LIGHT COLLECTION DEVICE WITH PRISMATIC LIGHT TURNING FEATURES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light collection apparatus, comprising:
- a photovoltaic cell; and
a light turning body formed of a light propagating material supporting propagation of light through a length of the light turning body, the light turning body comprising;
a first major surface;
a second major surface opposite the first major surface; and
a first plurality of spaced-apart slits disposed in the light turning body, each slit of the first plurality of slits formed by an undercut in one of the first or the second major surfaces, each slit of the first plurality of slits configured to redirect light incident on the first major surface towards the photovoltaic cell.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light collection device includes a light guide body and a plurality of spaced-apart slits. The slits are formed by undercuts in the light guide body. Sides of the slits form facets that redirect light impinging on the facets. In some embodiments, the light collection body is attached to a photovoltaic cell. Light impinging on the light collection body is redirected towards the photovoltaic cell by the slits. The photovoltaic cells convert the light into electrical energy.
157 Citations
50 Claims
-
1. A light collection apparatus, comprising:
-
a photovoltaic cell; and a light turning body formed of a light propagating material supporting propagation of light through a length of the light turning body, the light turning body comprising; a first major surface; a second major surface opposite the first major surface; and a first plurality of spaced-apart slits disposed in the light turning body, each slit of the first plurality of slits formed by an undercut in one of the first or the second major surfaces, each slit of the first plurality of slits configured to redirect light incident on the first major surface towards the photovoltaic cell. - 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. A light collection apparatus, comprising:
-
a first means for directing light incident on a major surface of the light collection apparatus to propagate through a light turning body; and a second means for receiving the light and converting the light into electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
-
42. A method for collecting light, comprising:
redirecting light impinging on facets of a plurality of slits formed by undercuts in a surface of a light turning body, the light redirected to propagate through the light turning body to a light receiver. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
Specification