Solar cell array

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 said base. The reflectors and the rows are mounted generally parallel to each other in an alternating fashion. The reflector has a first and a second reflecting side 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 said 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.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A solar panel comprising: 
 a base having a face;    a row of solar cells mounted on the face of said base; and    an elongated, collapsible, self-deploying reflector having a first and a second reflecting side when said reflector is in a deployed position, wherein said reflector is mounted so that the longitudinal axis of said reflector is generally parallel to said row, said first side of said reflector is adjacent to said row of solar cells, and said first reflecting side of said reflector reflects radiation incident on said first side onto said adjacent row of solar cells when said reflector is in the deployed position.    
     
     
         2 . A solar panel according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second reflecting sides of said reflector are substantially symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal bisecting plane of said reflector when said reflector is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         3 . A solar panel according to  claim 1  where said row is only one solar cell in width.  
     
     
         4 . A solar panel according to  claim 1  where said reflector comprises a flexible sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; and an erector for erecting said sheet, said erector being biased towards the erect position whereby, absent external forces, said erector will raise said sheet, thereby deploying said reflector to its operational position.  
     
     
         5 . A solar panel according to  claim 4 , where said erector comprises a folded metal plate.  
     
     
         6 . A solar panel according to  claim 1  where said reflector comprises a sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; said sheet being creased longitudinally and being preformed to be biased to form said collapsible reflector, so that whereby, absent external forces, said sheet will raise itself to form said reflector in its deployed position.  
     
     
         7 . A solar panel according to  claim 6  where said sheet is preformed so that each of the sides of said reflector has a roughly concave shape when the reflector is in its deployed position.  
     
     
         8 . A solar panel according to  claim 6  where said sheet is metallic.  
     
     
         9 . A solar panel according to  claim 6  where said sheet is titanium.  
     
     
         10 . A solar panel according to  claim 6  where said sheet is titanium and has a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches.  
     
     
         11 . A solar panel according to  claim 1 , wherein the solar cells in said row are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         12 . A solar panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said row is one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics.  
     
     
         13 . A solar panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said row is one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics, said dual ohmics being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         14 . A solar panel according to  claim 1 , wherein said row is one solar cell in width, said solar cells have dual ohmics, and said solar cells in said row are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         15 . A solar panel according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said solar cells in said row are electrically connected to each other in parallel by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         16 . A solar panel comprising: 
 a base having a face;    a plurality of generally parallel rows of solar cells mounted on the face of said base; and    an elongated collapsible, self-deploying reflector having a first and a second reflecting side when said reflector is in a deployed position, wherein said reflector is mounted to the face of said base so that it is interposed between two adjacent rows of solar cells and said first reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said first reflecting side on one of the adjacent rows and said second reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said second side onto said other adjacent row of solar cells when said reflector is in the deployed position.    
     
     
         17 . A solar panel according to  claim 16  wherein said first and second reflecting sides of said reflector are substantially symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal bisecting plane of said reflector when said reflector is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         18 . A solar panel according to  claim 16  where said rows are only one solar cell in width.  
     
     
         19 . A solar panel according to  claim 16  where said reflector comprises a flexible sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; and an erector for erecting said sheet, said erector being biased towards the erect position whereby, absent external forces, said erector will raise said sheet, thereby deploying said reflector to its operational position.  
     
     
         20 . A solar panel according to  claim 19 , where said erector comprises a folded metal plate.  
     
     
         21 . A solar panel according to  claim 16  where said reflector comprises a sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; said sheet being creased longitudinally and being preformed to be biased to form said collapsible reflector, so that whereby, absent external forces, said sheet will raise itself to form said reflector in its deployed position.  
     
     
         22 . A solar panel according to  claim 21  where said sheet is preformed so that each of the sides of said reflector has a roughly concave shape when the reflector is in its deployed position.  
     
     
         23 . A solar panel according to  claim 21  where said sheet is metallic.  
     
     
         24 . A solar panel according to  claim 21  where said sheet is titanium.  
     
     
         25 . A solar panel according to  claim 21  where said sheet is titanium and has a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches.  
     
