Patent ID: 12230726

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter, which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the disclosure in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

In embodiments of the subject disclosure, the term “substantially” is defined as at least close to (and can include) a given value or state, as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, the term “substantially” refers to ranges within 10%, preferably within 5%, more preferably within 1%, and most preferably within 0.1% of the given value or state being specified.

There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter, and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. These together with other objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty, which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

While several variations of the present disclosure have been illustrated by way of example in particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. However, it is to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptations are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.

This disclosure relates to an improved solar light collection array that can produce more electricity per unit in a reduced area over conventional solar arrays.

FIG.1Ashows a solar array101, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Solar array101can include a plurality of reflectors102and a plurality of solar cells103on a mounting surface107. In some embodiments, the plurality of reflectors102can be mirrors, and there can be empty space between each the plurality of reflectors102and each of the plurality of solar cells103. In some embodiments, reflector102can be a surface in a lens (not shown inFIG.1), which can be placed between each the plurality of reflectors102and each of the plurality of solar cells103. The lens can be transparent and wedge-shaped. A source light105can enter solar array101through an entrance surface104, which can be reflected by reflector102. A reflected light106can be collected by the plurality of photovoltaic solar cells103.

FIG.1Bshows a solar unit108including a single reflector102and a single solar cell103. Similarly, as solar array101illustrated inFIG.1A, a source light105can enter the solar unit108through an entrance surface104and reflected by a reflector102. A reflected light106can be collected by the plurality of photovoltaic solar cells103.

FIG.2Ais a perspective view of a solar unit201in a solar array, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG.2Bis a perspective view of a solar array208on a mounting surface209, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. In this embodiment shown byFIGS.2A and2B, a lens202with a reflector surface203can adopt a gradient texture. Lens202can include reflector surface203, an entrance surface204, a bottom surface205, and a side cross-section206. A solar cell207can be disposed against bottom surface205to receive the reflected light from reflector surface203which travels through lens202.

In some embodiments, a lens301is used,FIG.3shows a top perspective view of lens301in a transparent wedged shape, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Each lens301can include a side cross-section302, an entrance surface303, a bottom surface304, and a reflector surface305. Each of side cross-section302, entrance surface303, bottom surface304, and reflector surface305can be substantially flat.

During operation in the embodiments where lens301is used, a source light can enter each lens301through the aligned entrance surfaces303. The source light can travel through lens301onto reflector surface305, which can be constructed to serve as a reflector. Reflector surface305can reflect the source light and convert it to reflected light onto photovoltaic solar cells disposed against bottom surface304of lens301. The solar cells can convert reflected light to direct current electricity for storage on the solar array grid.

The lenses can be made of unitary pieces of transparent material, including, but not limited to glass, plastic, and sapphire. The length of reflector surface can be determined by the Pythagorean theorem such that it is the square root of the sum of the square of the length of entrance surface and the square of the length of bottom surface √(a2+b2).

The plurality of lenses can be placed in solar array such that the bottom surfaces can be all substantially parallel with each other, and substantially parallel with the direction of the source light. Entrance surfaces can be all substantially aligned substantially perpendicular with the direction of source light.

Photovoltaic solar cell can be placed in a substantial alignment with bottom surface of each lens. In some embodiments, the reflector can be a mirror.

FIG.4is a side view of lens401in a wedge shape, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Lens401can include side cross-section402, entrance surface403, bottom surface404, and reflector surface405. Side cross-section402, entrance surface403, bottom surface404, and reflector surface405can be substantially flat. The angle formed between entrance surface403and bottom surface404can be about 90 degrees. The angle α formed between bottom surface404and reflector surface405can be about 0 to 45 degrees, about 5 to 30 degrees, about 10 to 15 degrees, about 0 to 15 degrees, or about 10 to 45 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle α between bottom surface404and reflector surface405can be about 7.5 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle α can is determined by the length of entrance surface403and the length of bottom surface404and is relative to the number of cells used in the array. In some embodiments, the reflector surface of the lens405can be substantially flat. In some embodiments, the reflector surface of the lens405can adopt a step like gradient texture with multiple angled facets arranged in a way to cause the source light to be reflected such that it strikes the surface of the solar cell at a substantially perpendicular angle, as shown inFIG.5.

