Tecstar Power Systems, Inc.

Atlantic Richfield Company

Siemens Solar Industries

Norman L Beze

James Patrick Hanley

Eugene L Ralph

Mark DeWitt

Ellen B Linder

James R Walle

A Jerome Anderson

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

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 panel is supported, sealed and isolated from the environment by being encased in a reaction injection molded elastomer which encapsulates the back, sides and a portion of the front side of the photovoltaic panel.

Method of fabricating photovoltaic module

Photovoltaic module

Growing community of inventors

Simi Valley, CA, United States of America

Norman L Beze