# US 2014/0190553 A1 · Method and apparatus for generating solarpower

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- Number: US 2014/0190553 A1
- Document ID: US20140190553A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/854,271
- Filed: 2013-04-01
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-10
- Inventors: Christoph Karl La Due
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190553A1

## CPC

- H10F 77/484: {Refractive light-concentrating means, e.g. lenses}
- H02S 40/22: Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42)
- H02S 40/425: {using a gaseous or a liquid coolant, e.g. air flow ventilation, water circulation}
- H10F 19/00: Integrated devices, or assemblies of multiple devices, comprising at least one photovoltaic cell covered by group H10F10/00, e.g. photovoltaic modules
- Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators
- H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION
- 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)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A light energy collection apparatus, comprising a one or more concentrating optics to transfer light energy from a source of the light energy to a target of the light energy. A substrate having a photovoltaic cell (PVC) deposited thereon is the target. The PVC is to collect the light energy to be transferred from the one or more concentrating optics. A central drive axle is coupled to the substrate and a motor is coupled to the central drive axle to rotate the central drive axle about a fixed axis to position the substrate, and thereby the PVC, near the one or more concentrating optics to collect the light energy to be transferred therefrom.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light energy collection apparatus, comprising:
a plurality of concentrating optics each arranged substantially equidistant from a point of origin to transfer light energy from a source of the light energy to a target of the light energy;
a substrate having a photovoltaic cell (PVC) deposited thereon as the target, the substrate concentric to the plurality of concentrating optics, wherein the PVC to collect the light energy to be transferred from each of the plurality of concentrating optics;
a central drive axle coupled to the substrate; and
a motor coupled to the central drive axle to rotate the central drive axle about a fixed axis to position, in turn, the substrate, and thereby the PVC, near each of the plurality of concentrating optics to collect the light energy to be transferred therefrom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light energy is one of sunlight, lamplight, infrared light, or other electromagnetic radiation in or near the visible range of light.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concentrating optics comprises a plurality of, imaging-, non-imaging-, or anidolic optics.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concentrating optics is each arranged substantially equidistant from a point of origin to either simultaneously, irregularly, or periodically, transfer light energy from the source of the light energy to the target of the light energy.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of concentrating optics is fixedly arranged.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the plurality of concentrating optics is fixedly arranged in a shape of one of a polygon, disc, cone, cylinder, or pyramid.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein outer surfaces or outer edges of the plurality of concentrating optics define a circumference, c1, of a circle, and wherein a center of the circle is at the point of origin.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a shape of the substrate is one of a polygon, disc, cone, cylinder, or pyramid.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein outer surfaces or outer edges of the substrate defines a second circumference, c2, of a second circle, wherein a maximum circumference for the circumference c2 is less than the circumference c1, such that the PVC can collect light energy to be transferred from each of the plurality of concentrating optics.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the maximum circumference for the circumference c2 is less than the circumference c1, such that the PVC can optimally collect light energy to be transferred from each of the plurality of concentrating optics.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein an area of a surface of each of the plurality of concentrating optics may vary for one or more of the plurality of concentrating optics, and may be greater than, equal to, or less than, an area of a surface of the PVC.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the PVC and each of the plurality of concentrating optics is a convex polygon.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the convex polygon is cyclic, equilateral, or regular.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor positions, in turn, the PVC near each of the plurality of concentrating optics at a rate sufficient to add an additional amount of electrical energy stored by the PVC from light energy received from a most recent near one of the plurality of concentrating optics to a first amount of electrical energy stored by the PVC from light energy received from a previously near one of the plurality of concentrating optics.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus in claim 1, wherein the motor positions, in turn, the PVC near each of the plurality of concentrating optics at a rate sufficient to avoid exceeding a maximum threshold surface temperature for the PVC.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor spins the PVC past each of the plurality of concentrating optics at a rate sufficient to reduce a surface temperature of the PVC.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:
a base rotatably coupled to the central drive axle;
a battery to store electrical power generated by the PVC;
a charge controller coupled to the PVC and battery to fee direct current electricity from the PVC to the battery; and
a power inverter coupled to the battery to convert direct current electricity output by the battery to alternating current electricity for input to an electrical appliance.

### Claim 18 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the substrate has further deposited thereon a plurality of additional PVCs, wherein each of the plurality of additional PVCs is a separate target, and wherein each of the plurality of additional PVCs is to collect the light energy to be transferred from each of the plurality of concentrating optics.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a location of the source of light energy is one of a dynamic location or a static location.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the dynamic location of the source of light energy may vary in one of azimuth, altitude, or both azimuth and altitude.

### Claim 21

A light energy collection apparatus, comprising:
a concentrating optic to transfer light energy from a source of the light energy to a target of the light energy;
a substrate having a photovoltaic cell (PVC) deposited thereon as the target, the substrate proximate to the concentrating optic, wherein the PVC to collect the light energy to be transferred from the concentrating optic;
a central drive axle coupled to the substrate; and
a motor coupled to the central drive axle to rotate the central drive axle about a fixed axis to position, in turn, the substrate, and thereby the PVC, near the concentrating optic to collect the light energy to be transferred therefrom, wherein the motor rotates the PVC at a rate sufficient to at least maintain a surface temperature of the PVC.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the light energy is one of sunlight, lamplight, infrared light, or other electromagnetic radiation in or near the visible range of light.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the concentrating optic comprises an imaging-, non-imaging-, or anidolic optic.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the concentrating optic is fixedly arranged.

### Claim 25 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein a shape of the substrate is one of a polygon, disc, cone, cylinder, or pyramid.

### Claim 26 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the substrate is proximate to the concentrating optic such that the PVC can optimally collect light energy to be transferred from the concentrating optic.

### Claim 27 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein an area of a surface of the concentrating optic may be greater than, equal to, or less than, an area of a surface of the PVC.

### Claim 28 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the PVC, and the concentrating optic, is a convex polygon.

### Claim 29 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the motor repeatedly positions the PVC near the concentrating optic at a rate sufficient to add an additional amount of electrical energy stored by the PVC from light energy received from the concentrating optic to a first amount of electrical energy stored by the PVC from light energy received from the concentrating optic.

### Claim 30 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:
a base rotatably coupled to the central drive axle;
a battery to store electrical power generated by the PVC;
a charge controller coupled to the PVC and battery to feed direct current electricity from the PVC to the battery; and
a power inverter coupled to the battery to convert direct current electricity output by the battery to alternating current electricity for input to an electrical appliance.

### Claim 31 (depends on 21)

The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the substrate has further deposited thereon a plurality of additional PVCs, wherein each of the plurality of additional PVCs is a separate target, and wherein each of the plurality of additional PVCs is to collect the light energy to be transferred from the concentrating optic.