Apparatus for synthesis of a solar spectrum

Patent · 01 January 1993

OSTI ID:868805

Sopori, Bhushan L ^[1]

---

1. Denver, CO

A xenon arc lamp and a tungsten filament lamp provide light beams that together contain all the wavelengths required to accurately simulate a solar spectrum. Suitable filter apparatus selectively direct visible and ultraviolet light from the xenon arc lamp into two legs of a trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable. Infrared light selectively filtered from the tungsten filament lamp is directed into the third leg of the fiber optic cable. The individual optic fibers from the three legs are brought together in a random fashion into a single output leg. The output beam emanating from the output leg of the trifurcated randomized fiber optic cable is extremely uniform and contains wavelengths from each of the individual filtered light beams. This uniform output beam passes through suitable collimation apparatus before striking the surface of the solar cell being tested. Adjustable aperture apparatus located between the lamps and the input legs of the trifurcated fiber optic cable can be selectively adjusted to limit the amount of light entering each leg, thereby providing a means of "fine tuning" or precisely adjusting the spectral content of the output beam. Finally, an adjustable aperture apparatus may also be placed in the output beam to adjust the intensity of the output beam without changing the spectral content and distribution of the output beam.

• Research Organization: MIDWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-83CH10093
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States Department (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5217285
• OSTI ID: 868805
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

/362/
accurately
adjust
adjustable
adjusted
adjusting
amount
aperture
apparatus
beam
beam emanating
beam passes
beams
brought
cable
cell
changing
collimation
contain
contains
content
direct
directed
distribution
emanating
entering
extremely
extremely uniform
fashion
fiber
fiber optic
fibers
filament
filter
filter apparatus
filtered
filtered light
finally
fine
fine tuning
individual
infrared
infrared light
input
intensity
lamp
lamps
leg
legs
light
light beam
light beams
light entering
limit
located
means
optic
optic cable
optic fiber
optic fibers
output
output beam
passes
placed
precisely
provide
provide light
providing
random
randomized
required
selectively
selectively adjusted
selectively direct
simulate
single
solar
solar cell
solar spectrum
spectral
spectral content
spectrum
striking
suitable
suitable filter
surface
synthesis
tested
third
third leg
trifurcated
tungsten
tungsten filament
tuning
ultraviolet
ultraviolet light
uniform
violet light
visible
wavelengths
xenon