In 1963, Richard "Dick" Weir had not yet filed his first of20+ issued patents. In fact, he was two years away from his 1965 graduation from Cal Poly Pamona aka California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. However, he did pose for the below yearbook photo.
Contrary to popular belief, Dick Weir graduated from Cal Poly Pamona with a degree in Industrial Engineering not Electrical Engineering, which of course, is a more suitable preparation for someone whose career is marked by innovation in production technology not "new science." EEStor fans will note most immediately that their fearless idol does not appear to be a slide rule geek. Instead, it seems appropriate to associate the below photo with Weir's prior service as a pilot in the US Marine Corps. OoooRah!
So, dear reader, are you now examining for the first time one of the greatest inventors of this century?
Special thanks to the Cal Poly Pamona Library and an interested EEStor Inc. investor.
Update: There's been some confusion and discussion of this topic. The best theory to date seems to be that one of EEStor's patent's is being split into two, perhaps at their request. This seems to be what happened to one of the patents in the European Patent Office. The topic is still being discussed at TheEEStory.com.
One of the hopes that many people had for the Nanosolar announcements that came out recently was that they would make a peep about a residential product. Well, they finally made the peep. See below:
http://www.nanosolar.com/homes
Quote from a new page on nanosolar's website:
"We are planning to enlighten the residential solar market by bringing the economics we have attained at utility scale to private homes everywhere."
The web page offers a place to sign up as a homeowner to be notified when a home product is available. The website also offers a place for Contractors to sign up for alpha/beta testing.
Can you imagine Nanosolar being integrated into building materials like roofing shingles, house siding, etc., being combined with an home based EESU? Slam DUNK!!!
If you're looking for a way to honor all of those we have lost since 9/11, the victims of that horrible day along with the courageous members of our armed services who were pressed into duty as a result, then consider taking the time to write a note today to your state's Senators and Members of Congress. Press them to demonstrate leadership on the issue of energy independence. Don't be naive and think that our entire way of life does not have very strong dependence on this issue. Urge them to stop leading this country into economic disaster. And if your political persuasion allows it, ask for market based incentives to create competition where ever possible. For example, with batteries, ask for tax credits based on energy density and longevity....paid for by a battery tax on imported oil.
When the sun hits EEStor headquarters in Cedar Park, TX at just the right angle, a dome of shade manifests for a few split seconds. It is at this precise opportunity, each day, that the mysterious Carl Nelson slips rapidly into hallowed walls of one this century's greatest technological wonders, ie, the EEStor production facility. Nobody knows exactly what Nelson does when he is onsite at EEStor, not even EESU co-inventor Dick Weir or VP of Operations Tom Weir. Occasionally, the entire EEStor crew must cease all work to try and locate Mr. Nelson, who has been found in abandoned closets, behind unattended particle beam gadgetry, and even amid the rafters which spill over into the Texas Magic Supply next door. To Nelson, this game of cat and mouse is an essential part of the creative process and provides an outlet for his continual conceptual ducking and weaving for which there is little recorded fact. Nelson developed this love of disappearing from his mentor, Arthur Von Hippel, the Great-Great-Grandfather of Ferroeletrics and discoverer of the inner self of barium titanate. Nelson, Von Hippel and Neils Bohr all loved the thrill of hiding and seeking on the vast expanse of MIT. Semesters would go by where all three successfully played the game.
Ok, I'm making all of this up so far. But, guess what?! The mysterious Carl Nelson really does exist. And recently, as part of the EEStor effort to secure patents, he was asked to submit expert testimony, in written form, concerning the unique nature of the dielectric material in use by EEStor Inc.. Signed by Nelson on June 30, 2009, the letter begins by clarifying his qualifications to deliver it citing an MIT BS in Chemistry in 1953 and MS in Chemistry in 1956. Nelson writes, "I have conducted research and development in ceramic materials and in the purification of ceramic components for 52yrs. In particular, I worked with Dr. Von Hippel, an early researcher and developer of composition-modified barium titanate powders, from 1956-1964. "
The letter goes on to state the following:
The resulting composition modified barium titanate powders have an average dielectric constant of approximately 33,518 and an average breakdown voltage greater than 6000 V. In addition, the dielectric constant is not a strong function of temperature, having a tolerance of less than 15% over temperature range of -55°C to 125°C.
The letter is classified as testimony. It ends with an acknowledgement that "willful false statements and the like, so made, are punishable by fine or imprisonment or both."
So, we now have further evidence of EEStor's competence. We now have a statement of fact about their dielectric material's properties. But what does it all add up to? Perhaps you can find out from the geniuses at TheEEStory.com.
Note: Apologies to anyone offended that I would suggest Carl Nelson likes to play hide and go seek. My giggling while writing it in no way should detract from Nelson's genius. No, to my knowledge, he did not play hide n seek with Von Hippel or Neils Bohr, in case you are curious. I would welcome any evidence to the contrary but only if it's in written form and notarized in Wyoming.
