Albedo collecting solar array
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJonathan Allison, Christopher Kerestes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A solar array, comprising: at least one solar panel comprising a primary surface and a secondary surface; the primary surface having a group of direct solar cells disposed thereon, each of the direct solar cells configured to receive direct sunlight and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a substantially flat flexible circuit; and the secondary surface having a group of indirect solar cells disposed thereon, each of the indirect solar cells configured to receive reflected sunlight and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a substantially flat flexible circuit.
Claims20
A solar array, comprising:
- at least one solar panel comprising a primary surface and a secondary surface;
- the primary surface having a group of direct solar cells disposed thereon, each of the direct solar cells configured to receive direct sunlight and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a first substantially flat flexible circuit;
- and
- the secondary surface having a group of indirect solar cells disposed thereon, each of the indirect solar cells configured to receive albedo and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a second substantially flat flexible circuit.
A satellite having at least one solar array, each solar array comprising:
- at least one solar panel comprising a primary surface and a secondary surface;
- the primary surface having a group of direct solar cells disposed thereon, each of the direct solar cells configured to receive direct sunlight and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a first substantially flat flexible circuit;
- and
- the secondary surface having a group of indirect solar cells disposed thereon, each of the indirect solar cells configured to receive albedo and to provide electrical power to a respective portion of a second substantially flat flexible circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.