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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8183457 | Method and apparatus for solar energy collection A pontoon structure is described that may be floated on a body of coolant liquid, together with others in an array. The entire array may be aligned with the sun in an azimuth direction, and each pontoon may be rotated to align it with the sun elevation. A solar ener... | 05/22/2012 |
| 8178775 | Methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer readable media for controlling orientation of a photovoltaic collection system to track apparent movement of the sun. According to one aspect, a method for controlling orientation of a photo... | 05/15/2012 |
| 8173890 | Solar cell structure including a plurality of concentrator elements with a notch design and predetermined RADII and method A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally for... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8168884 | Solar cell structure including a plurality of concentrator elements with a notch design and predetermined radii and method A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally for... | 05/01/2012 |
| 8153886 | Method of improving the efficiency of loosely packed solar cells in dense array applications An increased efficiency Concentrator Photovoltaic System having a plurality of solar cells laterally spaced from each other on a substrate panel. The solar cells are mounted on electrically conductive areas of an otherwise non-conductive top surface of the substrate... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8119902 | Concentrating module and method of manufacture for photovoltaic strips A glass concentrator for manufacture of solar energy conversion module is provided including a webbing that has a load sustenance characteristic and a hail impact resistance characteristic based on a first thickness of the webbing. The concentrator also includes a p... | 02/21/2012 |
| 8101850 | Asymmetric parabolic compound concentrator with photovoltaic cells An asymmetric compound parabolic concentrator (ACPC) coupled with a photovoltaic cell is disclosed according to some embodiments. The disclosed ACPC can concentrate solar light from a large full acceptance angle toward the photovoltaic cell. In some embodiments, the... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8101849 | Tilt assembly for tracking solar collector assembly A tilt assembly is used with a solar collector assembly of the type comprising a frame, supporting a solar collector, for movement about a tilt axis by pivoting a drive element between first and second orientations. The tilt assembly comprises a drive element couple... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8101848 | Solar photovoltaic output for cloudy conditions with a solar tracking system An array of solar powered photovoltaic modules is optimally oriented and operated to provide more electrical energy for uses such as powering an electrolyzer system for hydrogen production. The array is positioned with its light receiving surface at an optimal angle... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8097803 | Solar energy system A solar energy system includes a reflecting unit, a heat absorber and a first solar panel. The reflecting unit having a photovoltaic cell with a first energy band gap and a reflecting surface reflects or focuses sunlight. The reflecting unit converts the sunlight wi... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8088990 | Color building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) panel In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic panel includes a substrate, a reflective layer formed on the substrate, a first conductive layer formed on the reflective layer, an active layer formed on the first conductive layer, and a second conductive laye... | 01/03/2012 |
| 8063300 | Concentrator solar photovoltaic array with compact tailored imaging power units Solar panels and assembled arrays thereof include a collection of relatively compact, high-capacity power units. Optical components of each power unit include a front window or surface glazing, a primary mirror, secondary mirror and receiver assembly. Primary and se... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8063299 | Solar battery module It is an object of the present invention to easily and inexpensively provide a structure of effectively utilizing a light incident on an invalid area of a solar cell. Moreover, it is another object to improve output characteristics of the solar cell by effectively u... | 11/22/2011 |
| 8058547 | Concentrating solar panel A photovoltaic device is disclosed comprising a concentrator and a collector. The concentrator is to concentrate solar energy, and the collector is positioned to receive solar energy from the concentrator. The concentrator comprises a plurality of identical flat lin... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8058548 | Variable light condensing lens apparatus and solar cell apparatus It is desirable to provide a variable light condensing lens apparatus and a solar cell apparatus provided therewith in a simple configuration, yet capable of reducing dependency of light condensing efficiency on the angle of incidence of light and thereby improving ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8058546 | Concentrating solar collector An apparatus is provided comprising a compound parabolic concentrating (CPC) trough, a target, a plurality of sunlight diverters, and a tracker. The CPC trough is for concentrating sunlight and is symmetric about an imaginary plane of symmetry. The target is for abs... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8053662 | Solar energy collection devices Devices and methods for collecting solar energy using photovoltaic material are disclosed. ... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8049097 | Solar cell including cooling channels and method for fabrication The solar cell comprises a front side comprising a first doped layer, a backside comprising formations defining channels therebetween, the backside further comprising a second doped layer situated on at least some of the surfaces of the channels facing the front sid... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8049098 | Notch structure for concentrating module and method of manufacture using photovoltaic strips The invention provides a solar concentrator structure including a first concentrating element. The first concentrating element includes a first aperture region, a first exit region, a first side and a second side. The solar concentrator structure further includes a ... | 11/01/2011 |
| 8039731 | Photovoltaic concentrator for solar energy system The energy conversion system includes a first optical cover having a flat surface and a patterned surface. The patterned surface is configured to receive solar energy from the flat surface, then concentrate and guide the solar energy. The system also includes a seco... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8013236 | Conversion of solar energy to electrical and/or heat energy A parabolic primary mirror (10) has a concave specular surface (12) that is constructed and positioned to receive solar energy and focus it towards a focal point. A secondary mirror (14) having a convex specular surface (16) is constructe... | 09/06/2011 |
