Method and apparatus for measuring areas of photoelectric cells and photoelectric cell performance parameters

Patent · Tue May 29 04:00:00 EDT 1984

OSTI ID:5845264

Osterwald, C R; Emery, K A

A laser scanning system for scanning the surface of photovoltaic cell in a precise, stepped raster pattern includes electric current detecting and measuring equipment for sensing the current response of the scanned cell to the laser beam at each stepped irradiated spot or pixel on the cell surface. A computer is used to control and monitor the raster position of the laser scan as well as monitoring the corresponding current responses, storing this data, operating on it, and for feeding the data to a graphical plotter for producing a visual, color-coded image of the current response of the cell to the laser scan. A translation platform driven by stepper motors in precise X and Y distances holds and rasters the cell being scanned under a stationary spot-focused laser beam.

• Research Organization: Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): None
• Application Number: ON: DE85011629
• OSTI ID: 5845264
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
BEAM MONITORS
BEAM SCANNERS
COMPUTERIZED CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONTROL SYSTEMS
CURRENTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
LASERS
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MEASURING METHODS
MONITORS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
TESTING