Patent ID: 8848327

Claim:
A controller for controlling short-circuit across a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a dye sensitized solar cell for converting a light energy into an electrical energy, said controller comprising: a voltage detecting section configured for detecting a voltage developed across said positive terminal and said negative terminal of said dye sensitized solar cell; a current detecting section configured for detecting a current caused to flow through said positive terminal of said dye sensitized solar cell; a judging section configured for judging how a power generation state of said dye sensitized solar cell is, and whether or not a release state is provided across said positive terminal and said negative terminal of said dye sensitized solar cell, in accordance with a comparison between a value representing a magnitude of the voltage detected by said voltage detecting section and a value representing a magnitude of the current detected by said current detecting section; and a short-circuiting/releasing section configured for short-circuiting or releasing across said positive terminal and said negative terminal of said dye sensitized solar cell in accordance with a result of the judgment made by said judging section.