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 |
20090026279 | Environmental Control Enclosure - The present invention provides an environmental control system for controlling moisture in a solar energy collector. The environmental control system facilitates the flow of air within and through the solar energy collector by using and enhancing a thermal gradient within the solar energy collector caused by exposure to sunlight. Two or more orifices are located in an enclosed solar energy system to permit air to enter, circulate and remove moisture from the system. The position of the two or more orifices and a thermal gradient generated by the solar energy collector facilitates this process. | 01-29-2009 |
20100018009 | Clips for Aligning Optical Components in a Solar Concentrating Array - Manufacturing of solar concentrators require the placement of primary optical components, a parabolic mirror for example, on a relatively fiat front panel in a predetermined alignment within a certain tolerance limit. Clips, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, can be used to facilitate locating, placing and securing the primary optical components on the front panel, thereby enhancing manufacturability of the solar concentrator. | 01-28-2010 |
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 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100163014 | HIGH GROUND COVER RATIO SOLAR COLLECTION SYSTEM - In one embodiment, a solar energy collection system that includes an array of collectors to track movements of the sun, each collector having a plurality of reflector panels, a support structure that supports the reflector panels, wherein the support structure supports the reflector panels in a manner that defines a trough, a pair of reflective side walls and a trough aperture suitable for receiving incident sunlight during operation of the collector, a plurality of solar receivers, each solar receiver being positioned generally adjacent an edge of an associated trough and including at least one photovoltaic cell, wherein the reflector panels are arranged to direct incident sunlight towards the solar receivers using a single reflection during operation of the collector, and a tracking mechanism to rotate the collector about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis to track movements of the sun and direct incident sunlight along the longitudinal axis. | 07-01-2010 |
20100175740 | SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH END MODIFICATIONS - In one embodiment, a concentrating solar energy collector, which tracks movements of the sun along one axis has a reflective trough, at least one solar receiver mounted above the reflective trough and configured so that incident sunlight striking the reflective trough is directed toward the at least one solar receiver, and a reflector extender coupled to a first end of the reflective trough and configured to capture and direct incident sunlight towards the at least one solar receiver. In another embodiment, one or more extended end reflectors is attached with a reflective trough of a solar energy collector. | 07-15-2010 |
20100236626 | REFLECTIVE SURFACE FOR SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR - Concentrating solar collector systems that utilize a concentrating reflector to direct incident solar radiation to a solar receiver are described. In one aspect, the reflective surface is arranged to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner in which the solar rays reflected from the opposing edges of the reflective surface are generally directed towards a central portion of the solar receiver. Rays reflected from selected central portions of the reflective surface are directed closer to the edges of the receiver than the solar rays reflected from the edges of the reflective surface. The described reflectors are generally intended for use in solar collector systems that track movements of the sun along at least one axis. | 09-23-2010 |
20110023940 | 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 arranged to rotate about a pivot axis to track the sun in at least one dimension. Each collector includes a reflector, one or more solar receivers and a support structure. The support structure includes a tube assembly that underlies the reflector. The tube assemblies of the collector row are arranged end to end along the longitudinal axis. There is a space between the tube assemblies of adjacent collectors in the collector row, where the reflectors of the adjacent collectors extend beyond the underlying tube assemblies to form a substantially continuous reflective surface over the space. A coupling device is positioned in the space between the tube assemblies. The coupling device connects and helps to rotate the tube assemblies of the adjacent collectors. Some embodiments relate to various types of coupling devices and collector arrangements. | 02-03-2011 |
20110108090 | SOLAR COLLECTOR - The present invention relates to a solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system. The solar energy collection system includes the collector, a stand that supports the collector and a tracking system that causes the collector to track movements of the sun along at least one axis. The collector includes one or more reflector panels, one or more solar receivers, and a support structure that physically supports the reflector panels and solar receivers. Some designs involve a reflector panel that has a compound curvature. That is, the reflector panel has a convex shape along one direction and a concave shape in another direction. In another aspect of the invention, the collector includes a space frame support structure. | 05-12-2011 |
20110108091 | SOLAR COLLECTOR - The present invention relates to a solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system. The solar energy collection system includes the collector, a stand that supports the collector and a tracking system that causes the collector to track movements of the sun along at least one axis. The collector includes one or more reflector panels, one or more solar receivers, and a support structure that physically supports the reflector panels and solar receivers. Some designs involve a reflector panel that has a compound curvature. That is, the reflector panel has a convex shape along one direction and a concave shape in another direction. In another aspect of the invention, the collector includes a space frame support structure. | 05-12-2011 |
20110132457 | CONCENTRATING SOLAR COLLECTOR WITH SHIELDING MIRRORS - One aspect of the invention relates to an arrangement for use in a concentrating solar collector that involves a solar receiver that is covered by a shielding mirror. The shielding mirror is attached with and positioned over the solar receiver to help deflect incident light away from the underlying solar receiver. In various embodiments, the shielding mirror is arranged to direct the light to a photovoltaic cell on another solar receiver. Another aspect of the invention pertains to a concentrating solar collector that utilizes the above arrangement. | 06-09-2011 |
20110186130 | REFLECTIVE SURFACE FOR SOLAR ENERGY COLLECTOR - Concentrating solar collector systems that utilize a concentrating reflector to direct incident solar radiation to a solar receiver are described. In one aspect, the reflective surface is arranged to direct light to the receiver in a non-imaging manner in which the solar rays reflected from the opposing edges of the reflective surface are generally directed towards a central portion of the solar receiver. Rays reflected from selected central portions of the reflective surface are directed closer to the edges of the receiver than the solar rays reflected from the edges of the reflective surface. The described reflectors are generally intended for use in solar collector systems that track movements of the sun along at least one axis. | 08-04-2011 |
20110226309 | 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. Each collector includes a reflector, one or more solar receivers and a support structure. There is a space between the support structures of adjacent collectors in the collector row, where the reflectors of the adjacent collectors extend beyond the underlying support structures to form a substantially continuous reflective surface over the space. A coupling device is positioned in the space between the tube assemblies. The coupling device connects and helps to rotate the support structures of the adjacent collectors. Some embodiments relate to various types of coupling devices and collector arrangements. | 09-22-2011 |
20110259422 | THIN FILM REFLECTIVE COATING PINNING ARRANGEMENT - 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. | 10-27-2011 |
20110265869 | THIN FILM COATING PINNING ARRANGEMENT - In one aspect of the present invention, a photovoltaic cell for use in a solar collector is described. The photovoltaic cell includes two electrically conductive layers that are positioned on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The first conductive layer is adhered to and in direct contact with a surface of the semiconductor substrate. The second conductive layer has a different composition from and is substantially more electrically conductive than the first conductive layer. There are multiple spaced apart pinning regions that are distributed through an interface between the first and second conductive layers. The pinning regions, help locally anchor the two layers. Some aspects of the present invention relate to the use of pinning regions in other types of optical or electrical components. | 11-03-2011 |
20120042932 | SOLAR COLLECTOR - The present invention relates to a solar energy collector suitable for use in a solar energy collection system. The solar energy collection system includes the collector, a stand that supports the collector and a tracking system that causes the collector to track movements of the sun along at least one axis. The collector includes one or more reflector panels, one or more solar receivers, and a space frame support structure that physically supports the reflector panels and solar receivers. In a particular embodiment, the space frame support structure includes struts that extend through a gap between the reflector panels to support the one or more receivers. | 02-23-2012 |