Output-increasing, protective cover for a solar cell

Patent · Tue Nov 21 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:870161

Hammerbacher, Milfred D ^[1]

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1. Dallas, TX

A flexible cover (14) for a flexible solar cell (12) protects the cell from the ambient and increases the cell's efficiency. The cell(12)includes silicon spheres (16) held in a flexible aluminum sheet matrix (20,22). The cover (14) is a flexible, protective layer (60) of light-transparent material having a relatively flat upper, free surface (64) and an irregular opposed surface (66). The irregular surface (66) includes first portions (68) which conform to the polar regions (31R) of the spheres (16) and second convex (72) or concave (90) portions (72 or 90) which define spaces (78) in conjunction with the reflective surface (20T) of one aluminum sheet (20). Without the cover (14) light (50) falling on the surface (20T) between the spheres (16) is wasted, that is, it does not fall on a sphere (16). The surfaces of the second portions are non-parallel to the direction of the otherwise wasted light (50), which fact, together with a selected relationship between the refractive indices of the cover and the spaces, result in sufficient diffraction of the otherwise wasted light (50) so that about 25% of it is reflected from the surface (20T) onto a sphere (16).

• DOE Contract Number: ZAI-4-11294-04
• Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated (Dallas, TX)
• Patent Number(s): US 5468304
• Application Number: 08/212,542
• OSTI ID: 870161
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

output-increasing
protective
cover
solar
cell
flexible
14
12
protects
ambient
increases
efficiency
silicon
spheres
16
held
aluminum
sheet
matrix
20
22
layer
60
light-transparent
material
relatively
flat
upper
free
surface
64
irregular
opposed
66
portions
68
conform
polar
regions
31r
convex
72
concave
90
define
spaces
78
conjunction
reflective
20t
light
50
falling
wasted
fall
sphere
surfaces
non-parallel
direction
otherwise
selected
relationship
refractive
indices
result
sufficient
diffraction
25
reflected
protective layer
solar cell
reflective surface
relatively flat
transparent material
protective cover
opposed surface
free surface
silicon spheres
silicon sphere
flexible cover
parent material
regular surface
aluminum sheet
/136/438/