Patent ID: 9742348
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: H01L,H02S,Y02E

Claim:
1. A multi-panel array reconfigurable between a substantially planar configuration and a three-dimensional configuration, the multi-panel array comprising: a plurality of panels arranged in a plurality of rows and in a plurality of panel columns, the plurality of panels defining one or more spacer columns therebetween, each panel of the plurality of panels having a corresponding panel thickness; one or more functional electrical components attached to and/or incorporated into one or more of the plurality of panels, each functional electrical component of the one or more functional electrical components having a corresponding thickness, and the thickness of each functional electrical component together with the thickness of each corresponding panel thickness defining corresponding stack thicknesses; a plurality of spacers arranged in the one or more spacer columns and in the plurality of rows, each of the plurality of spacers positioned between two panels of the plurality of panels in adjacent panel columns of the plurality of panel columns, each of the plurality of spacers including a base side having a non-perpendicular orientation relative to one or more sides of each of the plurality of panels adjacent thereto; a plurality of first hinges flexibly connecting adjacent panels of the plurality of panels in each of the plurality of panel columns; a plurality of second hinges flexibly connecting each of the plurality of spacers to one or more of the plurality of panels adjacent thereto and located in the same row therewith; and wherein a length of the base side of each spacer of the plurality of spacers is substantially equal to a sum of stack thicknesses of two opposing panels of the plurality of panels, which are adjacent to spacer, plus a sum of stack thickness of a number of panels of the plurality of panels, which lie in the same columns as the two opposing panels of the plurality of panels and in a number of rows of the plurality of rows, which start with the spacer row of the plurality of rows, which includes the spacer, and counted along the spacer column of the one or more spacer columns, which includes the spacer, and in the direction of other spacers of the plurality of spacers that are smaller than the spacer.