Photovoltaic apparatus including an optical element producing a modulated region of light intensity

An integrated photovoltaic cell assembly comprising:

• an optical coupler device operative to direct light incident thereon, the optical coupler device having a planar surface thereon;
• a photovoltaic cell having at least one semiconductor junction operative to produce electrical energy in response to incident radiation, the photovoltaic cell having at least one obstruction to incident light on a planar surface thereof;
• and
• a plano-piano optical element a first surface of which is mounted in light receptive relationship to the planar surface of the optical coupler device and a second surface of which is mounted to the planar surface of the photovoltaic cell, the plano- plano optical element itself comprising:
• a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being formed from a first material having an index of refraction n1, the second portion being formed from a second material having an index of refraction of refraction n2,
• one index of refraction being greater than the other index of refraction, with both indices of refraction being greater than the index of refraction of air,
• each portion of the body having a substantially planar exterior surface formed thereon, each surface defining one of a pair of opposed major surfaces of the optical element,
• the first and second portions being arranged such that an interface with at least one cusp is defined within the optical element between the first and second materials,
• the cusp having an apex pointed toward the material having the greater index of refraction,
• the cusp being operative to redirect and to produce a region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element in response to light received from the optical coupler device that is incident on the first surface of the optical element,
• the region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element being aligned with the obstruction on the photovoltaic cell while the redirected light is incident upon another region of the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

A photovoltaic module comprising:

• a housing;
• a primary optics arrangement for concentrating incident light mounted to the housing;
• an optical coupler device disposed within the housing, the optical coupler device being operative to direct light incident thereon from the primary optics arrangement, the optical coupler device having a planar surface thereon;
• a photovoltaic cell having at least one semiconductor junction operative to produce electrical energy in response to incident radiation, the photovoltaic cell having at least one obstruction to incident light on a planar surface thereof;
• and
• a plano-piano optical element a first surface of which is mounted in light receptive relationship to the planar surface of the optical coupler device and a second surface of which is mounted to the planar surface of the photovoltaic cell, the plano- plano optical element itself comprising:
• a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being formed from a first material having an index of refraction n1, the second portion being formed from a second material having an index of refraction of refraction n2,
• one index of refraction being greater than the other index of refraction, with both indices of refraction being greater than the index of refraction of air,
• each portion of the body having a substantially planar exterior surface formed thereon, each surface defining one of a pair of opposed major surfaces of the optical element,
• the first and second portions being arranged such that an interface with at least one cusp is defined within the optical element between the first and second materials,
• the cusp having an apex pointed toward the material having the greater index of refraction,
• the cusp being operative to redirect and to produce a region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element in response to light received from the optical coupler device that is incident on the first surface of the optical element,
• the region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element being aligned with the obstruction on the photovoltaic cell while the redirected light is incident upon another region of the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

A concentrating photovoltaic system comprising:

• a module housing;
• a tracker for moving the housing in tracking relationship to a light source;
• a primary optics arrangement for concentrating incident light mounted to the housing;
• an optical coupler device disposed within the housing, the optical coupler device being operative to direct light incident thereon from the primary optics arrangement, the optical coupler device having a planar surface thereon;
• a photovoltaic cell having at least one semiconductor junction operative to produce electrical energy in response to incident radiation, the photovoltaic cell having at least one obstruction to incident light on a planar surface thereof;
• and
• a plano-piano optical element a first surface of which is mounted in light receptive relationship to the planar surface of the optical coupler device and a second surface of which is mounted to the planar surface of the photovoltaic cell, the plano- plano optical element itself comprising:
• a body having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being formed from a first material having an index of refraction n1, the second portion being formed from a second material having an index of refraction of refraction n2,
• one index of refraction being greater than the other index of refraction, with both indices of refraction being greater than the index of refraction of air,
• each portion of the body having a substantially planar exterior surface formed thereon, each surface defining one of a pair of opposed major surfaces of the optical element,
• the first and second portions being arranged such that an interface with at least one cusp is defined within the optical element between the first and second materials,
• the cusp having an apex pointed toward the material having the greater index of refraction,
• the cusp being operative to redirect and to produce a region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element in response to light received from the optical coupler device that is incident on the first surface of the optical element,
• the region of modulated light exiting the second surface of the optical element being aligned with the obstruction on the photovoltaic cell while the redirected light is incident upon another region of the surface of the photovoltaic cell.