THIN FILM HOLOGRAPHIC SOLAR CONCENTRATOR/COLLECTOR
First Claim
1. A device for collecting solar energy comprising:
- a first light guide having top and bottom surfaces, said light guide guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces;
a first photocell; and
a plurality of diffractive features disposed to redirect ambient light incident on said top surface of the first light guide such that said light is guided in the light guide by total internal reflection from said top and bottom surfaces to said first photocell,wherein said first light guide has a thickness less than or equal to 1 millimeter.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
In various embodiments described herein, a device comprising a light collector optically coupled to a photocell is described. The device further comprises a light turning film or layer comprising volume or surface diffractive features or holograms. Light incident on the light collector is turned by volume or surface diffractive features or holograms that are reflective or transmissive and guided through the light collector by multiple total internal reflections. The guided light is directed towards a photocell. In various embodiments, the light collector is thin (e.g., less than 1 millimeter) and comprises, for example, a thin film. The light collector may be formed of a flexible material.
163 Citations
71 Claims
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1. A device for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a first light guide having top and bottom surfaces, said light guide guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; a first photocell; and a plurality of diffractive features disposed to redirect ambient light incident on said top surface of the first light guide such that said light is guided in the light guide by total internal reflection from said top and bottom surfaces to said first photocell, wherein said first light guide has a thickness less than or equal to 1 millimeter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of manufacturing a device for collecting solar energy, the method comprising:
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providing a first light guide having top and bottom surfaces, said light guide having a plurality of diffractive features and guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; and providing a first photocell, wherein said first light guide has a thickness less than or equal to 1 millimeter. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A device for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a first means for guiding light, said light guiding means having top and bottom surfaces, said light guiding means guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; a first means for absorbing light, said light absorbing means configured to produce an electrical signal as a result of light absorbed by the light absorbing means; and a plurality of means for diffracting light, said light diffracting means disposed to redirect ambient light incident on said top surface of the first light guiding means such that said light is guided in the light guiding means by total internal reflection from said top and bottom surfaces to said first light absorbing means, wherein said first light guiding means has a thickness less than or equal to 1 millimeter. - View Dependent Claims (51)
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52. A device for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a light guide having top and bottom surfaces, said light guide guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; a photocell; and a transmissive diffractive element comprising a plurality of diffractive features disposed to redirect ambient light incident on said top surface of the light guide such that said light is guided in the light guide by total internal reflection from said top and bottom surfaces to said first photocell. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
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67. A method of manufacturing a device for collecting solar energy, the method comprising:
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providing a light guide having top and bottom surfaces, said light guide including a transmissive diffractive element comprising a plurality of diffractive features and guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; and providing a photocell. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
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70. A device for collecting solar energy comprising:
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a means for guiding light, said light guiding means having top and bottom surfaces and guiding light therein by multiple total internal reflections at said top and bottom surfaces; a means for absorbing light, said light absorbing means configured to produce an electrical signal as a result of light absorbed by the light absorbing means; and a means for diffracting light by transmission, said light diffracting means comprising a plurality of diffractive features disposed to redirect ambient light incident on said top surface of the light guide such that said light is guided in the light guide by total internal reflection from said top and bottom surfaces to said light absorbing means. - View Dependent Claims (71)
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Specification