Inter-facing solar panels
OwnerFeng Mainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method for effectively collecting solar energy, including disposing solar panels substantially inter-facing each other, and reflecting sun light between inter-facing solar panels. A solar panel, including a first portion adapted to convert sun light into usable energy at a first optimal wavelength; and a second portion adapted to convert sun light into usable energy at a second optimal wavelength. A method for effectively collecting solar energy, including using a first portion of a first solar panel to partially convert a beam of sun light into usable energy, and partially reflect the beam of sun light into a second solar panel; and using the second solar panel to partially convert the reflected beam into collectable energy.
Claims20
An apparatus configured to collect solar energy, the apparatus comprising:
- a reflective surface;
- a plurality of elements each configured to convert solar energy to electricity or collectable energy and disposed on the reflective surface,
- wherein at least two adjacent elements among the plurality of elements each have a reflection surface and an energy collection surface,
- wherein one of the at least two reflection surfaces is configured to reflect sun light to another one of the at least two reflection surfaces for partial absorption and conversion to electricity or collectable energy by the energy collection surface located on the adjacent element,
- wherein one of the at least two reflection surfaces comprises a porous structure configured to increase a solar energy collecting surface area and the partial absorption of the reflected sun light,
- wherein the plurality of elements include at least one master panel disposed at the reflective surface and a plurality of smaller elements grown on the at least one master panel, wherein the plurality of smaller elements include a plurality of active solar energy converting layers having irregular three-dimensional shapes;
- and
- wherein the master panel and the reflective surface are configured to reflect sun light back and forth to allow the smaller elements to absorb the reflected sun light.
A system configured to collect solar energy, the system comprising a reflective surface, and a plurality of elements each configured both to partially absorb and convert sun light into usable energy and to partially reflect sun light at a reflection surface, wherein at least one of the plurality of elements comprises:
- a first portion configured to convert sun light into usable energy at a first optimal wavelength for energy collection efficiency of direct sun light;
- and
- a second portion configured to convert reflected sun light into usable energy at a second optimal wavelength for energy collection efficiency for the reflected sun light,
- wherein each of the plurality of reflection surfaces comprises a porous structure,
- wherein the porous structure is configured to increase a solar energy collecting surface area and the partial absorption of the reflected sun light;
- wherein the plurality of elements include at least one master panel disposed at the reflective surface and a plurality of smaller elements grown on the at least one master panel, wherein the plurality of smaller elements include a plurality of active solar energy converting layers having irregular three-dimensional shapes;
- and
- wherein the master panel and the reflective surface are configured to reflect sun light back and forth to allow the smaller elements to absorb the reflected sun light.
A method for collecting solar energy, comprising:
- with a reflection surface of a first portion of a first element, partially converting a beam of sun light into usable energy, and partially reflecting the beam of sun light toward a second element;
- and
- with the second element, partially converting the reflected beam of sun light into collectable energy,
- wherein the reflection surface has a porous structure configured to improve efficiency for collecting the solar energy by increasing a solar energy collecting surface area and the partial conversion of the reflected sun light;
- wherein the first and second elements are part of a plurality of elements including at least one master panel disposed at a reflective surface and a plurality of smaller elements grown on the at least one master panel, wherein the plurality of smaller elements include a plurality of active solar energy converting layers having irregular three-dimensional shapes;
- the method further comprising:
- reflecting sun light back and forth between at least one master panel and the reflective surface to allow a plurality of smaller elements disposed over the master panels to absorb the reflected sun light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.