Solar energy concentrator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A solar concentrator, comprising:
- a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including;
(a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and
(b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and
the solar concentrator further including;
a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.
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Abstract
A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a reflective component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A solar concentrator, comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including; (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and
the solar concentrator further including;a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A solar concentrator, comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including; (a) a refractive concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and
the solar concentrator further including;a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.
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19. A solar concentrator, comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including; (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and (b) a redirecting element comprised of (1) a first redirecting element portion receiving repositioned light from the concentrator and having a discontinuous spatial surface and disposed substantially opposed to the concentrator element; and
the first redirecting element further repositioning the light; and
(2) a second redirecting element portion that receives the repositioned light from the first redirecting element and further repositions the light, wherein the redirecting element includes a contiguous connection between at least a portion of each of the adjacent redirecting elements with the light avoiding repositioning within the contiguous connection; and
the solar concentrator further including;a stepped waveguide physically separated from the concentrator element and the waveguide for receiving the repositioned light from the second redirecting element portion, thereby enabling vertical stacking of separately manufactured parts of the solar concentrator. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A solar concentrator comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrating element comprised of a combination of (1) a surface between a high index material and a low index material enabling refraction of input light and (2) a parabolic reflective surface which repositions the input light with the combination outputting the light without the light being repositioned more than once by the parabolic reflective surface; a waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element and the waveguide including top and bottom walls which are substantially parallel to each other, thereby preserving concentration of the light for delivery to a receiver.
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32. A solar concentrator, comprising:
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a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and
the solar concentrator further including;a stepped waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element; wherein the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide each form contiguous horizontal layers disposed in a vertical stack.
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Specification