| 8008572 | Integrating sphere photovoltaic receiver employing multi-junction cells A photovoltaic module for converting laser radiation from a laser emitting light at a wavelength to electrical power is provided. The module comprises: (a) a housing having a cavity of generally optimized closed shape inside the housing, the cavity having an interna... | 08/30/2011 |
| 7985920 | Solar concentrator with self-tracking receiver Solar collection systems are provided herein that includes a mobile, self-tracking receiver support member which is suspended from a support beam spanning the two sides of an immobile solar trough concentrator. The self-tracking receiver support member has photovolt... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7985919 | Thermal management for photovoltaic devices Methods and devices are provided for improved thermal management for photovoltaic devices and assemblies. In one embodiment, the photovoltaic device comprises of at least one photovoltaic cell based on a thin-film photovoltaic stack deposited directly onto a thermal... | 07/26/2011 |
| 7982126 | Photovoltaic module with improved heat transfer and recovery potential A photovoltaic module with improved thermal properties, a method of making same and a structural, thermally improved photovoltaic panel are provided. A plurality of perforations are formed substantially entirely through the module which form a ventilation mechanism ... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7973236 | Optical shutter for improved photovoltaic array thermal performance A photovoltaic array with improved thermal performance includes a photovoltaic array, an electro-optic shutter disposed on the photovoltaic array, and a control system connected to at least the electro-optic shutter. The control system, based upon input from a senso... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7973235 | Hybrid solar lighting distribution systems and components A hybrid solar lighting distribution system and components having at least one hybrid solar concentrator, at least one fiber receiver, at least one hybrid luminaire, and a light distribution system operably connected to each hybrid solar concentrator and each hybrid... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7968791 | Solar energy collection system In one aspect of the present invention, a solar energy collection system that includes multiple longitudinally adjacent collectors is described. The collectors are coupled end to end to form a collector row. The collector row extends along a longitudinal axis and is... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7968790 | Photovoltaic (PV) enhancement films for enhancing optical path lengths and for trapping reflected light A solar energy conversion assembly for efficiently capturing solar energy by providing additional chances to absorb reflected sunlight and providing longer path lengths in the photovoltaic (PV) material. The assembly includes a PV device including a layer of PV mate... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7968789 | Method and apparatus for eye-safe transmittal of electrical power in vehicles using white light via plastic optical fiber An apparatus for transmitting wide spectrum white light having a plurality of plastic optical fibers. The apparatus includes a sheath housing the plurality of fibers. An apparatus for providing energy in an airplane. The apparatus includes a light source which produ... | 06/28/2011 |
| 7960641 | Tracking and focusing adjustable fresnel lens array solar concentrator This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (lenses) of a Fresnel lens solar concentrator tracking array by induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid to produce angular deflection, and ... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7956278 | Solar heat transfer apparatus Heat transfer apparatus comprising, in combination inner and outer bodies defining a space therebetween which extends at least part way about an axis, at least one of the bodies being heat conductive, a heat conductive woven mesh extending in the space at least part... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7952017 | Multifocal light concentrator for a device for the conversion of radiation, and in particular for the conversion of solar radiation into electrical, thermal or chemical energy A light concentrator is described, for a device for the conversion of solar radiation into electrical, thermal or chemical energy, capable of conveying the radiation towards a surface of the conversion device. The concentrator comprises at least one portion of Fresn... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7932461 | Solar collector framework A solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system that tracks movements of the sun along at least one axis may have a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a pair of... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7923624 | Solar concentrator system A solar energy concentrator system includes a supporting structure and a plurality of solar modules coupled to the supporting structure. Each module of the plurality of solar modules includes a plurality of Fresnel reflectors. The plurality of reflectors is arranged... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7906722 | Concentrating solar collector with solid optical element A Cassegrain-type concentrating solar collector cell includes primary and secondary mirrors disposed on opposing convex and concave surfaces of a light-transparent (e.g., glass) optical element. Light enters an aperture surrounding the secondary mirror, and is refle... | 03/15/2011 |
| 7888588 | Tracking solar collector assembly A tracking solar collector assembly includes solar collector support structure, with at least one solar collector mounted thereto and first and second spaced apart pivotal support points defining a tilt axis, Southside supports, with first pivot connectors, and Nort... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7888587 | Modular shade system with solar tracking panels A modular shade system with solar tracking panels includes a series of generally North-South oriented, spaced apart torque tubes, each torque tube having an axis, a series of panels mounted to at least some of the torque tubes to create spaced-apart rows of panels a... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7888589 | Photovoltaic device with concentration and spectral splitting of collected light beam A photovoltaic device may include a housing having a transparent pupil receiving a collimated beam of radiation, and photovoltaic cell arrays being positioned on respective inner surfaces of the housing, each photovoltaic cell array sensing a respective spectral ran... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7884279 | Solar tracker A two-axis solar tracker is capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions. The solar tracker includes a solar array, a frame, a base, a pivot frame, and a first and second actuator. The solar array is mounted to the frame and captures sunlight. The base is pivo... | 02/08/2011 |
