| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090032088 | Sealants for Solar Energy Concentrators and Similar Equipment - This invention increases the longevity and performance of solar concentrators, optical switches; and reflection, illumination, and projection equipment in general. To achieve long lifetimes this equipment is sealed to prevent egress of internal lubricant or ingress of undesirable fluids. The rotational elements are sealed to increase their abrasion resistance. Many plastic materials if not sealed as taught in the instant invention are vulnerable to UV degradation, static dust attraction, poor weatherability, and ineffective abrasion resistance resulting in damage in the field and during cleaning. This invention improves the above optical equipment by sealing them with a tough, thin, transparent film. Even in equipment with no internal lubricant, tailored sealants as described in the instant invention can improve the performance of the mirrored elements, Fresnel lenses, and parabolic reflectors. For all the devices, the sealant of the instant invention hardens the surface to prevent scratching, and furthermore can be tailored to be an anti-fogant to keep water vapor off. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090038827 | Control Grid for Solar Energy Concentrators and Similar Equipment - This invention provides a better means to achieve affordable solar energy, as well as other technologies. It does so by improving control grids (for addressing and alignment) in solar concentrators and optical equipment in general. Thus troublesome and expensive grid material like Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) can be replaced by more manageable, hardier, and in the long run relatively less expensive nanotubes; or a carbon grid simply laid down by ordinary photocopy (Xerographic) reduction techniques. The instant invention relates to improvements in the control (addressing and alignment) grid for Solar Energy Concentrators; and similar equipment such as Optical Switches [e.g. cf. M. Rabinowitz U.S. Pat. No. 6,976,445]; and Display devices such as Dynamic Reflection, Illumination, and Projection equipment [e.g. cf. M. Rabinowitz U.S. Pat. No. 7,130,102]; as well as display equipment in general. The control grid acts to address and align active optical elements such as mirrored balls, multipainted balls, electrophoretic, and magnetophoretic cells in solar concentrators [e.g. cf. M. Rabinowitz U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,133,183 and 6,843,573]; and in other equipment. Methods of fabricating the grids are also described. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090073541 | Control Grid Increased Efficiency and Capacity for Solar Concentrators and Similar Equipment - This invention provides a better means to achieve affordable solar energy. It does so by increasing the efficiency and capacity of control grids (for addressing and alignment) in solar concentrators, and similar equipment. Method and apparatus are described for going from a 25% grid efficiency and capacity to a more than 90% grid efficiency and capacity. The instant invention relates to improvements in the control (addressing and alignment) grid for Solar Energy Concentrators, and similar equipment. The control grid acts to address and align active optical elements such as mirrored balls, electrophoretic, and magnetophoretic cells in solar concentrators [e.g. cf. U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,133,183 and 6,843,573 by M. Rabinowitz]. This invention also reduces the cost of transistor grids by greatly reducing the number of grid junctions and hence the number and cost of transistors. Moreover, the present invention simplifies the grid making it more feasible to use the same voltage supply sequentially to further reduce costs, rather than having multiple voltage sources. | 03-19-2009 |
| 20090101136 | ELECTRIC WIND ADJUSTABLE FRESNEL REFLECTOR SOLAR CONCENTRATOR - This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array by rapid-response motorless linear motion, angular deflection, and rotational motion utilizing electric wind force due to electrons, ions, and/or neutrals. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control is achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control over a wide range of dimensions and signal bandwidth with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no internal moving parts, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication at the micro and nanotechnology realms. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the nano-to the macro-realm. | 04-23-2009 |
| 20090120428 | LATCHING SOLAR CONCENTRATOR PIVOTED MIRRORS DURING OFF-POWER PERIOD - A novel latch for pivoted optical elements of a solar concentrator and other equipment latches them in position between orientation operations. The mirrors may be on a universal pivot that can rotate or tilt in any direction; or on gimbal pivots. The orientation power can be turned off between alignments with the mirrors remaining in alignment orientation during this off-power period. Turning off the alignment power between alignments, saves on both energy resources and on expensive apparatus. It permits a great reduction in power supply as the optical elements can be aligned sequentially. This not only reduces operating costs, but also capital investment because smaller power supplies can suffice. A preferred embodiment utilizes the freezing of a liquid material. Since this involves no moving parts for latching, the instant invention is ideally adapted for fabrication from the nano- to the mini-realm. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090159074 | FRESNEL SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WITH INTERNAL-SWIVEL AND SUSPENDED SWIVEL MIRRORS - This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array wherein the elements are suspended with the center of mass below the swivel point, or have an internal-swivel. This achieves an advantageous natural vertical stability. The torque to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion is provided separately by an electric wind force due to electrons, ions, and/or neutrals; or in combination with an induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts such as in motors. The instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by a low-profile concentrator array onto a receiver. Since there are no internal moving parts, the instant invention provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture. Dynamic motion can be controlled over a wide range of dimensions from nanometers to decimeters. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20090174957 | Polarization Linkage of High Dielectric Constant Pivoted Planar Solar Concentrator Mirrors - This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for highly polarizable high dielectric constant positioning and motion control of the elements (approximately planar mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array wherein the elements are suspended with the center of mass above the swivel point, below the swivel point, or have an internal-swivel. This achieves an advantageous natural vertical stability. The torque to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion is provided induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid. The force interaction is greatly enhanced by securing a high dielectric material adjacent to each mirror. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of motors. The instant invention is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by a low-profile concentrator array onto a receiver. Since there are no motors or mechanical linkages, the instant invention provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture. Dynamic motion can be controlled over a wide range of dimensions from nanometers to decimeters. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20090188545 | 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 rotational motion. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control can be achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no mechanical likages, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication from the mini- to the micro-technology realm. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the mini-to the micro-realm. | 07-30-2009 |
| 20100326521 | SOLAR CONCENTRATOR WITH INDUCED DIPOLE ALIGNMENT OF PIVOTED MIRRORS - This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (mirrors) of a Fresnel reflector solar concentrator tracking heliostat array by induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control is achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no internal moving parts, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication from the mini- to the microtechnology realm. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the mini- to the micro-realm. | 12-30-2010 |
