| Patent application number | Description | Published |
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| 20080223438 | Systems and methods for improving luminescent concentrator performance - Disclosed herein are systems and methods for improving the performance of a luminescent concentrator. Performance may be enhanced by incorporating a reflector capable of blocking re-emitted photons from the luminescent material used to make frequency down conversion with a narrow reflection band, while allowing broad transmission of incident sunlight. The reflection band of the reflector that spectrally matches to the bandwidth of re-emission from the luminescent material acts as a luminescence cavity to prevent the outgoing re-emission that cannot be waveguided by total internal reflection to the photovoltaic device(s) located at the side edges of the concentrator. Further embodiments include using inorganic phosphors specifically as luminescent materials | 09-18-2008 |
| 20090015376 | RFID TAGS HAVING FERROMAGNETIC PATCHES - RFID tags and devices disclosed herein make use ferromagnetic films to store information. The tags include patches of ferromagnetic materials, each patch having a particular ferromagnetic resonance frequency determined by the composition of the ferromagnetic film. When stimulated, the patches emit microwave or RF signals at their resonance frequencies and at intensities proportional to the patch sizes. The signals are read and the frequency spectrum of the tag may be determined by using a FFT. Identity and other information may be provided by the spectrum. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090015971 | COHERENT SPIN VALVE AND RELATED DEVICES - Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward the field of spintronics, and in particular, systems and devices capable of performing spin coherent quantum logic operations. The inventive spin valve comprises two ferromagnetic electrode layers, and a non-magnetic conducting layer positioned therebetween. An external magnetic field | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090110356 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR WAVEGUIDING LUMINESCENCE GENERATED IN A SCATTERING MEDIUM - The present invention is directed to a luminescent waveguide device, and methods of making thereof, that may be used to convert solar energy into electricity. In particular, the present invention relates to extracting and waveguiding luminescence generated in a scattering medium so as to improve luminescent concentrator performance. By stacking one or a pair of transparent plates of refractive index slightly smaller than that of luminescent plate but still larger than that of air, a much greater fraction of re-emitted light by the embedded luminescent particles can be extracted so that the detrimental effect of particle scattering can be minimized. Additionally, by additionally using a high-efficiency diffractive optic component in the structure to redirect the re-emitted photons with angles falling into the escape zone to much larger angles so these otherwise outgoing photons can be waveguided by total internal reflection. These improvements minimize the critical-angle loss and increase the output light intensity at the ends of the waveguide. | 04-30-2009 |
| 20090302866 | ANALYTICAL SCANNING EVANESCENT MICROWAVE MICROSCOPE AND CONTROL STAGE - A scanning evanescent microwave microscope (SEMM) that uses near-field evanescent electromagnetic waves to probe sample properties is disclosed. The SEMM is capable of high resolution imaging and quantitative measurements of the electrical properties of the sample. The SEMM has the ability to map dielectric constant, loss tangent, conductivity, electrical impedance, and other electrical parameters of materials. Such properties are then used to provide distance control over a wide range, from to microns to nanometers, over dielectric and conductive samples for a scanned evanescent microwave probe, which enable quantitative non-contact and submicron spatial resolution topographic and electrical impedance profiling of dielectric, nonlinear dielectric and conductive materials. The invention also allows quantitative estimation of microwave impedance using signals obtained by the scanned evanescent microwave probe and quasistatic approximation modeling. The SEMM can be used to measure electrical properties of both dielectric and electrically conducting materials. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100029039 | MONO-SILICON SOLAR CELLS - A method for producing a backside contact of a single p-n junction photovoltaic solar cell is provided. The method includes the steps of: providing a p-type substrate having a back surface; providing a plurality of p+ diffusion regions at the back surface of the substrate; providing a plurality of n+ diffusion regions at the back surface of the substrate in an alternate pattern with the p+ diffusion regions; providing an oxide layer over the p+ and n+ regions; providing an insulating layer over the back surface of the substrate; providing at least one first metal contact at the back surface for the p+ diffusion regions; and providing at least one second metal contact at the back surface for the n+ diffusion regions. | 02-04-2010 |
