Generating electric power from solar radiation
First Claim
1. An extensive photovoltaic array for generating electric power from solar radiation as in a power plant, comprisingan extensive unitary structural grid having substantial extent in both x and y directions and supported on a pedestal, said unitary structural grid being directly attached to said pedestal, said unitary structural grid being defined by a multiplicity of structural members connected to one another at angles and defining spaces therebetween, said structural grid having a depth sufficient to provide structural rigidity to said photovoltaic array,a large multiplicity of lens assemblies, each comprised of at least one lens, directly supported by structural members of said unitary structural grid, said lens assemblies closing the upper side of said unitary structural grid,all other sides of said unitary structural grid being closed by a plurality of enclosure plates directly supported by structural members of said unitary structural grid in a manner such that at least a portion of said unitary structural grid is enclosed within a space defined by said plates and said lens assemblies, anda plurality of solar cells located within said space in which at least a portion of said unitary structural grid is enclosed and positioned to receive solar radiation that passes through respective lenses of said lens assemblies,whereby said lens assemblies, said structural members of said structural grid, said solar cells, and said enclosure plates have an integrated relationship.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An extensive photovoltaic array for generating electric power from solar radiation as in a power plant includes an extensive unitary structural grid having substantial extent in both x and y directions and supported on a pedestal. The unitary structural grid is defined by a multiplicity of structural members connected to one another at angles and defining spaces therebetween. The structural grid has a depth sufficient to provide structural rigidity to the photovoltaic array. A large multiplicity of lens assemblies, each including at least one lens, is directly supported by and in spaces defined between structural members of the unitary structural grid. The lens assemblies close the upper side of the unitary structural grid. All other sides of the unitary structural grid are also closed. A plurality of solar cells are located within spaces defined between structural members of the structural grid and positioned to receive solar radiation that passes through respective lenses of the lens assemblies. The lens assemblies and the structural members of the structural grid have an integrated relationship.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An extensive photovoltaic array for generating electric power from solar radiation as in a power plant, comprising
an extensive unitary structural grid having substantial extent in both x and y directions and supported on a pedestal, said unitary structural grid being directly attached to said pedestal, said unitary structural grid being defined by a multiplicity of structural members connected to one another at angles and defining spaces therebetween, said structural grid having a depth sufficient to provide structural rigidity to said photovoltaic array, a large multiplicity of lens assemblies, each comprised of at least one lens, directly supported by structural members of said unitary structural grid, said lens assemblies closing the upper side of said unitary structural grid, all other sides of said unitary structural grid being closed by a plurality of enclosure plates directly supported by structural members of said unitary structural grid in a manner such that at least a portion of said unitary structural grid is enclosed within a space defined by said plates and said lens assemblies, and a plurality of solar cells located within said space in which at least a portion of said unitary structural grid is enclosed and positioned to receive solar radiation that passes through respective lenses of said lens assemblies, whereby said lens assemblies, said structural members of said structural grid, said solar cells, and said enclosure plates have an integrated relationship.
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23. A device for generating electric power from solar radiation, comprising
a circuit board plate comprised of a planar electrically insulative layer, an upper electrically and thermally conductive layer supported by and in heat-transferring relationship to said electrically insulative layer, and a thermally conductive heat sink member extending under said electrically insulative member in heat transferring relationship therewith, said upper electrically conductive layer being interrupted so that adjacent portions thereof are electrically isolated and also serve as positive and negative conductors, and a solar cell spanning across a region of interruption in said upper electrically conductive layer and secured in electrical and heat conductive relationship to positive and negative portions of said conductive layer, said circuit board plate comprising a structural element of a housing that defines a space within which said solar cell is located, said upper electrically and thermally conductive layer forming an inner surface of said housing and being exposed to said space within said housing, said thermally conductive heat sink member forming an outer surface of said housing.
