System and method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells

Abstract

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:
 a switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit and a second port for coupling with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode; and   a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein said switching circuit comprises at least one single pole, double throw switch, at least one switching transistor or a combination thereof,   wherein the second port is directly coupled with the output power electrodes of the solar cells,   wherein said switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit,   wherein the control circuit comprises a pulse generator being coupled to a control port of said switching circuit and being configured to generate a control pulse signal for transitioning said switching circuit between the first switching mode and the second switching mode,   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range centered about 20 microseconds, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulse to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof,   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle or a combination thereof based at least in part upon load conditions,   wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with said switching circuit, the voltage source circuit or both, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrodes for increasing the output power supplied by the solar cells,   wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as the polarity of the output power electrodes for decreasing the output power supplied by the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 ,
 wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cells,   wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the output power supplied by the solar cells is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cells, a thickness of the solar cells, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulse or a combination thereof,   wherein generation of the electric field increases the output power supplied by the solar cells by:   up to fifty percent under low light conditions;   more than fifty percent under low light conditions;   up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions;   between twenty percent and fifty percent; or   more than fifty percent,   wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series configuration, a parallel configuration or both,   wherein said switching circuit is adapted to apply the direct-current output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes without structural modification of the solar cells,   wherein the output power electrodes comprise one or more existing electrodes of the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output power electrodes of the solar cells are coupled with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the second port of said switching circuit is configured for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in both the first switching mode and the second switching mode, or   wherein said switching circuit includes a third port for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in the second switching mode.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 ,
 wherein the load comprises an inverter for converting the output power supplied by the solar cells into alternating current power or current,   wherein the system further comprises an isolation circuit for electrically isolating the load from the solar cells in the radio frequency domain,   wherein said isolation circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) choke, a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein the system further comprises a mitigation circuit for mitigating voltage drop-out at the load during a first switching mode of said switching circuit, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 ,
 wherein said mitigation circuit comprises a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein said mitigation circuit stores the output power supplied by the solar cells during the second switching mode of said switching circuit,   wherein said mitigation circuit provides the stored output power to the load during a first switching mode of said switching circuit; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         10 . A method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:
 coupling a first port of a switching circuit with a voltage source circuit, the switching circuit including a second port for coupling with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode,   wherein the switching circuit is coupled with a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 coupling the second port of the switching circuit with the output power electrodes of the solar cells;   coupling the switching circuit with the control circuit;   coupling the output power electrodes of the solar cells with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells;   coupling the second port of the switching circuit with the load; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one single pole, double throw switch, at least one switching transistor or a combination thereof,   wherein the second port is directly coupled with the output power electrodes of the solar cells,   wherein the switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit,   wherein the control circuit comprises a pulse generator being coupled to a control port of the switching circuit and being configured to generate a control pulse signal for transitioning the switching circuit between the first switching mode and the second switching mode,   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range centered about 20 microseconds, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulse to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle or a combination thereof based at least in part upon load conditions,   wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the switching circuit, the voltage source circuit or both, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrodes for increasing the output power supplied by the solar cells,   wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as the polarity of the output power electrodes for decreasing the output power supplied by the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 ,
 wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cells,   wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 10 ,
 wherein the output power supplied by the solar cells is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cells, a thickness of the solar cells, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulse or a combination thereof,   wherein generation of the electric field increases the output power supplied by the solar cells by:   up to fifty percent under low light conditions;   more than fifty percent under low light conditions;   up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions;   between twenty percent and fifty percent; or   more than fifty percent,   wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series configuration, a parallel configuration or both,   wherein the switching circuit is adapted to apply the direct-current output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes without structural modification of the solar cells,   wherein the output power electrodes comprise one or more existing electrodes of the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the output power electrodes of the solar cells are coupled with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the second port of the switching circuit is configured for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in both the first switching mode and the second switching mode, or   wherein the switching circuit includes a third port for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in the second switching mode.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 ,
 wherein the load comprises an inverter for converting the output power supplied by the solar cells into alternating current power or current,   wherein the load is electrically isolated from the solar cells in the radio frequency domain via an isolation circuit,   wherein the isolation circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) choke, a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein a voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated during a first switching mode of the switching circuit, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated via a mitigation circuit,   wherein the mitigation circuit comprises a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein the mitigation circuit stores the output power supplied by the solar cells during the second switching mode of the switching circuit,   wherein the mitigation circuit provides the stored output power to the load during a first switching mode of the switching circuit; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         20 . A method for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells, comprising:
 coupling a second port of a switching circuit with one or more output power electrodes of the solar cells, the switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit and being adapted to apply a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude by alternating between closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes to generate an electric field at the solar cells during a first switching mode and opening the current path during a second switching mode,   wherein the switching circuit is coupled with a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 coupling the first port of the switching circuit with the voltage source circuit;   coupling the switching circuit with the control circuit;   coupling the output power electrodes of the solar cells with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells;   coupling the second port of the switching circuit with the load; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one single pole, double throw switch, at least one switching transistor or a combination thereof,   wherein said coupling the second port of the switching circuit includes directly coupling the second port of the switching circuit with the output power electrodes of the solar cells,   wherein the switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit,   wherein the control circuit comprises a pulse generator being coupled to a control port of the switching circuit and being configured to generate a control pulse signal for transitioning the switching circuit between the first switching mode and the second switching mode,   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range centered about 20 microseconds, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulse to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof,   wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle or a combination thereof based at least in part upon load conditions,   wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the switching circuit, the voltage source circuit or both, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrodes for increasing the output power supplied by the solar cells,   wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as the polarity of the output power electrodes for decreasing the output power supplied by the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 ,
 wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cells,   wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 20 ,
 wherein the output power supplied by the solar cells is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cells, a thickness of the solar cells, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulse or a combination thereof,   wherein generation of the electric field increases the output power supplied by the solar cells by:   up to fifty percent under low light conditions;   more than fifty percent under low light conditions;   up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions;   between twenty percent and fifty percent; or   more than fifty percent,   wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series configuration, a parallel configuration or both,   wherein the switching circuit is adapted to apply the direct-current output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes without structural modification of the solar cells,   wherein the output power electrodes comprise one or more existing electrodes of the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the output power electrodes of the solar cells are coupled with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 ,
 wherein the second port of the switching circuit is configured for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in both the first switching mode and the second switching mode, or   wherein the switching circuit includes a third port for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in the second switching mode.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 ,
 wherein the load comprises an inverter for converting the output power supplied by the solar cells into alternating current power or current,   wherein the load is electrically isolated from the solar cells in the radio frequency domain via an isolation circuit,   wherein the isolation circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) choke, a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein a voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated during a first switching mode of the switching circuit, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 ,
 wherein the voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated via a mitigation circuit,   wherein the mitigation circuit comprises a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein the mitigation circuit stores the output power supplied by the solar cells during the second switching mode of the switching circuit,   wherein the mitigation circuit provides the stored output power to the load during a first switching mode of the switching circuit; or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         30 . A computer program product for controlling an output power supplied by a plurality of conventional solar cells via one or more output power electrodes being coupled with a second port of a switching circuit, the switching circuit including a first port for coupling with a voltage source circuit, the computer program product being encoded on one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media and comprising:
 instruction for alternating the switching circuit between a first switching mode for closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrodes and a second switching mode for opening the current path, the switching circuit applying a direct-current (DC) output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes as one or more voltage pulses each with a positive magnitude to generate an electric field at the solar cells; and   instruction for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof to vary the electric field for controlling the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes.   
     
