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AssigneesEnergy Related Devices, Inc., Kyosemi Corporation
InventorRobert G. Hockaday
Estimating the term…
With small dimensional optics, small photovoltaic cells have heat distribution surfaces, very high concentrations and subsequently high utilization of the semiconductors can be achieved. Discrete photodiodes can be formed as spherical and other geometric shaped, cells with high performance characteristics, precision dimensions, and low cost. This invention positions discrete photovoltaic cells by using their geometric shape, elastic electrical mounts, couples them to small optical concentrator systems of refractory and or reflective optics and makes electrical network connections to those photodiodes, reliably, adjusting for thermal expansion, and at low cost to form low cost and reliable electrical power arrays. The electrical connectors and network can form part of the reflective optics and heat removal system. The electrical interconnection system can also form a reliable network that is self-correcting and tolerant of point failures.
An apparatus comprising a direct or indirect photon converter or producer and electrical connection apparatus comprising repetitively shaped granular semiconductor bodies, each of the bodies having a flat surface, and a dielectric layer having one or more, hemispherical or cylindrical slot, hole, slots, or holes with a complementary flat surface or surfaces made from a dielectric material or dielectric material coating an electrical conductive material to hold a semiconductor body or bodies, a light conduit to the semiconductor bodies, and at least two electrodes that are part of the slot or hole that with elastic compression of dielectric material at a contact point on opposite sides of slot or hole touch on opposite sides of each semiconductor body.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.