Invention Grant
- Patent Title: System and method for managing the power output of a photovoltaic cell
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Application No.: US16264427Application Date: 2019-01-31
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Publication No.: US10978878B2Publication Date: 2021-04-13
- Inventor: Robert P. McNamara , Douglas M. Raymond
- Applicant: Solarlytics, Inc.
- Applicant Address: US CA Livermore
- Assignee: Solarlytics, Inc.
- Current Assignee: Solarlytics, Inc.
- Current Assignee Address: US CA Livermore
- Agency: Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
- Main IPC: H02J3/38
- IPC: H02J3/38 ; H02J7/35 ; H02S40/32 ; H01L31/02 ; H02S50/00 ; H02J3/14 ; H02J3/46 ; H02J9/06 ; H02J7/34

Abstract:
A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.
Public/Granted literature
- US20190173288A1 SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGING THE POWER OUTPUT OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL Public/Granted day:2019-06-06
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