US4642413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Power generating optical filter
Assignee: United Solar Systems Corp
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Filing: 1985-10-11
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2005-10-11
Abstract
Abstract A power generating optical filter specially tuned to (1) transmit at least portions of selected wavelengths of incident light and (2) generate electrical power from absorbed portions of selected wavelengths of incident light.
Inventors
- 👤 Stanford R. Ovshinsky
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:03
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/17; H10F10/172; H10F19/00; H10F19/80; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/548; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
A power generating optical filter including a transparent substrate; a first substantially transparent electrode disposed atop at least designated areas of the substrate; a body of photovoltaic material adapted to generate electron hole pairs in response to the absorption of incident radiation, said body disposed atop at least the first electrode; and a second substantially transparent electrode disposed atop at least designated areas of the body of photovoltaic material; the improvement comprising, in combination: the first and second electrodes and the body of photovoltaic material each fabricated to preselected thicknesses and from materials characterized by preselected indices of refraction for cooperatively establishing optical interference effects, whereby said filter transmits at least a portion of selected wavelengths of radiation incident thereupon substantially differing from wavelengths transmitted by that body of photovoltaic material alone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
A power generating optical filter including a transparent substrate; a first substantially transparent electrode disposed atop at least designated areas of the substrate; a body of photovoltaic material adapted to generate electron hole pairs in response to the absorption of incident radiation, said body disposed atop at least the first electrode; and a second substantially transparent electrode disposed atop at least designated areas of the body of photovoltaic material; the improvement comprising, in combination: the first and second electrodes and the body of photovoltaic material each fabricated to preselected thicknesses and from materials characterized by preselected indices of refraction for cooperatively establishing optical interference effects, whereby said filter transmits at least a portion of selected wavelengths of radiation incident thereupon substantially differing from wavelengths transmitted by that body of photovoltaic material alone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein the combination of the photovoltaic body and the electrodes is tailored to transmit at least a portion of the visible wavelengths of the solar spectrum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter as in claim 2, wherein the combination of the photovoltaic body and the electrodes is tailored to transmit at least portions of the wavelengths of greater than about 400 nanometers in length.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter as in claim 3, wherein the combination of the photovoltaic body and the electrodes is tailored to absorb at least portions of the wavelengths of less than about 700 nanometers in length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A filter as in claim 2, wherein the transmission of wavelengths is substantially uniform over a significant portion of the visible spectrum.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter as in claim 5, wherein the significant portion of the visible spectrum is 450 to 800 nanometers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filter as in claim 2, wherein the transmission of wavelengths varies over a significant portion of the visible spectrum.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
A filter as in claim 7, wherein the combination of the photovoltaic body and the electrodes is tailored to exhibit an absorption edge at a preselected wavelength of the visible spectrum for the transmission of light of a desired color.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein the combination of the photovoltaic body and the electrodes cooperate to substantially prevent the transmission of ultra-violet wavelengths of the solar spectrum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said first electrode is coextensive with substantially all of the substrate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter as in claim 10, wherein the photovoltaic body is coextensive with substantially all of the first electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said substrate is planar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said substrate is non-planar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter as in claim 1, adapted for use as a motorized vehicle window, the power generated by the photovoltaic body adapted to operate an electrical component of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A filter as in claim 14, wherein the motorized vehicle is a land traversing machine.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A filter as in claim 14, wherein the motorized vehicle is a water traversing machine.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
A filter as in claim 14, wherein the motorized vehicle is an air traversing machine.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter as in claim 1, adapted for use as architectural building windows, the power generated by the photovoltaic body adapted to operate an electrical appliance associated with the building.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including a substantially transparent encapsulating layer protectively disposed on the exposed surface of the second electrode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter as in claim 19, wherein the encapsulating layer is formed of a material selected from a group consisting essentially of glasses, synthetic polymeric resins, adhesives, wide band gap semiconductors, and combinations thereof.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filter as in claim 20, wherein the encapsulating layer includes a synthetic polymeric resin adhesively secured to the exposed surface of the second electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
22 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including a transparent encapsulating layer spacedly positioned proximate the exposed surface of the second electrode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including a layer protectively encapsulating the exposed surface of the second electrode; one of said encapsulating layer and substrate susceptible to damage by ultraviolet radiation; and said electrodes and photovoltaic body disposed between said damageable one and the incident solar spectrum.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is formed of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of glasses, synthetic polymeric resins, and combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including an electrically conductive bus-grid pattern in electrical contact with one of said electrodes for withdrawing photogenerated current.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
11 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein the substrate is translucent.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including means for transmitting externally supplied electrical current to at least a portion of the filter for resistively heating said substrate.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic body includes at least one layer of a silicon alloy material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic body includes at least one layer of a germanium alloy material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic body includes at least one triad comprised of two layers of oppositely doped semiconductor material having a layer of substantially intrinsic semiconductor material interposed therebetween.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
A filter as in claim 30, wherein said photovoltaic body includes a plurality of said triads in superposed, electrical and optical series relationship.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
A filter as in claim 31, wherein a transparent, electrically conductive layer is ohmically disposed between adjacent superposed triads.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
A filter as in claim 31, wherein the intrinsic layers of at least two of said triads have band gaps optimized to absorb different wavelengths of the solar spectrum.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
31 words
A filter as in claim 30, wherein at least one layer of said triad of layers is formed as a multilayered sandwich, said sandwich including sub-layers of substantially near atomic thicknesses.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
38 words
A filter as in claim 1, wherein said first and second electrodes are formed of a material selected from the group consisting essentially of: indium oxide, tin oxide, indium tin oxide, zinc oxide, cadmium stannate, and combinations thereof.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filter as in claim 1, further including a layer of thermally reflective material, for preventing transmission of substantial portions of thermal infrared radiation.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter as in claim 1, adapted for use as a camera lens, the power generated by the photovoltaic body adapted to drive the electronic circuitry associated with the camera.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1990-02-09 | 1990-08-11 | 1991-02-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1994-02-09 | 1994-08-11 | 1995-02-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1998-02-09 | 1998-08-11 | 1999-02-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |