Patent ID: 7875796

Claim:
A solar energy reflector assembly comprising: (a) a flexible plate being reflective on one surface, the flexible plate being flexed to form a segment of a sinusoidal curve spanning less than one half cycle of a sine wave between opposing ends of the flexible plate, wherein the flexible plate produces a blurred reflection of an electromagnetic radiation source across a substantial portion of a light receiving surface of a photovoltaic receiver and greater relative flux than parabolic or half-sine reflectors; (b) supports coupled to the opposing ends of the flexible plate; (c) a frame securing the supports at a span less than a distance between the opposing ends when the flexible plate is unflexed, whereby the flexible plate is flexed by compression along a dimension perpendicular to the ends coupled to the supports; (d) torquing members coupled to the ends of the flexible plate that are coupled to the supports, wherein the torquing members apply a torque to the ends to produce and maintain the curve in the flexible plate; and (e) a photovoltaic array support for supporting the photovoltaic receiver so that the light receiving surface of the receiver opposes the reflective surface of the flexible plate and such that the blurred image of the electromagnetic radiation source covers a substantial portion of the receiving surface of the photovoltaic receiver.