High intensity solar cell

• US 4,332,973 A
• Filed: 08/11/1978
• Issued: 06/01/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard L. Sater
• Original Assignee: Bernard L. Sater
• Inventors: Sater, Bernard L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weisstuch, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US05/932,903
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 136/89 PC
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/047 PV cell arrays including PV cells having multiple vertical junctions or multiple V-groove junctions formed in a semiconductor substrate
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0687 Multiple junction or tandem solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/544 Solar cells from Group III-V materials

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Photovoltaic means according to claim 1, in which said optical radiation-focusing means is spaced from said solar cells by an air gap.

4. 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.

5. 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.