FLEXIBLE SHEET MATERIAL WITH EMBEDDED SOLAR CELLS FOR STRATOSPHERIC VEHICLES AND METHOD OF PRODUCTION

摘要

A novel energy producing flexible material is provided particularly suited for high altitude and stratospheric applications. The flexible energy producing covering (30) includes a flexible solar cell layer (32), a flexible substrate (34) which preferably matches the shape and size of the airship gore as well and an electrically conductive conduit (46) disposed in a flexible electrically non-conductive adhesive (40) connecting the flexible solar cell substrate (34) to the airship substrate (38). Preferably two electrically conductive conduits (46) are provided between the substrate layer (38) and the flexible solar cell layer (32) with the electrically conductive conduits (46) being insulated from one another by the non-conductive adhesive (40). The novel process provided by the invention for joining the airship substrate to the flexible solar cell substrate includes heat, pressure and the selection of substrate materials and in certain applications the use of a vacuum.