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US4642412A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photo-electronic conversion apparatus with light pattern discriminator

Assignee: Hitachi Ltd
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Filing: 1985-07-29
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Granted: 1987-02-10
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Expires: 2005-07-29
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Abstract

Abstract A plurality of photovoltaic devices (e.g., solar cells) connect with each other and form a photo-electric conversion apparatus. The photovoltaic devices concerned are so connected with each other that when a given pattern of light is irradiated upon the photo-electric conversion apparatus concerned, the electrical output generated when the whole of it is irradiated is smaller than that generated when some parts of it are irradiated. Since an electronic system equipped with this apparatus as a power supply can be designed to work when the apparatus is irradiated with such a pattern of light that irradiates only a part of the apparatus, an electronic system having such an identifying faculty can be made easily. Further, an apparatus like this type may be made by connecting the elements of this apparatus in series or in reverse direction to form units, and by connecting this plurality of units in series and/or in parallel.

Inventors

  • 👤 Shinichi Muramatsu
  • 👤 Toshikazu Shimada
  • 👤 Sunao Matsubara
  • 👤 Haruo Itoh
  • 👤 Nobuo Nakamura

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-04 21:56
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/95; H10F77/953; H10F77/957; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S136/00; Y10S136/291

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 86 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising light pattern discriminating means including a plurality of photovoltaic devices which are so connected electrically that when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to uniform light, the electric output is smaller than when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to light forming a predetermined pattern wherein a portion of all of said photovoltaic devices is illuminated and at least one other portion of said photovoltaic devices is non-illuminated at the same time in accordance with the predetermined light pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 86 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus comprising light pattern discriminating means including a plurality of photovoltaic devices which are so connected electrically that when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to uniform light, the electric output is smaller than when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to light forming a predetermined pattern wherein a portion of all of said photovoltaic devices is illuminated and at least one other portion of said photovoltaic devices is non-illuminated at the same time in accordance with the predetermined light pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some of said photovoltaic devices are connected in parallel and in reverse direction to form a plurality of units which are connected with each other in series and/or in parallel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said photovoltaic devices are connected in such a manner that said apparatus is able to generate no electric output, or substantially none, when all of said photovoltaic devices are illuminated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein some or all of said plurality of photovoltaic devices are formed on a single substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 31 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 4, wherein when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to uniform light, the electric output of the photo-electric conversion apparatus is substantially zero.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 55 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the electric output of the photo-electric conversion apparatus serves as a power supply for an electric device, and when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to uniform light, the electric output of the photo-electric conversion apparatus is insufficient to enable operation of the electric device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said photovoltaic devices and said electric device form part of a card member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 31 words
A photo-electric conversion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when all of said photovoltaic devices are exposed to uniform light, the electric output of the photo-electric conversion apparatus is substantially zero.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3672999A Cited
US3925103A Cited
US4456782A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-02-09 1990-08-11 1991-02-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-02-09 1994-08-11 1995-02-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-02-09 1998-08-11 1999-02-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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