Patent ID: 8563848

Claim:
A method for forming a solar energy collection device comprising: receiving a sheet of glass, wherein the sheet of glass includes a plurality of light concentrating geometric features; applying a light source to the plurality of light concentrating geometric features; determining physical concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the light source that is applied; associating the physical concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features with an identifier associated with the sheet of glass in a computer memory; determining placements for a plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the physical concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features stored in the computer memory; and securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placements for the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass that are determined; wherein determining the physical concentration characteristics comprises: disposing a sheet of light diffusing material adjacent to the sheet of glass; and determining the physical concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features with a light detector directed towards the sheet of light diffusing material; wherein the securing comprises: disposing the plurality of PV strips on top of the sheet of light diffusing material; and subjecting the sheet of light diffusing material to a lamination process with a controlled variable pressure profile.