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:
Mar. 04, 2003
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2001
Jean-Paul Collette, Embourg, BE;
Jean-Marc Defise, Plainevaux, BE;
Serge Habraken, Comblain-Au-Pont, BE;
Universite de Liege, Liege, BE;
Abstract
A space solar concentrator based on light-weight reflectors ( ) attached to a honeycomb panel ( ) is described. The integration of the reflectors ( ) allows for a high modularity. Solar panel deployment is not perturbed by the reflectors ( ) even with two-dimensional deployment concept. Each reflector ( ) consists in small saw tooth aligned as rows ( ) with solar cell rows in between. Low concentration is achieved with a high level of thermal control and a high optical efficiency. When small off-pointing occurs, the solar flux distribution is still the same on each cells. It guarantees a good electrical control and management on the whole panel. The reflectors ( ) are preferably made of a thin film tight on a light-weight rigid frame deployed after launch. In another embodiment, the reflector is not deployable and is part of the panel substrate. A stowed configuration allows for superimposition of the solar panel. High reflectivity of the reflectors results from the use of vacuum deposited aluminum or preferentially over-protected silver.