Photovoltaic power generation and energy storage device patent

Which patent family has the most links to Seto-funded PV patents?

Applied Materials has the patent family with the most links to SETO-funded PV patents. This family (representative patent US #7,863,084) describes back contact solar cells.

Do DOE-funded PV patents influence future patents?

This influence can be seen both over time, and across these leading organizations. Meanwhile, the forward tracing shows that DOE-funded PV patents have had a strong influence on subsequent generations of patents. This influence can be seen both within PV technology, and in other technologies, notably semiconductors and nanomaterials.

Is Doe photovoltaics R&D a knowledge and innovation ecosystem?

This report, which traces the technological influence of DOE photovoltaics R&D broadly through the knowledge and innovation ecosystem, was prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Purchase Order No. 7454233 with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, California, USA.

Are DOE-funded PV patents related to Seto funding?

Over half of the DOE-funded PV patent families in both 2005-2009 and 2010-2014 are confirmed as being connected to SETO funding. Data for the most recent time period are incomplete, but the very low number of patent families from this period suggests there has been a decline in DOE-funded PV patenting in recent years.

What are the links between DOE-funded patents and subsequent generations of patents?

Hence there are two types of links between DOE-funded patents and subsequent generations of patents: where a patent cites a DOE-funded PV patent as prior art. where a patent cites an earlier patent, which in turn cites a DOE-funded PV patent. The DOE patent is thus linked indirectly to the subsequent patent.

What is the Citation Index for other DOE-funded PV patents?

The Citation Index for Other DOE-funded PV patents is only slightly lower at 2.03, again meaning that these patents have been cited more than twice as frequently as expected. Overall, SETO ranks second in Figure 18, behind Total SA (SunPower), while Other DOE is third.