What are the patents on photovoltaic cells?

The patents on photovoltaic cells are concentrated in the area of semiconductors for the conversion of solar radiation into electric energy, in the area of generators for the direct conversion of light energy into electric energy and in the area of solar panels adapted for roof structures.

How many patents does first solar have?

In the ninth position, with 151 patents, is First Solar, a US company one of the largest manufacturers of photovoltaic solar modules with production units in the United States, Malaysia, Germany and Pakistan.

Why are photovoltaic cell patent registrations important?

Photovoltaic cell patent registrations are a valuable data set in the analysis and diffusion of PV technology and R&D activities. The dynamics of PV R&D activity is considered high, documented in a large increase in PV patent documents .

How has photovoltaic technology developed over the last 30 years?

Photovoltaic technology has developed rapidly over the last thirty years. The main activities of photovoltaic patents began in the late 1950s and the main photovoltaic patent assignees at that time were involved in the space business , . Patent data has been widely used in technology assessment and forecasting , , , .

Which country has the most patent documents on photovoltaic cells?

The evolution of the total number of patent documents on photovoltaic cells per country in the period from 2004 to 2013 is shown in Fig. 7. It can be seen that the first two positions are occupied by the United States and China respectively, followed by Japan, Germany and South Korea. Fig. 7.

What is a solar thermoelectric generator (Steg)?

Abstract: A solar thermoelectric generator (STEG) is disclosed. A STEG includes a thermoelectric generator (TEG) configured to convert light energy from solar light into electrical energy, and a heat transfer structure coupled to the TEG where a portion of the heat transfer structure is configured to be embedded in the earth.