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32. An extensive photovoltaic array for generating electric power from solar radiation as in a power plant, comprising
a large multiplicity of co-planar lens assemblies, said lens assemblies closing an upper side of said photovoltaic array, each of said lens assemblies comprising at least one lens, a plurality of solar cells located below said lens assemblies, each of said solar cells being positioned to receive solar radiation that passes through a lens in one of said plurality of lens assemblies, a plurality of horizontally extending water shield plates associated with corresponding horizontal edges of said lens assemblies, each of said water shield plates comprising a first section located beneath an edge margin of a first of said lens assemblies, a second section located above an edge margin of a second of said lens assemblies, said first of said lens assemblies being positioned higher than said second of said lens assemblies, and an upright water-interception surface extending between said first and second sections in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the upper side of the array, constructed to intercept water and to prevent such water from entering beneath said second of said lens assemblies, a plurality of inclined gutters associated with corresponding inclined lens assembly edges located beneath gaps between adjacent co-planar lens assemblies and arranged to capture water intercepted and horizontally diverted by said upright water-interception surface of said water shield plates and to channel captured water off of said photovoltaic array, thereby preventing captured water from entering said photovoltaic array.
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34. A method of manufacturing a device for generating electric power from solar radiation, comprising the steps of
applying a soldering flux to a circuit board plate, positioning a cell placement fixture over said circuit board plate in a first position, said circuit board plate having structures that engage said cell placement fixture to provide precise positioning of said cell placement fixture on said circuit board plate, placing a first soldering foil on a first region of said circuit board plate that is unobstructed by said cell placement fixture, said cell placement fixture having sides that engage said first soldering foil during placement of said first soldering foil on said first region of said circuit board plate, melting said first soldering foil, applying a soldering flux to a first solar cell, placing said first solar cell over melted solder resulting from melting of said first soldering foil, said cell placement fixture having sides that engage said first solar cell during placement of said first solar cell on said first region of said circuit board plate, permitting said melted solder to cool, to provide at least one solder connection between said first solar cell and said circuit board plate, removing said cell placement fixture from said first position on said circuit board plate, positioning a cell placement fixture over said circuit board plate in a second position, said circuit board plate having structures that engage said cell placement fixture to provide precise positioning of said cell placement fixture on said circuit board plate, placing a second soldering foil on a second region of said circuit board plate that is unobstructed by said cell placement fixture, said cell placement fixture having sides that engage said second soldering foil during placement of said second soldering foil on said second region of said circuit board plate, melting said second soldering foil, applying a soldering flux to a second solar cell, placing said second solar cell over melted solder resulting from melting of said second soldering foil, said cell placement fixture having sides that engage said second solar cell during placement of said second solar cell on said second region of said circuit board plate, permitting said melted solder to cool, to provide at least one solder connection between said second solar cell and said circuit board plate, and removing said cell placement fixture from said second position on said circuit board plate.
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40. A method of manufacturing a device for generating electric power from solar radiation, comprising the steps of
placing a soldering foil on a circuit board plate, said circuit board plate being comprised of a planar electrically insulative layer, an upper electrically and thermally conductive layer supported by and in heat-transferring relationship to said electrically insulative layer, and a thermally conductive heat sink member extending under said electrically insulative member in heat transferring relationship therewith, said upper electrically conductive layer being interrupted so that adjacent portions thereof are electrically isolated and also serve as positive and negative conductors, said soldering foil spanning across a region of interruption in said upper electrically conductive layer, melting said soldering foil, placing said solar cell over melted solder resulting from melting of said soldering foil, permitting said melted solder to cool, to secure said solar cell in electrical and heat conductive relationship to positive and negative portions of said conductive layer, and forming a housing that defines a space within which said solar cell is located, said circuit board plate comprising a structural element of said housing, said upper electrically and thermally conductive layer forming an inner surface of said housing and being exposed to said space within said housing, said thermally conductive heat sink member forming an outer surface of said housing.
Specification