Timothy C Plum

US Patent:

20120279150, Nov 8, 2012

Filed:

May 2, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/098712

Inventors:

Stephen G. Pisklak - Hockessin DE, US
James Miller - Midland MI, US
Michael I. Lesniak - Kawkawlin MI, US
Ryan S. Gaston - Midland MI, US
Timothy C. Plum - Midland MI, US
Gerald K. Eurich - Merrill MI, US
Joseph A. Langmaid - Caro MI, US
James R. Keenihan - Midland MI, US

International Classification:

E04D 13/18

US Classification:

521733

Abstract:

The present invention is premised upon a through-roof connector assembly comprising one or more photovoltaic building sheathing elements capable of being affixed on a building structure, the photovoltaic building sheathing element including a sheathing element electrical connector along a sheathing element peripheral edge; a through-roof connector edge piece assembly that abuts a portion of the photovoltaic building sheathing element and includes: a body portion, an edge piece electrical connector, one or more wire leads that are connected on one end to the edge piece electrical connector; a wire guiding member with at least one conduit hole, the wire guiding member located under the through-roof connector edge piece assembly when assembled; and an under-roof junction device that is removably connected to the wire guiding member.

US Patent:

20130062958, Mar 14, 2013

Filed:

May 27, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/698737

Inventors:

Stephen Pisklak - Hockessin DE, US
Timothy Plum - Midland MI, US

International Classification:

H02J 1/10
H02J 1/00

US Classification:

307 82

Abstract:

The disclosed embodiments and principles provide a way to integrate high-efficiency, low-profile power electronics with localized maximum power point tracking (MPPT) into a rooftop shingle-based photovoltaic power system. DC-DC power converters having a height, or profile, as low as inch for a 200 W power output, are able to be included in a building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roof shingle. The DC-DC power converters increase the relatively low voltage produced by two rows of series-connected photovoltaic shingles, each including photovoltaic cells, to a high voltage used by a DC-AC inverter. For example, DC-DC power converter increases the voltage produced by two rows of series-connected photovoltaic shingles from several tens of volts to approximately 400 volts. Thus, the DC-DC power converters provide a large voltage step-up using a low profile and with very high efficiency.

US Patent:

20110094570, Apr 28, 2011

Filed:

Oct 20, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/908055

Inventors:

Michelle L. Boven - Midland MI, US
James R. Keenihan - Midland MI, US
Stan Lickly - Midland MI, US
Claude Brown, JR. - Saginaw MI, US
Robert J. Cleereman - Midland MI, US
Timothy C. Plum - Midland MI, US

International Classification:

H01L 31/18
H01L 31/02

US Classification:

136252, 298973

Abstract:

The present invention is premised upon a photovoltaic device suitable for directly mounting on a structure. The device includes an active portion including a photovoltaic cell assembly having a top surface portion that allows transmission of light energy to a photoactive portion of the photovoltaic device for conversion into electrical energy and a bottom surface having a bottom bonding zone; and an inactive portion immediately adjacent to and connected to the active portion, the inactive portion having a region for receiving a fastener to connect the device to the structure and having on a top surface, a top bonding zone; wherein one of the top and bottom bonding zones comprises a first bonding element and the other comprises a second bonding element, the second bonding element designed to interact with the first bonding element on a vertically overlapped adjacent photovoltaic device to bond the device to such adjacent device or to the structure.