaic device including a rear electrode which may also function as a rear reflector. In certain example embodiments of this invention, the rear electrode includes a metallic based reflective film that is oxidation graded, so as to be more oxided closer to a rear substrate (e.g., glass substrate) supporting... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080308149 - Squarylium dye, method of producing the same, photoelectric conversion element containing the dye, and solid-state imaging device: p

20080308154 - Reflective secondary optic for concentrated photovoltaic systems: A solar power system is disclosed. The solar power system includes: a solar energy receiving solar collector; a reflective secondary optical element comprising one or more sheets, wherein the one or more sheets are arranged to form a hollow structure having an interior surface, an exterior surface, an entry aperture,... Agent: Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

20080308153 - Restrained solar collector and method: In one embodiment, a solar collector comprises a solar cell attached with a heat exchanger, and a restraining member attached to the heat exchanger. The restraining member at least partly restrains the heat exchanger when heated. In further embodiments, restraining members and methods are disclosed for at least partly restraining... Agent: Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP And The Boeing Company

20080308152 - Solar collector with angled cooling fins: In one embodiment, a solar collector includes a heat pipe and at least one cooling fin. The at least one cooling fin is attached to the heat pipe at a non-perpendicular first angle relative to the heat pipe. In further embodiments, methods of transferring heat are disclosed, in addition to... Agent: Wildman Harrold Allen & Dixon LLP And The Boeing Company

20080308155 - Photoelectrode, and dye-sensitized solar cell and dye-sensitized solar cell module using the same: A photoelectrode has a conductive substrate and a semiconductor layer formed on the conductive substrate, the semiconductor layer being formed of semiconductor particles, the semiconductor layer having a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers being different in an average particle diameter of semiconductor particles from one another, a distal... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080308156 - Textured rear electrode structure for use in photovoltaic device such as cigs/cis solar cell: A photovoltaic device including a rear electrode which may also function as a rear reflector. In certain example embodiments, the rear electrode comprises a reflective film (e.g., of Mo or the like) including one or more layers provided on an interior surface of a rear glass substrate of the photovoltaic... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080302405 - Supplemental solar energy collector: A supplemental solar energy collection system. A photovoltaic panel converts incident radiation into electricity. A housing includes a top thermally conductive surface mated with the photovoltaic panel and serving as a thermal collector. Open channels behind the thermally conductive surface carry fluid in contact with the top thermally conductive surface... Agent: Iandiorio Teska & Coleman

20080302406 - Solar cell panel: Generally, solar cell panels are black, being inferior in design. An object of the invention is to provide a transparent plate which develops color without lowering power generation efficiency; and a solar cell panel which uses such transparent plate. A solar cell panel according to the invention has a construction... Agent: Foley And Lardner LLP Suite 500

20080302408 - Method of manufacturing an integrated solar roofing tile: A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic roofing tile for installing on a roof surface and converting solar energy into electrical energy includes the steps of forming a generally flexible photovoltaic laminate, the laminate including a photovoltaic layer including plurality of electrically interconnected photovoltaic cells and a photovoltaic circuit electrically connecting... Agent: Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP

20080302410 - Solar cell module connector and method of producing solar cell module panel: A solar cell module connector includes an insulating box (2). The insulating box includes a solar cell module lead line connection zone (8) and an output cable connection zone (12) disposed on opposite sides of an diode zone (10), with partitions (4, 6) disposed therebetween, respectively. Heat sinks (14) are... Agent: Duane Morris LLP - PhiladelphiaIPDepartment

20080302407 - Solar cell module retaining structure, frame for solar cell module, and holding member for solar cell module: To provide the solar cell module retaining structure, the frame for the solar cell module, and the holding member for the solar cell module, which reduces the number of members relating to the solar cell module retaining structure, standardizes the installation process thereof, and reduces the cost of manufacturing and... Agent: Apex Juris, PLLC

