Patent ID: 7924495
Filing Date: 2011-04-12
Classification: F24S,G02B,Y02B,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A solid-state transmission-mode optical system for tracking a light source, comprising: a. a first member of a transparent rotor having a first refractive index and a first resistivity, b. a second member of said transparent rotor having a second refractive index and a second resistivity, c. a first member of a transparent stator also having said first refractive index and a third resistivity, d. a second member of said transparent stator also having said second refractive index and a fourth resistivity, e. a flat optical boundary positioned between said first and said second members of said transparent stator, and formed by a physically contiguous joining of said first and said second members of said transparent rotor, wherein said first refractive index is different from said second refractive index, and said first and second refractive indices are selected to enable refractive transmission of light across the optical boundary of said first and second members of said transparent rotor in a predetermined output direction for receiving refracted light from the light source, f. an array of real electrodes located on said first member of said transparent stator, g. an array of corresponding virtual electrodes located on said transparent rotor, wherein said virtual electrodes are induced over time by bound polarization charges in said transparent rotor and by free drift charges which move between said real electrodes on said transparent stator and said virtual electrodes on said transparent rotor, h. an array of transistor switches each connecting a respective one of said real electrodes to a voltage drive-signal source when a connect-signal is applied to a gate of the transistor switch, wherein said array of transistor switches hold charges constant on said real electrodes over extended periods of time to provide a stepped non-harmonic drive, whereby a combination of drive-signals and connect-signals induce time varying torques on said transparent rotor relative to said transparent stator, causing said flat optical boundary, between said first and said second members of said transparent stator to rotate so that light passing through said transparent rotor is refracted at said flat optical boundary within said optical rotor thereby causing light incident on said first transparent stator to be redirected to a desired output direction for subsequent concentration, distribution, or energy conversion.