Patent ID: 8183457

Claim:
A solar converter apparatus for converting incoming light to electricity, comprising: a) a support structure for floating on a liquid bath, the structure having: i) a substantially fixed relationship to an incoming light axis that is parallel to useful incoming light, ii) an elevation rotation axis at a fixed azimuth alignment angle from the incoming light axis, the support structure being rotatable about the elevation rotation axis, and iii) guidance interface features connecting the support structure to a guidance frame that aligns the elevation rotation axis at the fixed azimuth alignment angle to an azimuth of the source of incoming light, and that provide a rotation reference for the support structure rotation about the elevation rotation axis to align the incoming light axis with the source of incoming light; b) at least one photovoltaic conversion device mounted within the support structure and adapted for converting concentrated sunlight into electricity; and c) a lens coupled to the support structure for guiding light that is parallel to the incoming light axis and is received over a receiving region toward a conversion device that is mounted within the support structure, the conversion device having an active area that is smaller than an area of the receiving region; wherein the liquid bath is a coolant that provides primary cooling of the conversion device through thermal contact with an exterior of the support structure.