Did You Know...
...that several people are credited with the invention of the flush toilet? Most people have heard of Thomas Crapper (1837-1910), the sanitary engineer who invented the valve-and-siphon arrangement that made the modern toilet possible. Another claimant to "the throne" was British inventor Alexander Cumming who patented a toilet in 1775. Then there's a nameless Minoan (a native of ancient Crete) who lived 4,000 years ago who supposedly was ahead of his time and created the first flush toilet!
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8188363 | Module level solutions to solar cell polarization A solar cell module includes interconnected solar cells, a transparent cover over the front sides of the solar cells, and a backsheet on the backsides of the solar cells. The solar cell module includes an electrical insulator between the transparent cover and the fr... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8183458 | Photovoltaic apparatus having a filler layer and method for making the same Devices for converting light into electric current are provided. A representative device has an encasing structure having at least one portion transparent. The encasing structure is configured to pass light energy into an interior of the encasing structure. The devi... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8178776 | Photovoltaic module and method for manufacturing photovoltaic module An object of the present invention is to provide a photovoltaic module that achieves a reduction in adverse influence of damage accumulated in a collector electrode provided on the light receiving surface side, and a method for manufacturing the photovoltaic module.... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8173892 | Dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device and method for manufacturing same Disclosed is a photoelectric conversion device comprising a first conductive support having a layer containing a semiconductor, a second conductive support arranged opposite to the first conductive support and having a counter electrode, and a charge transfer layer ... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8173893 | Electronic device case An electronic device case (10) for storing and protecting a portable electronic device (108). The case (10) has two design configurations. The first configuration comprises a device cover (12) with a first section (14) and a second... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8168885 | Low modulus solar cell encapsulant sheets with enhanced stability and adhesion The present invention provides a pre-formed bi-layer thermoplastic film or sheet comprising a first surface layer made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and a second surface layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell pre-la... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8124868 | Thin film photovoltaic module with contoured deairing substrate The present invention provides a thin film photovoltaic module that has a protective substrate, such as glass, that has been contoured to define a space that allows air to avoid entrapment by a bus bar on the thin film photovoltaic device. The contouring of the prot... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8080725 | Photovoltaic module An object of the present invention is to provide a photovoltaic module that achieves a reduction in adverse influence of damage accumulated in a collector electrode provided on a light receiving surface. In the photovoltaic module of the present invention, a first r... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8080727 | Solar cell modules comprising an encapsulant sheet of a blend of ethylene copolymers Disclosed is a solar cell module comprising a polymeric encapsulant sheet, wherein the polymeric encapsulant sheet comprises a blend composition of an ethylene copolymer A and an ethylene copolymer B, the blend composition having a melt flow rate of less than 100 g/... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8080726 | Solar cell modules comprising compositionally distinct encapsulant layers The present invention provides a solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising one or more solar cells laminated between two compositionally distinct encapsulant layers, and the method of preparing a solar cell module from such an assembly. ... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8080728 | Multilayer composite films and articles prepared therefrom The present invention is an optically transparent laminate film comprising: at least three layers of film, wherein at least two of the at least three layers comprise ionomeric films, and wherein the film can be suitable for use in a photovoltaic cell or in packaging... | 12/20/2011 |
| 8063301 | Photovoltaic module A photovoltaic module which prevents enlargement of the dimensions of a photovoltaic submodule by reducing ineffective parts which do not contribute to power generation. The photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic submodule including a plurality of solar cells i... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8039733 | Construction method of solar battery modules A construction method of solar battery modules by which solar battery modules are fixed using a fixing member, including: connecting a first frame body of a solar battery module between a pedestal and a to-be connected portion on a side opposite to a side of a plate... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8035027 | Solar module structures and assembly methods for pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cells Solar module structures and methods for assembling solar module structures. The solar module structures comprise pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cells arranged in solar module structures. The pyramidal three-dimensional thin-film solar cell comprises a p... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8003882 | Methods and systems for asphalt roof integrated photovoltaic modules Methods and systems for photovoltaic roofing systems are provided. The system includes a back sheet including a length, L, a width, W, and a thickness, T, the back sheet including an overlap portion extending along length L having a width, WO and an active portion e... | 08/23/2011 |
| 7999173 | Dust removal from solar cells A solar panel cleaning device includes a solar panel having a plurality of photovoltaic cells arranged in rows and embedded in the solar panel with space between the rows. A transparent dielectric overlay is affixed to the solar panel. A plurality of electrode pairs... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7999174 | Solar module structures and assembly methods for three-dimensional thin-film solar cells Solar module structures 210 and 270 and methods for assembling solar module structures. The solar module structures 210 and 270 comprise three-dimensional thin-film solar cells 110 arranged in solar module structures 210 and... | 08/16/2011 |
