Light-Guide Solar Panel and Method of Fabrication Thereof

Abstract

A solar energy concentration system that uses a light-guide solar panel (LGSP) to trap light inside a dielectric or other transparent panel and propagates the light to one of the panel edges for harvesting solar energy by a collector such as a photovoltaic cell. This allows for very thin modules whose thickness is comparable to the height of the solar energy collector. This eliminates the depth requirements inherent in traditional concentrated photovoltaic solar energy systems.

1 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least one portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation; and   a light receiver for receiving the light from the stepped waveguide.   
     
     
         2 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 1  wherein an end of the waveguide has an additional optical feature that redirects the light from the waveguide towards the receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of optical elements and the stepped waveguide are mirrored about a central axis to form at least two systems, such that the receivers from the at least two systems combine to form one contiguous receiver, and the solar concentrator comprises an increased width of at least about twice that of one system while retaining a same height. 
     
     
         4 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 1  wherein the concentrating elements and redirecting elements have a size selected from the group of about the same size and varying size. 
     
     
         5 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 1  wherein the stepped waveguide has upper and lower horizontal surfaces which are substantially parallel to the top collecting surface of the solar concentrator. 
     
     
         6 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 1  wherein the stepped waveguide has upper and lower horizontal surfaces which are disposed at an angle to the top collecting surface of the solar concentrator. 
     
     
         7 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         8 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein at least part of the associated redirecting element is physically discontinuously disposed apart from the concentrator element, thereby enabling separate manufacture of the concentrator element from at least one part of the associated redirecting element. 
     
     
         9 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 8  wherein the plurality of optical elements and the stepped waveguide are disposed in a vertical stack of physically separate components, thereby enabling direct assembly of separate parts comprising the solar concentrator. 
     
     
         10 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element comprises an entry element into the stepped waveguide. 
     
     
         11 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein at least a portion of the associated redirecting element is separate from the stepped waveguide. 
     
     
         12 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the stepped waveguide is comprised of incremental stepped sections, the step height being about the height of the concentrated light being input into the stepped waveguide at that section. 
     
     
         13 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the stepped waveguide has upper and lower horizontal surfaces which are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         14 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the plurality of optical elements input light to the stepped waveguide to provide aggregated light and the concentrator further includes a receiver which collects the aggregated light. 
     
     
         15 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the concentrator element is selected from the group consisting of a spherical lens, a parabolic surface, an elliptical surface, a hyperbolic surface, an arc and a tailored shape reflective surface. 
     
     
         16 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the associated redirecting element is selected from the group of a flat reflective surface, a parabolic surface, an elliptical surface, a hyperbolic surface, an arc and a refractive component selected from the group of a spherical component, an aspherical component, a Fresnel lens and a tailored shape. 
     
     
         17 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  wherein the concentrator element comprises a refracting lens element such that the light achieves total internal reflection by the redirecting element. 
     
     
         18 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  where the solar concentrator is linearly symmetric. 
     
     
         19 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 7  where the solar concentrator is rotationally symmetric. 
     
     
         20 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a refractive concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and 
   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         21 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) a redirecting element comprised of
 (1) a first redirecting element portion receiving repositioned light from the concentrator and having a discontinuous spatial surface and disposed substantially opposed to the concentrator element; and the first redirecting element further repositioning the light; and 
 (2) a second redirecting element portion that receives the repositioned light from the first redirecting element and further repositions the light, wherein the redirecting element includes a contiguous connection between at least a portion of each of the adjacent redirecting elements with the light avoiding repositioning within the contiguous connection; 
 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide physically separated from the concentrator element and the waveguide for receiving the repositioned light from the second redirecting element portion, thereby enabling vertical stacking of separately manufactured parts of the solar concentrator.   
     
     
         22 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the second redirecting element comprises an entry element into the waveguide. 
     
     
         23 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the waveguide is comprised of incremental stepped sections, the step height being about the height of the concentrated light being input into the waveguide at an input section. 
     
     
         24 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the concentrator element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from the second redirecting element by a layer within which the repositioned light does not undergo a change of direction. 
     
     
         25 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein a lower surface of the concentrator element and the first redirecting element and an upper surface of the waveguide are substantially parallel to each other. 
     
     
         26 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide are disposed in a vertical stack of physically separate components, thereby enabling direct assembly of separate parts comprising the solar concentrator. 
     
     
         27 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least part of the redirecting element by a vertical layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning charge of direction. 
     
     
         28 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the plurality of optical elements provide aggregated light to the waveguide and the concentrator further includes a receiver which collects the aggregated light. 
     
     
         29 . The solar concentrator as defined in  claim 21  wherein the redirecting element is selected from the group of a flat reflective surface, a parabolic surface, an arc and a tailored shape. 
     
     
         30 . A solar concentrator comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrating element comprised of a combination of   (1) a surface between a high index material and a low index material enabling refraction of input light and   (2) a parabolic reflective surface which repositions the input light with the combination outputting the light without the light being repositioned more than once by the parabolic reflective surface;   a waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element and the waveguide including top and bottom walls which are substantially parallel to each other, thereby preserving concentration of the light for delivery to a receiver.   
     
