Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090217971 | Photovoltaic Devices with Enhanced Efficiencies Using High-Aspect-Ratio Nanostructures - Photovoltaic devices and techniques for enhancing efficiency thereof are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device comprises a photocell having a first photoactive layer and a second photoactive layer adjacent to the first photoactive layer so as to form a heterojunction between the first photoactive layer and the second photoactive layer; and a plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on one or more surfaces of the second photoactive layer. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures are configured to act as a scattering media for incident light. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures can also be configured to create an optical resonance effect in the incident light. | 09-03-2009 |
20090217972 | Techniques for Enhancing Efficiency of Photovoltaic Devices Using High-Aspect-Ratio Nanostructures - Photovoltaic devices and techniques for enhancing efficiency thereof are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device comprises a photocell having a photoactive layer and a non-photoactive layer adjacent to the photoactive layer so as to form a heterojunction between the photoactive layer and the non-photoactive layer; and a plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on one or more surfaces of the photoactive layer. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures are configured to act as a scattering media for incident light. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures can also be configured to create an optical resonance effect in the incident light. | 09-03-2009 |
20110012177 | Nanostructure For Changing Electric Mobility - A structure and a method for a semiconductor including a nanostructure semiconductor channel. The semiconductor may include a dielectric and an electrode, the electrode attached to the dielectric, a semiconductor channel may be disposed proximate to the dielectric, wherein the semiconductor channel has an electric mobility and is configured to have at least one dimension, and wherein the dielectric may be configured to apply a force at the at least one dimension. | 01-20-2011 |
20110095267 | Nanowire Stress Sensors and Stress Sensor Integrated Circuits, Design Structures for a Stress Sensor Integrated Circuit, and Related Methods - Stress sensors and stress sensor integrated circuits using one or more nanowire field effect transistors as stress-sensitive elements, as well as design structures for a stress sensor integrated circuit embodied in a machine readable medium for designing, manufacturing, or testing an integrated circuit, and related methods thereof. The stress sensors and stress sensor integrated circuits include one or more pairs of gate-all-around field effect transistors, which include one or more nanowires as a channel region. The nanowires of each of the field effect transistors are configured to change in length in response to a mechanical stress transferred from an object. A voltage output difference from the field effect transistors indicates the magnitude of the transferred mechanical stress. | 04-28-2011 |
20110284073 | HOLEY ELECTRODE GRIDS FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS WITH SUBWAVELENGTH AND SUPERWAVELENGTH FEATURE SIZES - A photovoltaic cell and a method of forming an electrode grid on a photovoltaic semiconductor substrate of a photovoltaic cell are disclosed. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic cell comprises a photovoltaic semiconductor substrate; a back electrode electrically connected to a back surface of the substrate; and a front electrode electrically connected to a front surface of the substrate. The substrate, back electrode, and front electrode form an electric circuit for generating an electric current when said substrate absorbs light. The front electrode is comprised of a metal grid defining a multitude of holes. These holes may be periodic, aperiodic, or partially periodic. The front electrode may be formed by depositing nanospheres on the substrate; forming a metallic layer on the substrate, around the nanospheres; and removing the nanospheres, leaving an electrode grid defining a multitude of holes on the substrate. | 11-24-2011 |
20120196401 | Nano/Microwire Solar Cell Fabricated by Nano/Microsphere Lithography - Techniques for fabricating nanowire/microwire-based solar cells are provided. In one, a method for fabricating a solar cell is provided. The method includes the following steps. A doped substrate is provided. A monolayer of spheres is deposited onto the substrate. The spheres include nanospheres, microspheres or a combination thereof. The spheres are trimmed to introduce space between individual spheres in the monolayer. The trimmed spheres are used as a mask to pattern wires in the substrate. The wires include nanowires, microwires or a combination thereof. A doped emitter layer is formed on the patterned wires. A top contact electrode is deposited over the emitter layer. A bottom contact electrode is deposited on a side of the substrate opposite the wires. | 08-02-2012 |
20120222730 | TANDEM SOLAR CELL WITH IMPROVED ABSORPTION MATERIAL - A photosensitive device and method includes a top cell having an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a top intrinsic layer therebetween. A bottom cell includes an N-type layer, a P-type layer and a bottom intrinsic layer therebetween. The bottom intrinsic layer includes a Cu—Zn—Sn containing chalcogenide. | 09-06-2012 |
20120223733 | Solar Cell Characterization System with an Automated Continuous Neutral Density Filter - Techniques for solar cell electrical characterization are provided. In one aspect, a solar testing device is provided. The device includes a solar simulator; and a continuous neutral density filter in front of the solar simulator having regions of varying light attenuation levels ranging from transparent to opaque, the continuous neutral density filter having an area sufficiently large to filter all light generated by the solar simulator, and wherein a position of the continuous neutral density filter relative to the solar simulator is variable so as to control a light intensity produced by the device. A solar cell electrical characterization system and a method for performing a solar cell electrical characterization are also provided. | 09-06-2012 |
