Atlantic Richfield Company

Sunsmart, Inc.

Siemens Solar Industries

Siemens Solar Industries International

Kim W Mitchell

Mark Mitchnick

James H Ermer

Gary A Pollock

Ronald L Sitzema, Jr

David L Bender

Chris Eberspacher

Cosmetically acceptable physical sunscreens which remain visibly transparent upon the skin while remaining capable of absorbing substantial UV radiation. A first embodiment is directed to the use of a dispersion of micronized particles of zinc oxide having a diameter of less than about 0.2 .mu. and a very low trace metal content. A second embodiment utilizes substantially larger crystals of substantially pure zinc oxide, measuring between about 1-100 microns in diameter, formed by a process, such as chemical vapor deposition, which produces symmetrical, substantially optically perfect crystals with a relatively smooth outer surface and which are substantially free of internal fractures and imperfections. Visibly transparent glass particles having a diameter of between about 0.01-100 .mu. may also be utilized as the UV absorbing agent. A further embodiment utilizes visibly transparent plastic spheres measuring between about 0.01-100 microns in diameter and having incorporated therein at least one UV absorbing additive for adjusting the bandgap energy of such spheres to the border between the visible and the ultraviolet wavelength ranges. The particulate materials described above are preferably dispersed into an emulsion to facilitate their application onto the surface of the user's skin. The invention further comprises cosmetic formulations having incorporated therein the particulate sunblock agents described above.

Visibly transparent UV sunblock agents and methods of making same

Cosmetically acceptable physical sunscreens which remain visibly transparent upon the skin while remaining capable of absorbing substantial UV radiation. A first embodiment is directed to the use of a dispersion of micronized particles of zinc oxide having a very low trace metal content. A second embodiment utilizes substantially larger crystals of substantially pure zinc oxide, measuring between about 1-100 microns in diameter, formed by a process, such as chemical vapor deposition, which produces symmetrical, substantially optically perfect crystals with a relatively smooth outer surface and which are substantially free of internal fractures and imperfections. Visibly transparent glass particles having a diameter of between about 0.01-100 .mu. may also be-utilized as the UV absorbing agent. A further embodiment utilizes visibly transparent plastic spheres measuring between about 0.01-100 microns in diameter and having incorporated therein at least one UV absorbing additive for adjusting the bandgap energy of such spheres to the border between the visible and the ultraviolet wavelength ranges. The particulate materials described above are preferably dispersed into an emulsion to facilitate their application onto the surface of the user's skin. The invention further comprises cosmetic formulations having incorporated therein the particulate sunblock agents described above.

Visibly transparent UV sunblock compositions and cosmetic products

A thin film photovoltaic device comprises a metal back contact having a first p-type semiconductor film of CVD CIS thereon; a second, transparent, n-type semiconductor film of CVD zinc oxide on the CIS and a thin interfacial film of transparent, insulating zinc oxide between the p-type CIS film and the n-type metal oxide. The interfacial zinc oxide film is formed by depositing zinc hydroxide on the CIS from a solution of one of zinc sulfate, zinc chloride, and zinc acetate and complexing agents comprising ammonium hydroxide and TEA and annealing the deposit to convert the zinc hydroxide to form the zinc oxide.

Method of making thin film heterojunction solar cell

A photovoltaic module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed behind a front cover portion to receive radiation has at least one specular reflector disposed alongside the cells to direct incident radiation back into the front cover portion and onto the photovoltaic cells for conversion to electrical energy. In a preferred embodiment, the specular reflectors have reflective surfaces of concave curvature configured to reflect incident radiation back into the front cover portion for internal reflection onto the photovoltaic cells.

Photovoltaic module with specular reflector

A solar powered light comprises a cover containing a fresnel lens structure (also referred to as a fresnel lens cover) which is disposed directly above and adjacent to a photovoltaic cell thereof. The fresnel lens cover comprises a continuous and smooth outer surface and a prismatic inner surface having a plurality of prismatic means arranged in concentric circles to bend incoming radiation, especially at high angles of incidence, such as during winter months or at the beginning or end of a day, toward an optical axis thereof. The prisms have different thicknesses and are arranged in different angular configurations to accomplish the desired bending at each point of the cover. In a preferred embodiment, additional prismatic means are formed on a peripheral portion of the outer surface to cover a photodetector used for sensing the absence of light and triggering circuitry to turn on the solar powered lights.

Solar powered lamp having a cover containing a fresnel lens structure

Cosmetically acceptable physical sunscreens which remain visibly transparent upon the skin while remaining capable of absorbing substantial UV radiation. A first embodiment is directed to the use of a dispersion of micronized particles of zinc oxide having a very low trace metal content. A second embodiment utilizes substantially larger crystals of substantially pure zinc oxide, measuring between about 1-100 microns in diameter, formed by a process, such as chemical vapor deposition, which produces symmetrical, substantially optically perfect crystals with a relatively smooth outer surface and which are substantially free of internal fractures and imperfections. Visibly transparent glass particles having a diameter of between about 0.01-100.mu. may also be utilized as the UV-absorbing agent. A further embodiment utilizes visibly transparent plastic spheres measuring between about 0.01-100 microns in diameter and having incorporated therein at least one UV-absorbing additive for adjusting the bandgap energy of such spheres to the border between the visible and the ultraviolet wavelength ranges. The particulate materials described above are preferably dispersed into an emulsion to facilitate their application onto the surface of the user's skin. The invention further comprises cosmetic formulations having incorporated therein the particulate sunblock agents described above.

Visibly transparent UV sunblock cosmetic compositions

A method of making group I-III-VI compound semiconductors such as copper indium diselenide for use in thin film heterojunction photovoltaic devices. A composite film of copper, indium, and possibly other group IIIA elements, is deposited upon a substrate. A separate film of selenium is deposited on the composite film. The substrate is then heated in a chamber in the presence of a gas containing hydrogen to form the compound semiconductor material.

Process for making thin film solar cell

A structure for, and method of making, thin films of Group I-III-VI compound semiconductors such as copper indium diselenide for use in heterojunction photovoltaic devices fabricated on metal substrates. An interfacial film containing gallium is first deposited upon the substrate. Thereafter, copper and indium films are deposited and the resulting stacked film is heated in the presence of a source of selenium to form copper indium diselenide semiconductor material with improved adhesion to the substrate and improved performance.

Thin film solar cell and method of making

A phosphorous doped layer of cadmium telluride is deposited onto a conductive window layer to form a thin film cadmium telluride solar cell. Back contacts to the solar cell are made by first depositing a layer of p conductivity type lead telluride upon the cadmium telluride and then depositing the metallic back contacts onto the lead telluride.

Method of making a thin film cadmium telluride solar cell

Thin film cadmium telluride solar cell

An electrically enhanced liquid jet process particularly adapted for forming scribe lines on thin film material deposited during fabrication of thin film solar cell devices. A narrow jet of liquid solution is directed onto a thin film along a desired line while an electrical current is passed through the liquid jet and the film being processed. The liquid solution is selected to remove material along the desired line only at its point of contact with the film but to be substantially nonreactive with the film in all other areas where there is an absence of electrical enhancement.

Growing community of inventors

Granada Hills, CA, United States of America

Kim W Mitchell