METHOD TO IMPROVE PV AESTHETICS AND EFFICIENCY
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a:
- rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising;
a photovoltaic material;
a conductor in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material, wherein the conductor reflects incident light;
a total-internal-reflection surface disposed forward of the conductor and the photovoltaic material; and
microstructure rearward the total-internal-reflection surface, the microstructure configured to reflect light so that at least some reflected light is incident upon the total-internal-reflection surface at an angle greater than a critical angle of the total-internal-reflection surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise a photovoltaic device of improved efficiency. The photovoltaic device comprises a photovoltaic material, a reflective conductor, a total-internal-reflection surface and a microstructure. The microstructure reflects light so that some of the reflected light is incident upon the total-internal-reflection surface at an angle greater than the critical angle. In some embodiments, the photovoltaic device has a photovoltaic material, a reflective conductor, and a surface forward the conductor configured to redirect light rays directed toward the conductor such that redirected light is instead incident on the photovoltaic material. Various embodiments include a method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device of improved efficiency. Other embodiments are also described.
143 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a:
- rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising;
a photovoltaic material; a conductor in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material, wherein the conductor reflects incident light; a total-internal-reflection surface disposed forward of the conductor and the photovoltaic material; and microstructure rearward the total-internal-reflection surface, the microstructure configured to reflect light so that at least some reflected light is incident upon the total-internal-reflection surface at an angle greater than a critical angle of the total-internal-reflection surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
- rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising;
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11. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising:
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means for generating electricity from incident light; means for conducting electricity in electrical contact with the electricity generating means, wherein the conducting means reflects incident light; means for totally internally reflecting light disposed forward of the conducting and the electricity generating means; and means for reflecting light rearward the total-internal-reflecting means, the reflecting means configured to reflect light so that at least some reflected light is incident upon the total-internal-reflecting means at an angle greater than a critical angle of the total-internal-reflecting means. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising:
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a photovoltaic material; a conductor forward the photovoltaic material and in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material; and a surface forward the conductor configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the conductor such that redirected light is instead incident on the photovoltaic material. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising:
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means for generating electricity from incident light; means for conducting electricity forward the electricity generating means and in electrical contact with the electricity generating means; and means for redirecting light forward the conducting means, the redirecting means configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the conducting means such that redirected light is instead incident on the electricity generating means. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising:
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providing a conductor disposed with respect to a photovoltaic material so as to be in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material, wherein the conductor reflects incident light; disposing a total-internal-reflection surface forward of the conductor and the photovoltaic material; and disposing microstructure rearward the total-internal-reflection surface, wherein the microstructure is configured to reflect light so that at least some reflected light is incident upon the total-internal-reflection surface at an angle greater than a critical angle of the total-internal-reflection surface. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising:
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providing a conductor disposed with respect to a photovoltaic material so as to be in electrical contact with the photovoltaic material, wherein the conductor reflects incident light; and disposing a surface forward the conductor, wherein the surface is configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the conductor such that redirected light is instead incident on the photovoltaic material. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A photovoltaic array having a forward side on which light is incident and a rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic array comprising:
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a gap between two spaced apart pieces of photovoltaic material; and a surface forward the gap configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the gap such that redirected light is instead incident on the photovoltaic material. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A photovoltaic device having a forward side on which light is incident and a rearward side opposite the forward side, the photovoltaic device comprising:
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a gap between two spaced apart means for generating electricity; and means for redirecting light forward the gap, the redirecting means configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the gap such that redirected light is instead incident on the electricity generating means. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method of manufacturing a photovoltaic device comprising:
disposing a surface forward a gap between spaced apart pieces of photovoltaic material, wherein the surface is configured to redirect incident light rays directed toward the gap such that redirected light is instead incident on the photovoltaic material. - View Dependent Claims (39)
Specification