# US 9,000,292 B2 · Device for adaptable wavelength conversion and a solar cell > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,000,292 B2 - Document ID: US9000292B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/127,789 - Filed: 2009-11-10 - Published: 2011-09-01 - Granted: 2015-04-07 - Earliest claimed: 2008-11-13 - Assignees: Koninklijke Philips N.V. - Applicants: Rogier A. H. Niessen; Willem F. Pasveer; Johan H. Klootwijk - Inventors: Rogier A. H. Niessen; Willem F. Pasveer; Johan H. Klootwijk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9000292B2 ## CPC - H10F 77/45: Wavelength conversion means, e.g. by using luminescent material, fluorescent concentrators or up-conversion arrangements - G02B 5/24: Liquid filters (G02B5/23 takes precedence) - G02B 26/004: {based on a displacement or a deformation of a fluid} - H10F 77/496: {Luminescent members, e.g. fluorescent sheets (wavelength conversion means for photovoltaic cells H10F77/45)} - G02F 1/13324: {Circuits comprising solar cells} - G02F 1/353: {Frequency conversion, i.e. wherein a light beam is generated with frequency components different from those of the incident light beams} - Y02E 10/52: PV systems with concentrators - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A device for adaptable wavelength conversion and a device for energy conversion are described. The device for adaptable wavelength conversion comprises at least one layer comprising a wavelength converting material and arranged to receive and re-emit a light beam. The device is further arranged to manipulate the at least one layer to operate in a closed state, in which a surface of the at least one layer is substantially covered with the wavelength converting material and to operate in an open state, in which the surface of the at least one layer is substantially uncovered with the wavelength converting material. The device for adaptable wavelength conversion can be applied in combination with a solar cell or photovoltaic cell thereby enabling the solar cell to receive radiation having a suitable spectrum under varying lighting conditions. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device for energy conversion, comprising: a device for adaptable wavelength conversion comprising at least one layer comprising a wavelength converting material and arranged to receive a first electromagnetic radiation, within and outside the visible spectrum, and re-emit a second electromagnetic radiation, wherein the device is arranged to manipulate the at least one layer to operate in a closed state, in which a surface of the at least one layer is substantially covered with the wavelength converting material and to operate in an open state, in which the surface of the at least one layer is substantially uncovered with the wavelength converting material; a solar cell configured to receive the second electromagnetic radiation; a control unit; and a spectrum detector, the spectrum detector configured to determine a frequency property of the first electromagnetic radiation and provide a signal including information about a specific spectrum of the first electromagnetic radiation to the control unit, and the control unit configured to control the device for adaptable wavelength conversion to switch between operating in the closed state and operating in the open state based on the signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the wavelength converting material is arranged to absorb an amount of energy of the first electromagnetic radiation with a first specific spectrum of wavelengths and to re-emit at least partially the amount of energy as the second electromagnetic radiation with a second, different from the first, specific spectrum of wavelengths. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the first specific spectrum of wavelengths comprises a spectrum of wavelengths of a light beam emitted by a lamp. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The device according to claim 2, wherein the second specific spectrum of wavelengths comprises substantially infrared or near infrared. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one layer further comprises a liquid comprising the wavelength converting material, whereby the liquid comprising the wavelength converting material is arranged to substantially cover the surface of the layer in the closed state and to substantially uncover the surface of the layer in the open state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, whereby the liquid comprising the wavelength converting material further comprises a water-based solution and an oil-based solution, whereby the wavelength converting material is dissolved in the oil-based solution. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The device according to claim 5, wherein the at least one layer further comprises a first transparent substrate for providing the surface. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein the at least one layer comprises a second transparent substrate arranged in parallel to the first transparent substrate, the liquid comprising the wavelength converting material being provided between the first and second transparent substrates. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The device according to claim 7 wherein the first transparent substrate comprises a hydrophobic insulator, the device further comprising an electrode arranged to, in use, apply a voltage across the hydrophobic insulator between the electrode and the liquid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The device according to claim 1 comprising two or more layers, the layers being positioned adjacent to each other. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The device according to claim 10 wherein the layers are arranged adjacent to each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface.