Abstract: A solar concentrator photovolataic power module of small scale wherein a plurality of pre-fabricated photovoltaic solar cells reside in a matrix array in a substrate comprised of a pair of thin sheet conductors separated by an insulator sheet. A lens sheet on which a multiplicity of lenses have been formed is disposed in a fixed spaced relation to the substrate and operates to focus radiation (sunlight) onto the photo active surfaces of the cells in order to generate electricity. The overall thickness of the module including the substrate, lens sheet and space between the two is less than two inches. The laminated substrate is formed by disposing a plurality of pre-fabricated solar cells in a matrix array onto a back conductor, overlaying onto the back conductor an insulator which surrounds each of the cells and overlaying onto the insulator a top conductor.

Abstract: An optical data storage system includes automatic compensation for shifting movements of the reading/writing beam and other imperfections which otherwise would affect the focusing or location of focus of a laser light beam onto a data storage record. Servo motors and associated apparatus common in the prior art are avoided. The recording or reading laser beam is directed as parallel light toward the data recording medium, but is first focused generally to a line by a first cylindrical lens supported by the laser source apparatus and transverse with respect to the orientation of data tracks of the data storage record. This produces a beam which is parallel in one direction as it approaches the data storage record. The beam is then focused substantially to a point by a second cylindrical lens perpendicular to the first lens and attached to and moveable with the data storage record as an integral part of a disk or card or other data storage structure.

Abstract: A solar concentrator-photovoltaic module having a matrix of miniaturized photovoltaic cells is formed by using a laser beam to form the miniaturized photovoltaic cell sites in situ. A laminated sheet is formed by a light-transmissive lens sheet having a matrix of lenses, and a substrate including a conductor layer formed onto the bottom side of the lens sheet. The laminated sheet is then irradiated using laser beams directed normal to and through each lens of the lens sheet, to perforate the substrate including the conductor layer forming cell sites. Cells can be formed in situ by applying an amorphous or multi-crystalline semi-conductor material to the cell sites from the bottom of the laminated sheet. The laminated sheet is then irradiated further with laser beams directed through each of the lenses, to thereby convert the amorphous material to a properly doped and fully crystalline photovoltaic junction.

Abstract: A fiber optic device to produce either single or multiple delayed light pulses from a single input light pulse for testing of a range determining unit such as a laser range finder. The optical range tester includes a coil of an optical waveguide such as a single optical fiber, input and output focusing lenses and a multiple tapping unit for extracting or sampling light energy from the fiber at a number of predetermined points along the coil to provide different time delays. All of the sampled output beams are combined optically so that they leave the device on a common optical axis so as to be sensed by an optical detector in the laser receiver. The optical range tester in accordance with the invention, may be utilized either as a portable unit or as a built-in test unit. The range tester may provide a minimum range return, a nominal return and a range resolution return and may include extinction filters to allow a determination of effective transmitter to receiver gain.