Abstract: Provided is an inspecting apparatus for inspecting a photovoltaic devices by applying a current to the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction to make the photovoltaic devices emit EL light which is simple in structure and capable of shortening inspection time in inspecting a defect from a photographed image with a perfect resolution. The inspecting apparatus includes a darkroom (110) provided with an upper surface (111) having an opening portion (112), a support device provided at the upper surface of the darkroom (110) to support the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object (200) on the opening portion (112), cameras (121, 122 and 123) disposed inside the darkroom (110) for photographing the inspecting object (200), and a moving device configured to move the cameras in the darkroom (110). The moving device includes an x-axial guiding portion (140), a motor (142) and a timing belt (144).

Abstract: A solar simulator and a measurement method of the multi-junction photovoltaic device is provided. The measurement method includes following processes. The process that the halogen lamp emits a flash and a top of a light pulse wave shape is controlled to be flat. The process that the xenon lamp once or plural times emits a flash which has the flat top and is shorter pulse than the flat area of the halogen lamp flash while the top of a light pulse shape of the halogen lamp flash is flat. The process that the flashes from the halogen lamp and the xenon lamp is irradiated to the photovoltaic device as the measurement object, and during the emission of the flash from the xenon lamp, the load of the photovoltaic device is controlled and the current and the voltage generating therefrom are measured at single point or plural points.

Abstract: A solar simulator for measuring the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic devices, in which an irradiated test plane of the object to be measured is disposed opposite an illuminating surface of the light source, the whole test plane of the photovoltaic devices is divided imaginarily into a plurality of sections, and a selected member for adjusting irradiance is disposed opposite the test plane of each imaginary sections so as to equalize or substantially to equalize the irradiance by the light source at every irradiated test plane of the sections, after which light from the light source is directed onto the test plane of the object to be measured.

Abstract: A ribbon terminal connecting apparatus for connecting a ribbon terminal of a photovoltaic device panel to an inspection apparatus terminal automatically when inspecting or measuring a photovoltaic device panel is provided. The ribbon-shaped terminal connecting apparatus includes a stand-up means, a base pressing means, a terminal connecting means and a moving means. The stand-up member of the stand-up means is lowered onto and contacted against the backing material of the photovoltaic device panel. The base portion of the ribbon terminal extended from the backing material is held down by the pressing means for pressing down on the base portion of the ribbon terminal. The moving means moves the stand-up member so that a leading edge of the ribbon terminal extending across the backing material is placed on the stand-up member. The terminal connecting means connects the terminal of the inspection apparatus to the ribbon terminal placed on the stand-up member.

Abstract: To provide the solar simulator that facilitates making the flash light emitted from the lamp into the desirable irradiance waveform. In the solar simulator 1, the controller 12, according to the control pattern preset to maintain the flash light F emitted from the xenon lamp 14 at the target irradiance for a certain period of time, controls the electric current, which is discharged from the condenser assembly 26 and flowing through the xenon lamp 14, by performing the switching drive on the power switching element 20.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inspection apparatus for a photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. Also the present invention provides a transport apparatus, which transports the stacked constituent members of the photovoltaic devices in the pre-laminated state to the inspection apparatus without the positional deviation among the constituent members of the photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: Provided is an inspecting apparatus for inspecting a photovoltaic devices by applying a current to the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction to make the photovoltaic devices emit EL light which is simple in structure and capable of shortening inspection time in inspecting a defect from a photographed image with a perfect resolution. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom (110) provided with an upper surface (111) having an opening portion (112), a support means provided at the upper surface of the darkroom (110) to support the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object (200) on the opening portion (112), a plurality of cameras (121, 122 and 123) disposed inside the darkroom (110) for photographing the inspecting object (200), and a moving means configured to move the cameras in the darkroom (110). The moving means includes an x-axial guiding portion (140), a motor (142) and a timing belt (144).

Abstract: The present invention provides a solar simulator that measures characteristics of multi junction photovoltaic devices for a short time, and a measuring method of a multi-junction photovoltaic devices using the simulator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inspection apparatus for photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom (110) provided with a flat upper surface (111), a transparent plate (112) which is provided in the upper surface of the darkroom for disposing the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object (200), a reflector (140) which is disposed in the darkroom (110) at an oblique angle to the transparent plate, and a shading member for covering a camera (120) which is provided in the darkroom (110), the photovoltaic devices as the inspecting object on the darkroom and a guide member for transporting the photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: [Problem] In a solar simulator for measuring the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic devices, it is to provide a measurement method using a solar simulator in which locative unevenness of irradiance on the test plane of the test plane side is drastically improved, not in a light source side, and a means for adjusting irradiance and the like.

Abstract: In a solar simulator for measuring the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic devices, it is to provide a measurement method using a solar simulator in which locative unevenness of irradiance on the test plane of the test plane side is drastically improved, not in a light source side, and a means for adjusting irradiance and the like.

