Kevin W Gibson

US Patent:

7910035, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Dec 11, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/332340

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US
Abhay Maheshwari - Monte Sereno CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

B29D 11/00
B29C 45/14

US Classification:

26427214, 264 17, 26427215, 264279, 136246

Abstract:

A method for manufacturing an integrated solar cell and concentrator. The method includes providing a first photovoltaic region and a second photovoltaic region disposed within a first mold member. A second mold member is coupled to the first mold member to form a cavity region. The cavity region forms a first concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the first photovoltaic region and a second concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the second photovoltaic region. The method includes transferring a molding compound in a fluidic state into the cavity region to fill the cavity region with the molding compound and initiating a curing process of the molding compound to form a first concentrator element and a second concentrator element overlying the respective photovoltaic regions.

US Patent:

7910392, Mar 22, 2011

Filed:

Apr 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/060801

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US
Ramon Rosal Reglos - San Ramon CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

B29C 65/16
H01L 31/0203
H01L 31/0232

US Classification:

438 65, 438 66, 136246, 136251, 1562728, 257433

Abstract:

Method and system for assembling a solar cell package. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating solar cells for a solar panel. The method includes providing a first substrate member comprising a plurality of photovoltaic strips thereon. The method also includes providing an optical elastomer material overlying a portion of the first substrate member. The method further includes aligning a second substrate member comprising a plurality of optical concentrating elements thereon such that at least one of the optical concentrating elements being operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic strips, the second substrate member comprising an aperture surface region and an exit surface region. In addition, the method includes coupling the first substrate member to the second substrate member to form an interface region along a first peripheral region of the first substrate member and along a second peripheral region of the second substrate member.

US Patent:

8049098, Nov 1, 2011

Filed:

Aug 28, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/200921

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
C03B 17/00

US Classification:

136246, 136259, 65 90

Abstract:

The invention provides a solar concentrator structure including a first concentrating element. The first concentrating element includes a first aperture region, a first exit region, a first side and a second side. The solar concentrator structure further includes a second or more concentrating elements integrally coupled with the first concentrating element in a parallel manner. The second concentrating element includes a second aperture region, a second exit region, the third side, and a fourth side. The third side joins with the second side to form an apex notch structure characterized by a radius of curvature. Additionally, the solar concentrator structure includes a separation region by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region and a triangular region including the apex notch structure and a base defined by the separation region and a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region.

US Patent:

8119902, Feb 21, 2012

Filed:

May 16, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/121788

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H01L 31/042

US Classification:

136246, 136251, 136259, 136256

Abstract:

A glass concentrator for manufacture of solar energy conversion module is provided including a webbing that has a load sustenance characteristic and a hail impact resistance characteristic based on a first thickness of the webbing. The concentrator also includes a plurality of elongated concentrating elements integrally formed with the webbing. Each of the elongated concentrating elements has an aperture region, an exit region and two side regions, which bears a geometric concentration characteristic provided by a highly reflective side regions and an aperture-to-exit scale ratio in a range from about 1. 8 to about 4. 5. The glass concentrator can be attached with a plurality of photovoltaic strips cumulatively on each and every exit regions and clamped with a rigid or flexible back cover member to form a solar concentrator module for converting sunlight to electric energy. The solar concentrator module based on certain embodiments meets the industrial qualification standards.

US Patent:

8168884, May 1, 2012

Filed:

Jan 7, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/327743

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US
Alelie Funcell - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
C03B 17/00

US Classification:

136246, 136259, 65 90

Abstract:

A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0. 25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0. 15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.

US Patent:

8173890, May 8, 2012

Filed:

Jan 26, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/360078

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US
Alelie Funcell - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
C03B 17/00

US Classification:

136246, 136259, 65 90

Abstract:

A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0. 25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0. 15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.

US Patent:

8242351, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Jun 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/171389

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US
Alelie Funcell - Fremont CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
C03B 17/00

US Classification:

136246, 136259, 65 90

Abstract:

A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0. 10 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0. 10 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.

US Patent:

8242352, Aug 14, 2012

Filed:

Sep 28, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/247980

Inventors:

Kevin R. Gibson - Redwood City CA, US

Assignee:

Solaria Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

H02N 6/00
C03B 17/00

US Classification:

136246, 136259, 65 90

Abstract:

The invention provides a solar concentrator structure including a first concentrating element. The first concentrating element includes a first aperture region, a first exit region, a first side and a second side. The solar concentrator structure further includes a second or more concentrating elements integrally coupled with the first concentrating element in a parallel manner. The second concentrating element includes a second aperture region, a second exit region, the third side, and a fourth side. The third side joins with the second side to form an apex notch structure characterized by a radius of curvature. Additionally, the solar concentrator structure includes a separation region by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region and a triangular region including the apex notch structure and a base defined by the separation region and a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region.