Solar energy module

• US 8,809,670 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2009
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Ruei-Tang, Hwang, Gan-Lin, Tsai, Ping-Yuan, Chau, Joseph Lik-Hang
• Primary Examiner(s): KOLLIAS, ALEXANDER C
• Application Number:
  US12/626,896
• Publication Number:
  US 20100282296A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,725 Days
• Field of Search: 136/243, 136/244, 136/246, 136/252, 136/259, 136/261, 136/262
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0431 Signs, boards or panels connected to a pole
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/08 using both translucent and non-translucent layers
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1831 using more than one light source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1836 using a frame-like light source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1854 Light diffusing layer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1877 Stand-like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

A solar energy module is provided and includes a substrate comprising at least one light diffusion layer and a plurality of light guiding layers adjacent to the light diffusion layer, and solar chips disposed on the lateral surfaces of the substrate. Solar light enters the substrate and is diffused by the light diffusion layer, and the diffused solar light is reflected by an interface of the light diffusion layer and the light guiding layer and is collected by the solar chips. A part of the solar light enters the light guiding layers and is reflected by the interface of the light guiding layers, and the reflected light is collected by the solar chips.

Claims

1. A solar energy module, comprising

a substrate comprising at least one light diffusion layer having a light incident side and a plurality of light guiding layers stacked on a side opposite to the light incident side of the at least one light diffusion layer, wherein the substrate has a transparency of 5% to 85%, and the at least one light diffusion layer comprises light scattering particles having an index of refraction different from a material of the at least one light diffusion layer;

solar chips disposed on four lateral surfaces of the at least one light diffusion layer and the plurality of light guiding layers of the substrate,

arranged such that solar light entering the at least one light diffusion layer of the substrate from the light incident side is diffused by the light scattering particles, and then a part of the diffused solar light is reflected within the at least one light diffusion layer by an interface of the at least one light diffusion layer and the plurality of light guiding layers to be collected by the solar chips disposed on the four lateral surfaces of the at least one light diffusion layer, and another part of the diffused solar light enters the plurality of light guiding layers from the at least one light diffusion layer and is reflected by an interface of the plurality of light guiding layers, and the reflected light is collected by the solar chips disposed on the four lateral surfaces of the plurality of light guiding layers.

2. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light guiding layers are made of acrylic material, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyimide, silicon resin or glass.

3. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solar chips comprise III-V column solar chips, single crystal silicon solar chips, poly crystal silicon solar chips or CIGS solar chips.

4. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index of refraction of the at least one light diffusion layer is different from the index of refraction of the plurality of light guiding layers.

5. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein a heat insulation layer is formed on a surface of the substrate opposite to a surface of the substrate through which solar light enters the substrate.

6. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat insulation layer reflects the diffused solar light.

7. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one light diffusion layer is made of acrylic material, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polyimide or silicon resin.

8. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one light diffusion layer comprises a mixed material of two materials with different index of refractions.

9. The solar energy module as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one light diffusion layer is an optical composite structure.