| 7982128 | Method for regenerating photovoltaic module and photovoltaic module The present invention allows a crystalline photovoltaic module having a super straight type structure in which a light-receiving surface side-sealing EVA layer 2, a photovoltaic cell matrix 3, a back surface side-sealing EVA layer 4 and a back s... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7960643 | Isolated metallic flexible back sheet for solar module encapsulation Provided are novel back sheets for solar module encapsulation. According to various embodiments, the back sheets are ungrounded and flexible. In certain embodiments, the back sheets include an integrated flexible and electrically isolated moisture barrier. The elect... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7960642 | CIS based thin-film photovoltaic module and process for producing the same A photovoltaic module having long-term durability is obtained at low cost. A CIS based thin-film photovoltaic module 1 is obtained by bonding a cover glass 4 comprising, e.g., a semi-tempered white flat glass, which is inexpensive and durable, t... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7956280 | Solar cell module retaining structure, frame for solar cell module, and holding member for solar cell module To provide the solar cell module retaining structure, the frame for the solar cell module, and the holding member for the solar cell module, which reduces the number of members relating to the solar cell module retaining structure, standardizes the installation proc... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7956281 | Flexible wind deflector for photovoltaic array perimeter assembly A photovoltaic (“PV”) array includes a plurality of interconnected PV modules. A PV array perimeter assembly may be positioned along the perimeter of the PV array to restrain horizontal movement of the array. For improved wind performance, the PV array perimeter... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7956279 | Solar cell module and solar cell array A reliable solar cell module is provided whereby the liquid is less likely to stay thereon, thus dirt is less likely to occur on the light receiving surface of the solar cell module even in a prolonged use. A solar cell module comprising a solar cell panel P configu... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7943845 | Solar cells encapsulated with poly(vinyl butyral) A solar cell pre-laminate assembly comprising (i) a solar cell component comprising one or a plurality of solar cells and having a light-receiving side and a back side, and (ii) stiff poly(vinyl butyral) sheet as an encapsulant layer, wherein the stiff poly(vinyl bu... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7935884 | Encapsulant layer for photovoltaic module, photovoltaic module and method for manufacturing regenerated photovoltaic cell and regenerated transparent front face substrate An encapsulant layer for a photovoltaic module enabling recovering and recycling or reusing of reutilizeable resources such as a transparent front face substrate and photovoltaic cell and the like among constituents of a photovoltaic module, and a method for manufac... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7928316 | Solar concentrator backpan The present invention is a contoured backpan for a solar concentrator array. The backpan has depressions integrally formed in its bottom surface for seating solar concentrator modules. The depressions, in combination connecting toughs, provide a structure which is a... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7915519 | Solar battery module frame body A fixing member (3, 40, 43, 50, 53) which fixes a first frame body (1) of a solar battery module main body (9) slides along the first frame body, and the solar battery module main body includes a connecting portion (10) and a to-be connec... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7915518 | Solar battery module manufacturing method A process of producing a solar battery module having plural solar battery cells sealed by a resin between a transparent panel of the light reception surface side and a back face panel, including arranging plural solar battery cells at a prescribed interval and mutua... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7902452 | Multilayer ionomer films for use as encapsulant layers for photovoltaic cell modules The present invention is photovoltaic (solar) cell module comprising a multilayer laminate ionomer film as an encapsulant layer wherein the laminate has a light transmission of at least 85%, and or a haze of less than 6%, and wherein the laminate has a modulus of le... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7888590 | Supply unit for power and water based on renewable energy The supply unit comprises a box type profile frame (1), whose base rests on wheels (2) and on whose top side (3), a square frame (16), as seen from above, is placed, said frame containing a solar panel (7). This can be swiveled abo... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7872193 | Solar panel and production method therefor A method is provided for producing a solar panel, which is made by building up a solar cell layer on a glass base as a covering glass, having a good performance in sealing the solar panel. A solar panel produce by the method is also provided. The production method o... | 01/18/2011 |
| 7868246 | Solar cell module and method of encapsulating same A composite solar collection module includes a thin film solar collection cell that is encapsulated between a transparent substrate, such as glass, on one side, and an electrically insulating film on the other. A metallic layer is disposed over the electrically insu... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7868245 | Solar panel and production method therefor A method is provided for producing a solar panel, which is made by building up a solar cell layer on a glass base as a covering glass, having a good performance in sealing the solar panel. A solar panel produce by the method is also provided. The production method o... | 01/11/2011 |
| 7851694 | Embossed high modulus encapsulant sheets for solar cells A thermoplastic film or sheet having a thickness of about 1 mil (0.026 mm) to about 20 mils (0.51 mm) containing a surface embossed layer comprising a copolymer of alpha olefin(s) with alpha, beta ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid comonomer(s), ionomers deri... | 12/14/2010 |
| 7847185 | Light-weight photovoltaic system A light-weight photovoltaic system includes a substructure and a plurality of substantially rectangular photovoltaic modules arranged in a mutually abutting relationship in rows and columns. Each photovoltaic module includes a photovoltaic panel disposed with a pred... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7847184 | Low modulus solar cell encapsulant sheets with enhanced stability and adhesion The present invention provides a thermoplastic film or sheet comprising two surface layers made of acid copolymers, or ionomers, or combinations thereof and at least one inner layer made of ethylene acrylate ester copolymers, a solar cell module comprising at least ... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7834265 | Photovoltaic insulating glazing The invention relates to a photovoltaic insulating glazing comprising a multi-layer glazing with a photovoltaic module. The glazing is further characterized in that two contact strips for contacting the photovoltaic module are led out from an intermediate space betw... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7829783 | Isolated metallic flexible back sheet for solar module encapsulation Provided are novel back sheets for solar module encapsulation. According to various embodiments, the back sheets are ungrounded and flexible. In certain embodiments, the back sheets include an integrated flexible and electrically isolated moisture barrier and a seal... | 11/09/2010 |
| 7781670 | Organic photovoltaic component with encapsulation The invention concerns an organic photovoltaic component with a novel encapsulation, wherein the invention for the first time discloses packaging for organic solar cells that includes a low-cost film composite comprising a metal portion. The packaging meets high req... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7737356 | Solar cell device A photovoltaic cell for converting a light source into electricity, including: (a) a housing for the photovoltaic cell, including: (i) an at least partially transparent cell wall; (b) at least one electrically-conductive element, disposed at least partially within t... | 06/15/2010 |
