Compressive sensing has been widely used in image compression and signal recovery techniques in recent years; however, it has received limited attention in the field of optical measurement. This paper describes the use of compressive sensing for measurements of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells, using fully random sensing matrices, rather than mapping an orthogonal basis set directly. Existing compressive sensing systems optically image the surface of the object under test, this contrasts with the method described, where illumination patterns defined by precalculated sensing matrices, probe PV devices. We discuss the use of spatially modulated light fields to probe a PV sample to produce a photocurrent map of the optical response. This allows for faster measurements than would be possible using traditional translational laser beam induced current techniques. Results produced to a 90% correlation to raster scanned measurements, which can be achieved with under 25% of the conventionally required number of data points. In addition, both crack and spot type defects are detected at resolutions comparable to electroluminescence techniques, with 50% of the number of measurements required for a conventional scan.
Advances in photovoltaic technology resulted in increased complexity of device calibration, largely being affected by
deviations of test spectrum from natural spectra. While the output spectrum of some solar simulators is adjustable,
generally only light intensity and module temperature can be varied. This is due to the light sources used in current
simulators. LEDs offer an additional degree of freedom, when using an appropriate combination of wavelengths. This
paper presents the advantages of this lighting technology for solar simulation and backs these up through results of the
prototype unit developed at the Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology.
The ability to keep LEDs stable for a long time and dim them with minimal changes in the spectrum allows generation of
a spectrum closely matched to AM1.5G standard test spectrum or indeed even realistic variations of the outdoor
spectrum. LEDs can be controlled very fast within microseconds or operated continuously, combining a steady state and
a flash solar simulator with additional functions such as variable flash frequencies and flash shape. Combined with the
life expectancy exceeding 50.000h, LEDs are a strong candidate for solar simulator light sources introducing a
significant improvement in calibration lifetime as well as significantly reduced running cost.
The usage of LEDs can enhance today's characteristic measurement functions and even opens possibilities to fully
characterise solar cells indoors within a much shorter time than is possible today, over a range of conditions previously
only available through outdoor characterisation.
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