Radio frequency transparent photovaltic cell
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsDaniel F. Sievenpiper, Michael Wechsberg, Fangchou Yang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell includes a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material, at least one aperture formed in the back contact layer, and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer. An airship includes one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship. One or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells are disposed on an outer surface of the airship.
Claims15
A radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cell, comprising:
- a back contact layer formed of an electrically conductive material;
- at least one first aperture formed in the back contact layer, each first aperture having a first length;
- at least one second aperture formed in the back contact layer, each second aperture having a second length, the first length at least five times the second length;
- and at least one photovoltaic cell section disposed on the back contact layer.
A method of fabricating a photovoltaic cell back contact layer at least partially transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation having at least one predetermined frequency, comprising the steps of:
- creating an electrically conductive back contact layer having a thickness of at least one skin depth at a lowest predetermined frequency;
- and creating one or more apertures in the back contact layer, each aperture at least partially transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation having a predetermined frequency.
An airship, comprising:
- one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship;
- and one or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells disposed on an outer surface of the airship.
A method of providing electric power to an airship having one or more radio frequency antennas disposed in an interior of the airship, comprising disposing one or more radio frequency transparent photovoltaic cells on an outer surface of the airship, wherein each photovoltaic cell is at least partially transparent to radio frequency electromagnetic radiation having at least one predetermined frequency.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.