Spectrum-splitting and wavelength-shifting photovoltaic energy converting system suitable for direct and diffuse solar irradiation

Abstract

A photovoltaic energy converting system includes: (a) a first photovoltaic converter operable to receive incident solar radiation and convert to electricity those photons of the incident solar radiation having energies less than a predetermined bandgap energy; (b) a fluorescing member positioned for receiving reflected photons having reflected from the first photovoltaic converter, the fluorescing member being operable to produce, in response to the reflected photons, wavelength-shifted photons having energies less than the predetermined bandgap energy; and (c) a second photovoltaic converter operable to convert into electricity the wavelength-shifted photons. The system is thereby advantageously suitable for operation under either direct or diffuse solar irradiation.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.