FIG.5is a partial enlarged side view of a lens501, according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. Lens501can include side cross-section502, bottom surface503, and reflector surface504. In the embodiments shown byFIG.5, side cross-section502and bottom surface503can be substantially flat. Reflector surface504can be provided as a gradient surface, such that reflector surface504can serve as a reflector to reflect source light and convert it to a reflected light to be received by solar cells. The gradient texture of reflector surface504can include a flat surface505that is substantially parallel to bottom surface503, and an elevation surface506, with an angle3. The angle R can be about 5 to 90 degrees, about 10 to 80 degrees, about 20 to 70 degrees, about 30 to 60 degrees, about 40 to 50 degrees, about 40 to 90 degrees, or about 5 to 50 degrees. In some embodiments, the angle R can be about 45 degrees. The gradient texture of reflector surface504shown inFIG.5is a non-limiting example, other textures are contemplated for reflector surface504such that it can efficiently reflect light towards the solar cell.

FIGS.6A-6Dillustrate examples of different embodiments of the lens in wedge shape, according to the present disclosure. In the embodiment of a lens601shown inFIG.6A, lens601can include an entrance surface605, a reflector surface606, a side cross-section607, and a bottom surface (not shown). Entrance surface605, reflector surface606, and side cross-section607, in this embodiment can be substantially flat.

In the embodiment of a lens602shown inFIG.6B, lens602can include an entrance surface605, a reflector surface606, a side cross-section607, and a bottom surface (not shown). Entrance surface605and side cross-section607can be substantially flat. Reflector surface606in this embodiment can be gradient textured to serve as a reflector.

In the embodiment of a lens603shown inFIG.6C, lens603can include an entrance surface605, a reflector surface606, a side cross-section607, and a bottom surface (not shown). Side cross-section607and reflector surface can be substantially flat. Entrance surface605in this embodiment can adopt a curved shape, which can increase the efficiency of capturing more source light.

In the embodiment of a lens604shown inFIG.6D, lens604can include an entrance surface605, a reflector surface606, a side cross-section607, and a bottom surface (not shown). Side cross-section607and reflector surface can be substantially flat. Entrance surface605in this embodiment can include a plurality of substantially rounded shapes, which can increase the efficiency of capturing more source light.

The following examples are provided to further illustrate the advantages and features of the present disclosure, but they are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. While the examples are typical of those that might be used, other procedures, methodologies, or techniques known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be used.

EXAMPLES

Example I

In a conventional setup, a single solar cell 2.05 in ×2.05 in (5.207 cm×5.207 cm) is placed flat on the surface, and source light encounters the solar cell from a perpendicular direction. The surface area of the solar cell is about 4.20 in2(27.09 cm2), by comparison, in the solar array setup according to the present disclosure, seven 2.05 in ×2.05 in (5.207 cm×5.207 cm) solar cells are used with seven lenses each having an entrance surface measurement of about 0.25 in ×2.0 in (0.635 cm×5.08 cm). The bottom surface is about 2.0 in ×2.0 in (5.08 cm×5.08 cm). Each lens having gradient reflective surface comprised of one hundred 0.0033 in×2.0 in (0.0084 cm×5.08 cm) angled surfaces arranged to be substantially at450relative to both the source light and the surface of the solar cell. The top surface of the array assembly is about 2.02 in ×2.0 in (5.13 cm×5.08 cm) having a total surface area of about 4.04 in2(26.06 cm2). The comparative electrical measurements of a single conventional cell and the solar array are listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1Comparison of the energy output based on conventionalsetup and the present disclosure.Voltage (VDC)Current (mA)Watts (W)Conventional single0.56889.90.051cell(surface area 4.20 in2)Series Array based on3.7476.10.285the present disclosure(surface area 4.04 in2)

While the disclosure has been described in connection with certain embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures as is permitted under the law.