Light collection system and method

Abstract

A light collection systems with at least one light receiving element, such as a window, a photovoltaic element, a heating element, a light guiding element or combinations thereof, and at least one light reflector-deflector element. The light reflecting elements include a front light receiving surface, a rear surface, and a transparent volume, disposed between the front light receiving surface and the rear surface, the transparent layer being of a higher refractive index than of its surrounding. The transparent volume comprises an asymmetric pattern which is configured to at least partially reflect light by internal reflection and direct the light within the element, reflect some light off said front light receiving surface, reflect, deflect and guide light within the light reflector-deflector element; and direct light through the front light receiving surface towards the at least one light receiving element.

1 . A solar light collection and conversion system further comprising:
 a light collector including at least a front face, a back face, and side faces, a top face and a bottom face, wherein the top side face is substantially thinner than the bottom face;   a light converter attached to the proximate to the bottom surface, the light converter extending beyond the bottom face of the light collector and is configured to capture reflected-deflected light from front surface; and   wherein the light converter is selected from a group of convertors consisting of a photovoltaic solar module, a photovoltaic cell array, a thermo-voltaic unit, a window, a light guide and, another optical element to further direct the light.   
     
     
         2 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the side faces, the top face and the bottom face are reflective faces. 
     
     
         3 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light converter is separated from the bottom face by an air gap. 
     
     
         4 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front face and back face comprise a coating having a refractive index different from the refractive index of the light collector volume. 
     
     
         5 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the front face and the back face of the light collector comprise a protective coating controlling absorption and reflection-off the faces and reducing dirt adhesion and wherein the protective coating is one of a group of coatings consisting of a fluorinated polymer and Titanium oxide coating. 
     
     
         6 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the light collector is configured (a) to divert solar light impinging on the light collector at small angles towards a light receiving surface of the light converter and (b) to couple the solar light impinging on the light collector at large angular incidence angles into a light guide to further direct the light towards a converter through an output face. 
     
     
         7 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the side faces are configured to direct incident light towards a mirror with an air gap. 
     
     
         8 . The solar light collection and conversion system according to  claim 1 , wherein the system is positioned in at least one of a plurality of positions consisting of a standing, half-standing or lying down position. 
     
     
         9 . A solar collector system comprising:
 a light guiding wedged element having a front surface and a back surface;   a light reflecting element serving to direct the light towards the light guiding wedged element; and   a light converter; and   wherein the light reflecting element is configured to direct solar light guided by the light guiding wedged element through the volume of the light guiding wedged element by light guiding, by reflection off the front surface and by reflection-deflection off the back surface.   
     
     
         10 . The solar collector system according to  claim 9 , wherein, the light reflecting element also directs at least some of the light straight towards converter. 
     
     
         11 . The solar collector system according to  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of the light reflecting elements are arranged one above the other and at some tilt relative to the light guiding element and wherein the light reflecting elements are arranged to minimize inter-shading and losses and wherein an actuator is adapted to tilt and move the light reflecting elements.