# US 2009/0116013 A1 · Apparatus for alignment of optical elements in an array > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0116013 A1 - Document ID: US20090116013A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/546,270 - Filed: 2006-10-11 - Published: 2009-05-07 - Earliest claimed: 2006-08-11 - Assignees: Sol Focus, Inc. - Inventors: Lawrence Tom; Stephen J. Horne; Mark James Spencer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090116013A1 ## CPC - G01B 11/27: for testing the alignment of axes {(means for centering or aligning a light guide within a ferrule G02B6/3834)} - H02S 40/22: Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42) - H10F 77/488: {Reflecting light-concentrating means, e.g. parabolic mirrors or concentrators using total internal reflection} - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Apparatus for fabricating an array of aligned optical elements. A base tool is used to receive and align a planar material such as a glass sheet. A template tool is used to deposit secondary mirrors and adhesive patches onto the glass sheet. The adhesive patches are used to receive and mount primary mirrors. The primary mirrors are selectively held by an assembly tool. The primary mirrors are brought into alignment with the glass sheet by using actuators on the base tool and by using a registration mechanism to align the assembly tool with the glass sheet. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for aligning optical components in an array, the apparatus comprising: a planar sheet; a first set of through holes in the planar sheet, wherein the through holes in the first set are used to position secondary mirrors onto a surface by using the planar sheet as a template; and a second set of through holes in the planar sheet, wherein the second set of through holes includes groups of through holes, wherein each group of through holes is associated with a different hole in the first set, wherein the through holes in a particular group in the second set are used to position adhesive patches in a predetermined relationship to a corresponding secondary mirror placed onto the surface using the planar sheet. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the surface is comprised of optically transparent material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the adhesive patches are used to secure a primary mirror to the surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the particular primary mirror reflects sunlight onto the corresponding secondary mirror. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the corresponding secondary mirror reflects the sunlight onto a photovoltaic cell. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the planar sheet is registered with the surface by using an external tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: one or more registration marks for optically aligning the planar sheet with the material. ### Claim 8 An apparatus for aligning optical components in an array, the apparatus comprising: a first registration mechanism for registering a material having a surface, wherein the first registration mechanism also provides for registering a template in alignment with the material, wherein the template provides for depositing a plurality of first optical elements and for determining a mounting position for a plurality of second optical elements; and a second registration mechanism for registering an assembly in alignment with the material, wherein the assembly deposits the second optical elements in a predetermined alignment with at least one first optical elements according to the determined mounting positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first registration mechanism includes a corner of the apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first registration mechanism includes an edge of the apparatus. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second registration mechanism includes a pillar having a face, wherein registration uses the face. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second registration mechanism includes an actuator for selectively lowering the assembly into proximity with the material. ### Claim 13 An apparatus for aligning an array of optical elements, the apparatus comprising: means for selectively holding a plurality of primary mirror to the apparatus; means for registering the plurality of primary mirrors to a plurality of secondary mirrors. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the apparatus is substantially rectangular, wherein the means for registering includes: three tabs at three different edges of the apparatus, wherein the tabs each have an edge that is used for registering the plurality of primary mirrors to the plurality of secondary mirrors. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the means for selectively holding includes selective application of a low pressure area to a surface of each primary mirror. ### Claim 16 An apparatus for aligning optical components for use in a photovoltaic array, the apparatus comprising: a base tool for receiving a sheet of material; a template tool for depositing a plurality of secondary mirrors onto the sheet of material and for depositing adhesive patches onto the sheet of material for securing primary mirrors, wherein each primary mirror is associated with a different one of the secondary mirrors; and an assembly tool for selectively holding the primary mirrors, wherein the base tool includes a mechanism to bring the assembly tool into alignment with the sheet of material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sheet of material includes a glass sheet. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the assembly tool uses low pressure areas to selectively hold the primary mirrors. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising one or more actuators for selectively bringing the assembly tool into alignment with the sheet of material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising one or more registration marks on the sheet of material for aligning at least one of the tools.