MULTICONVERTER SYSTEM COMPRISING SPECTRAL SEPARATING REFLECTOR ASSEMBLY AND METHODS THEREOF
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for converting solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical element for converging solar radiation; and
a reflector assembly receiving light transmitted by the optical element and including a first substrate having a first reflector and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second reflector, the first reflector being adapted to reflect a first spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the first reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the first spectral band of light, the second reflector being adapted to reflect a second spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the second reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the second spectral band, wherein the reflector assembly is configured so that a reflector of the first and second reflector transmits light reflected from the remaining of the first and second reflector, wherein the reflector assembly further includes adhesive material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the adhesive material bonding the first substrate and the second substrate;
wherein the apparatus for converting solar energy further comprises a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the first reflector, wherein the second photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the second reflector, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the first spectral band of light, and wherein the second photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the second spectral band of light.
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Abstract
A system is set forth herein which can include a plurality of reflectors adapted to reflect light. The system can further include a plurality of photovoltaic cells. A certain reflector of the plurality of reflectors adapted to reflect light can be adapted to reflect light within a certain wavelength band and can be further adapted to transmit light outside of the certain wavelength band. A photovoltaic cell can be disposed to receive light reflected by the certain reflector.
43 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for converting solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
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an optical element for converging solar radiation; and a reflector assembly receiving light transmitted by the optical element and including a first substrate having a first reflector and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second reflector, the first reflector being adapted to reflect a first spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the first reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the first spectral band of light, the second reflector being adapted to reflect a second spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the second reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the second spectral band, wherein the reflector assembly is configured so that a reflector of the first and second reflector transmits light reflected from the remaining of the first and second reflector, wherein the reflector assembly further includes adhesive material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the adhesive material bonding the first substrate and the second substrate; wherein the apparatus for converting solar energy further comprises a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the first reflector, wherein the second photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the second reflector, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the first spectral band of light, and wherein the second photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the second spectral band of light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for converting solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
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an optical element for converging solar radiation; and a reflector assembly receiving light transmitted by the optical element and including a first substrate having a first reflector and a second substrate spaced apart from the first substrate and having a second reflector, the first reflector being adapted to reflect a first spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the first reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the first spectral band of light, the second reflector being adapted to reflect a second spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the second reflector being adapted to transmit one or more spectral band of light outside of the second spectral band, wherein the reflector assembly is configured so that a reflector of the first and second reflector transmits light reflected from the remaining of the first and second reflector, wherein the reflector assembly further includes a layer of material disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the layer of material being in contact with the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the layer of material has an index of refraction matched to an index of refraction of the first substrate; and wherein the apparatus for converting solar energy further comprises a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the first reflector, wherein the second photovoltaic cell is disposed to receive light reflected from the second reflector, wherein the first photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the first spectral band of light, and wherein the second photovoltaic cell is particularly responsive to the second spectral band of light. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus comprising:
an array of converters, wherein first, second, and third converters of the array comprise an optical element for converging solar radiation, a first substrate including a first reflector and a second substrate including a second reflector, the first reflector being adapted to reflect a first spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the first reflector being adapted to transmit one or more other spectral band of light outside of the first spectral band of light, the second reflector adapted to reflect a second spectral band of light transmitted by the optical element, the second reflector of the first, second, and third converter being adapted to transmit one or more other spectral band of light outside of the second spectral band of light, each of the first, second, and third converter further having a first photovoltaic cell and a second photovoltaic cell, the first photovoltaic cell disposed to receive light reflected from the first reflector and being particularly responsive to the first spectral band of light, the second photovoltaic cell disposed to receive light reflected from the second reflector and being particularly responsive to the second spectral band of light, wherein the first, second, and third converter each includes a layer of material disposed between its respective first substrate and second substrate, the layer of material of the first, second, and third converter transmitting light in the second spectral band and having an index of refraction matched to an index of refraction of its respective first substrate.
Specification