Photovoltaic cells having a concentrating coverglass with broadened tracking angle

摘要

A concentrating coverglass allows efficient power generation for providing higher specific powers by space power arrays with weight penalties being countered by combining the functions of a solar concentrator and protective coverglass into a single element. A preferred frustoconical lens achieves a concentration ratio of about 4.5 at a thickness of about 1.0 mm. Efficient space power arrays with relatively wide tracking angle tolerance of up to about +/-5 DEG using these coverglasses permit heavier payloads in the satellite's operating systems over traditional satellite designs.