Patent ID: 7851693

Claim:
A concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) device comprising: a photovoltaic (PV) cell; a solid, light-transparent optical element having a first side including a convex surface and a second side including a substantially flat aperture surface and a curved surface in a central portion of the second side, wherein the curved surface is smaller than the convex surface; a primary mirror disposed on the convex surface and a secondary mirror disposed on the curved surface, the primary and secondary mirrors defining a focal region at which light received by the optical element is concentrated, wherein the PV cell is located in the focal region; and a heat spreader in thermal contact with the optical element and having a central portion disposed over the center of the convex surface of the optical element and one or more peripheral portions extending from the central portion over the first side, wherein the heat spreader comprises a thermally conductive material that is in contact with and conformally disposed over a back surface of the primary mirror such that heat generated at the focal region is passively transmitted from the heat spreader through the primary mirror and the optical element for radiation from the substantially flat aperture surface.