Patent ID: 8432177

Claim:
An apparatus for measuring current-voltage (I-V) characteristics, said apparatus comprising: a lamp that emits light; a substrate comprising: a plurality of solar cells; a positive electrode operatively connected to each of the solar cells; and at least one negative electrode peripherally deposited around each of said solar cells and connected to a common ground; an articulation platform operatively coupled to said substrate and positioned at a fixed distance from said lamp; a multi-probe switching matrix comprising a plurality of probes, wherein each probe is individually articulable; a programmable switch box operatively coupled to said multi-probe switching matrix and selectively articulating said probes by raising said probes until said probes are in contact with at least one of said positive electrode and said negative electrode and lowering said probes until contact is lost with at least one of said positive electrode and said negative electrode; and a source meter operatively coupled to said programmable switch box and measuring said I-V characteristics of said substrate.