Intellectual Property Law

US Patent 7705523 - Hybrid solar nanogenerator

This patent from Georgia Tech. Research teaches a power generator using both solar and mechanical (e.g. wind) sources of energy so as to generate power continuously over a range of changing environments. Claim 1 reads:

1. A hybrid solar and mechanical power generator, comprising:

a. a solar power generating portion electrically coupled to a first electrode; and

b. a piezoelectric nanowire vibrational power generating portion including:

i. an electrical contact structure electrically coupled to and extending downwardly from the first electrode and disposed adjacent to the solar power generating portion; and

ii. a plurality of piezoelectric semiconductor nanorods extending upwardly from a second electrode, spaced apart from the first electrode, so as to be directed toward the electrical contact structure and configured to release electrons across a Schottky barrier formed between the piezoelectric semiconductor nanorods and the electrical contact structure when mechanical energy is applied to the piezoelectric nanowire vibrational power generating portion.

Full post as published by TinytechIP on May 02, 2010 (boomark / email).