Panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity
AssigneeTropiglas Technologies Ltd
InventorKamal ALAMEH
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure provides a panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity. The panel structure comprises a panel material that has a light receiving surface. The panel material is at least partially transmissive for light having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range. The panel structure further comprises a photovoltaic material being positioned in or at the panel material. The photovoltaic material is distributed between transmissive areas that are void of the photovoltaic material such that features of the photovoltaic material are sufficiently narrow to be at least largely invisible to the naked eye.
Claims26
A panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity, the panel structure comprising:
- a panel material having a light receiving surface and at least one edge surface, the panel material being at least partially transmissive for light having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range;
- and
- a photovoltaic material being positioned in, at, or in the proximity of the panel material, the photovoltaic material being distributed between transmissive areas that are void of the photovoltaic material such that features of the photovoltaic material are sufficiently narrow to be at least largely invisible to the naked eye.
The panel structure of any one of the preceding claims wherein the photovoltaic material forms a diffractive element that is arranged to absorb a portion of received light to generate electricity and deflect a portion of the received light towards the at least one edge surface of the panel material.
The panel structure of any one of the preceding claims comprising further photovoltaic material that is positioned at the least one edge surface of the panel material to receive at least a portion of the deflected light.
The panel structure of any one of the preceding claims wherein the photovoltaic material is provided in the form of a thin film material and comprises CIS (Copper Indium Diselenide) or CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Diselenide).
The panel structure of any one of the preceding claims wherein the photovoltaic material of the diffractive element forms a periodic or quasiperiodic arrangement that determines the period of the diffractive grating.
A panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity, the panel structure comprising:
- a panel material having a light receiving surface and at least one edge surface, the panel material being at least partially transmissive for light having a wavelength in the visible wavelength range;
- a diffractive element being positioned in, at or in the proximity of the panel material, the diffractive element comprising a periodic or quasi-periodic arrangement of a photovoltaic material that is arranged to absorb a portion of the received light to generate electricity and the diffractive element being arranged to deflect a portion of the received light towards the at least one edge surface of the panel material.
A method of fabricating a panel structure for receiving light and generating electricity, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a panel that is at least partially transmissive for visible light, the panel having a major surface with grooves or recesses that define a periodic or quasiperiodic structure such that the major surface has upper and lower surface portions,
- growing CIS or CIGS material on the major surface;
- and
- removing the CIS or CIGS material from the upper surface portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.