The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jan. 31, 1995
Filed:
Oct. 14, 1993
William E Horne, Renton, WA (US);
United Solar Technologies, Inc., Olympia, WA (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides a photovoltaic module for converting solar energy into electrical energy. The module comprises a substrate having a relatively large first surface and a relatively small second surface. A first photovoltaic cell is mounted to the first surface, the first photovoltaic cell having a first response band. The module is positioned such that the solar energy is incident onto the active area of the first photovoltaic cell. A second photovoltaic cell substantially smaller than the first photovoltaic cell is mounted to the second surface of the substrate. The substrate is formed such that a portion of the solar energy transmitted by the first photovoltaic cell into the substrate is directed onto the active area of the second photovoltaic cell. Because of the smaller area of the second photovoltaic cell, the cost per unit cell area is lower than in conventional tandem cell designs.