Optical system for determining physical characteristics of a solar cell
AssigneeMidwest Research Institute
InventorBhushan L. Sopori
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides an improved optical system for determining the physical characteristics of a solar cell. The system comprises a lamp means for projecting light in a wide solid-angle onto the surface of the cell; a chamber for receiving the light through an entrance port, the chamber having an interior light absorbing spherical surface, an exit port for receiving a beam of light reflected substantially normal to the cell, a cell support, and an lower aperture for releasing light into a light absorbing baffle; a means for dispersing the reflection into monochromatic components; a means for detecting an intensity of the components; and a means for reporting the determination.
Claims22
An optical system for determining the physical characteristics of a solar cell, comprising:
- (a) a lamp means for projecting light in a wide solid-angle onto the surface of the cell;
- (b) a chamber for receiving the light through an entrance port, the chamber having an interior light absorbing spherical surface, an exit port for receiving a beam of light reflected substantially normal to the cell, a cell support, and a lower aperture disposed for releasing scattered light into a light absorbing baffle;
- (c) a means for dispersing the reflection into monochromatic components;
- (d) a means for detecting an intensity of the components;
- and
- (e) a means for reporting the intensity.
A method for monitoring the optical properties of a solar cell, comprising the steps of:
- (a) locating the cell in a light absorbing chamber, the chamber having an interior light absorbing spherical surface, and entrance port, an exit port, a cell support, and a lower aperture disposed for releasing scattered light into a light absorbing baffle;
- (b) projecting the light in a wide solid-angle, through the entrance port, at the cell surface;
- (c) reflecting a beam of light substantially normal to the cell surface;
- (d) dispersing the reflection into monochromatic components;
- and
- (e) detecting an intensity for the monochromatic components.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.