Patent ID: 8878056

Claim:
A device for producing electricity by harnessing sunlight to produce an amplified voltage signal, with respect to a first voltage signal, the device comprising: (a) a sealed chamber, at least partially defined by an at least partially transparent housing; (b) at least one excitable medium, disposed within said chamber, in which, when said medium is exposed to solar light having wavelengths in a range of 0.2 micrometers to 3 micrometers, bound electrons in said excitable medium are elevated to at least one discretely higher energy state; (c) at least two electrodes, disposed in a spaced apart fashion, and disposed with respect to a wall of said chamber whereby at least a portion of said medium is between, and communicating with, said electrodes; (d) an electric circuit, said portion of said medium and said electrodes completing said circuit; (e) an initiating mechanism, initiating an initial voltage signal through said chamber, between said electrodes, and (f) a power source, associated with said circuit, and adapted to maintain the first voltage signal through said chamber, between said electrodes, such that said bound electrons in said higher energy state transfer energy to free electrons traversing the first voltage signal to produce the amplified voltage signal, and wherein said excitable medium is selected to absorb at least 5% of an energy flux within a wavelength range of 0.2 micrometers to 3 micrometers, emitted by a black body operating at 5500K, by elevating said bound electrons to said discretely higher energy state; the device fulfilling at least one of the following structural conditions: said excitable medium within said sealed chamber includes a mixture of excitable gases; said excitable medium within said sealed chamber includes at least one excitable gas disposed under a superatmospheric pressure.