     
         26 . A solar panel according to  claim 16 , wherein the solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         27 . A solar panel according to  claim 16 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics.  
     
     
         28 . A solar panel according to  claim 16 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics, said dual ohmics being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         29 . A solar panel according to  claim 16 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, said solar cells have dual ohmics, and said solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         30 . A solar panel according to  claim 16 , wherein at least two of said solar cells in one of said rows are electrically connected to each other in parallel by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         31 . A solar panel comprising: 
 a base having a face;    at least one row of solar cells mounted on the face of said base; and    a plurality of elongated collapsible, self-deploying reflectors having a first and a second reflecting side, wherein each of said reflectors is mounted so that the longitudinal axis of said reflector is generally parallel to said row, said first side of each of said reflectors is adjacent to one of the rows of solar cells, and said first reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said first side onto said adjacent row of solar cells when said reflector is in the deployed position.    
     
     
         32 . A solar panel according to  claim 31  wherein said first and second reflecting sides of said reflectors are substantially symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal bisecting plane of said reflector when said reflector is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         33 . A solar panel according to  claim 31  where said row is only one solar cell in width.  
     
     
         34 . A solar panel according to  claim 31  where said reflector comprises a flexible sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; and an erector for erecting said sheet, said erector being biased towards the erect position whereby, absent external forces, said erector will raise said sheet, thereby deploying said reflector to its operational position.  
     
     
         35 . A solar panel according to  claim 34 , where said erector comprises a folded metal plate.  
     
     
         36 . A solar panel according to  claim 31  where said reflector comprises a sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; said sheet being creased longitudinally and being preformed to be biased to form said collapsible reflector, so that whereby, absent external forces, said sheet will raise itself to form said reflector in its deployed position.  
     
     
         37 . A solar panel according to  claim 36  where said sheet is preformed so that each of the sides of said reflector has a roughly concave shape when the reflector is in its deployed position.  
     
     
         38 . A solar panel according to  claim 36  where said sheet is metallic.  
     
     
         39 . A solar panel according to  claim 36  where said sheet is titanium.  
     
     
         40 . A solar panel according to  claim 36  where said sheet is titanium and has a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches.  
     
     
         41 . A solar panel according to  claim 31 , wherein the solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         42 . A solar panel according to  claim 31 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics.  
     
     
         43 . A solar panel according to  claim 31 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics, said dual ohmics being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         44 . A solar panel according to  claim 31 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, said solar cells have dual ohmics, and said solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         45 . A solar panel according to  claim 31 , wherein at least two of said solar cells in one of said rows are electrically connected to each other in parallel by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         46 . A solar panel comprising: 
 a base having a face;    a plurality of generally parallel, spaced-apart rows of solar cells; and    a plurality of elongated collapsible, self-deploying reflectors, each reflector having a first and a second reflecting side when said reflector is in a deployed position, wherein said reflectors and said rows are mounted generally parallel to each other in an alternating fashion so that said first side of each of said reflectors is adjacent to one of the rows of solar cells, and said first reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said first side onto said adjacent row of solar cells when said reflector is in the deployed position.    
     
     
         47 . A solar panel as in  claim 46 , wherein at least one of said reflectors is disposed between two adjacent rows so that when said reflector is in the deployed position said first reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said first side onto said first adjacent row of solar cells and said second reflecting side reflects radiation incident on said second side onto said second adjacent row of solar cells.  
     
     
         48 . A solar panel according to  claim 46  wherein said first and second reflecting sides of said reflectors are substantially symmetrically disposed about the longitudinal bisecting plane of said reflector when said reflector is in a deployed position.  
     
     
         49 . A solar panel according to  claim 46  where said row is only one solar cell in width.  
     
     
         50 . A solar panel according to  claim 46  where said reflector comprises a flexible sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; and an erector for erecting said sheet, said erector being biased towards the erect position whereby, absent external forces, said erector will raise said sheet, thereby deploying said reflector to its operational position.  
     
     
         51 . A solar panel according to  claim 50 , where said erector comprises a folded metal plate.  
     