20130145857 | NANOWIRE STRESS SENSORS AND STRESS SENSOR INTEGRATED CIRCUITS, DESIGN STRUCTURES FOR A STRESS SENSOR INTEGRATED CIRCUIT, AND RELATED METHODS - Methods for sensing a mechanical stress and methods of making stress sensor integrated circuits. The sensing methods include transferring the mechanical stress from the object to one or more nanowires in a stress sensor or stress sensor circuit and permitting the nanowires to change in length in response to the mechanical stress. An electrical characteristic of the stress sensor or stress sensor circuit, which has a variation correlated with changes in the magnitude of the mechanical stress, is measured and then assessed to determine the stress magnitude. The manufacture methods include electrically connecting nanowire field effect transistors having, as channel regions, one or more nanowires of either a different crystalline orientation or a different body width for the individual nanowires so that an offset output voltage results when mechanical strain is applied to the nanowires. | 06-13-2013 |
20130269764 | Back Contact Work Function Modification for Increasing CZTSSe Thin Film Photovoltaic Efficiency - Techniques for increasing conversion efficiency of thin film photovoltaic devices through back contact work function modification are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic device is provided having a substrate; a back contact on the substrate, wherein at least a portion of the back contact has a work function of greater than about 4.5 electron volts; an absorber layer on a side of the back contact opposite the substrate; a buffer layer on a side of the absorber layer opposite the back contact; and a top electrode on a side of the buffer layer opposite the absorber layer. The absorber layer preferably has thickness that is less than a depletion width+an accumulation width+a carrier diffusion length. | 10-17-2013 |
20130313683 | SEMICONDUCTOR WIRE-ARRAY VARACTOR STRUCTURES - Semiconductor variable capacitor (varactor) devices are provided, which are formed with an array of radial p-n junction structures to provide improved dynamic range and sensitivity. For example, a semiconductor varactor device includes a doped semiconductor substrate having first and second opposing surfaces and an array of pillar structures formed on the first surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. Each pillar structure includes a radial p-n junction structure. A first metallic contact layer is conformally formed over the array of pillar structures on the first surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. A second metallic contact layer formed on the second surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed on the doped semiconductor substrate surrounding the array of pillar structures. | 11-28-2013 |
20130316512 | SEMICONDUCTOR WIRE-ARRAY VARACTOR STRUCTURES - Semiconductor variable capacitor (varactor) devices are provided, which are formed with an array of radial p-n junction structures to provide improved dynamic range and sensitivity. For example, a semiconductor varactor device includes a doped semiconductor substrate having first and second opposing surfaces and an array of pillar structures formed on the first surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. Each pillar structure includes a radial p-n junction structure. A first metallic contact layer is conformally formed over the array of pillar structures on the first surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. A second metallic contact layer formed on the second surface of the doped semiconductor substrate. An insulating layer is formed on the doped semiconductor substrate surrounding the array of pillar structures. | 11-28-2013 |
20130342191 | NON-CONTACT SHEET CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENTS IMPLEMENTING A ROTATING MAGNETIC BRAKING SYSTEM - A non-contact sheet conductivity measurement system includes a magnetic head apparatus, a computing system coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a linear actuator coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a motor controller coupled to the magnetic head apparatus, a power supply coupled to the magnetic head apparatus and a frequency meter coupled to the magnetic head apparatus | 12-26-2013 |
20130346003 | NON-CONTACT SHEET CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENTS IMPLEMENTING A ROTATING MAGNETIC BRAKING SYSTEM - A method for calculating sheet conductivity with an absolute working distance measurement includes selecting a motor frequency f | 12-26-2013 |
20140028305 | HALL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MAGNET - One or more embodiments are directed to a motor configured to rotate at least one magnet at a first frequency, a sensor configured to generate a reference signal of the at least one magnet's rotation, and a lock-in detection system configured to receive the reference signal, supply an excitation current at a second frequency to a device under test, measure a voltage from the device under test and demodulate the second frequency, and demodulate the first frequency from the measured voltage using the reference signal to obtain a Hall voltage associated with the device under test. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028306 | HALL MEASUREMENT SYSTEM WITH ROTARY MAGNET - One or more embodiments are directed to a motor configured to rotate at least one magnet at a first frequency, a sensor configured to generate a reference signal of the at least one magnet's rotation, and a lock-in detection system configured to receive the reference signal, supply an excitation current at a second frequency to a device under test, measure a voltage from the device under test and demodulate the second frequency, and demodulate the first frequency from the measured voltage using the reference signal to obtain a Hall voltage associated with the device under test. | 01-30-2014 |
