Thin film solar cell inflatable ultraviolet rigidizable deployment hinge

US7709729B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION · US
• ILC Dover LP · US
• Lockheed Martin Corporation · US

Inventors

• Edward J. Simburger · Agoura, US
• James H. Matsumoto · Los Angeles, US
• Thomas W. Giants · Santa Monica, US
• Alec Garcia, III · Santa Clarita, US
• Alan R. Perry · Morrison, US
• Suraj P. Rawal · Littleton, US
• Craig Marshall · Littleton, US
• John Kun Hung Lin · Middletown, US
• Jonathan Robert Day · Wilmington, US
• Thomas W. Kerslake · Strongsville, US
• Stephen Emerson Scarborough · Seaford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 3, 2004
• Grant date: May 4, 2010
• Expiry date: Jan 14, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S136/293
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A flexible inflatable hinge includes curable resin for rigidly positioning panels of solar cells about the hinge in which wrap around contacts and flex circuits are disposed for routing power from the solar cells to the power bus further used for grounding the hinge. An indium tin oxide and magnesium fluoride coating is used to prevent static discharge while being transparent to ultraviolet light that cures the embedded resin after deployment for rigidizing the inflatable hinge.