Light energy concentrator
OwnerFrank Bretl, John P. Whitlock +1inventors
InventorsFrank Bretl, John P. Whitlock, Stephan R. Clark
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for use with solar energy. An upper surface and a lower surface disposed there beneath have respective parabolic curvatures. The upper surface includes a coating and concentrates a first spectral portion of incident light upon a first target. The lower surface includes a reflective coating and concentrates a second spectral portion of the incident light upon a second target distinct from the first target. The first and second targets can be photovoltaic cells that are optimized for the respective photonic energies concentrated thereon.
Claims15
An apparatus, comprising:
- An upper surface to concentrate a first spectral content of incident light onto to a first target and to pass a second spectral content of the incident light through the upper surface;
- and
- a lower surface beneath and spaced apart from the upper surface, the lower surface to concentrate the second spectral content of incident light onto to a second target, the first spectral content defined by photonic energies different than that of the second spectral content.
A photovoltaic energy device, comprising:
- a first photovoltaic cell;
- a second photovoltaic cell spaced apart from the first photovoltaic cell;
- an upper parabolic surface including a coating material to concentrate some incident light energy onto the first photovoltaic cell and to permit some of the light energy to pass there through, the upper parabolic surface thermoformed from a plastic material;
- and
- a lower parabolic surface including a reflective material to concentrate the light energy passing through the upper parabolic surface onto the second photovoltaic cell, the lower parabolic surface thermoformed from a plastic material.
A method, comprising:
- concentrating a first photonic energy content of incident sunlight onto a first photovoltaic cell using a first parabolic structure;
- passing a second photonic energy content of the incident sunlight through the first parabolic structure;
- and
- concentrating the second photonic energy content onto a second photovoltaic cell using a second parabolic structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.