Sunpower Corporation

Mainspring Energy, Inc.

Maxeon Solar Pte. Ltd.

Intuit, Inc.

Areva Solar, Inc.

Etagen, Inc.

David B DeGraaff

Nathan Beckett

Tamir Lance

John Lawler

Kevin Walters

Matt Svrcek

Scott Coakley

John Powers

Cameron Wylie

Gilad Almogy

Jodie Prudhomme

Nathaniel Alexis Caswell

Maritza Ruiz

Matthew Svrcek

Samuel Sherman

Sam Sherman

Christopher David Gadda

Peter Lee Johnson

Andrew H Hancock

Alexander F Hoermann

Adam Detrick

Shannon Miller

Teresa Lynn Roberts

David R Mills

Alan Crapo

Harold E Schoolcraft

Philipp Schramek

Andrew D Holmes

Puja Ramani

Ryan J Linderman

Keith Johnston

Nicholas Boitnott

Peter K Le Lievre

Neil Watters

Michael Buchman

Kaley Boyce

John Laporga

Lars R Johnson

Doug Rose

A high efficiency configuration for a solar cell module comprises solar cells arranged in an overlapping shingled manner and conductively bonded to each other in their overlapping regions to form super cells, which may be arranged to efficiently use the area of the solar module.

Solar panel

A bearing assembly for a linear electromagnetic machine includes a sleeve having a surface configured to provide a bearing between the surface and a translator, a front plate coupled to the sleeve, a support block, and a plurality of flexures coupled to the support block. Each flexure is coupled between the support block and one of the front plate or a stator. For example, a load path extends from a stator to the support block via a first set of flexures of the plurality of flexures, from the support block to the front plate via a second set of flexures of the plurality of flexures, and from the front plate to the sleeve. In the example of four flexures, two flexures are affixed to the support block and front plate, while two other flexures are affixed to the support block and the stator.

Systems and methods for flexure-based bearing mounting

One embodiment relates to a connector that includes a diode. The diode has an anode and a cathode. The connector further includes a first electrical connection which connects to the anode, a second electrical connection which also connects to the anode, and a third electrical connection which connects to the cathode. Another embodiment relates to a photovoltaic laminate which includes a string of photovoltaic cells and three electrical conductors extending out of two discrete penetrations of the laminate. A first electrical conductor is connected to a first end of the string, a second electrical conductor is connected to a second end of the string, and a third electrical conductor is also connected to the second end of the string. The first and third electrical conductors extend out of the first discrete penetration, while the second electrical conductor extends out of the second discrete penetration. Other features and embodiments are also disclosed.

Diode-included connector, photovoltaic laminate and photovoltaic assembly using same

An integrated linear generator system includes, for example, a generator assembly, a control system, a frame system, an exhaust system, an intake system, a cooling system, a bearing system, one or more auxiliary systems, or a combination thereof. The generator system is configured to generate power, as controlled by the control system. The generator assembly may include an opposed- and free-piston linear generator, configured to operate on a two-stroke cycle. The intake and exhaust systems are configured to provide reactants to and remove products from the generator assembly, respectively. The cooling system is configured to effect heat transfer, material temperature, or both, of components of the integrated linear generator system. The bearing system is configured to constrain the off-axis motion of translators of the generator assembly without applying significant friction forces. The frame system is configured to manage rigidity, flexibility, and alignment of components of the integrated linear generator system.

Integrated linear generator system

Systems and assemblies are provided for sealing an interface between a cylinder and a manifold corresponding to the cylinder. The cylinder comprises at least one port. A manifold interface is arranged adjacent to the at least one port. A seal is located inside of a circumferential pocket, wherein the circumferential pocket comprises at least a portion of the manifold interface. A spring is configured to preload the seal radially inward so that the seal stays in contact with the outer surface of the cylinder.

Manifold interface seal

Solar devices and methods for producing solar devices are disclosed. In some examples, a solar device includes solar cells arranged in a shingled manner such that adjacent long edges of adjacent ones of the solar cells overlap. The adjacent long edges have a non-linear shape that has protruding portions. The solar device includes contact pads arranged in the protruding portions of the adjacent long edges such that the contact pads of the adjacent ones of the solar cells are electrically connected.

Shingled solar cells overlapping along non-linear edges

A linear electromagnetic machine includes a stator, a translator, and a bearing system. The bearing system maintains alignment against lateral displacement of the translator relative to the stator, as the translator reciprocates axially. More particularly, the bearing system maintains a motor air gap between the stator and a magnetic section of the translator. The stator includes a plurality of stator teeth and windings, which form a plurality of phases. The stator teeth and windings are arranged using a hoop stack with spines to form a stator bore and define the motor air gap. The bearing system can include bearing housings that are configured to form a bearing interface with a surface of the translator. The bearing interface can include a contact bearing or a non-contact bearing, such as a gas bearing. Current is controlled in the phases to convert between electrical energy and kinetic energy of the translator.

Linear electromagnetic machine system

The present disclosure provides a sealing ring assembly with one or more piston-integrated gap cover features, configured to seal a high-pressure region from a relatively lower pressure region of a piston and cylinder device. The sealing ring assembly may include two rings which each may include one or more ring segments. The one or more gap-cover features, which may be in the form of protrusions in the piston ring groove, may engage with corresponding flat sections of the ring segments. As the sealing ring wears, the gap-cover features may stay engaged with the ring segments, thereby maintaining a seal.

Piston-integrated gap cover

A photovoltaic (PV) module can include a PV laminate, a frame coupled to a perimeter of the laminate, a junction box that includes a housing for an electrical connection between a plurality of PV cells of the laminate and a plurality of conductors, and an electronics enclosure coupled to the frame. In embodiments, the electronics enclosure can include electronic circuitry that is electrically coupled to the plurality of conductors and to another photovoltaic module.

Universal photovoltaic laminate

Linear electromagnetic machine system with bearing housings having pressurized gas

Growing community of inventors

Mountain View, CA, United States of America

David B DeGraaff