Solar panel having electrical terminals distributed across the surface thereof
US6903260B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 18, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 7, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 18, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S136/293
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
The solar panel for space satellites has a plane surface including a plurality of photovoltaic cells (CE) disposed side-by-side and substantially forming a grid, the cells (CE) being electrically connected into at least one serpentine (SE1), each serpentine made up of cells (CE) connected in series two-by-two forming parallel cell segments (SG), two successive segments (SG) of a serpentine being electrically connected at their ends, and each serpentine having positive terminals (+) and negative terminals (−), the positive (+) and negative (−) terminals being distributed along each serpentine (SE1) and over the surface of the panel so that the positive terminals are far away from the negative terminals, to reduce the risk of electrical arcing between two terminals. With this arrangement, the risk of electrical arcing is reduced without increasing the fabrication cost of the panel.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.