USE OF UNILLUMINATED SOLAR CELLS AS SHUNT DIODES FOR A SOLAR ARRAY

1,243,109. Solar batteries. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION. 1 Dec., 1969 [19 Dec., 1968], No. 58543/69. Heading H1K. A solar cell array comprises at least two batteries 10, 32 each having a plurality of series connected pn junction solar cells, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 34, 36, 38, 40, arr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author ANTHONY J. BARBERA
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 27.06.1972
Subjects
BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
ELECTRIC SOLID STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
ELECTRICITY
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
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Summary:1,243,109. Solar batteries. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS & SPACE ADMINISTRATION. 1 Dec., 1969 [19 Dec., 1968], No. 58543/69. Heading H1K. A solar cell array comprises at least two batteries 10, 32 each having a plurality of series connected pn junction solar cells, 19, 21, 23, 25 and 34, 36, 38, 40, arranged so that one 10 of the batteries is illuminated whilst the other 32 is shaded, each solar cell of one battery being connected in parallel and opposite polarity with a cell in the other battery so that if a solar cell 21 in the illuminated battery 10 becomes disabled the solar cell 36 connected in parallel with it in the shaded battery 32 provides a shunt path around it. The polarity of the voltages developed by the illuminated solar cells is such as to reverse bias the equivalent diodes of the unilluminated solar cells and prevent shorting under normal operation, but if one of the solar cells in the illuminated battery is shaded and ceases to generate a voltage the equivalent diode of the shaded solar cell connected in parallel with it is forward biased and conducts, thus ensuring a continuous current path. The batteries may be mounted on a space craft.
Bibliography:Application Number: USD3672999