20140032163 | CALIBRATION FREE DISTANCE SENSOR - One or more embodiments are directed to a magnet configured to be coupled to an object under test, an array of sensors configured to measure a magnetic field associated with the magnet, and a circuit configured to obtain voltage readings based on the measured magnetic field from the array of sensors and compute a distance between the array of sensors and the magnet based on the obtained voltage readings. | 01-30-2014 |
20140032166 | CALIBRATION FREE DISTANCE SENSOR - One or more embodiments are directed to a magnet configured to be coupled to an object under test, an array of sensors configured to measure a magnetic field associated with the magnet, and a circuit configured to obtain voltage readings based on the measured magnetic field from the array of sensors and compute a distance between the array of sensors and the magnet based on the obtained voltage readings. | 01-30-2014 |
20140041718 | Photovoltaic Devices with Enhanced Efficiencies Using High-Aspect Ratio Nanostructures - Photovoltaic devices and techniques for enhancing efficiency thereof are provided. In one aspect, a photovoltaic device is provided. The photovoltaic device comprises a photocell having a first photoactive layer and a second photoactive layer adjacent to the first photoactive layer so as to form a heterojunction between the first photoactive layer and the second photoactive layer; and a plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures on one or more surfaces of the second photoactive layer. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures are configured to act as a scattering media for incident light. The plurality of high-aspect-ratio nanostructures can also be configured to create an optical resonance effect in the incident light. | 02-13-2014 |
20140136129 | SOLAR CELL CHARACTERISTICS DETERMINATION - An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell. | 05-15-2014 |
20140136133 | SOLAR CELL CHARACTERISTICS DETERMINATION - An apparatus for determining solar cell characteristics includes a quantum efficiency measurement tool configured to measure an external quantum efficiency of the solar cell and a reflectivity measurement tool configured to measure the reflectivity of the solar cell. The apparatus also includes a capacitance measurement tool configured to measure the capacitance of the solar cell and a processor configured to calculate a diffusion length of the solar cell based on the measured quantum efficiency, reflectivity and capacitance of the solar cell. | 05-15-2014 |
20140266248 | NON-CONTACT CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT - A system for measuring the conductivity of a material-under-test includes a support structure, an upper magnet mounted to the support structure and a free-floating magnet below the fixed magnet. The system includes a diamagnet positioned between the fixed magnet and the free-floating magnet such that the free-floating magnet floats in the air beneath the diamagnet and a rotation detection assembly configured to detect a rotation rate of the free-floating magnet, where the rotation rate is based on a drag torque effect of a material-under-test on the free-floating magnet. The system also includes a conductivity calculation unit configured to calculate at least one of a conductivity or a resistivity of the material-under-test based on the detected rotation rate of the free-floating magnet. | 09-18-2014 |
20140266264 | NON-CONTACT CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENT - A method for analyzing a material-under-test includes levitating a free-floating magnet between a material-under-test and a diamagnet and a mounted magnet, such that the diamagnet is positioned between the mounted magnet and the free-floating magnet, measuring a rotation rate of the free-floating magnet over time, and calculating at least one of a conductivity and resistivity of the material-under-test based on the measured rotation rate of the free-floating magnet over time. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273449 | MAGNETIC TRAP FOR CYLINDRICAL DIAMAGNETIC MATERIALS - A system for self-aligning diamagnetic materials includes first and second magnets contacting each other along a contact line and having a diametric magnetization perpendicular to the contact line and a diamagnetic rod positioned to levitate above the contact line of the first and second magnets. | 09-18-2014 |
20140273450 | MAGNETIC TRAP FOR CYLINDRICAL DIAMAGNETIC MATERIALS - A method of arranging a diamagnetic rod includes levitating a diamagnetic rod above a contact line at which a first magnet contacts a second magnet, the first magnet and the second magnet having diametric magnetization in a direction perpendicular to the contact line. | 09-18-2014 |
20140300384 | Solar Cell Characterization System With an Automated Continuous Neutral Density Filter - Techniques for solar cell electrical characterization are provided. In one aspect, a solar testing device is provided. The device includes a solar simulator; and a continuous neutral density filter in front of the solar simulator having regions of varying light attenuation levels ranging from transparent to opaque, the continuous neutral density filter having an area sufficiently large to filter all light generated by the solar simulator, and wherein a position of the continuous neutral density filter relative to the solar simulator is variable so as to control a light intensity produced by the device. A solar cell electrical characterization system and a method for performing a solar cell electrical characterization are also provided. | 10-09-2014 |
20150064806 | MAGNETIC TRAP FOR CYLINDRICAL DIAMAGNETIC MATERIALS - A system for self-aligning diamagnetic materials includes first and second magnets contacting each other along a contact line and having a diametric magnetization perpendicular to the contact line and a diamagnetic rod positioned to levitate above the contact line of the first and second magnets. | 03-05-2015 |