     
         31 . The computer program product of  claim 30 ,
 wherein the switching circuit comprises at least one single pole, double throw switch, at least one switching transistor or a combination thereof,   wherein the second port is directly coupled with the output power electrodes of the solar cells,   wherein the switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit,   wherein said instruction for adjusting the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle, the first repetition rate, the second repetition rate or the combination thereof comprises instruction for adjusting the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle, the first repetition rate, the second repetition rate or the combination thereof via a pulse generator being coupled to a control port of the switching circuit and being configured to generate a control pulse signal for transitioning the switching circuit between the first switching mode and the second switching mode,   wherein said instruction for adjusting the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle, the first repetition rate, the second repetition rate or the combination thereof comprises instruction for adjusting the switching frequency to be within a frequency range centered about 20 microseconds, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulse to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof,   wherein said instruction for adjusting the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle, the first repetition rate, the second repetition rate or the combination thereof includes instruction for adjusting the switching frequency, the first duration, the second duration, the duty cycle or a combination thereof based at least in part upon load conditions, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         32 . The computer program product of  claim 30 ,
 wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrodes for increasing the output power supplied by the solar cells,   wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as the polarity of the output power electrodes for decreasing the output power supplied by the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         33 . The computer program product of  claim 32 ,
 wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cells,   wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         34 . The computer program product of  claim 30 ,
 wherein the output power supplied by the solar cells is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cells, a thickness of the solar cells, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulse or a combination thereof,   wherein generation of the electric field increases the output power supplied by the solar cells by:   up to fifty percent under low light conditions;   more than fifty percent under low light conditions;   up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions;   between twenty percent and fifty percent; or   more than fifty percent,   wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series configuration, a parallel configuration or both,   wherein the switching circuit is adapted to apply the direct-current output voltage from the voltage source circuit to the output power electrodes without structural modification of the solar cells,   wherein the output power electrodes comprise one or more existing electrodes of the solar cells, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         35 . The computer program product of  claim 30 , wherein the output power electrodes of the solar cells are coupled with a load for receiving the output power supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrodes. 
     
     
         36 . The computer program product of  claim 35 ,
 wherein the second port of the switching circuit is configured for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in both the first switching mode and the second switching mode, or   wherein the switching circuit includes a third port for coupling with the load and for providing the output power supplied by the solar cells to the load in the second switching mode.   
     
     
         37 . The computer program product of  claim 35 ,
 wherein the load comprises an inverter for converting the output power supplied by the solar cells into alternating current power or current,   wherein the load is electrically isolated from the solar cells in the radio frequency domain via an isolation circuit,   wherein the isolation circuit comprises a radio frequency (RF) choke, a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein a voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated during a first switching mode of the switching circuit, or   a combination thereof.   
     
     
         38 . The computer program product of  claim 37 ,
 wherein the voltage drop-out at the load is mitigated via a mitigation circuit, wherein the mitigation circuit comprises a capacitor, an inductor, a battery, or a combination thereof,   wherein the mitigation circuit stores the output power supplied by the solar cells during the second switching mode of the switching circuit,   wherein the mitigation circuit provides the stored output power to the load during a first switching mode of the switching circuit; or   a combination thereof.