Outdoor photoluminescence imaging of photovoltaic modules

US12255582B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited · AU

Inventors

• Oliver Kunz · Seßlach, DE
• Germaine Antoine REY · Sydney, AU
• Thorsten Trupke · Sydney, AU
• Appu Rshikesan PADUTHOL · Sydney, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 11, 2021
• Grant date: Mar 18, 2025
• Expiry date: Mar 14, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/50
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are presented for measuring a photoluminescence (PL) response, preferably a spatially resolved image of a PL response, from an object exposed to solar irradiation. In certain embodiments signals from the object are measured in two or more different spectral bands selected such that one of the measured signals has a higher PL component relative to ambient reflectance compared to another measured signal, enabling the PL component to be enhanced by a suitable differencing procedure. In other embodiments a signal from an object is measured in a spectral band selected such that at least 20% of the measured signal comprises PL generated from the object by the solar irradiation. The methods and apparatus have particular application to outdoor inspection of photovoltaic modules without having to modulate the operating point of the modules.