Thin film reflective coating pinning arrangement
AssigneeSkyline Solar, Inc.
InventorsMarc A. Finot, Harold D. Ackler
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Abstract
In one aspect of the present invention, a reflector for use in a solar collector will be described. The reflector includes a thin film reflective coating that is positioned on a layer. For example, the layer may be a substrate that physically supports the reflective coating or a protective layer. There are multiple spaced apart pinning regions that are distributed through an interface between the layer and the thin film reflective coating. The pinning regions locally anchor the reflective coating to the layer. Some aspects of the present invention relate to the use of pinning regions in other types of optical or electrical components.
Claims20
A reflector for use in a solar collector, comprising:
- a layer;
- a thin film reflective coating adhered to the layer, the thin film reflective coating being positioned on and in direct contact with the layer;
- and
- a multiplicity of spaced apart pinning regions that are distributed through an interface between the thin film reflective coating and the layer, wherein the pinning regions locally anchor the thin film reflective coating to the layer and wherein the adhesive strength of the pinning regions to the layer is greater than the adhesive strength of the thin film reflective coating to the layer.
A reflector for use in a solar collector, comprising:
- a layer;
- a thin film reflective coating adhered to the layer, the thin film reflective coating being positioned on and in direct contact with the layer;
- and
- a pinning structure that extends continuously along the periphery of the reflector and is distributed through an interface between the thin film reflective coating and the layer, the pinning structure locally anchoring the thin film reflective coating to the layer, wherein the continuous pinning structure is arranged to help seal edge regions of the reflector and wherein the adhesive strength of the pinning structure to the layer is greater than the adhesive strength of the thin film reflective coating to the layer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.