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US 5,877,874 AGranted
Device for concentrating optical radiation
AssigneeTerraSun L.L.C.
InventorGlenn A. Rosenberg
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AssigneeTerraSun L.L.C.
InventorGlenn A. Rosenberg
Estimating the term…
A holographic planar concentrator (HPC) for collecting and concentrating optical radiation is provided. The holographic planar concentrator comprises a planar highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted on a surface thereof. The multiplexed holographic optical film has recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures having one or more regions which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed. Two or more of the regions may be configured to provide spatial multiplexing. The HPC is fabricated by: (a) recording the plurality of diffractive structures in the multiplexed holographic optical film employing angular, spectral, and, optionally, spatial multiplexing techniques; and (b) mounting the multiplexed holographic optical film on one surface of the highly transparent plate. The recording of the plurality of diffractive structures is tailored to the intended orientation of the holographic planar concentrator to solar energy. The HPC is mounted in the intended orientation for collecting solar energy and at least one solar energy-collecting device is mounted along at least one edge of the holographic planar concentrator. Examples of suitable solar energy-collecting devices include photovoltaic cells and fiber optic lightguides for transmitting collected light into an interior of a building for illumination purposes and for transmitting collected solar radiation into a hot water tank for heating. The HPC permits efficient collection of solar energy without expensive requirements, while minimizing energy losses.
A holographic planar concentrator for collecting and concentrating optical radiation, said holographic planar concentrator comprising a planar highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted on a surface thereof to form a light guiding structure, said at least one multiplexed holographic optical film having recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures having two or more regions which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed, said multiplexed hologram adapted to couple said optical radiation into said planar highly transparent plate such that said optical radiation is not lost and travels through both said planar highly transparent plate and said multiplexed holographic optical film, said multiplexed holographic film being multiplexed to reduce recoupling losses in said holographic planar concentrator.
A holographic planar concentrator for collecting and concentrating optical radiation, said holographic planar concentrator comprising a planar highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted on a surface thereof to form a waveguiding structure, said at least one multiplexed holographic optical film having recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures having one or more regions which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed, said multiplexed hologram adapted to couple said optical radiation into said planar highly transparent plate at a small trapping angle such that said optical radiation travels through both said planar highly transparent plate and said multiplexed holographic optical film.
A method of fabricating a holographic planar concentrator comprising a highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted thereon to form a waveguiding structure, said at least one multiplexed holographic optical film having recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed, said method comprising:
A method of using a holographic planar concentrator comprising a highly transparent plate and at least one multiplexed holographic optical film mounted thereon to form a waveguiding structure, said at least one multiplexed holographic optical film having recorded therein a plurality of diffractive structures which are angularly and spectrally multiplexed, said method comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.