Abstract: A voltage regulator is disclosed for a photovoltaic panel (PVP) battery cging system having a relay switch in series with a reverse current blocking diode disposed between the positive terminals of the photovoltaic panel and the battery to be charged. A variable resistor is wired in series with the coil of the relay in such manner that the voltage drop across the combination will equal the potential difference across the terminals of the battery being charged at a point in time when the normally closed relay switch will be caused to open to discontinue further charging of the battery and prevent overcharge. The reverse current blocking diode is customarily provided to prevent discharge of the battery through the PVP at night.

Abstract: A power conversion device of simple configuration for a solar cell which permits the solar cell to be connected to the commercial power source and enables the maximum electric power corresponding to the amount of incident sunlight to be drawn from the solar cell.A power conversion device for a solar cell of this invention comprises a voltage controlled oscillator capable of generating oscillation with a frequency which is the function of the dc output voltage of said solar cell, an inverter controlled based on the output frequency of said voltage controlled oscillator to receive the dc output current of said solar cell and convert said dc output current into an alternating current, and an inductor serving to connect the ac output from said inverter to a commercial power source.

Abstract: A control device for a variable speed electric motor determines a quantity of light received from a short-circuit current of a solar battery, and also determines a cell temperature of the solar battery from an open circuit voltage, thereby producing a current command signal permitting an optimum load current for an output condition of said solar battery.

Abstract: A photovoltaic panel for converting solar energy into electrical energy output having a voltage and a current and a load requiring a starting current which is higher than a minimum running current. The output of the photovoltaic panel is detected by a sensor and circuitry is responsive to the sensor for applying the output to the load in pulses at a frequency which varies inversely with the maximum available power from the panel.

Abstract: A system for transferring maximum power from a solar cell array by loading the array in a manner which forces it to operate at its maximum power point. The system samples the open circuit voltage of the solar cell array to provide a signal proportional to the voltage of the array at its maximum power point. The sampled open circuit voltage is compared to the operating voltage of the solar cell array to provide an error signal which is proportional to the difference between the maximum power point voltage and the operating voltage of the array. The amount of power transferred from the array to a load is altered in accordance with the error signal to operate the array at its maximum power point.

Abstract: An AC solar cell is provided by a pair of PN junction type solar cells connected in antiparallel between a pair of main terminals, and means for directing light alternatingly on the PN junctions to generate an alternating potential across the main terminals. AC electrical energy is generated without a DC to AC converter.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the charge rate and voltage of storage batteries of a solar power generating system using a single voltage regulator module to monitor and control the state of charge of any number of cells of a battery and a number of solar modules.

Abstract: A packaged solar cell apparatus comprises at least two sunlight electric generating devices, a light intensity detector for producing an output signal in response to the intensity of incident sunlight, a comparator for comparing an output signal level of the light intensity detector with a reference level, and a switch for automatically switching the connection of the plurality of sunlight electric generating devices in accordance with an output signal of the comparator. The connection of the plurality of sunlight electric generating devices is switched between series and parallel connections, respectively, as the output signal level of the light intensity detector becomes higher or lower than the reference level, whereby output electric power from the plurality of sunlight electric generating devices is efficiently supplied to a desired electric load in accordance with the intensity of insolation.

Abstract: A battery energizer for button batteries, such as zinc-silver oxide or zinc-mercuric oxide batteries, that are normally considered unchargeable, provides for energizing of the batteries in a safe and simple manner. A solar cell having a maximum current output (e.g., 20 milliamps) is operatively connected to terminals for releasably receiving a button battery. A light emitting diode, or like indicator, provides an indication of when the battery is fully energized, and additionally assists in preventing overenergization of the battery. The solar cell, terminals, LED, and the like can be mounted on a nonconductive material mounting plate which is mounted by a suction cup and hook to a window, adjacent a light bulb, or the like. A battery charger for conventional dry cell rechargeable batteries (such as nickel-cadmium batteries) utilizes the solar cells, and LED, and a zener diode connected in parallel with terminals.

Abstract: A solar cell (2) is provided for generating alternating current to drive an external load (18) in response to light radiation. A central region (4) of given conductivity type is disposed between said first and second regions (6) and (8) of intrinsic or invertable semiconductor material applied with AC gate drive (12). The light-generated hole-electron pairs alternately diffuse in opposite directions across the alternately induced pn junctions between the central region (4) and the first and second converted conductivity type intrinsic or invertable regions (6) and (8) to set up alternating potential gradients in opposite directions.

Abstract: Two-dimensional arrays of polarized energy-generating or energy-storing elements (20A, 20B, . . . , 20D; 21A, . . . , 21D; 22A, . . . , 22D; 23A, . . . , 23D; 24A, . . . , 24D; 25A, . . . , 25D), such as solar cells, batteries, thermoelectric generators or capacitors are formed as a matrix of rows and columns of elements, with the elements of each column being connected in series and the junctions between the series-connected elements in each column within the matrix being connected, in sequence, first to the corresponding junction in one of the adjacent columns and then to the corresponding junction in the other one of the adjacent columns. By connecting the junctions (32, 33) of alternate pairs of elements in the left hand column of the matrix to the respective junctions (32A, 33A) in the right hand column of a matrix having an even number of columns, the mathematical equivalent of a tubular matrix of elements is formed.