Those hoping EEStor would reveal something interesting on 9/9/9 can thank the US Patent Office for updating EEStor patent application #11/400,875 with a "Issue Notification Mailed" log entry today.....in the 9am EST hour. According to a knowledgeable patent attorney, this means EEStor's third patent should be issued in 2-3 months. As for what this latest patent protects exactly, I can say three things: I don't understand. So, if you have questions, please do inquire with TheEEStory.com forums. To those anticipating a Sept 9, 09 announcement of a nanosolar powered ipod with EEStor EESU and Beatles tunes, you know you really should go outside and take a walk around. Talk to some people and in general get a grip.
Solyndra rival, Nanosolar, today announced the completion of a 640MW panel-assembly factory in Berlin and in the process unwrapped many hitherto unknown details about it's technology including most notably that it's panels have an efficiency as high as 16.4%!!! This figure rivals crystal solar cell power eficiencies which are much, much more costly to manufacture.
Nanosolar is claiming two new world records:
1) the most efficient printed solar cell of any kind 2) the most efficient solar cell on low-cost printed on low cost aluminum foil
Additionally, Nanosolar has secured $4.1Bil in panel purchases from the world's largest utility power producers. Of more interest to the technology geeks is nanosolar's BIG REVEAL of their technology on an unprecendented basis including two white papers, videos and plenty of photographs.
In a statement released to his blog, Nanosolar CEO Martin Roscheisen offered the following observation:
"Our lab and production teams have managed to make more progress on efficiency than we had planned on in any of our business plans. Recall that we print CIGS onto inexpensive metal foil, that is, something that some have been skeptical can work while others have been wondering whether it can deliver cells better than 6% efficient (the highest published efficiency for CIGS — not even printed — on our type of low-cost metal foil).So we are pleased to announce that our low-cost printed-CIGS-on-metal-foil cell stack and process produces quite efficient cells: Earlier this year, NREL independently verified several of our cell foils to be as efficient as 16.4%."
Solar panel industry observer, Russ Browne, today shared this reaction to the news, "The effiecncy level is monumental in that it rivals effiency of the much more coslty and difficult to make silicon panels. Very good for the world indeed."
Nanosolar made these announcements today with an updated website touting "profitable solar."
I spoke to Carl Watkins today. He was just back from a trip to Eurobike. Watkins indicates that since we last checked in, his firm has made contact with just about everybody in the ebike world including the major 3 wheeled vendors out there. There have been tons of inquiries not just about production availability and timing but also about whether or not LightEVS will one day IPO. For now, Watkins doesn't see a need to go public. Once a demo units become available, his feeling is, understandably, that those willing to be supplied EESU's will finance the lift off of his company.
For now, everything is in wait and see mode until EEStor makes it's next move.
I will be posting an article before noon EST tomorrow, 9/9/9 concerning the "significant" news event coming out of Nanosolar. Just because I've been such a tease in the past, I should mention, it's not going to contain EEStor content. But that's ok because Nanosolar is one of those companies that on it's own is poised to transform the world....and with some luck, I'll have a thought or two from Martin Roscheisen on the grand old topic of energy storage. (although no guarantees, remember I said "with some luck.")
Update: Nanosolar will announce a monumental achievement tomorrow. A feast for the eyes and a pleasure for numbers crunchers.
You can read this blog post one of two ways. First, you can conclude that on the basis of extremely little evidence, almost any conclusion can be arrived at with imagination. Or, alternatively, you can examine an odd piece of evidence that doesn't really make much sense and thus, have your curiosity somewhat permanently marked for any related future developments. What you are looking at here is a Lockheed Martin logo-imprinted, promotional pen that an alert reader sent to my attention. If you have any initial thoughts upon seeing it, you might quickly jump to conclusions. But then if you give it a little bit of thought, it does leave you wondering which marketing person felt it made sense to purchase a set of promotional pens with a sporty little car on top. Sporty little cars do not exactly capture any of Lockheed Martin's strengths, of course. Then again, you can't completely dismiss the idea of Lockheed Martin being involved with electric cars since a few years ago, there were some press releases about innovations they had achieved with hybrid vehicles and batteries. Plus, there is that tiny nagging fact that any company who could make the Joint Strike Figher might also as a result be capable of producing something far less complicated such as an electric car.
It's been pointed out many times previously in following the EEStory that electric cars are far less complicated to build and maintain than those with internal combustion engines. The hope by some is that this simplicity of technology (never mind which battery technology prevails) will lead to a renaissance of new competition in personal transportation...extending of course to industrial uses of transportation as well. So, on the basis of this, why couldn't Lockheed Martin be slightly more involved with electric cars than anyone is at this time comfortable to admit? I leave it to more curious journalists or bloggers to advance the thesis with Lockheed. At the very least, the denials of interest in electric cars would afford the opportunity to inquire about an update with EEStor Inc. So how is it coming with EEStor these days Lockheed? How is the integration with weapons systems going?
NOTE: If you work for Lockheed Martin and know the story behind these pens, shoot me an email: eestorblog@gmail.com
In 1963, Richard "Dick" Weir had not yet filed his first of 20+ issued patents. In fact, he was two years away from his 1965 graduation from Cal Poly Pamona aka California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. However, he did pose for the below yearbook photo. 
