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US 5,288,337 AGranted
Photovoltaic module with specular reflector
AssigneeSiemens Solar Industries, L.P.
InventorKim W. Mitchell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photovoltaic module having a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed behind a front cover portion to receive radiation has at least one specular reflector disposed alongside the cells to direct incident radiation back into the front cover portion and onto the photovoltaic cells for conversion to electrical energy. In a preferred embodiment, the specular reflectors have reflective surfaces of concave curvature configured to reflect incident radiation back into the front cover portion for internal reflection onto the photovoltaic cells.
Claims17
A photovoltaic module comprising:
- a light-receiving structure having a substantially transparent front cover portion;
- a plurality of photovoltaic cells disposed along a preselected plane behind and substantially parallel to the front cover portion to receive radiation transmitted thereby;
- a plurality of specular reflectors oblique to said preselected plane and disposed alongside the photovoltaic cells to direct radiation incident thereon back into the front cover portion and onto the photovoltaic cells for conversion to electrical energy;
- said specular reflectors extending behind said preselected plane.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.