Thales

Centre National Detudes Spatiales

Bernard Boulanger

Yannick Baudasse

Stéphane Vezain

Silvain Legrand

François Guinot

Laurent D'Abrigeon

Jean-Noël Voirin

Hubert Delclos

Claude Berthou

Francois Guinot

A solar generator comprises a flexible support, an array of solar cells, electrical transfer conductors, blocking diodes, the solar cells being formed along different transverse strings, the solar cells situated in a same string being electrically connected in series, each string comprising two opposite ends, respectively of positive polarity and of negative polarity. The positive polarity end of each string of solar cells is individually connected to a respective blocking diode via an electrical transfer conductor dedicated to the string, the electrical transfer conductors dedicated to the different strings being independent of one another, the blocking diodes being located at the proximal end of the solar generator, outside of the array of solar cells.

Flexible solar generator provided with electrical protection against the impact of celestial objects, spacecraft and satellite comprising at least one such solar generator

A device is provided for unfurling and refurling comprising at least one tape spring having an axis of unfurling and of refurling parallel to an axis X and a rotor capable of rotating about an axis Y perpendicular to the axis X, the tape spring being able, autonomously, to pass from a state in which it is wound around the rotor to an unwound state. The tape spring is mounted bent in two in the shape of a U and comprises a first end fixed rigidly to a first anchor point that may be secured to a stator or to the rotor and a second end wound around the rotor.

Device for unfurling and refurling a flexible structure, and a flexible unfurlable structure and satellite both equipped with such a device

A spacecraft comprises a hybrid assembly equipped with at least one solar panel characterized in that said assembly comprises at least one solar cell provided with luminous energy concentration means and said assembly also comprises at least one solar cell with no luminous energy concentration means.

Hybrid assembly equipped with at least one solar panel

A solar generator panel comprising a plane array of strings of photovoltaic cells disposed side by side. According to the invention, the cells have cropped corners suitable for generating free spaces in the interstices between the cropped corners. It is then possible to place openings in those spaces for passing cables and/or for receiving damper blocks. The invention is particularly applicable to solar panels for satellites.

Solar generator panel and an associated satellite

A (GS) for an equipment (EQ) including an electrical reference (ME) and including an area provided with at least two photoelectric cells (C) electrically connected and each covered by a protective window that can become electrostatically charged. This solar generator further includes, on the one hand, at at least one chosen place (EC) of the area, intensification means (MI) responsible for locally intensifying the electrostatic charge so as to force the generation of primary electrical arcs at that chosen place, and, on the other hand, discharging means (EL, LM) adapted to couple the intensification means (MI) to the electrical reference (ME) of the equipment (EQ) so as to evacuate to that electrical reference (ME) discharge currents induced by the primary electrical arcs.

Solar generator with concentrator of primary electric arcs

A solar generator has at least two branches electrically connected in parallel at opposite first and second ends of positive and negative polarity, respectively, each branch comprising one or more photoelectric cells electrically connected in series and having a first end provided with first blocking means adapted to block an electrical current coming from an adjacent branch. The second end of each branch is provided with second blocking means adapted to limit the propagation toward an adjacent branch of a discharge current induced by an electrical arc in a photoelectric cell of its own branch to a value less than or equal to a nominal current value for that branch.

Limited discharge current propagation solar generator

A solar cell for a solar generator panel (). According to the invention, the cell is coupled to a reflector () in such a manner that together with the reflector the cell forms an individual component (), while the other end (E, E) of the reflector remains free, the mechanical flexibility properties of the reflector being determined in such a manner as to enable it, in the absence of any vertical pressure, to stay upright in a first position in which its free end points towards outer space, thereby defining a 'upper' first face () of the reflector facing outer space, while the 'lower' opposite face () faces the panel, and in such a manner that in a second position, in response to the application of vertical pressure, it is capable of presenting its upper face facing towards the plane of the panel. The invention is particularly applicable to space vehicles having local-concentration solar panels.

Solar cell for a solar generator panel, a solar generator panel, and a space vehicle

A solar generator panel includes at least one reflector for reflecting solar radiation onto at least one photovoltaic cell. The reflector takes the form of a flexible material blade, a first end of which is fixed to the panel and a second end of which remains free. The material has mechanical properties such that, in a first position, in the absence of vertical pressure, it maintains itself erect so that its free end points to outer space, thereby defining an upper face that faces outer space and an opposite lower face that faces the panel, and, in a second position, in response to vertical pressure, it orients its upper face toward the plane of the panel. One particular application is to high-power solar panels for satellites.

Growing community of inventors

Frejus, France

Bernard Boulanger