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US 2015/0318818 A1Published application
Solar energy collection system
AssigneeSun Synchrony
InventorJAMES T. HOFFMAN
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AssigneeSun Synchrony
InventorJAMES T. HOFFMAN
Estimating the term…
A system for collecting solar energy using a plurality of energy collection elements arranged in a planar array within a stationary base structure, each comprising: an energy capture unit with optical means of focusing directional sunlight parallel to its axis onto one or more sunlight-to-electricity converters within itself, and means of sensing divergence of its axis from the sun's direction; and an angular positioning unit that orients said capture unit about two nested axes by slidably mounting two arcuate tracks in opposed and perpendicular arcuate slots, a convex track within said energy capture unit and a concave track within said base structure, each said slot equipped with a drive apparatus that engages its respective track and moves the positioner along it. The invention provides methods for determining the shapes and arrangement of such elements so as to maximize aperture efficiency while preventing collisions of adjacent elements.
A solar energy collection system comprising an 2-dimensional array of energy-collection elements supported in a base structure, each element equipped with an energy capture unit incorporating light-concentrating optics and light-to-electricity conversion means, a mount permitting tilting of the capture unit about two substantially perpendicular axes, and means of effecting tilt about each such axis;
A solar energy collection element using light-concentrating optics in conjunction with photovoltaic cells in a rigid energy capture unit supported on a 2-axis mount;
A method of creating a concentrating optical unit such that its aperture shape matches its profile shape in a plane perpendicular to its normal axis, and the unit's projection onto the a base plane for any set of tilts provided by a two-axis tracking mount also lies within that shape, by combining multiple optical components each having a different aperture and focal length but sharing a common optical axis and focal point, where said component apertures tile the said shape or section of it.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.