# US 2017/0288080 A1 · Luminescent Electricity-Generating Window for Plant Growth > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2017/0288080 A1 - Document ID: US20170288080A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/627,100 - Filed: 2017-06-19 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-02-03 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Sue A. Carter; Glenn B. Alers; Michael E. Loik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170288080A1 ## CPC - H10F 77/45: Wavelength conversion means, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements - A01G 7/045: {with electric lighting} - A01G 9/243: {Collecting solar energy (in general F24S)} - A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)} - Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - Y02P 60/12: using renewable energies, e.g. solar water pumping - Y02P 60/14: Measures for saving energy, e.g. in green houses - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A window for a greenhouse is provided that is comprised of a sheet of luminescent material [104] and light-energy converter [103]. The sheet comprises one or more luminescent materials [104] that absorb the peak wavelengths of the sun, emitting the absorbed photons to wavelengths primarily between 600 and 690 nm where they are converted to electrical power and/or enhance plant production. The luminescent material [104] is also transparent to a fraction of the wavelengths in the blue and red-portion of the solar spectrum which are required for plant growth and flowering. An additional polymer layer may be added as a luminescent layer, diffuser and/or IR reflector to further enhance plant growth and electricity generation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A luminescent solar collector designed for both plant growth and electrical power generation, the luminescent solar collector comprising a luminescent sheet and a light energy converter optically coupled to the luminescent sheet; wherein the luminescent sheet comprises a polymer material containing single or multiple fluorescent material(s) dispersed therein, wherein the fluorescent material(s) absorbs greater than 50% of solar photons between 500 and 600 nm, absorbs less than 70% of solar photons between 410 and 490 nm, and absorbs less than 50% of solar photons between 620 and 680 nm, and wherein the polymer material transmits radiated light to the light energy converter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein the luminescent sheet is also optically connected to a substrate that is transparent between 400 and 700 nm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein the polymer material is comprised of a material containing poly (alkyl methacrylates), polycarbonate, fluorinated polymer or a derivative or combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material(s) emit at least 50% of radiated photons with wavelengths between 600 and 690 nm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein a percentage of solar photons absorbed by the fluorescent material(s) between 410 nm and 490 nm is less than a percentage of solar photons absorbed by the fluorescent material(s) between 500 and 600 nm, and wherein a percentage of solar photons absorbed by the fluorescent material(s) between 620 nm and 680 nm is less than a percentage of solar photons absorbed by the fluorescent material(s) between 500 and 600 nm. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein a concentration of the fluorescent material(s) in the polymer material, measured in weight percent, multiplied by the thickness of the luminescent sheet, measured in millimeters, is between 0.005 and 0.05. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein a photoactive surface of the light energy converter is mounted approximately parallel to a plane of the luminescent sheet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein a back surface of the light energy converter is mounted on a supportive frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, where a percentage of active area of the light energy converter to an active area of the luminescent sheet is between 5% and 35%. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, wherein the light energy converter is composed of silicon, gallium arsenide, copper indium gallium selenide or cadmium telluride photovoltaic. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, further comprising an additional transparent sheet positioned behind the light-energy converter for purposes of protection. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, further comprising a second luminescent sheet which contains a second fluorescent material which absorbs less than 50% of solar photons between 620 and 680 nm, and wherein the second luminescent sheet is optically coupled to the light energy converter. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1, further comprising additional single or multiple non-luminescent sheets which contain a light diffuser, an IR-absorber, a IR-reflector, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1 in which the backsheet material is textured to make the transmitted light diffuse. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The luminescent solar collector of claim 1 in which the ratio of red transmission between 620 and 680 nm to blue transmission between 410 nm and 490 nm is greater than 1. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) A luminescent solar collector of claim 1 that absorbs greater than 30% of the light in the far-red region between 700 nm and 900 nm.