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:
Jul. 25, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 04, 2002
John Michael Bodeau, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
Philip L. Leung, La Canada, CA (US);
Jesse Nerses Matossian, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Joel A. Schwartz, Glendale, CA (US);
John Michael Bodeau, Yorba Linda, CA (US);
Philip L. Leung, La Canada, CA (US);
Jesse Nerses Matossian, Woodland Hills, CA (US);
Joel A. Schwartz, Glendale, CA (US);
The Boeing Company, Chicago, IL (US);
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for protecting solar cells from cellular degradation caused by an electrostatic discharge pulse. In one embodiment, a diode may bypass current generated from an electrostatic discharge so that the pulse current does not reverse bias the solar cell. Advanced diodes, capacitors and/or multiple diodes located on multiple bypass current paths, may be used. In another embodiment, the transient impedance of the current path that reverse biases the solar cell is increased by using inductors placed along the reversing current path. In another embodiment, the pulse current rise rate is reduced by extending the harness length of cell contacts. In another embodiment, solar cells in a serpentine pattern may be protected from electrostatic discharge damage by coupling bypass current paths to the open ends of the serpentine. Inductors may also be placed in series with the serpentine series of cells.