Solar Panel with Optical Light Enhancement Device

Abstract

A double layered superimposed and parallel solar panels having an optical system comprising cylindrical rods and convex lenses at either end of said rods. Said optical rods are centrally longitudinally and transversely inserted in the upper panel through slits where sunlight rays pass and diffract through said rods and widely diffuse over the entire surface of the lower solar panel. A plurality of optical rods may be used thereby increasing the light transmission to the lower solar panel. The present invention significantly reduces the surface needed to install conventional residential as well as commercial solar panels.

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         11 . A modular photovoltaic assembly operative in converting sunlight rays into electrical current comprising:
 an upper photovoltaic panel, said upper photovoltaic panel having a longitudinal slot, or having a longitudinal slot with two transverse slots, each of said slots within and extending through the upper photovoltaic panel;   the longitudinal slot present extends across the entire length of the upper photovoltaic panel;   a curved, lower photovoltaic panel spaced apart from said upper photovoltaic panel; and,   an optical cylindrical rod lens disposed and attached within each of the slots present in the upper photovoltaic panel, wherein:   only a first part of each lens extends above a top surface of the upper photovoltaic panel, and   only a second part of each lens extends below the upper photovoltaic panel, and   each lens operates such that sunlight rays striking the first part of the lens extending above the top surface of the upper photovoltaic panel are refracted when passing through the lens, and the refracted sunlight rays exit the lens from the second part of the lens which extends below the upper photovoltaic panel, the refracted sunlight rays exiting the lens at divergent angles into the lower photovoltaic panel, and   wherein the lower photovoltaic panel is positioned beneath the upper photovoltaic panel.   
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein each optical cylindrical rod lens present is made from glass, composite or plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ends of each optical cylindrical rod lens present have the form of a convex lens. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the ends of each optical cylindrical rod lens present have a flat slanted surface. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal slot present has a tapered cross sectional profile, which taper is present on the underside of the upper photovoltaic panel adjacent the longitudinal slot. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the first part of each lens extending above the top surface of the upper photovoltaic panel is convex in shape. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the second part of each lens extending below the upper photovoltaic panel is convex in shape. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the edges of the upper photovoltaic panel in the region adjacent the optical cylindrical rod lens disposed in the longitudinal slot are on the underside. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more of the optical cylindrical rod lenses disposed and attached within each of the slots present in the upper photovoltaic panel have two parallel flat sides. 
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more of the optical cylindrical rod lenses disposed and attached within each of the slots present in the upper photovoltaic panel have an oval cross-sectional geometry.