Compact solar apparatus for producing electricity and method of producing electricity using a compact solar apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a compact solar module (CSM) apparatus and a method of producing electricity using such an apparatus in residential buildings for example. One embodiment of the module is made of two arrays of 2×4 solar cells, each array having a surface area of 36 square inches for example. Each array covers an area of 1×2 square ft, generating combined power of 52.8 Watts. One CSM consists of 2×8 sub-CSM assembled back-to-back, generating a total of 422.8 Watts, and having the assembled dimension of 27.5″×8′×7.6″. The compact feature of solar module relies on sunray transmission to the solar cells and their illumination through optical fibers and sets of concave and convex mirrors & lenses. To illuminate the entire surface of a photocell, an array of 2×2 mirrors/fibers arranged in a square configuration, are utilized. This configuration optimizes material usage, cost effectiveness and provides greater sun energy for PV cells illumination.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for collecting light produced by a solar source, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one light guide directed towards the solar source having an optical axis and adapted to receive the light produced from the solar source;   at least one optical cable communicating with the light guide, the optical cable adapted to receive the concentrated light collected by the light guide and transmit the collected light; and   at least one lens communicating with the light guide and having an optical axis, such that light incident on the at least one lens is parallel to the lens optical axis and the light guide optical axis and perpendicular to the polished surface of the optical fiber in optical cable.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of claim  1  wherein the at least one optical cable includes a plurality of optical fibers located in a ferrule positioned in the at least one light guide in spaced relationship to the at least one lens, the plurality of optical fibers having polished ends located in a common plane, positioned in the ferrule. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of claim  2  wherein the optical lens has a focal length selected such that light incident thereon is focused to a predetermined beam diameter on the polished ends of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of claim  3  wherein the lens optical axis is generally parallel to and coincident with a common optical axis of the optical fibers. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for producing electrical power using at least one solar cell located away from a solar source, the apparatus comprising:
 at least one light guide directed towards the solar source and adapted to collect and concentrate light produced thereby;   at least one optic cable having a proximal end communicating with the light guide and a distal end coupled to a ferrule, the optic cable adapted to concentrate the light collected by the light guide and transmit the collected light to the ferrule;   at least one set of primary and secondary reflective surfaces receiving the concentrated light and produce reflected light, wherein at least one of the reflective surfaces is coupled to the ferrule; and   at least one photocell in spaced relationship to at least one of the first and second reflective surfaces, wherein the photocell produces electrical power from the reflected light that is incident upon at least a portion thereof.   
     
     
         26 . A method for producing electrical power using at least one solar cell located away from a solar source, the method comprising:
 collecting light produced by the solar source;   concentrating the collected light;   transmitting the concentrated light;   receiving the concentrated light and producing reflected-expanded light using at least one set of primary and secondary reflective surfaces; and   producing electric power using the reflected light.