Patent ID: 6057505
Filing Date: 2000-05-02
Classification: F24S,H01L,Y02E

Abstract:
A concentrator for concentrating solar radiation onto a solar cell, said concentrator comprising:(a) a first stage, said first stage comprising an entrance, an exit, and inner mirrored surfaces between said entrance and said exit, said inner mirror surfaces configured to accept said solar radiation from said entrance and to direct said solar radiation to said exit; and(b) a second stage, said second stage comprising a gradient refractive index element, said second stage having an entrance and an exit, said entrance abutting said exit of said first stage, and said exit of said second stage adapted to receive said solar cell, wherein said gradient refractive index element comprises a bi-axial gradient index of refraction element comprising two gradient index of refraction sub-elements, each having a high index of refraction face and a low index of refraction face, with said sub-elements joined along their high index of refraction faces to form high index plane, said bi-axial gradient index of refraction element having an entrance surface and an exit surface, said entrance surface abutting said exit of said first stage, and said exit surface of said bi-axial gradient index of refraction element adapted to receive said solar cell, said bi-axial element further oriented such that said high index plane is perpendicular to said entrance surface and said exit surface.