Light collection and concentration system
US8320045B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 4, 2009 |
| Grant date | Nov 27, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 19, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/52
- WIPO fieldThermal processes and apparatus
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell. The optional secondary light concentrator may further concentrate the light out-coupled from the transport structure into the PV cell.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.