1. A solar generator panel comprising an array (100) of strings (4; 1a-8a; 1b-8b) of photovoltaic cells (1) disposed side by side and substantially forming a grid on a \u201cfront\u201d, first face of the panel, said cells being electrically interconnected to form a plurality of independent strings (4), each string being made up of cells connected in series in pairs forming rows (70) of mutually parallel cells, two successive rows in a string being electrically interconnected at their ends via connection means (51) that, from a connection to one of said two successive rows passes through the panel via a first opening (61) and that are laid on a rear face of said panel and that subsequently pass back through the panel via another first opening to connect to a second of said two rows, each string comprising positive terminals (+) and negative terminals (-), said positive and negative terminals being distributed along each string and over the structure of the panel so that the positive terminals are remote from the negative terminals so as to reduce the risk of an electric arc appearing between two terminals, each end cell (1a, 8a, 1b, 8b) of a string being connected to at least one electrical energy collector cable (52) passing via at least one respective opening for bringing together collector cables and referred to as a \u201csecond\u201d opening (62), the panel being characterized in that the cells are square or rectangular in area and are cropped at their four corners (30), the arrangement of the cells having cropped corners in the form of a grid causing small free spaces (7\u2032) to appear in the interstices between the cropped corners of adjacent cells, in which spaces there are created the first openings and the second openings for bringing together the collector cables, which cables are directed thereto.
2. A panel according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one inter-panel damping block is disposed in at least one of said free spaces in the interstices between the cropped corners of adjacent cells.
3. A panel according to claim 1, in which the cells are fabricated using a method of cutting a Ge wafer.
4. A panel according to claim 1, in which the electrical connections between two successive adjacent cells in any one string are made at the rear face of one of the cells close to at least one of its cropped corners.
5. A satellite including a solar generator panel according to claim 1.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
What is claimed is:
1. Means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer, said portable computer including a main body for positioning on a flat surface for use, comprising:
at least an elongate receiving recess being provided at a predetermined position near at least one lateral side of a bottom surface of said main body of said portable computer; and
at least one battery pack being removably fitted in said at least one receiving recess; each said battery pack including a lower case, an upper case, and at least one battery received between said lower and said upper cases; said lower case having a bottom configuration that creates a height difference between said lower case and said bottom surface of said main body, so that said battery pack downward projects from said bottom surface of said main body by a fixed distance defined by said height difference after said battery pack is fitted in said receiving recess; and said fixed distance enabling a heat dissipation space to exist between said bottom surface of said main body of said portable computer and said flat surface on which said portable computer is supported.
2. Means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer, said portable computer including a main body for positioning on a flat surface for use, comprising:
two elongate receiving recesses being separately provided at a predetermined position near each lateral side of a bottom surface of said main body of said portable computer; and
two battery packs being separately removably fitted in said elongate receiving recesses; each said battery pack including a housing and at least one battery enclosed in said housing;
whereby said portable computer with two said battery packs externally connected to said main body has doubled power capacity for use over an extended time period.
3. The means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one receiving recess extends in parallel with said lateral side of said main body.
4. The means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer as claimed in claim 1, wherein each said receiving recess is provided at two lateral ends thereof with two rails that project into each said receiving recess for slidably guiding said battery pack into each said receiving recess.
5. The means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer as claimed in claim 3, wherein each said receiving recess is provided at two lateral ends thereof with two rails that project into each said receiving recess for slidably guiding said battery pack into each said receiving recess.
6. The means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a holding device provided on said main body near an inner edge of said at least one receiving recess, and said holding device including a transverse bar provided with a push key for moving said holding device laterally and a predetermined number of catches for engaging with said at least one battery pack.
7. The means for externally connecting battery pack to portable computer as claimed in claim 6, wherein said lower case is provided at two lateral ends with two channels corresponding to and engaging with said two rails projected into said receiving recess, so that said lower case is slidable on said rails relative to said main body; and an end of each said channel facing toward said main body defining an opening via which an outer end of each said rail is easily guided into said channel; and wherein said lower case is provided on an inner edge at predetermined positions with slots separately corresponding to said catches of said holding device on said main body, and each of said slots being provided at a predetermined position with a retaining means for holding said catch of said holding device thereto.