Double-pane window which generates solar-powered electricity

• US 20040093809A1
• Filed: 11/12/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tyson Winarski
• Original Assignee: Tyson Winarski
• Inventors: Winarski, Tyson
• Application Number:
  US10/706,739
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093809A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 52/173.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0488 Double glass encapsulation, e.g. photovoltaic cells arranged between front and rear glass sheets
• 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 31/0549 comprising spectrum splitting means, e.g. dichroic mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A double-pane window houses solar cells and dichronic mirrors. The dichronic mirrors reflect a portion of light onto the solar cells for the generation of electricity while transmitting the remainder of the light through the dichronic mirrors so that the interior of buildings is illuminated and the occupants of these buildings can have an outside view.

Claims

1. A double-pane window that generates electricity from light, comprising:

a first and second pane;

a solar cell positioned between said panes; and

a dichronic mirror positioned between said panes that directs a first portion of said light onto said solar cell and directs a second portion of said light through at least one of said panes.

2. A window that generates electricity from light, comprising:

a pane;

a solar cell positioned next to said said pane; and

a beam splitter positioned adjacent to said solar cell next to said pane that directs a first portion of said light onto said solar cells and directs a second portion of said light through said pane.

3. A method for generating electricity from light using a window, comprising the steps of:

receiving said light adjacent to a first pane;

directing a first portion of said light onto a solar cell positioned next to said first pane; and

directing a second portion of said light through said first pane.

4. The window of claim 3, wherein directing said first portion of said light onto said solar cell is performed by a beam splitter.

5. The window of claim 3, wherein directing said first portion of said light onto said solar cell is performed by a dichronic mirror.

6. The window of claim 3, wherein a second pane is positioned next to said first pane, thereby forming a double-window, said solar cell positioned within said double pane window.

7. A window that generates electricity from light, comprising:

a solar cell; and

a pane, said pane having a dichronic coating, said dichronic coating directs a portion of said light onto said solar cell and allows a portion of said light to pass through said pane.

8. A window pane that generates electricity from light, comprising:

a plurality of solar cells forming a first part of said window pane; and

a plurality of beam splitters forming a second part of said window pane, said plurality of beam splitters placed between said solar cells, said beam splitters directing a first portion of said light onto said solar cells and a second portion of said light away from said window pane.

9. A method of generating electricity from light using a window pane, comprising the steps of:

receiving said light with a beam splitter forming a first portion of said window pane;

directing a first part of said light onto a solar cell forming a second portion of said window pane; and

directing a second part of said light away from said window pane.