Patent · US Expired

Solar cell array

US7301095B2 · kind B2 · utility

40Cited by
23References
30Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 2005
Grant dateNov 27, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S136/292
  • WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A solar panel for a spacecraft has a base with a face, and at least one row of solar cells and at least one elongated reflector are mounted on the face of the base. The reflectors and the rows are mounted generally parallel to each other in an alternating fashion. The reflector has first and second reflecting sides when the reflector is in a deployed position. The reflector is mounted so that the first side of the reflector is adjacent to a row of solar cells and reflects radiation incident on the first side onto the adjacent row of solar cells when the reflector is in a deployed position. Preferably, a plurality of rows and a plurality of reflectors are mounted on the face of the base, with at least one of the reflectors being disposed between two adjacent rows of solar cells.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.