Patrick L Little

US Patent:

20110226320, Sep 22, 2011

Filed:

Mar 18, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/726731

Inventors:

Patrick LITTLE - Brentwood CA, US
Neil M. Mackie - Fremont CA, US
Korhan Demirkan - Santa Clara CA, US

International Classification:

H01L 31/0224
H01L 31/032
H01L 31/18

US Classification:

136256, 438 95, 438 98, 257E31126, 257E31027

Abstract:

A solar cell includes a first electrode located over a substrate, at least one first conductivity type semiconductor layer located over the first electrode, at least one second conductivity type semiconductor layer located over the first conductivity semiconductor layer, and a transparent conductive oxide contact layer located over the second conductivity semiconductor layer. The first surface of the transparent conductive oxide contact layer may be located closer to the second conductivity type semiconductor layer than the second surface of the transparent conductive oxide contact layer, and the transparent conductive oxide contact layer may have an oxygen concentration that decreases continuously or in at least two discrete steps as a function of thickness for at least a first portion of the contact layer thickness in a direction from the first surface to the second surface.

US Patent:

20200370810, Nov 26, 2020

Filed:

May 20, 2020

Appl. No.:

16/879608

Inventors:

- Waterbury VT, US
Patrick W. Little - Redondo Beach CA, US

International Classification:

F25C 1/20
F25C 1/04
F25C 1/25

Abstract:

An icemaker for making clear ice shapes using a process that removes and replenishes a freezable liquid, such as water, from and to one or more ice-mold cavities during freezing of the freezable liquid in the ice-mold cavity(ies). This process removes air bubbles from the freezable liquid during freezing that would otherwise result in cloudy ice. In some embodiments, the icemaker includes a suction system to draw freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and a replenishment system to replenish the cavity(ies) with freezable liquid to replace the freezable liquid that the suction system draws out of the cavity(ies). In some embodiments, the replenishment includes a reservoir containing freezable liquid and the suction system includes a pump that draws the freezable liquid from the cavity(ies) and discharges it to the reservoir. Methods of making clear ice and other systems for making clear ice are also disclosed.