Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080239453 | Thermal control of optical filter with local silicon frame - Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature. | 10-02-2008 |
20090114213 | SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WITH SQUARE MIRRORS - The present invention is a solar concentrator system incorporating a square primary mirror, a square secondary mirror, and an optical receiver. The square secondary mirror provides highly efficient throughput of light in combination with the square primary mirror, with minimal shading. Manufacturing features may be incorporated into the square secondary mirror to assist in simplifying fabrication issues and assembly steps related to its non-circular shape. An optional heat shield around the optical receiver may be included, further enhancing performance of the solar concentrator system. | 05-07-2009 |
20090114280 | COMBINATION NON-IMAGING CONCENTRATOR - The present invention is a combination non-imaging concentrator in which at least one surface or volume is incorporated as an optical element to increase obliquity of reflection at walls of a light guide. The combination non-imaging concentrator may be used in a solar energy system to receive solar radiation from optical components and then output the solar radiation to a photovoltaic cell for conversion to electricity. One or more lenses may be formed integrally with the light guide, or may be used in conjunction with the light guide as separate components. | 05-07-2009 |
20090165842 | SOLID CONCENTRATOR WITH TOTAL INTERNAL SECONDARY REFLECTION - A system includes a solid light-transmissive element comprising a first surface and a second surface, first reflective material disposed on the second surface of the light-transmissive element, and a solar cell to convert light received at the first surface to electrical current. The light received at the first surface may pass through the light-transmissive element, reflect off the first reflective material and intercept an area of an interface between the first surface and an adjacent environment at an angle of incidence greater than arc sin(n | 07-02-2009 |
20090168816 | STRUCTURED SUBMOUNT FOR TUNER ASSEMBLY WITH OPTIONAL PHASE ADJUST - A structured sub-mount assembly is disclosed to support a hybrid assembly of tunable filters. The sub-mount assembly is constructed to provide a high thermal resistance path and high mechanical resonance frequency. Optionally, the structured sub-mount assembly includes a temperature-controlled phase adjust component disposed approximately midway between the two tunable filters. The structured sub-mount assembly may be part of a tunable laser or other application. | 07-02-2009 |
20100012169 | Energy Recovery of Secondary Obscuration - A solar energy system is provided to capture an increased amount of solar energy in an area. Methods and devices to collect obscured solar radiation and covert it into usable electrical energy are described. The devices include a major concentrated solar energy system combined with a minor solar energy system. In one embodiment, the minor solar energy system includes a primary mirror, secondary mirror and a second photocell. Primary and secondary mirrors of a minor solar energy system are defined by their location, at least a portion of which may be substantially within the concave region of the secondary mirror of a major solar energy system. The electrical connection from the minor solar energy system to the major solar energy system is described. Methods for making minor solar energy system are provided. | 01-21-2010 |
20100018518 | DETERMINATION OF SOLAR TRACKING ERROR - A system may include determination of power delivered to an intended load by a solar collector and determination of a solar tracking error of the solar collector based on the determined power. Some aspects include determination of a servo feedback signal based on the determined power, wherein determination of the solar tracking error includes determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal. Determination of the solar tracking error may further include determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal and on a relationship between a response of the solar collector and tracking error. | 01-28-2010 |
20100018519 | FAULT MONITORING BASED ON SOLAR TRACKING ERROR - A system may include determination of solar tracking error associated with a solar collector, and determination of a fault associated with the solar collector based on the determined solar tracking error. In some aspects, determination of the fault includes fitting a tracking error vs. time function to the determined solar tracking error and the plurality of previously-determined solar tracking errors, and determining that a derivative of the function exceeds a threshold value. | 01-28-2010 |
20100023138 | SYSTEM TO INCREASE SNR OF CPV-GENERATED POWER SIGNAL - A system may include acquisition of power information from a signal line in accordance with a first signal characteristic. The power information is associated with power generated by a solar collector, and the first signal characteristic is substantially orthogonal to a corresponding signal characteristic of at least one noise source associated with the signal line. In some aspects, a solar tracking error associated with the solar collector is determined based on the acquired power information, a servo feedback signal is determined based on the acquired power information, and determination of the solar tracking error includes determination of the solar tracking error based on the servo feedback signal. | 01-28-2010 |
20100059097 | BIFACIAL MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR CELL - A device and a method for its fabrication. The device may include a first at least partially transparent surface, a second at least partially transparent surface, a first photovoltaic cell between the first surface and the second surface and comprising a first photovoltaic material including a first p-n junction, a second photovoltaic cell between the first surface and the second surface and comprising a second photovoltaic material including a second p-n junction, and a third photovoltaic cell between the first surface and the second surface and comprising a third photovoltaic material including a third p-n junction a third p-n junction. A first bandgap associated with the first photovoltaic material is greater than a second bandgap associated with the second photovoltaic material, and a third bandgap associated with the third photovoltaic material is greater than the second bandgap associated with the second photovoltaic material. | 03-11-2010 |
