Patent ID: 6538191
Filing Date: 2003-03-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A photocell assembly having enhanced conversion efficiency, comprising a source of monochromatic light energy that emits monochromatic light with a wavelength of about 400 to about 575 nanometers, and a photoconverter device, wherein said photoconverter device is comprised of means for converting said monochromatic light energy to electrical energy in a semiconductor layer, means for converting a first, monochromatic light, to a second light of different wavelength, in a fluorescent layer, means for transmitting said first light through a hot mirror layer at a first surface of said device, means internally for reflecting said second light from said hot mirror layer, and means for internally reflecting said first and said second light from a mirror layer disposed at a second surface of said device, wherein:(a) said means for converting said monochromatic light energy to electrical energy in a semiconductor layer is disposed between said hot mirror layer and said means for converting a first, monochromatic light, to a second light of different wavelength in a fluorescent layer; (b) said source of monochromatic light energy is disposed external to said photoconverter device; (c) said photocell device assembly is comprised of means for contacting said monochromatic light energy with said hot mirror layer and for transmitting at least 80 percent of said monochromatic light energy through said hot mirror layer; (d) said fluorescent layer increases said wavelength of said monochromatic light energy by at least about 100 nanometers, to thereby produce shifted wavelength light energy; (e) said hot mirror layer reflects at least about 80 percent of said shifted wavelength light energy, thereby producing reflected shifted wavelength light energy; and (f) said hot mirror reflects at least about 80 percent of said reflected shifted wavelength light energy.