     
         31 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element; wherein the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide each form contiguous horizontal layers disposed in a vertical stack.   
     
     
         32 . An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and   b) an associated redirecting element which is optically associated with and physically separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction, and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements;   the optical concentrator further including a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation, the waveguide aggregating the light from the plurality of optical elements to provide optical concentration of the light for use thereof.   
     
     
         33 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the plurality of optical elements and the stepped waveguide each form a contiguous layer and are disposed in a stack of physically separate components, thereby enabling direct assembly of separate parts comprising the optical concentrator. 
     
     
         34 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the waveguide includes an upper and a lower element which are substantially parallel. 
     
     
         35 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the optical elements are selected from the group consisting of a parabolic surface, an arc, a refractive spherical component. 
     
     
         36 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the optical concentrator is linearly symmetric. 
     
     
         37 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the optical concentrator is rotationally symmetric. 
     
     
         38 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the optical concentrator further includes a receiver which collects the aggregated light for use thereof. 
     
     
         39 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the concentrating element is comprised of a combination of (1) a surface between a high index material and a low index material enabling refraction of input light and (2) a parabolic reflective surface which repositions the input light with the combination outputting the input light without the input light being repositioned more than once by the parabolic reflective surface. 
     
     
         40 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein an end of the stepped waveguide comprises additional optical features that redirect the light from the waveguide towards a receiver. 
     
     
         41 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  where the plurality of optical elements and the stepped waveguide are mirrored about a central axis to form at least two systems, such that a receiver in each of the at least two systems combine to form one contiguous receiver, and the optical concentrator comprises an increased width of at least about twice that of one system while retaining a same height. 
     
     
         42 . The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 32  wherein the concentrating element and the redirecting element have a size selected from the group of about the same size and varying size. 
     
     
         43 . A optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light;   and the optical concentrator further including:   a waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portions further having a feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element, the waveguide aggregating the light from the plurality of optical elements;   wherein the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide each form contiguous horizontal layers disposed in a vertical stack.   
     
     
         44 . An optical system for processing light from a light source to provide illumination output, comprising:
 a stepped waveguide for collecting input light from a light source and delivering the input light to step features of the stepped waveguide;   a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a redirecting element for receiving the input light from the stepped waveguide and repositioning the input light;   b) an associated concentrating element which is associated with and separate from the redirecting element for receiving light from the redirecting element and diffusing the light for output therefrom to provide the illumination output, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements.   
     
     
         45 . An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a refracting concentrator element for collecting and repositioning light; and   b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving the light from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the optical elements;   and the optical concentrator further including:   a waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the waveguide for accumulation, the redirecting element being an integral part of the waveguide, the waveguide having top and bottom surfaces that are substantially parallel, the waveguide having a substantially uniform thickness along its length, and the optical elements constructed so as to insert the light into the waveguide such that light is propagated multi-directionally within the waveguide.   
     
     
         46 . An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a refracting concentrator element for collecting and repositioning light; and   b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements;   and the optical concentrator further including:   a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation; and   an additional optical element coupled to the stepped waveguide that redirects the light from the waveguide towards a light receiver.   
     
     
         47 . An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and   b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction, and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements;   the optical concentrator further including a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation;   the above elements being constructed in a cross-section, the cross-section then being extruded to form the optical concentrator.   
     
     
         48 . An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light, wherein the light is repositioned along one axis of the concentrating element; and   b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction, and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements;   the optical concentrator further including a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         49 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being continuous between at least one portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation; and   a light receiver for receiving the light from the stepped waveguide.   
     
     
         50 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer; and 
   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation, wherein the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction prior to entering the waveguide; and   a light receiver for receiving the light from the stepped waveguide.   
     
     
         51 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a section of the concentrator element within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the section being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         52 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a material section of the concentrator element within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the section being continuous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; 
   and the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         53 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a refractive concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a section of the concentrator element within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the section being continuous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and 
   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         54 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:   (a) a refractive concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and   (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a section of the concentrator element within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the section being continuous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation.   
     
     
         55 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including:
 (a) a refractive concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and 
 (b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrator element for receiving the light from the concentrator element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer; and 
   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation, wherein the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction prior to entering the waveguide.   
     
     
         56 . A solar concentrator comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrating element comprised of a combination of   (1) a surface between a high index material of the optical elements and a low index external material enabling refraction of input light and   (2) a parabolic reflective surface which repositions the input light with the combination outputting the light without the light being repositioned more than once by the parabolic reflective surface;   a waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element and the waveguide including top and bottom wall sections which are substantially parallel to each other, thereby preserving concentration of the light for delivery to a receiver.   
     
     
         57 . A solar concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including a concentrator element for collecting and repositioning input light; and   the solar concentrator further including: a stepped waveguide comprised of a plurality of portions with each of the portions associated with a corresponding one of the concentrating elements, each of the waveguide portion further having a step feature associated with receiving the output light from the concentrating element; wherein the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide each form continuous horizontal layers disposed in a vertical stack.