Reflective concentrating solar cell assembly
First Claim
1. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
- a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being substantially transparent, the second surface having a transparent portion and a plurality of opaque reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions being canted at least partially toward each other to receive radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and focus and reflect the radiation to form focused radiation directed toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the focused radiation away from the first surface, the focused radiation converging as it moves away from the first surface; and
a solar cell having a radiation receiving surface affixed to the transparent portion of the second surface of the reflective member and positioned to receive the focused radiation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A solar cell assembly for focusing incident radiation on a solar cell. The assembly comprises a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces. The first surface is transparent to allow incident radiation to pass into the reflective member. The second surface has a plurality of reflective portions positioned to receive the radiation and reflect and focus the radiation toward the first surface. The radiation strikes the first surface at an angle greater than a critical angle of the first surface and is reflected and focused back toward the second surface. The assembly further comprises a solar cell positioned at least proximate to the reflective member to receive the radiation reflected and focused from the first surface of the reflective member and generate electric current from the radiation.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
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a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being substantially transparent, the second surface having a transparent portion and a plurality of opaque reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions being canted at least partially toward each other to receive radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and focus and reflect the radiation to form focused radiation directed toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the focused radiation away from the first surface, the focused radiation converging as it moves away from the first surface; and a solar cell having a radiation receiving surface affixed to the transparent portion of the second surface of the reflective member and positioned to receive the focused radiation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
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a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being at least partially transparent, the second surface having a plurality of reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions being positioned to receive radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and converge and reflect the radiation to form converged radiation directed toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the converged radiation away from the first surface, the converged radiation converging as it moves away from the first surface; and a solar cell positioned at least proximate to the reflective member, the solar cell having a radiation receiving surface positioned to receive the converged radiation directed away from the first surface and generate an electrical current therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
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a solar cell having a radiation receiving surface positioned to receive radiation and generate electrical current therefrom; a reflective layer having a substantially transparent first surface and a second surface opposite the first, the second surface having a bonding portion bonded to the radiation receiving surface of the solar cell, and a plurality of spaced apart reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions positioned to receive a portion of radiation passing through the reflective layer from the first surface to the second surface and reflectively redirect the radiation portion along a reflected path extending away from the second surface, the reflected paths approaching each other as they extend away from the second surface; and a substantially transparent support layer having a first surface bonded to the first surface of the reflective layer and a second surface opposite the first, the support layer having an index of reffaction sufficient to receive the radiation portions reflected from the reflective layer and redirect by total internal reflection the radiation portions along redirected paths extending away from the first surface toward solar cell, the redirected paths approaching each other as they extend away from the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
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a solar cell having a radiation receiving surface positioned to receive radiation and generate electrical current therefrom; a reflective layer having a substantially transparent first surface and a second surface opposite the first, the second surface having a bonding portion bonded to the radiation receiving surface of the solar cell and a plurality of spaced apart reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions positioned to receive a portion of radiation passing through the reflective layer from the first surface to the second surface and reflectively redirect radiation portion along a reflected path extending away from the second surface, the reflected paths approaching each other as they extend away from the second surface, the first surface of the reflective layer having an index of refraction sufficient to receive the radiation portions reflected from the second surface thereof and redirect the radiation portions by total internal reflection toward the solar cell, the radiation portions converging as they move away from the first surface. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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37. A solar cell assembly, comprising:
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first and second spaced apart solar cells, each having a radiation receiving surface; and a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being substantially transparent, the second surface having first and second transparent portions bonded to the radiation receiving surfaces of the first and second solar cells, respectively, the second surface further having a plurality of opaque reflective units, each reflective portion having a first facet and an adjacent second facet, each of the first facets having a different angular orientation relative to the first surface to collectively receive a first portion of radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and reflectively focus and redirect the first portion of radiation toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the first radiation portion away from the first surface toward the first solar cell, the first radiation portion converging as it moves away from the first surface, each of the second facets having a different angular orientation relative to the first surface to collectively receive a second portion of radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and reflectively focus and redirect the second portion of radiation toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the second radiation portion away from the first surface toward the second solar cell, the second radiation portion converging as it moves away from the first surface.
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38. A reflective assembly for focusing radiation, comprising:
a reflective member having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being at least partially transparent, the second surface having a plurality of reflective portions, neighboring reflective portions being canted at different angles relative to the first surface to receive radiation passing through the first surface of the reflective member and focus and reflect the radiation to form focused radiation directed toward the first surface at an angle relative to the first surface greater than a critical angle of the first surface, the first surface being positioned to direct the focused radiation away from the first surface, the focused radiation converging as it moves away from the first surface.
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39. A method for focusing radiation on a radiation receiving surface of a solar cell, comprising:
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directing the radiation through a substantially transparent first surface of a reflective member toward a second surface of the reflective member opposite the first surface; reflecting a first portion of the radiation away from a first opaque portion of the second surface to form a first portion of reflected radiation directed toward the first surface; reflecting a second portion of the radiation away from a second opaque portion of the second surface adjacent the first portion to form a second portion of reflected radiation directed toward the first surface and toward the first portion of reflected radiation; and reflecting the first and second reflected radiation portions at the first surface to direct the reflected radiation portions toward each other and toward the receiving surface of the solar cell. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification