Circular Solar Panel with Centralized Connection Sections
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional solar panels for wristwatches have reduced light-receiving areas due to connection sections on the outer perimeters, leading to decreased power generation efficiency and increased power losses due to varying light exposure from moving pointers.
Innovation Solution
A solar panel design featuring fan-shaped solar cells connected by connection sections near the center, with a shaft insertion hole for the pointer shaft, allowing for increased light-receiving area and reduced power losses by centralizing connection sections and maintaining uniform light exposure across solar cells.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If connection sections are provided on the outer perimeters of solar cells to electrically connect them, then the solar cells can be electrically connected, but the light-receiving area of each solar cell is significantly decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The connection sections are moved from the outer perimeter (two-dimensional edge) to the central region (one-dimensional center point), changing the spatial dimension of connection. This allows electrical connection while preserving the outer perimeter for light reception, resolving the contradiction between connection reliability and light-receiving area.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of connecting solar cells from the outside (outer perimeter), the connection is inverted to occur from the inside (center portion). This inversion allows the connection sections to be positioned where they do not interfere with the light-receiving area while still achieving reliable electrical connection between adjacent solar cells.
2Reliability
If connection sections are provided on the outer perimeters of solar cells, then electrical connection is achieved, but the light-receiving area changes significantly depending on pointer positions
Solution Approach 1:
By moving connection sections from the outer perimeter to the center, the patent changes the spatial dimension of connection. This ensures that the connection area remains stable and unaffected by pointer movement across the solar panel surface, while the outer perimeter remains fully available for consistent light reception.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection function is extracted from the outer perimeter region and relocated to the center portion. This separation allows the outer perimeter to be dedicated exclusively to light reception, ensuring stable light-receiving area regardless of pointer positions, while the center handles electrical connection independently.
3Reliability
If connection sections are provided on the outer perimeters, then solar cells can be connected, but power generation efficiency is low due to decreased light-receiving area and increased power losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent relocates connection sections from the outer perimeter (two-dimensional boundary) to the center (one-dimensional focal point), maximizing the light-receiving area of each solar cell. This dimensional change ensures that the entire outer perimeter remains exposed to light, thereby maximizing power generation efficiency while maintaining electrical connection reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By inverting the connection approach from outside-to-inside to inside-to-outside (center to periphery), the patent ensures that the outer perimeter is fully utilized for light reception. This inversion eliminates the trade-off between connection and power generation, allowing both to coexist optimally.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances power generation efficiency by minimizing light-receiving area reduction and power losses, ensuring stable and efficient electric power generation despite pointer movement, with uniformly arranged connection sections reducing electric resistance and fluctuations.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of fan-shaped solar cells arranged in a substantially circular shape
Data Source
AI summary
A solar panel of the present invention includes a plurality of solar cells arranged in a substantially circular shape, and a plurality of connection sections which are provided near a center portion where the plurality of solar cells are all close to each other, and electrically connect the plurality of solar cells. Therefore, the plurality of connection sections can be centrally placed near the center portion where the plurality of solar cells are all close to each other. As a result, a decrease in the light-receiving area due to the plurality of connection sections can be reduced, and fluctuations in the light-receiving area due to pointers moving over the solar cells can be reduced.