Patent ID: 12009447

Abstract:
Linear acylindrical lens (and array/system employing a plurality of such lens elements) containing liquid silicone rubber material for use in solar applications, as well as a low-cost silicone based optical lightguide(s) configured to channel and concentrate solar light with about 90% optical efficiency. The lens includes a transparent glass substrate (with an optional coating), which mechanically supports a moldable flexible silicone lenslet optical quality and is bonded to it with the use of plasma and in absence of adhesive material. When injection molding of lightguide(s) is employed, the lightguide shape can be formed variably to provide for integration of multiple lightguide s into an array with alignment tolerances that are looser than in a solar concentrator employing glass waveguides. Optical system employing such (arrayed) linear lens(es) concatenated with corresponding (arrayed) lightguides, juxtaposed with micro-CPV cells and conventional PV-cell(s) to capture diffused light.