Abstract: A photovoltaic-storage battery device is disclosed, which comprises a substrate having a pair of major surfaces, a photovoltaic element formed on one major surface of the substrate and including a pair of opposing electrodes and a photoelectric film intervening between the pair of opposing electrodes and a storage battery element formed on the other major surface of the substrate and including a second pair of opposing electrodes which are connectable to the first-mentioned pair of opposing electrodes, respectively, and an electrolyte intervening between the second-mentioned pair of opposing electrodes.

Abstract: A solar powered refrigeration unit includes an array of solar cells connected in series-parallel configuration to produce more than 12 volts dc. One side of the array is grounded, and the positive output is connected through a diode to the positive terminal of a storage battery. The diode is configured to prevent the battery discharging through the solar cell array. The array is also connectd to one side of a back to back diode arrangement, the junction of which is connected through a thermocouple to a voltage controlled relay. The refrigeration unit compressor is connected to the relay, which is switched on by the thermocouple. The back to back diode arrangement permits the greater voltage of the solar cell array or the storage battery to power the compressor.

Abstract: A photoelectric converting apparatus having photoelectric converting elements divided into plural groups and a scanning circuit for dynamically scanning the photoelectric converting elements. There is also further provided a shielded element for each of the groups of the same characteristic as that of the photoelectric converting elements, and a circuit for supplying a bias voltage to the photoelectric converting elements and the shielded element in response to the output of the shielded element.

Abstract: A solar cell array is equipped with serially or parallel connected reverse polarity diodes formed simultaneously with the array. The diodes are constituted by one or more solar cells of the array which may be shaded to prevent photoelectric conversion, and which are electrically connected in reverse polarity with respect to the remaining cells.

Abstract: A solar cell power supply circuit for use in a calculator or equipment is disclosed. It includes a solar cell or cells, a back-up capacitor connected to the solar cells, and a circuit element connected to be responsive whether the electromotive force from the solar cells lies within a range of operation for a load element of the solar cells, typically an LSI semiconductor device. The back-up capacitor starts charging when the electromotive force of the solar cells falls out of the range of operation for the load element. Preferably, an alarm sound is delivered when the electromotive force of the solar cells is poor.

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic power source comprising a Cassegrain solar collector and concentrator, a thermal vessel including a containment vessel holding thermal storage material therein, the containment vessel having the shape of an annulus closed at one end and disposed with its open end in registry with an aperture in the thermal vessel, with a selective band radiating layer coating the internal surface of the annulus cavity, and further including an external array of photovoltaic cells mounted on a cooled cylinder disposed for insertion by a positioning motor to a desired depth into the annulus cavity and thus into adjacency with the selective band radiating layer. Concentrated solar energy is applied by the solar collector through a second aperture into the thermal vessel to heat the thermal storage material in the containment vessel and thereby cause the selective radiating layer to radiate energy to excite a current in the photovoltaic array.

Abstract: An arrangement for converting solar energy directly to electrical energy is disclosed herein and utilizes a group of photovoltaic-like panel members, each of which is designed to convert solar energy into electrical energy by developing a voltage across opposite terminals thereof in response to and dependent upon its collection of solar energy. These panel members are electrically interconnected together in a specific way which combines their voltages in order to drive a given load. In addition, individual bypass circuitry is electrically connected with each photovoltaic-like member for diverting current around the latter in the event the resistance between its terminals increases above a certain level, for example due to an open circuit or undesirable shadowing. In this way, a malfunction of one photovoltaic-like member will not disrupt the operation of the overall arrangement.

Abstract: A solar power system has a photovoltaic array having a locus of peak power points for various insolation levels, a voltage-dependent variable resistance load such as a water electrolysis unit electrically connected to the array, and a demand-dependent variable resistance load such as a DC to AC inverter connected in parallel with the electrolysis unit. The electrolysis unit or other voltage-dependent variable resistance load has a voltage-current characteristic in which the operating point is displaced from the array's peak power point for most insolation levels. The characteristic is displaced towards higher voltage-lower current operating points. The inverter may move the operating point of the photovoltaic array toward its peak power point when the load requires power. The system may be designed so that the array operates within about 5 percent of its peak power point over a wide range of inverter power demands.

Abstract: Orderly control of power applied by a photovoltaic solar panel d.c. source to a load is attained despite varying long and short term solar conditions by coupling power from the panel to an inverter in response to the panel voltage exceeding a predetermined level and preventing coupling of power from the panel to the inverter in response to the panel voltage being less than a predetermined level. The switching frequency of the inverter is controlled in response to the panel voltage so that approximately maximum power which the panel is capable of generating is supplied to the inverter for the incident solar energy on the panel at a given temperature. Power is supplied to the inverter by a series switch between the panel and inverter. The switch is activated into a conducting state in response to the panel voltage exceeding a predetermined value.

Abstract: A satellite power system in which solar cells provide power to a load during sunlight hours and also charge, through regulators, rechargeable batteries which provide power during dark periods. In order to prevent the batteries from being overcharged by solar cell current bypassing the regulators (through the load connection) each battery is protected by a redundant protection system including a pair of diodes and switch means normally connecting one of the diodes between the battery and the load. If the one diode fails or shorts, the switch means connects the other diode between the battery and the load; the voltage across the one diode and current therethrough are sensed to determine if the diode has failed.