Back to results
US 2014/0190552 A1Published application
Variable Optical Density Solar Collector
AssigneeJudith Campbell
InventorsHarry R. Campbell, Judy Campbell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention described here is a variable optical density solar collector optimized to be used in a nominally vertical orientation and in synergy with an adjacent, complementary solar concentrator.
Claims5
A device and method of fabrication for the collection of solar energy;
- a solar energy collector array of collector elements employed in a variably transparent solar collector panel to be utilized in a predominantly vertical orientation comprising:
- a) said solar collector elements, designed and configured to maximize solar energy collected from concentrated sunlight via a complementary adjacent solar concentrator, whose concentrating elements correspond in size and location to the collector elements;
- b) the number, configuration, orientation of the collector elements, and their density in the solar collector array, may be varied from one area of the array to another providing varied light transmission and transparency;
- c) said collector element shape being based on the direction of the installation relative to the sun's path through the sky, at the latitude of the installation, during the daytime cycle in all seasons, comprising:
- i.) said solar collector elements, each of whose shape is approximately a crescent;
- ii.) the length of each solar collector element is determined by the travel length of the focal spot from the sun traced on the collector panel through a corresponding adjacent concentrator element at the summer solstice for the latitude of installation;
- iii.) the width of each solar collector element is determined by the focal spot from the sun on the collector panel through a corresponding adjacent concentrator element, the width of each collector element being determined by the focal spot traced throughout the year at the latitude of installation.
4 more elements
A method of fabrication for variably transparent solar collection arrays comprising:
- a. forming a first conductive layer overlying a transparent or semitransparent substrate;
- b. next deposit one or more photovoltaic semiconductor layers overlying the conductive layer;
- c. then a P-N or N-P junction layer is formed;
- d. then a second conductive layer is applied overlying the prior structure;
- e. then apply a mask to the structure describing the array of collector cells and the connections between them;
- f. then etch all unmasked material above the substrate by means comprising photolithography or laser ablation, exposing collector elements, connections, and contacts, connecting the collector elements forming a complete electrical circuit;
- g. optionally a transparent or semitransparent electrically insulating material is then deposited over the entire area, filling the voids between collector elements and providing a thin transparent or semitransparent protective layer over the structure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.