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:
Sep. 24, 2019
Filed:
Feb. 08, 2018
Gentex Corporation, Zeeland, MI (US);
Sue F. Franz, Holland, MI (US);
William L. Tonar, Holland, MI (US);
David J. Cammenga, Zeeland, MI (US);
George A. Neuman, Holland, MI (US);
Kurtis L. Geerlings, Zeeland, MI (US);
Donald L. Bareman, Zeeland, MI (US);
Kevin L. Ash, Grand Rapids, MI (US);
GENTEX CORPORATION, Zeeland, MI (US);
Abstract
A transparent photovoltaic (TPV) integrated directly into the structure of an electrochromic (EC) device is beneficial in that it can eliminate at least one substrate and provide more uniform coloring. Integration of a transparent photovoltaic with an electrochromic device may also reduce or eliminate the need for an electrical bus on a substrate. In some embodiments, positioning the TPV internally with the EC cell may eliminate the need for additional substrate layers or a conductive layer on one side of the TPV cell. Integrating a PV cell into the EC device can additionally reduce the need for external wiring and an external power supply. Alternatively, the TPV can assist in charging a battery where the battery can be used to power the EC device when there is no sunlight available.