Patent ID: 8748730

Claim:
A solar collector assembly for collecting and concentrating light for solar cell assemblies, the collector assembly comprising: an array of solar collectors, each comprising: a funnel shaped collector comprising a side wall defining a tapered opening having a base aperture and an upper aperture, the side wall comprising an outer surface and an inner surface; and a solar cell assembly positioned at the base aperture; wherein the outer surface is at least partially coated with a material that reflects light; wherein the upper aperture is wider than the base aperture; wherein a thickness of the side wall increases as the side wall extends from the upper aperture to the base aperture; wherein the funnel shaped collector is configured to split at least a portion of the light received at the inner surface into transmitted light and reflected light, and to receive the reflected light at another portion of the inner surface so that at least a portion of the reflected light impinges upon and enters the side wall; wherein the side wall is configured to guide the light until the light exits proximate the base aperture; and wherein the solar cell assembly is configured to capture the light exiting the base aperture.