| 20100147286 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS INCLUDING FEATURES OF SYNCHRONIZED MOVEMENT ACROSS AND ARRAY OF SOLAR COLLECTORS - Systems and methods are disclosed related to solar modules and/or arrays of solar modules provided with synchronized movement. According to one exemplary implementation, an illustrative array may comprise a plurality of solar modules. Each solar module may rotate on an axis, and each axis may be in a parallel configuration relative to the other axes. A first rotation mechanism of a solar module may be configured for rotating/pivoting around a first axis/pivot, and be linked to a corresponding rotation mechanism of a adjacent or sequential solar module. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100206295 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF SOLAR THERMAL CONCENTRATION FOR 2-DIMENSIONAL FOCUSING CONCENTRATORS INCLUDING FEATURES OF SEQUENTIAL HEATING, THERMAL LOSS REDUCTION, AND/OR ADJUSTMENT OF OPERATION OR OPERATING PARAMETERS - Systems and methods are disclosed including innovations related to aspects of solar concentration and/or the collection, transfer, or utilization of thermal energy. In some exemplary implementations, systems and methods of generating thermal energy using a plurality of solar modules are set forth, with each solar module includes a collector and a receiver. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100242475 | Systems and Methods of Thermal-Electric Power Generation Including Latent Heat Utilization Features - Systems and methods are disclosed related to utilization of energy including utilization of latent energy from electricity generating processes. According to one exemplary implementation, steam is produced from thermal energy, such as fossil fuel energy, nuclear energy and solar thermal energy; generating electricity from the steam using a turbine; and directing steam exhausted from the turbine to an absorption chiller or desalination apparatus as a condenser to drive an industrial process therein. In one exemplary implementation the absorption chiller may be an atmospheric control system to produce a gas of a desired temperature such as in an air-conditioning system. In another exemplary implementation the heat exchange apparatus is a desalination system employed to produce water of a desired purity. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20110005516 | SOLAR COLLECTOR - A solar collector comprising an array of solar cells, each of which is spaced-apart from a subset of solar cells adjacent thereto, defining a hiatus therebetween; a first substrate disposed to cover the array of solar cells; and a second substrate disposed to cover the array of solar cells, with the array begin position between the first and second substrates, with a plurality of throughways, each of which extends from an aperture in the first substrate, traversing the hiatus and terminating in an opening in the second substrate. | 01-13-2011 |
| 20110079215 | CONFIGURATION AND TRACKING OF 2-D "MODULAR HELIOSTAT" - A system and method of collecting solar energy from sunlight, employing a thermal generation apparatus having a solar collector module including a receiver in optical communication with an array of mirrors. The method comprises reflecting energy impinging upon the reflector assembly with a plurality of reflective elements. The plurality of reflective elements is configured to direct energy reflected therefrom onto the receiver. The solar collector module is configured to rotate about an axis; and an angular position of the plurality of reflective elements is changed in relation to relative movement of the sun with respect to earth. | 04-07-2011 |
| 20130240188 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A DELAYED AND PROLONGED AIR COOLING CONDENSATION SYSTEM - In various embodiments devices and methods are provided for an improved dry-cooling condensation system. In certain embodiments the methods involve receiving steam from a source of steam (e.g., a power plant); condensing the steam into water while transferring the latent heat of the steam into the latent heat of a thermal storage material; and dissipating the latent heat from the thermal storage material at a later time when the ambient temperature is lower than the ambient temperature at the time the steam was condensed into water. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20140013783 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VAPOR DRIVEN ABSORPTION HEAT PUMPS AND ABSORPTION HEAT TRANSFORMER WITH APPLICATIONS - In certain embodiments an all vapor driven absorption heat pump is provided comprising a first heat pump generator comprising a falling film heat exchanger and configured to receive a high temperature vapor and a dilute working medium and to evaporate heat transport material from the dilute working medium; optionally, a second heat pump generator comprising a second falling film heat exchanger configured to receive concentrated working medium and output vapor produced in the first heat pump and to further evaporate the working medium and provide a mid-temperature vapor output and a concentrated working medium; and a heat pump absorber configured to receive a low temperature vapor and the concentrated working medium from the first heat pump generator when the second heat pump generator is absent and to receive said concentrated working medium from the second heat pump generator when the second heat pump generator is present. | 01-16-2014 |
