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:
Nov. 28, 2006
Filed:
Dec. 20, 2005
David K. Fork, Los Altos, CA (US);
Koenraad F. Van Schuylenbergh, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
David K. Fork, Los Altos, CA (US);
Koenraad F. Van Schuylenbergh, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Abstract
An alternating current (AC) solar power apparatus includes a photovoltaic cell and a circuit or device for causing a signal generated by the photovoltaic cell to oscillate in a negative differential resistance range, thereby producing an AC output voltage. The photovoltaic cell exhibits negative differential resistance in its current/voltage (IV) curve in the presence of high flux illumination, wherein when the output voltage is within a negative differential resistance range, an incremental increase in the output voltage produces an associated decrease in generated current. By connecting the terminals of the photovoltaic cell to a resonator (e.g., an inductive-capacitive circuit) or other device that produces oscillation within the negative differential resistance range, the photovoltaic cell is caused to produce AC power.