Patent ID: 8593165

Claim:
A solar generator for spacecraft or satellites, the solar generator comprising: a solar panel including a layer of solar cells arranged on an upper side of the solar panel, the solar cells arranged side by side to convert incident electromagnetic radiation into electrical current; a first detector layer arranged on a side of the layer of solar cells that faces away from an upper side of the solar panel, the first detector layer comprises an electrically insulating material in which a plurality of first electrical conductors are arranged substantially in parallel and imbedded in a first plane and a plurality of second electrical conductors are arranged substantially in parallel and imbedded in a second plane, the second plane being arranged substantially in parallel to the first plane such that the first electrical conductors are arranged at an angle to the second electrical conductors, wherein there is a known association between each solar cell and the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors that pass within the solar panel in an area beneath each solar cell; a first evaluation means connected to the solar cells for detecting a failure of one or several of the solar cells; and a second evaluation means connected to the first evaluation means and to the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors, the second evaluation means for testing the physical integrity of the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors when a failure of the one or several of the solar cells is detected by the first evaluation means by analysis of an electrical status of the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors to determine whether the failure was caused by a collision with a space object which damaged or severed one or several of the first electrical conductors and the second electrical conductors.