20080302409 - Solar roofing tile having an electrically exposed connector: A photovoltaic roofing tile for installing on a roof surface and converting solar energy into electrical energy includes a tile base that has a first side surface, a second side surface and a top edge. A rigid contact support extends outwardly from the top edge of the tile base and... Agent: Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel LLP

20080302413 - Formation of photovoltaic absorber layers on foil substrates: An absorber layer of a photovoltaic device may be formed on an aluminum or metallized polymer foil substrate. A nascent absorber layer containing one or more elements of group IB and one or more elements of group IIIA is formed on the substrate. The nascent absorber layer and/or substrate is... Agent: Director Of Ip

20080302411 - Paste composition and solar cell element using the same: Provided are a paste composition making it possible to improve the adhesive property of a backside electrode and restrain an aluminum electrode layer from exfoliating, and a solar cell element having an electrode formed by use of this composition. The paste composition is a paste composition for forming an electrode... Agent: Birch Stewart Kolasch & Birch

20080302412 - Photovoltaic power device and manufacturing method thereof: A photovoltaic power device is provided. The photovoltaic power device includes a donor substrate, a first emitting substrate; a second emitting substrate, a first anti-reflection layer, a first metal electrode, a second metal electrode and a second anti-reflection layer. In the photovoltaic power device, the first and the second emitting... Agent: Volpe And Koenig, P.C.

20080302416 - Durable silver based transparent conductive coatings for solar cells: A method of creating a solar cell package is disclosed. A solar cell is obtained having an active surface. A coating is applied to the active surface of the solar cell, wherein the coating comprises a four-layer structure. A first Nickel Chromium Nitride layer is applied with a thickness between... Agent: Van Pelt, Yi & James LLP

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... Agent: Jones Day

20080302417 - Filler sheet for solar cell module, and solar cell module using the same: In order to attain the object, the invention provides, as a filler sheet for solar cell element, a filler sheet made of a resin film produced by a resin composition comprising a copolymer of an α-olefin and an ethylenic unsaturated silane compound, or a modified or condensed body thereof, and... Agent: Ladas & Parry LLP

20080302414 - Front electrode for use in photovoltaic device and method of making same: This invention relates to a front electrode/contact for use in an electronic device such as a photovoltaic device. In certain example embodiments, the front electrode of a photovoltaic device or the like includes a multilayer coating including at least one transparent conductive oxide (TCO) layer (e.g., of or including a... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080302418 - Elongated photovoltaic devices in casings: A solar cell unit comprising a solar cell and an at least partially transparent casing that encases the solar cell. The solar cell includes a nonplanar substrate defining a length of the solar cell, wherein a length of the nonplanar substrate is at least three times longer than a width... Agent: Jones Day

20080302419 - Polymer comprising unit comprising fluorocyclopentane ring fused with aromatic ring and organic thin film and organic thin film element both comprising the same: A polymer comprising a repeating unit represented by the following general formula (I). (In the formula, Ar1 represents a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon or divalent heterocyclic group, X1, Y1, X2 and Y2 each independently represent a fluorine atom or alkylthio group, and X1 and Y1 and X2 and Y2 may together... Agent: Sughrue Mion, PLLC

20080295878 - Integrated package structure having solar cell and thermoelectric element and method of fabricating the same: An integrated package structure having a solar cell and a thermoelectric element includes a substrate, a first solar cell and a thermoelectric element. The substrate has a first surface. The first solar cell has a second surface, a first electrode disposed on the second surface and a second electrode disposed... Agent: Jianq Chyun Intellectual Property Office

20080295879 - Thermoelectric and pyroelectric energy conversion devices: New thermoelectric materials and devices are disclosed for application to high efficiency thermoelectric power generation. New functional materials based on oxides, rare-earth-oxides, rare-earth-nitrides, rare-earth phosphides, copper-rare-earth oxides, silicon-rare-earth-oxides, germanium-rare-earth-oxides and bismuth rare-earth-oxides are disclosed. Addition of nitrogen and phosphorus are disclosed to optimize the oxide material properties for thermoelectric conversion... Agent: Fernandez & Associates LLP

20080295880 - Photoelectrochemical photovoltaic panel and method to manufacture thereof: A Photoelectrochemical Photovoltaic Panel (PPP) comprising a number of individual substrates (1) and shared substrates (2), wherein: the substrates are electrical conductors or at least partially coated by an electrical conductor (3); at least one substrate is optically transparent; between the shared substrate (2) and the individual substrates (1) there... Agent: Davis Bujold & Daniels, P.l.l.c.

