Abstract: An apparatus for testing photovoltaic cells wherein an array of light sources are provided. The light sources can have a collimating lens. In addition, one or more feedback circuits can be provided which monitor and maintain one or more of the light sources.

Abstract: An apparatus for testing photovoltaic cells wherein an array of light sources are provided. The light sources can have a collimating lens. In addition, one or more feedback circuits can be provided which monitor and maintain one or more of the light sources.

Abstract: A solar simulator which uses a honeycomb structure for providing highly collimated light for testing one or more photovoltaic cells.

Abstract: A circuit and method that provides an inexpensive and easily implemented rapidly-changing load test circuit for photovoltaic cells, which can be under pulsed light conditions. Embodiments of the present invention permit the testing of photovoltaic cells by causing a sweeping voltage across the photovoltaic cell in a very short time period.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for switching high power at high repetition rates. The apparatus is preferably a switch utilizing a pressurized flowing dielectric. The pressurized dielectric suppresses growth of dielectric breakdown byproducts, such as large bubbles and breakdown contamination, enabling lower dielectric flow rates to remove the byproducts. In addition to the advantage of lower flow rates, and thus smaller and lighter pumping means, the switch can switch high energies (up to megajoules) at fast repetition rates, up to thousands of pulses per second. The switch is preferably triggered to reduce jitter. The switch can also be used to remove water from oil.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for switching high power at high repetition rates. The apparatus is preferably a switch utilizing a pressurized flowing dielectric. The pressurized dielectric suppresses growth of dielectric breakdown byproducts, such as large bubbles and breakdown contamination, enabling lower dielectric flow rates to remove the byproducts. In addition to the advantage of lower flow rates, and thus smaller and lighter pumping means, the switch can switch high energies (up to megajoules) at fast repetition rates, up to thousands of pulses per second.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for generating slow rise-time, high voltage electrical pulses to a load, preferably using an existing transformer/rectifier set or power supply to charge an inversion or high voltage switching circuit to produce the pulsed voltage. An energy recovery circuit (100, 102) is used to return unused energy from the load (24) back to the means for producing pulsed voltage (110, 130). A load matching circuit (120) uses a blocking diode and a capacitor for charging the load. An additional blocking diode (32) inhibits load voltage discharge back through the slow pulse generating circuit. A transformer (20) can be used to step-up voltage from the inversion circuit, or high voltage switching circuit, to the load. One or more magnetic switch stages are used to transfer energy from the inversion circuit, or high voltage switching circuit, to the load matching circuit. A fire-on voltage controller (66) triggers the inversion or high voltage switching circuit.