The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 08, 2019
Filed:
Jul. 08, 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Erlanger, KY (US);
Shailesh N. Joshi, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Debasish Banerjee, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Shashi Honnikoppa, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
TOYOTA MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC., Erlanger, KY (US);
Abstract
Switchable radiative energy harvesting systems and methods of harvesting radiation are disclosed. A system includes an optical filter that includes at least one of an active material and a passive material. The optical filter is switchable between a shield mode and a harvesting mode such that the at least one of the active material and the passive material is in a reflecting state during the shield mode such that the optical filter blocks passage of radiation from a thermal emitter to a thermophotovoltaic cell and a transmitting state during the harvesting mode such that that the optical filter allows the radiation to pass from the thermal emitter to the thermophotovoltaic cell.