20080295882 - Photovoltaic device and method of manufacturing photovoltaic devices: A photovoltaic device includes a supporting layer, a semiconductor layer stack, and a conductive and light transmissive layer. The supporting layer is proximate to a bottom surface of the device. The semiconductor layer stack includes first and second semiconductor sub-layers, with the second sub-layer having a crystalline traction of at... Agent: The Small Patent Law Group LLP

20080295881 - Solar cell module and method of manufacturing the solar cell module: On a projected plane in parallel to the main surface of the solar cell module 100, an output interconnection 10 includes: a first output interconnection section 10a arranged along an conductive member 4 in a power non-generating field; and a second output interconnection section 10b leading to the first output... Agent: Mots Law, PLLC

20080295883 - Adaptive solar concentrator system: An adaptive solar concentrator system comprising a controller, a solar energy collector and a solar concentrator with variable concentration ratio is disclosed. The concentration ratio of the variable solar concentrator is varied to maximize the energy collection potential of the solar energy collector in response to fluctuations in incoming solar... Agent: Borden Ladner Gervais LLP Anne Kinsman

20080295884 - Method of making a photovoltaic device or front substrate with barrier layer for use in same and resulting product: A method of making a photovoltaic device including an antireflective coating, including: forming a coating solution by mixing a mono-metal oxide, a bi-metal oxide, a silane, or a siloxane with a solvent, such that the coating solution may be used as a barrier between the antireflective coating and a glass... Agent: Nixon & Vanderhye, PC

20080295885 - Thick crystalline silicon film on large substrates for solar applications: An apparatus for converting sunlight to electricity comprises a sheet of soda lime glass having a softening point not exceeding 600° C. and a layer of crystalline silicon over said sheet of soda lime glass. The layer has a thickness not less than about 5 microns and grains with grain... Agent: Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

20080295886 - Zno whisker films and method of manufacturing same: The present invention is a ZnO whisker film, a manufacturing method thereof and an electronic device material composed of such a ZnO whisker film, the film is composed of primarily (at least 50 mol %) of ZnO crystals, and of accumulated whisker-like particles having an aspect ratio of 2 or... Agent: Oblon, Spivak, Mcclelland Maier & Neustadt, P.C.

20080295888 - Concentration photovoltaic module: A concentration photovoltaic module includes a substrate, a first electrode, a second electrode, a solar cell, at least one electrical connecting element and a frame. The first electrode and the second electrode are disposed in different predetermined positions of the substrate to form a first electrode and a second electrode,... Agent: Muncy, Geissler, Olds & Lowe, PLLC

20080295887 - Three-dimensional thin-film solar cells: A three-dimensional thin-film solar cell 100, comprising a three-dimensional thin-film solar cell substrate comprising a plurality of single-aperture or dual-aperture unit cells with emitter junction regions 522 and doped base regions 530, emitter metallization regions 525 and base metallization regions 532. Optionally, the three-dimensional thin-film solar cell may be mounted... Agent: HulseyIPIntellectual Property Lawyers, P.C.

20080295889 - Photovoltaic module: There is described a photovoltaic module (2) in the form of a multi-layer body with photovoltaic cells (21, 21i) arranged on a carrier layer (20) and having at least one organic polymer-based photoactive layer (213) arranged between a first and a second electrode layer (212, 215), which are electrically connected... Agent: Hoffmann & Baron, LLP