Devices, systems, and methods for harvesting energy and methods for forming such devices
US8338772B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2011 |
| Grant date | Dec 25, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 6, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/50
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Energy harvesting devices include a substrate coupled with a photovoltaic material and a plurality of resonance elements associated with the substrate. The resonance elements are configured to collect energy in at least visible and infrared light spectra. Each resonance element is capacitively coupled with the photovoltaic material, and may be configured to resonate at a bandgap energy of the photovoltaic material. Systems include a photovoltaic material coupled with a feedpoint of a resonance element. Methods for harvesting energy include exposing a resonance element having a resonant electromagnetic radiation having a frequency between approximately 20 THz and approximately 1,000 THz, absorbing at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation with the resonance element, and resonating the resonance element at a bandgap energy of an underlying photovoltaic material. Methods for forming an energy harvesting device include forming resonance elements on a substrate and capacitively coupling the resonance elements with a photovoltaic material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.