Abstract: A scaled connector has a sealed plug and a sealed receptacle, each including a housing, support, bladder assembly, tagger assembly, and contacts coupled to the equipment. The bladder assembly includes an expandable bladder, and a seal plate earned by the expandable bladder between an expanded position about an opening in the housing and a contracted position a distance from the opening. The trigger assembly includes rod(s) extendable through the bladder and the seal plate. When the housing of the sealed receptacle is matingly connected to the housing of the sealed plug, the trigger assemblies extends through the seal plates and into triggered engagement with each oilier, a passageway through the seal plates are open, and the contacts of the sealed plug extend through the passageways and into engagement with the contact of the sealed receptacle.

Abstract: A fiber optic termination sealingly connects to a cable which includes a casing having a cable tube and optical fibers. The termination includes a sealed housing, a manifold, a connector and termination tubes. The housing has an inlet to sealably receive the cable. The fibers extend from an end of the cable into a sealed chamber of the housing. The manifold is positionable in the housing, and has an inlet to receive the fibers and sealed passages shaped to distribute the fibers therethrough the connector includes contacts communicatively connectable to equipment and the fibers. The termination tubes are positionable within the chamber of housing, and have an entry end sealingly connectable to an end of the cable tube and a contact end sealingly connectable to the contacts.

Abstract: A fiber optic termination sealingly connects to a cable which includes a casing having a cable tube and optical fibers. The termination includes a sealed housing, a manifold, a connector and termination tubes. The housing has an inlet to sealably receive the cable. The fibers extend from an end of the cable into a sealed chamber of the housing. The manifold is positionable in the housing, and has an inlet to receive the fibers and sealed passages shaped to distribute the fibers therethrough the connector includes contacts communicatively connectable to equipment and the fibers. The termination tubes are positionable within the chamber of housing, and have an entry end sealingly connectable to an end of the cable tube and a contact end sealingly connectable to the contacts.

Abstract: Baseline values for battery testing are automatically determined for individual batteries, battery cells, or networks of batteries. Impedance information is obtained from individual batteries and adjusted for operating conditions at a site of use (e.g., temperature, age, connection topology and user-entered information). Population-referenced baselines are automatically calculated from the group of individual-referenced baselines. All baselines can be continually updated and improved. The state of charge and state of health characteristics of batteries in the network can be automatically determined by comparison of measured impedance, and other values, to the baselines.

Abstract: A battery monitoring system includes a central monitoring system and a set of individual battery selectors. The central monitoring system is electrically connected to the battery selectors and each of the battery selectors is connected to one or more batteries. In operation, commands are sent from the central monitoring system to the individual battery selectors so as to turn one on at a time. When the battery selector is on, test and response signals can be communicated between the one or more batteries connected to the battery selector and the central monitoring system. In some embodiments, the system includes a relay test circuit.

Abstract: A temperature is measured for each terminal of the battery unit. The magnitude and sign of a temperature differential is calculated from the temperatures. The temperature differential is then correlated to a deteriorating condition of the battery unit.

Abstract: Determination of a remaining life fraction for a network of batteries during use in an electrical circuit is disclosed. A state of health of the battery network can be determined by measuring a change in impedance characteristics of the individual battery units and/or the battery network as a whole. More specifically, a mode and a severity of a failure can be determined for individual battery units.

Abstract: A tracking concentrator with a positioning system for alternately aiming the tracking solar concentrator based on the sun or a database is disclosed. The preferred positioning system comprises a sensor adapted to detect an incident light level; a tracking database comprising solar angle information; an orientation processor; one or more actuators for aiming the one or more optical elements based on the orientation processor; wherein the orientation processor is configured to track the sun based on (a) the receiver if the sensed light level exceeds a determined threshold, and (b) the tracking database if the sensed light level does not exceed the determined threshold.

Abstract: The invention in the preferred embodiment features a solar concentrator that can align and/or track based on images from a video camera, for example. The concentrator preferably includes one or more optical elements for directing light to a receiver, a camera for capturing an image of the optical elements, and a controller configured to: detect the orientation of the one or more optical elements from the one or more images, determine an orientation error based on the detected orientation, and automatically orient the one or more optical elements to minimize the orientation error. The optical elements generally comprise a plurality of mirrors or lenses arranged in a one or two dimensional array.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for bonding a substrate to a semiconductor die that is prone to curling when subjected to an elevated temperature in a solder reflow oven, for example, thereby improving the electrical and mechanical bonding for large dies, wafers, chips, and photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the substrate is adapted to curl to the same degree as the die to form a uniform gap between the substrate and die across the boundary there between. In another embodiment, solder used to bond the die and substrate is applied such that the volume deposited varies based on the expected gap between the die and substrate when heated to the melting temperature of the solder.

Abstract: Various embodiments relate to reflectors comprising a tapered polyhedron including a plurality of substantially planar facets. The reflector may comprise an input end or aperture that is larger than an output end or aperture. The input aperture or end may have a different shape and/or orientation than an output end or aperture. Some embodiments relate to “developable” geometries made of substantially planar facets which, when folded, form a tapered hollow polyhedron that can efficiently receive light (e.g., from a primary reflector or lens) and direct light onto a photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: A non-penetrating, roof-mounted, solar energy concentrator is disclosed. The invention in the preferred embodiment includes a receiver adapted to convert light into electricity; one or more reflectors adapted to direct solar light to the receiver; and a frame affixed to the receiver and one or more reflectors. The frame includes a plurality of footings adapted to frictional affix the frame to a roof, such that the concentrator is detachably secured to the roof with compromising the integrity of the roof. The footings may include or receive ballast used to increase the weight of the concentrator, thereby increasing the friction used to affix the concentrator to the roof without fasteners that penetrate the roof. The footings in some embodiments are also configured to deflect the wind, thereby reducing the wind load on the concentrator.

