New Measurement System for Quality Inspection of Solar Simulators

Ocean Optics has introduced a new optical measurement system for absolute irradiance measurements of solar simulators and other radiant sources. The RaySphere allows users to measure absolute irradiance over different spectral ranges from the UV to the NIR (380-1700nm).

The portable RaySphere is especially useful to solar simulator manufacturers and R&D labs as a tool to validate the output of installed solar flash lamps. The flash of a solar simulator is used within the photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing process for the binning of cells according to spectral response and for final PV module efficiency measurements. For the verification of such solar flashers Ocean Optics developed RaySphere – a system that provides the necessary accuracy and resolution to measure and analyse the performance and stability of the flasher, with advanced, ultra-low jitter triggering electronics for timing the measurement to the flashes. The calibration of the RaySphere has been validated by an accredited certification lab to ensure accurate detection, allowing you to evaluate and qualify the spectral distribution of your solar flashers and simulators according to the IEC60904-9 (2007) norm. The RaySphere includes two thermo-electrically cooled detectors allowing highly repeatable and accurate spectral analysis of your solar flashers from 380 to 1700nm. A second version contains a single cooled detector for measurement to 1100nm.

The system also includes advanced, high-speed electronics and an intuitive and powerful software interface. Extremely brief measurement times enable the detection of a complete spectrum during a flash or even during a portion of the flash. In addition, the measurement can be triggered by a fast response photodiode that reacts on the increasing intensity of the flashlight with submicrosecond response times.