US3715600A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Stacked solar cell arrays
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1971-11-22
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Granted: 1973-02-06
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Expires: 1991-11-22
Abstract
Abstract A solar cell stack, for use in a spacecraft or the like, is disclosed. In the stack only the top solar cell panel is exposed to solar energy to provide electrical power. Except the top panel each panel is covered from exposure to damaging bombarding particles by the preceding panels in the stack toward the stack top. When the exposed top panel''s performance is degraded, due to bombardment by particles or other unexpected failure, the top panel is ejected, thereby exposing the underlying panel in the stack, which not becomes the power supplying panels. Each panel in the stack is successively exposed when the panel above it is ejected.
Inventors
- 👤 J Fletcher
- 👤 J Weingart
- 👤 R Yasui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:23
CPC Classifications
B; B64; B64G; B64G1/00; B64G1/22; B64G1/42; B64G1/44; B64G1/443; B64G1/64; B64G1/645; B64G1/6455; H; H10; H10F; H10F19/00; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291; Y10S136/292
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilizatIon means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilizatIon means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilizatIon means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
97 words
In a spacevehicle or the like of the type including a solar panel for providing electrical power when exposed to solar radiation, the improvement comprising: a first solar panel exposed to solar radiation and at least a second solar panel adapted to be exposed to solar radiation; utilizatIon means coupled to said first and second solar panels for receiving power from the exposed panel; and control means for ejecting said first solar panel and for exposing said second solar panel to solar radiation when the power received from said first panel is degraded below a selected value.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 1 wherein said first and second panels define a stack with said first panel being on top of said second panel so that when said first panel is ejected said second panel is automatically exposed to solar radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 2 further including a shield between said first and second stacks which is ejected by said control means together with said first panel to expose the second panel thereunder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
69 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 2 wherein said improvement comprises a plurality of panel stacks each including a plurality of solar panels with the top panel of each stack being exposed to solar radiation, with each subsequent panel being covered by the preceding panels in the stack whereby when the top panel is ejected the panel below it is exposed to solar radiation while covering the panels thereunder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 4 wherein each stack includes a separate shield between adjacent panels in the stack and said control means when ejecting the top panel of the stack further ejects the shield thereunder to expose the underlying panel to solar radiation.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of providing power in a satellite and the like from solar energy, the steps comprising: exposing a first solar panel to solar energy to provide power therefrom; providing a second solar panel which is not exposed to radiation of solar energy; and ejecting the first solar panel when the power provided thereby is degraded below a selected value and thereby exposing said second solar panel to radiation of solar energy.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
72 words
The method of providing power in a satellite and the like from solar energy, the steps comprising: exposing a first solar panel to solar energy to provide power therefrom; providing a second solar panel which is not exposed to radiation of solar energy; and ejecting the first solar panel when the power provided thereby is degraded below a selected value and thereby exposing said second solar panel to radiation of solar energy.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method as recited in claim 6 wherein said first and second panels form a stack with said first panel on top so as to cover said second panel while being exposed to radiation of solar energy, whereby when said first panel is ejected it automatically exposes the second panel below it in the stack to radiation of solar energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-06 | 1976-08-07 | 1977-02-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-06 | 1980-08-07 | 1981-02-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-06 | 1984-08-07 | 1985-02-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |