Arrays of polarized energy-generating elements
US4513167A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 20, 1983 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S323/906
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Two-dimensional arrays of polarized energy-generating or energy-storing elements (20A, 20B, . . . , 20D; 21A, . . . , 21D; 22A, . . . , 22D; 23A, . . . , 23D; 24A, . . . , 24D; 25A, . . . , 25D), such as solar cells, batteries, thermoelectric generators or capacitors are formed as a matrix of rows and columns of elements, with the elements of each column being connected in series and the junctions between the series-connected elements in each column within the matrix being connected, in sequence, first to the corresponding junction in one of the adjacent columns and then to the corresponding junction in the other one of the adjacent columns. By connecting the junctions (32, 33) of alternate pairs of elements in the left hand column of the matrix to the respective junctions (32A, 33A) in the right hand column of a matrix having an even number of columns, the mathematical equivalent of a tubular matrix of elements is formed. When the invention is applied to arrays of solar cells, the problems due to shadowing the array are diminished.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.