Electromagnetic radiation collector and transport system

• US 20030154973A1
• Filed: 02/18/2003
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Biosynergetics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Biosynergetics, Inc.
• Inventors: Nyhart, Eldon H. Jr., Meyers, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 6,957,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 126/617
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/055 where light is absorbed and re-emitted at a different wavelength by the optical element directly associated or integrated with the PV cell, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/20 Solar thermal
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/47 Mountings or tracking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

The present invention includes a radiation collector configured to collect incident radiation. The radiation collector includes a radiation directing component configured to redirect the incident radiation, a buffer component configured to receive the radiation redirected by the radiation directing component, and a propagation component configured to receive the radiation from the buffer component and to propagate the radiation towards a first end of the propagation component.

Claims

1. A collector for collecting radiation incident on the collector from at least a first direction, the collector comprising:

a propagation component configured to transmit radiation and having a first end and at least a first refractive index;

a buffer component coupled to the propagation component and configured to transmit radiation and having at least a second refractive index, the second refractive index being less than the first refractive index of the propagation component; and

a radiation directing component coupled to the buffer component and configured to redirect the incident radiation from the at least first direction along at least a second direction different than the first direction within the buffer component, such that the radiation enters the propagation component and is propagated within the propagation component toward a first end of the propagation component by at least total internal reflection.

2. The collector of claim 1, wherein the radiation is solar radiation and wherein the buffer component is positioned relative to the propagation component and the radiation directing component, such that the solar radiation propagating in the propagation component is prevented from interacting with the radiation directing component.

3. The collector of claim 2, wherein the propagation component is surrounded by the buffer component, except for the first end of the propagation component.

4. The collector of claim 2, wherein the solar radiation at the first end of the propagation component exits the propagation component and is coupled into an output component.

5. The collector of claim 4, wherein the output component is a second collector comprising a second propagation component configured to transmit the solar radiation exiting the propagation component and having at least a third refractive index;

a second buffer component coupled to the second propagation component and configured to transmit the solar radiation exiting the propagation component and having at least a fourth refractive index, the fourth refractive index being less than the third refractive index of the second propagation component; and

a second radiation directing component coupled to the second buffer component and configured to redirect the solar radiation exiting the propagation component from the at least first direction along at least a second direction within the second buffer component, such that the solar radiation from the propagation component enters the second propagation component and is propagated within the second propagation component toward a second end of the second propagation component by at least total internal reflection.

6. The collector of claim 4, wherein the output device is selected from the group consisting of an energy converting component, a collector, and a transport component.

7. The collector of claim 2, further comprising:

a frame coupled to at least one of the radiation directing component, the propagation component, and the buffer component; and

a tracking component coupled to the frame, the tracking component comprising a positioning component configured to move and position the radiation directing component, the propagation component, and the buffer component and a controller, the controller configured to instruct the positioning component to position the radiation directing component, the propagation component and the buffer component in at least a first position.

8. The collector of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the positioning component such that the radiation directing component, the propagation component and the buffer component track the movement of the sun.

9. The collector of claim 2, wherein the radiation directing component, the buffer component, and the propagation component are made from respective flexible materials.

10. The collector of claim 2, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect solar radiation of at least two wavelength bands.

11. The collector of claim 2, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect solar radiation from at least one additional direction.

12. The collector of claim 11, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect solar radiation of at least two wavelength bands.

13. The collector of claim 2, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

14. The collector of claim 2, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

15. The collector of claim 12, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

16. The collector of claim 12, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

17. A collector for collecting radiation incident on the collector from at least a first direction, the collector comprising:

a radiation directing component configured to redirect the incident radiation;

a buffer component coupled to the radiation directing component and configured to receive the radiation redirected by the radiation directing component; and

a propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to receive the radiation from the buffer component and to propagate the radiation generally in a first direction toward a first end of the propagation component by at least total internal reflection, the radiation directing component being positioned such that the radiation incident on the collector which is received into the propagation component is incident from a direction generally not parallel with the first direction of the propagation component.

18. The collector of claim 17, wherein the buffer component is positioned relative to the propagation component and the radiation directing component, such that the radiation propagating in the propagation component is isolated from the radiation directing component.

19. The collector of claim 18, wherein the propagation component is surrounded by the buffer component.

20. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation at the first end of the propagation component exits the propagation component and is coupled into an output component.

21. The collector of claim 20, wherein the output device is selected from the group consisting of an energy converting component, a collector, and an transport component.

22. The collector of claim 17, further comprising:

a frame coupled to at least one of the radiation directing component, the propagation component, and the buffer component; and

a tracking component coupled to the frame, the tracking component comprising a positioning component configured to move and position the radiation directing component, the propagation component, and the buffer component and a controller, the controller configured to instruct the positioning component to position the radiation directing component, the propagation component and the buffer component in at least a first position.

23. The collector of claim 22, wherein the controller is configured to instruct the positioning component such that the radiation directing component, the propagation component and the buffer component track the movement of a radiation source.

24. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect radiation of at least two wavelength bands.

25. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect radiation from at least one additional direction.

26. The collector of claim 25, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect radiation of at least two wavelength bands.

27. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

28. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

29. The collector of claim 26, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

30. The collector of claim 26, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

31. The collector of claim 17, wherein the radiation directing component is positioned within the buffer component and is oriented at a first angle relative to a top surface of the buffer component.

32. A solar collector configured to collect incident solar radiation and to be affixed to a surface of a building, the solar collector comprising:

an optical component having a top surface and a first end, the optical component configured to receive the incident solar radiation through the top surface and to collect the incident solar radiation at the first end of the optical component; and

an attachment component coupled to the optical component, the attachment component configured to receive at least one fastening component to secure the attachment component to the surface of the building.

33. The solar collector of claim 32, wherein the optical component comprises:

a radiation directing component configured to redirect the incident solar radiation;

a buffer component coupled to the radiation directing component and configured to receive the solar radiation redirected by the radiation directing component; and

a propagation component coupled to the buffer component and configured to receive the solar radiation from the buffer component and to propagate the solar radiation generally in a first direction toward a first end of the propagation component by at least total internal reflection, the radiation directing component being positioned such that the solar radiation incident on the solar collector which is received into the propagation component is incident from a direction generally not parallel with the first direction of the propagation component.

34. The solar collector of claim 32, wherein the optical component and the attachment component are configured to resemble a conventional roof shingle.

35. The solar collector of claim 33, wherein the top surface of the optical component includes indicia to resemble the tabs of a conventional roof shingle.

36. The solar collector of claim 32, wherein the solar radiation at the first end of the optical component exits the optical component and is coupled into an output component.

37. The solar collector of claim 36, wherein the output component is selected from the group consisting of an energy converting component, a solar collector, and an optical transport component.

38. The solar collector of claim 32, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect solar radiation of at least two wavelength bands.

39. The solar collector of claim 38, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to receive and redirect solar radiation from at least one additional direction.

40. The solar collector of claim 39, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

41. The solar collector of claim 39, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

42. A method of collecting incident radiation, the method comprising:

receiving the incident radiation from at least a first direction;

redirecting the incident radiation with a radiation directing component into a propagation component;

retaining the radiation in the propagation component such that the radiation is propagated generally toward a first end of the propagation component; and

optically separating the radiation component from the propagation component such that the radiation propagating with the propagation component is prevented from interacting with the radiation directing component.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the radiation is retained within the propagation component by at least total internal reflection.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the propagation component includes a reflection coating on at least a first surface and the radiation is retained within the propagation component by at least reflection from the reflection coating.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising coupling the radiation propagated toward the first end of the propagation component to an output component, the output component selected from the group consisting of an energy converting component, a collector, and an optical transport component.

46. A method of coupling optical radiation from at least a first source of optical radiation into a first optical transport component including a first propagation component and a first buffer component, the first buffer component radially overlaying the first propagation component and the first optical transport component configured to propagate optical radiation in generally a first direction toward a first end of the first optical transport component or in generally a second direction toward a second end of the first optical transport component, the method comprising:

positioning the at least first source of optical radiation adjacent an exterior radial surface of the first buffer component;

directing at least a portion of the radiation emanating from the source of optical radiation into the first buffer component of the first optical transport component such that the radiation is coupled into the first propagation component and is propagated within the first propagation component toward at least one of the first end or the second end of the first propagation component due at least to total internal reflection between the first propagation component and the second component.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the source of optical radiation is selected from the group consisting of a laser, a laser diode, a light emitting diode, or a second optical transport component.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the optical radiation is directed toward the first end of the first propagation component due to the optical radiation having a wavelength corresponding to a first wavelength.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the optical radiation is directed toward the second end of the first propagation component due to the optical radiation having a wavelength corresponding to a second wavelength.

50. An optical connector for transferring radiation, the optical connector comprising:

a first optical transport component including a first propagation component and a first buffer component, the first buffer component radially overlaying the first propagation component, the first optical transport component configured to propagate optical radiation in generally a first direction toward a first end of the first optical transport component;

a second optical transport component including a second propagation component and a second buffer component, the second buffer component radially overlaying the second propagation component, the second optical transport component configured to propagate optical radiation in generally a second direction toward a second end of the second optical transport component, the second optical transport component being positioned such that the second direction is not parallel to the first direction; and

a radiation directing component located proximate to the first end of the first optical transport component and proximate to an exterior surface of the buffer component of the second optical transport component, the radiation directing component configured to redirect the optical radiation propagating generally in the first direction through the exterior surface of the second optical transport into the second propagation component such that the optical radiation is propagated within second optical transport component generally along the second direction of the second optical transport component.

51. The optical connector of claim 50, wherein the radiation directing component is coupled to the exterior surface of the second buffer component.

52. The optical connector of claim 51, wherein the radiation directing component includes a holographic element.

53. The optical connector of claim 51, wherein the radiation directing component includes a diffraction grating.

54. The optical connector of claim 50, wherein the radiation directing component is configured to redirect the optical radiation such that the optical radiation will propagate within the second optical transport component in the second direction when a wavelength of the optical radiation is a first wavelength and is further configured to redirect the optical radiation such that the optical radiation will propagate within the second optical transport component in a third direction generally opposite to the second direction when the wavelength of the optical radiation is a second wavelength different than the first wavelength.

55. The optical connector of claim 51, wherein the optical radiation coupled from the first optical transport component into the second optical transport component includes a data signal.