US4332973A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High intensity solar cell
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-08-11
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Granted: 1982-06-01
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Expires: 1998-08-11
Abstract
Abstract This invention discloses: (1) A high intensity solar cell; (2) A method of making an array of high intensity solar cells in an economical manner, and (3) A lens system for concentrating incident radiation on to the most responsive region of its structure.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard L. Sater
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 04:23
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F10/00; H10F10/10; H10F10/14; H10F10/142; H10F19/00; H10F19/10; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/484; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52; Y02E10/544
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
Photovoltaic means for producing an electrical output from incident solar radiation, said photovoltaic means comprising a plurality of unit semiconductor solar cells each having at least one p-n junction, said p-n junctions being arranged in planes lying substantially parallel to the direction of the incoming radiation on the light-receiving surfaces of said cells, and optical radiation-focusing means comprising a corresponding plurality of optical elements having their optical axes arranged in spaced parallel relation in planes parallel to the planes of said p-n junctions, each of said optical axes being respectively offset with respect to the planes of said p-n junctions, said radiation-focusing means thereby being effective to focus incident radiation onto said light-receiving surfaces as beams which are in primary adjacency to the planes of each of said p-n junctions, whereby radiation incident upon said light-receiving surface is directed essentially in the vicinity of each of said p-n junctions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
Photovoltaic means for producing an electrical output from incident solar radiation, said photovoltaic means comprising a plurality of unit semiconductor solar cells each having at least one p-n junction, said p-n junctions being arranged in planes lying substantially parallel to the direction of the incoming radiation on the light-receiving surfaces of said cells, and optical radiation-focusing means comprising a corresponding plurality of optical elements having their optical axes arranged in spaced parallel relation in planes parallel to the planes of said p-n junctions, each of said optical axes being respectively offset with respect to the planes of said p-n junctions, said radiation-focusing means thereby being effective to focus incident radiation onto said light-receiving surfaces as beams which are in primary adjacency to the planes of each of said p-n junctions, whereby radiation incident upon said light-receiving surface is directed essentially in the vicinity of each of said p-n junctions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
Photovoltaic means according to claim 1, in which the optical axes of said optical elements are spaced from one another by a distance substantially equal to the width of said unit solar cells.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Photovoltaic means according to claim 1, in which said optical radiation-focusing means is spaced from said solar cells by an air gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
Photovoltaic means according to claim 1, in which said radiation-focusing means includes an array of plano-convex lenses having a planar surface secured to said light-receiving surface of said unit solar cells.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
93 words
Photovoltaic means for producing an electrical output from incident solar radiation, said photovoltaic means comprising a plurality of unit semiconductor solar cells each having a p-n junction and a light receiving surface, an optical radiation-focusing means comprising a corresponding plurality of optical elements having their optical axes arranged in spaced parallel relation, said radiation-focusing means being effective to focus incident radiation onto said light-receiving surfaces and parallel to but offset from said p-n junctions whereby radiation incident upon said light-receiving surface is directed essentially in the vicinity of each of said p-n junctions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
Photovoltaic means for producing an electrical output from incident solar radiation, said photovoltaic means comprising a plurality of unit semiconductor solar cells each having a p-n junction and a light receiving surface, an optical radiation-focusing means comprising a corresponding plurality of optical elements having their optical axes arranged in spaced parallel relation, said radiation-focusing means being effective to focus incident radiation onto said light-receiving surfaces and parallel to but offset from said p-n junctions whereby radiation incident upon said light-receiving surface is directed essentially in the vicinity of each of said p-n junctions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3018313A
Cited
US4042417A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-31 | 1985-11-30 | 1986-06-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-31 | 1989-11-30 | 1990-06-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-31 | 1993-11-30 | 1994-06-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |