Tecstar Power Systems, Inc.

Hughes Aircraft Company

Eugene L Ralph

James Patrick Hanley

Mark DeWitt

Norman L Beze

Ellen B Linder

James R Walle

Hans G Dill

Joseph A Minahan

A radiation tolerant solar cell array module which can be efficiently assembled into a larger solar panel to generate power for a spacecraft the module includes at least first and second single-crystal solar cells. The first and second solar cells have front sides and back sides. At least one of the solar cells has a shallow junction N on P structure. A first contact is formed on at least the back side of the first solar cell. A second contact formed on at least the back side of the second solar cell. A conductor is in electrical communication with the first contact and the second contact. A substantially transparent ceria-doped cover overlays at least a portion of each of the solar cells. The cover remains substantially transparent when exposed to an AM space radiation environment. A substantially transparent adhesive is situated between the cover and the solar cell portions. The adhesive remains substantially transparent when exposed to a space radiation environment.

Modular, glass covered solar cell array

One embodiment of the present invention is a solar cell array intended for use in space. The solar cell array includes a lightweight, compressible concentrator which can be efficiently deployed. The solar cell array includes a first column of solar cells and a second column of solar cells. A reflective concentrator may be positioned between the first column of solar cells and the second column of solar cells. The reflective concentrator may include a thin film material, where the reflective concentrator is compressible to a first height when in the stowed position. A spring may be coupled to the concentrator, wherein the spring urges the reflective concentrator to a second height when the reflective concentrator is deployed.

Methods and systems for a solar cell concentrator

A radiation tolerant solar cell array module which can be efficiently assembled into a larger solar panel to generate power for a spacecraft the module includes at least first and second single-crystal solar cells. The first and second solar cells have front sides and back sides. At least one of the solar cells has a shallow junction N on P structure. A first contact is formed on at least the back side of the first solar cell. A second contact formed on at least the back side of the second solar cell. A conductor is in electrical communication with the first contact and the second contact. A substantially transparent ceria-doped cover overlays at least a portion of each of the solar cells. The cover remains substantially transparent when exposed to an AM0 space radiation environment. A substantially transparent adhesive is situated between the cover and the solar cell portions. The adhesive remains substantially transparent when exposed to a space radiation environment.

Modular glass covered solar cell array

A photovoltaic device is formed of a module of photovoltaic material, the module including electrodes disposed on the material for extraction of electric power produced by interaction of the material with radiation, particularly solar radiation. A coverglass system is disposed on a surface of the module facing incident radiation to protect the module from high energy particles. The coverglass system is formed of a glass sheet disposed parallel to a surface of the module, and a slab or a plurality of glass slabs which are disposed in a side-by-side array along the module surface between the module and the sheet. The slabs are thicker than the sheet, typically by a factor of two, and are formed of fused silica to provide a sufficient mass for stopping high energy particles such as those which may be encountered in a spaceship traveling through a Van Allen belt. Adhesive layers may be employed for bonding the slabs together as well as to the module and to the sheet, in which case, the sheet is formed of a borosilicate glass which attenuates ultraviolet radiation so as to protect the adhesive layers from degradation by ultraviolet radiation.

Composite coverglass for solar cell

We disclose and claim a process for fabricating wraparound solar cells wherein vertical slots are scribed in a semiconductor wafer to initially define the lateral dimensions of the cell. Thereafter, photolithographic masking, etching and diffusion steps are used to define the geometry of a p-n junction of the cell. Then, using lift-off photolithography and a multiple-element metal deposition process, the solar cell grid lines are formed on one surface of the cell and p- and n-type metal contacts are extended around to the opposite surface of the cell. In this manner, the dimensions of the cell can be made less than the diameter of the semiconductor wafer from which it is made.

Growing community of inventors

San Gabriel, CA, United States of America

Eugene L Ralph