     
         52 . A solar panel according to  claim 46  where said reflector comprises a sheet having a reflective surface, said sheet being joined to said base; said sheet being creased longitudinally and being preformed to be biased to form said collapsible reflector, so that whereby, absent external forces, said sheet will raise itself to form said reflector in its deployed position.  
     
     
         53 . A solar panel according to  claim 52  where said sheet is preformed so that each of the sides of said reflector has a roughly concave shape when the reflector is in its deployed position.  
     
     
         54 . A solar panel according to  claim 52  where said sheet is metallic.  
     
     
         55 . A solar panel according to  claim 52  where said sheet is titanium.  
     
     
         56 . A solar panel according to  claim 52  where said sheet is titanium and has a thickness of approximately 0.0015 inches.  
     
     
         57 . A solar panel according to  claim 46 , wherein the solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         58 . A solar panel according to  claim 46 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics.  
     
     
         59 . A solar panel according to  claim 46 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, and said solar cells have dual ohmics, said dual ohmics being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         60 . A solar panel according to  claim 46 , wherein said rows are one solar cell in width, said solar cells have dual ohmics, and said solar cells in said rows are electrically connected to the other solar cells in the row by electrical interconnect wiring, said interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         61 . A solar panel according to  claim 46 , wherein at least two of said solar cells in one of said rows are electrically connected to each other in parallel by electrical interconnect wiring, said electrical interconnect wiring being substantially under an adjacent reflector.  
     
     
         62 . A spacecraft comprising: 
 a bus with a solar array, said solar array comprising: 
 a plurality of solar panels comprising a face side and a back side, each solar panel being coupled to at least one other solar panel by hinge means, said plurality of panels being capable of being folded up for stowage;  
 a row of solar cells mounted on the face side of each solar panel;  
 an elongated collapsible, self-deploying reflector disposed on the face side of each solar panel, said reflector having a first and a second reflecting side when said reflector is in a deployed position, wherein said reflector is mounted so that the longitudinal axis of said reflector is generally parallel to said row, said first side of said reflector is adjacent to said row of solar cells, and said first reflecting side of said reflector reflects radiation incident on said first side onto said adjacent row of solar cells when said reflector is in the deployed position; and wherein  
 said reflector disposed on at least one of said solar panels is collapsed against an opposing surface when said plurality of solar panels are folded for stowage.  
   
     
     
         63 . A spacecraft as in  claim 62 , wherein said opposing surface comprises a surface of the bus.  
     
     
         64 . A spacecraft as in  claim 62 , wherein said opposing surface comprises a surface of another of said solar panels.  
     
     
         65 . A spacecraft as in  claim 62 , wherein said opposing surface comprises a reflector disposed on another panel of the array.  
     
     
         66 . A spacecraft as in  claim 18 , wherein said plurality of panels are capable of being folded up for stowage in accordion style.  
     
     
         67 . A solar panel comprising: 
 a base;    a plurality of spaced-apart parallel rows of solar cells mounted on said base; and    a reflector mounted on said base between each of said rows of solar cells, said reflector comprising two reflective sides that reflect incident energy onto said adjacent rows of solar cells.    
     
     
         68 . A solar panel according to  claim 67  where said reflector is collapsible and self deploying.  
     
     
         69 . A solar concentrator comprising: 
 at least one base comprising a honeycomb core structure sandwiched between a front face-sheet and a back face-sheet;    rows of solar cells and wedge-like reflectors mounted on the front face-sheet, wherein the rows of solar cells alternate with the wedge-like reflectors and the wedge-like reflectors extend along said rows.    
     
     
         70 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein the honeycomb core is made of aluminum.  
     
     
         71 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein the front and back face-sheets comprise a carbon fiber reinforced polymer.  
     
     
         72 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein said reflectors provide a concentration ratio of approximately 2.0.  
     
     
         73 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein the reflectors comprise a film supported by a support structure.  
     
     
         74 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein the reflectors are deployable.  
     
     
         75 . A solar concentrator according to  claim 69 , wherein it comprises two bases pivotally connected to one another, said bases having a stowed configuration in which said bases are folded one on the other so that their respective face-sheets are facing one another and the reflectors mounted on the face sheets are interlaced.