Abstract: A solar collector structural support system that affixes to a mounting surface without penetrating the mounting surface is disclosed. The invention in the preferred embodiment includes a base assembly comprising: a plurality of leg members, a center junction elements configured to receive (a) the proximal end of each of the plurality of leg members and (b) a support member configured to securely uphold at least one of the one or more one solar collectors, and at least one footing adapted to frictionally engage the mounting surface. Multiple base assemblies may be interconnected using peripheral junction elements to form arrays of solar collectors of arbitrarily large size. The peripheral junction element is configured to couple the leg members of multiple base assemblies. When connected with the present invention, a plurality of solar concentrators form an array with greater structural integrity and less susceptibility.

Abstract: Disclosed is an electrowetting-based apparatus comprising, in some embodiments, a plurality of immiscible fluids. The boundary between the fluids is made substantially planar with the application of select voltages to electrodes distributed around the cell containing the fluids. The electrodes are also adapted to alter the orientation of the substantially-planar fluid boundary, thereby allowing the fluid boundary to be steered in a determined direction. Light impinging on the boundary may therefore be refracted and redirected in a determined direction. Similarly, a reflective surface may be held in suspension at the fluid boundary, thereby providing a mirror with which to redirect impinging light. The electrowetting cell disclosed herein may be used as an optical switch, actuator, lens, concentrator, or like device.

Abstract: A solar collector structural support system that affixes to a mounting surface without penetrating the mounting surface is disclosed. The invention in the preferred embodiment includes a base assembly comprising: a plurality of leg members, a center junction elements configured to receive (a) the proximal end of each of the plurality of leg members and (b) a support member configured to securely uphold at least one of the one or more one solar collectors, and at least one footing adapted to frictionally engage the mounting surface. Multiple base assemblies may be interconnected using peripheral junction elements to form arrays of solar collectors of arbitrarily large size. The peripheral junction element is configured to couple the leg members of multiple base assemblies. When connected with the present invention, a plurality of solar concentrators form an array with greater structural integrity and less susceptibility.

Abstract: An accurate and cost effective heliostat array and method of use is disclosed. The heliostat array in the preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of mirrors arrayed in a common plane, a plurality of reflector positioning arms, and a rigid positioning plate. The positioning plate, which is coupled to each of the reflectors via a positioning arm, is adapted to simultaneously aim each reflector using as few as one or two actuators. When the positioning arms forms the base of an isosceles triangle with one leg aligned with a ray directed to the sun and the other equal length leg aligned with a ray directed to the receiver, the positioning plate has the shape of a Conchoid of Nicomedes surface of revolution, which enables the heliostat array to simultaneously orient all of the mirrors to precisely focus incident sunlight from anywhere in the celestial hemisphere onto a common focal point.

Abstract: A solar concentrator can include at least one optical element for concentrating incident light, a receiver assembly comprising a base plate comprising a first conductive layer and second conductive layer, wherein the first conductive layer and second conductive layer are characterized by a voltage differential when exposed to light, and a plurality of photovoltaic cells mounted to the base plate, each cell comprising a first terminal connected to the first conductive layer and a second terminal connected to the second conductive layer, a frame; step-up voltage means, electrically connected to the receiver assembly, for increasing said voltage differential, an electrical circuit for conducting current generated by the receiver assembly, the circuit comprising a first conductive member configured to conduct electricity between the first conductive layer and step-up voltage means and a second conductive member configured to conduct electricity between the second conductive layer and step-up voltage means.

Abstract: A tracking concentrator with a positioning system for alternately aiming the tracking solar concentrator based on the sun or a database is disclosed. The preferred positioning system comprises a sensor adapted to detect an incident light level; a tracking database comprising solar angle information; an orientation processor; one or more actuators for aiming the one or more optical elements based on the orientation processor; wherein the orientation processor is configured to track the sun based on (a) the receiver if the sensed light level exceeds a determined threshold, and (b) the tracking database if the sensed light level does not exceed the determined threshold.

Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for bonding a substrate to a semiconductor die that is prone to curling when subjected to an elevated temperature in a solder reflow oven, for example, thereby improving the electrical and mechanical bonding for large dies, wafers, chips, and photovoltaic cells. In one embodiment, the substrate is adapted to curl to the same degree as the die to form a uniform gap between the substrate and die across the boundary there between. In another embodiment, solder used to bond the die and substrate is applied such that the volume deposited varies based on the expected gap between the die and substrate when heated to the melting temperature of the solder.

Abstract: A ground-based tracking heliostat array comprises a first plurality of elongate row mounts. The elongate row mounts are positioned at least partially between, and are supported by, a first side bracket and a second side bracket. The row mounts are rotatable in a first axis. The array further comprises a plurality of optical elements that are mounted to one or more of the elongate row mounts. The array further comprises a linkage that is mechanically coupled to a first plurality of elongate row mounts. Movement of the linkage causes the first plurality of elongate row mounts to simultaneously rotate in the first axis. The array further comprises a motor configured to move the linkage.