Abstract An improved solar cell module for use in terrestrial environments, characterized by an internally reflective plate having a planar surface of incidence and an opposed textured surface, a plurality of uniformly spaced silicon solar cells having the active surfaces thereof bonded to portions of the textured surface, and a layer of diffusely reflective matter applied to the textured surface in surrounding relation with the solar cells for reflecting solar energy to strike the surface of incidence at such angles as to be internally re-reflected and caused to progress toward the active surfaces of the solar cells, whereby concentration of incident flux on the solar cell is achieved without increased module depth.
Inventors
👤 with respect to an invention of Frosch Robert A. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
An improved solar cell module comprising: A. an internally reflective, transparent cover plate having a pair of opposed surfaces including a substantially smooth planar surface of incidence for accepting incident solar energy, and a uniformly textured surface characterized by a plurality of uniformly configured indentations; B. a plurality of silicon solar cells adhesively bonded at the active surfaces thereof to mutually spaced portions of said textured surface and defining therebetween interspaces; and C. means comprising a layer of diffusely reflective material deposited on said textured surface in the interspaces defined between said cells for internally reflecting solar energy to strike said surface of incidence at such angles as to be internally re-reflected, whereby the energy is caused to progress toward the active surfaces of the solar cells of said plurality.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
An improved solar cell module comprising: A. an internally reflective, transparent cover plate having a pair of opposed surfaces including a substantially smooth planar surface of incidence for accepting incident solar energy, and a uniformly textured surface characterized by a plurality of uniformly configured indentations; B. a plurality of silicon solar cells adhesively bonded at the active surfaces thereof to mutually spaced portions of said textured surface and defining therebetween interspaces; and C. means comprising a layer of diffusely reflective material deposited on said textured surface in the interspaces defined between said cells for internally reflecting solar energy to strike said surface of incidence at such angles as to be internally re-reflected, whereby the energy is caused to progress toward the active surfaces of the solar cells of said plurality.