20100059108 | OPTICAL SYSTEM FOR BIFACIAL SOLAR CELL - An apparatus and a method for its fabrication. The device may include a bifacial solar cell comprising a partially-transparent first surface and a partially-transparent second surface opposite the first surface, and an optical element comprising a first partially-transparent dielectric portion in contact with the first surface and the second surface. The optical element may be configured to receive light, to direct a first portion of the received light to the first surface, and to direct a second portion of the received light to the second surface. | 03-11-2010 |
20100065120 | Encapsulant with Modified Refractive Index - The present invention provides an encapsulant material with a modified index of refraction for increasing the acceptance angle of a concentrated photovoltaic system. The encapsulant material may include filler material of a higher index of refraction than the encapsulant. The filler material may be particulates that are smaller than the wavelength of light converted to electricity by a solar cell. | 03-18-2010 |
20100139768 | HEAT SPREADING SHIELD - The present invention is a heat conducting system for a solar energy device. The system includes a shield made of a heat conducting material that conforms to the convex side of a hollow curved mirror in a solar energy device. The present invention may reduce the temperature differential over an area of the mirror via passive heat conduction. The conductance of the shield of this invention is greater than the conductance of the mirror. The shield may be a layer of metal such as a metal tape. The tape may be applied as one or more strips that have ends which are separated by a seam or gap. The ends of the strips may be oriented in the same direction in an array of mirrors in a manner that provides for minimal exposure to concentrated solar irradiation at the gap or seam. | 06-10-2010 |
20100212653 | Field Level Tracker Controller - The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for improving the total power output from a field of solar energy systems. The invention provides a field level tracker controller which calculates an improved positioning of individual solar energy systems and communicates those configurations to trackers in the field. An algorithm stored in the controller calculates the improved configuration for the solar energy systems based on factors such as solar movement, shade patterns generated by surrounding structures, and measured output of the energy systems. Improved positioning may include individual energy systems being directed to a stowed position to maximize the power output of the field as a whole. | 08-26-2010 |
20100213761 | Field Level Inverter Controller - The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for improving the power output of a solar energy system. A field level inverter controller is described that may improve the power output of individual solar energy systems in a field of solar energy systems by controlling the inverter voltage applied to strings of solar energy units in a solar energy system connected in parallel to an inverter. An inverter load voltage for an improved power output may be calculated or derived empirically. An algorithm stored in the controller may calculate an improved load voltage for the inverters based on factors such as string geometry, solar movement and shade patterns generated by surrounding structures. Improved power output may be empirically determined by the field level inverter controller when the inverter controller directs an inverter to sweep a range of voltage values until a maximum output is detected. | 08-26-2010 |
20100263712 | THREE TERMINAL MONOLITHIC MULTIJUNCTION SOLAR CELL - A device and a method for its fabrication. The device may include a first surface, a second surface to receive light into the device, a first photovoltaic cell between the first surface and the second surface, and a second photovoltaic cell between the first surface and the second surface. The first photovoltaic cell includes a first region of a first photovoltaic material exhibiting an excess of a first type of charge carrier and a second region of the first photovoltaic material exhibiting an excess of a second type of charge carrier, and the second photovoltaic cell includes a first region of a second photovoltaic material exhibiting an excess of the first type of charge carrier and a second region of the second photovoltaic material exhibiting an excess of the second type of charge carrier. | 10-21-2010 |
20100265560 | THERMAL CONTROL OF OPTICAL FILTER WITH LOCAL SILICON FRAME - Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature. | 10-21-2010 |
20110211599 | THERMAL CONTROL OF OPTICAL FILTER WITH LOCAL SILICON FRAME - Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature. | 09-01-2011 |
20120000600 | THERMAL CONTROL OF OPTICAL FILTER WITH LOCAL SILICON FRAME - Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature. | 01-05-2012 |
20130338010 | FILTER ARCHITECTURE FOR ANALYTICAL DEVICES - An approach to the design of the set of filters which allows for the collection of a larger portion of the optical signal while still distinguishing the presence of the various fluorophores is described. In some embodiments, the filter sets of the invention each block a smaller portion of the spectrum, allowing for a larger portion of the emitted light to be detected. The combined information from the light passing through two or more of the filters is then used to determine the presence of a given fluorophore. The filter sets of the invention can be particularly useful in integrated devices in which the light from a single molecule reaction in a small reaction region is directed to a detector or to a specific portion of a detector. | 12-19-2013 |
20150024968 | ANALYTICAL DEVICES HAVING COMPACT LENS TRAIN ARRAYS - Apparatus, systems and methods for use in analyzing discrete reactions are provided. The analytical devices of the invention use an array of nanoscale regions (a chip) that has discrete patches of nanoscale regions. The chip mates with a collection device comprising an array of compact lens trains (CLTs) where each of the CLTs corresponds to a single patch of nanoscale regions. Each CLT collects the emitted light from a patch on the chip, collimates the light, performs color separation on the collimated emitted light, and focuses the separated light onto a portion of pixels on the detector below the CLT. Such systems are useful for monitoring many analytical reactions at one time including single molecule sequencing reactions. | 01-22-2015 |