Abstract: To provide a solar simulator which has a plurality of xenon arc lamps as a light source, in which a predetermined amount of light is stably obtained from each of the xenon arc lamps so that constant irradiance over a test plane is ensured. The solar simulator comprises a plurality of xenon arc lamps; a plurality of light amount sensors provided one for each of the xenon arc lamps; and a plurality of control circuits provided one for each of the xenon arc lamps, for controlling a current flowing through, or a voltage applied to, each of the xenon arc lamps, wherein a detection signal output from each of the light amount sensors is fed back to each of the control circuits to control the relevant control circuit, to thereby control the amount of light emitted from each of the xenon arc lamps.

Abstract: To provide a solar simulator which has a plurality of xenon arc lamps as a light source, in which a predetermined amount of light is stably obtained from each of the xenon arc lamps so that constant irradiance over a test plane is ensured. The solar simulator comprises a plurality of xenon arc lamps; a plurality of light amount sensors provided one for each of the xenon arc lamps; and a plurality of control circuits provided one for each of the xenon arc lamps, for controlling a current flowing through, or a voltage applied to, each of the xenon arc lamps, wherein a detection signal output from each of the light amount sensors is fed back to each of the control circuits to control the relevant control circuit, to thereby control the amount of light emitted from each of the xenon arc lamps.

Abstract: To provide the solar simulator that facilitates making the flash light emitted from the lamp into the desirable irradiance waveform. In the solar simulator 1, the controller 12, according to the control pattern preset to maintain the flash light F emitted from the xenon lamp 14 at the target irradiance for a certain period of time, controls the electric current, which is discharged from the condenser assembly 26 and flowing through the xenon lamp 14, by performing the switching drive on the power switching element 20.

Abstract: This invention provides a solar simulator measurement method capable of high-accuracy measurements with fast-response photovoltaic devices as well as with slow-response photovoltaic devices, and a solar simulator for implementing the method. A flash having a pulse waveform with a flattened peak is generated from a xenon lamp. The flash is sensed by an irradiance detector, its irradiance measured, and the irradiance of the light source is adjusted to fall within a prescribed narrow range based on the detected irradiance value. Then, the flash with irradiance within the prescribed range irradiates photovoltaic devices under measurement, and the current and the voltage output by the photovoltaic devices are measured at multiple points while a load of the photovoltaic devices is controlled. This process is repeated with multiple flashes to obtain an I-V curve for the photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: This invention provides a solar simulator measurement method capable of high-accuracy measurements with fast-response photovoltaic devices as well as with slow-response photovoltaic devices, and a solar simulator for implementing the method. A flash having a pulse waveform with a flattened peak is generated from a xenon lamp 1. The flash is sensed by an irradiance detector 3, its irradiance measured, and the irradiance of the light source is adjusted to fall within a prescribed narrow range based on the detected irradiance value. Then, the flash with irradiance within the prescribed range irradiates photovoltaic devices 4 under measurement, and the current and the voltage output by the photovoltaic devices 4 are measured at multiple points while a load of the photovoltaic devices 4 is controlled. This process is repeated with multiple flashes to obtain an I-V curve for the photovoltaic devices.

Abstract: In a solar simulator for measuring the current-voltage characteristics of photovoltaic devices, it is to provide a measurement method using a solar simulator in which locative unevenness of irradiance on the test plane of the test plane side is drastically improved, not in a light source side, and a means for adjusting irradiance and the like.

Abstract: The present invention provides a laminating method and a laminating apparatus for a manufacture of photovoltaic modules capable of preventing or suppressing an occurrence of warp or cracks in a multilayer material to be processed and capable of improving the productivity, by minimizing a temperature difference between an upper surface and a lower surface of the multilayer material. In a method of laminating photovoltaic modules configured by a surfacing member 1, a filler 2, photovoltaic modules 3, another filler 5 and a backing member 6, the surfacing member 1 and the backing member 6 are heated from the outside to melt the fillers 2 and 5, for lamination.

Abstract: The present invention is a conveyor apparatus for conveying a multilayer material to be processed, used in a laminator having an upper chamber and a lower chamber partitioned by a diaphragm with or without a heating device disposed in the lower chamber, wherein a conveying belt is disposed under the multilayer material to pass through only two side edges of all four side edges of each chamber opposed to each other along a conveying direction of the multilayer material. Accordingly, the multilayer material can be conveyed in a reasonable manner without injuring a laminating function by the conveyor apparatus in the laminator.

Abstract: A hydraulic drive unit of a press machine and a swash plate type variable capacity axial piston pump to use a hydraulic drive unit. Discharge of the pump and the direction of the hydraulic pressure can be controlled at high speed, and the direction of the hydraulic pressure and the timing of the discharge can coincide. The selector device 12 includes spool valves in parallel is used in place of a servo valve. An electric motor 30 for driving the pump and cam of the axial piston pump 11 and an electric motor 47 for driving the selector cam of the selector device 12 are controlled cooperatively by commands from the numerical control device 14. Two spools 44a, 44b of the selector device 12 performs changeover actuation alternately. Synchronous control of the discharge of the axial piston pump 11 and the flowing direction change of working fluid to the hydraulic pressure cylinder 1 are done, so that the piston 1a of the hydraulic pressure cylinder 1 is made to move up and down.