Patent ID: 6971756

Claim:
An apparatus for collecting and converting radiant energy, comprising: a plurality of spaced apart non-transparent linear reflective elements, said linear reflective elements incorporated in at least one array; each said linear reflective element having longitudinal ends; each said linear reflective element having a mirrored surface; each said linear mirrored surface having a generally concave transversal profile; wherein at least a substantial part of said mirrored surface of each said linear reflective element is designed and positioned to reflect incident radiant energy that impinges upon said mirrored surface into a convergent beam; wherein said array of said linear reflective elements is configured to direct, by means of single stage specular reflection, convergent beams from said linear reflective elements to preselected converging directions through spaces between adjacent pairs of said linear reflective elements; and wherein said linear reflective elements are discrete elements which are unjoined along their longitudinal ends.