The Aerospace Corporation

Alonzo Prater

Edward J Simburger

Peter J Carian

James H Matsumoto

Albert O Okorogu

Albert H Zimmerman

Simon H Liu

Dennis A Smith

Dean C Marvin

A solar concentrator receives sunlight for generating solar power with the concentrator including holographic optical element (HOE) separators for separating sunlight into separated bands, including HOE concentrators for concentrating the separated bands into concentrated bands, including HOE reflectors for reflecting the concentrated bands as reflected bands onto a multiple junction photovoltaic solar cell for generating the solar power with reduced aberrations of the bands for improved conversion of the solar light into the generator solar power, all of which can be constructed in an integrated structure using spacers, waveguides, and a substrate, where the HOEs use chirp Bragg gratings for reducing optical aberrations of the separated, concentrated, and reflected optical bands, with the option of multiple HOE separators for receiving sunlight from various angles of incidence.

Holographic solar concentrator

A power distribution system delivers power onto a regulated bus to a load from a plurality of individual indivisible DC power source devices and or DC energy storage devices each having a respective regulator for coupling the devices onto the bus. Respective storage device chargers for the DC energy storage devices enable charging of the DC energy storage devices when the DC power source devices provide power in excess of the demands of the load. The respective regulators and chargers continue to provide sufficient coupled power onto the bus even in the event of a failure of one or more of the devices thereby enabling graceful degradation of power delivery to the load for improved reliably of the power delivery.

Power distribution system

A zero gravity simulator rotates an electrolytic device, such as nickel hydrogen battery cells, to simulate the effect of zero gravity on the battery cells by providing a cumulative zero gravity vector upon the device under test. The simulator has electrical connections to the device under test for monitoring the electrical performance of the device for determining the expected performance of the device under test when deployed and used in space.

Zero gravity simulator for testing battery cells

Growing community of inventors

Gardena, CA, United States of America

Alonzo Prater