Patent ID: 7878190

Claim:
An apparatus for solar collection, the apparatus comprising: a housing having at least a first opening for receiving light waves, and a second opening; a transfer channel, said transfer channel having a floor wherein the floor is reflective of light waves; and an array of at least three fins attached to the housing and adjacent to one another, each fin comprising: a first end segment extending in a first direction toward the first opening, an elongated second end segment extending in a second direction towards the second opening and extending substantially parallel to but spaced from the floor so as to define the transfer channel between the second end segment and the floor, wherein the second end segment is reflective of light waves, and a curved mid-portion located between the first end segment and the second end segment, the mid-portion having a first face that is closest to the second opening and a second face that is away from the second opening, the first face and the second face having substantially the same curvature, wherein each face of each fin and each adjacent face of each adjacent fin have substantially the same curvature, wherein said second face of one said fin and an adjacent said first face of an adjacent said second fin are reflective of light waves, wherein the end of the second end segment of one fin and the second end segment of an adjacent fin are spaced apart so as to provide a small gap therebetween and so that the transfer channel defined by at least the floor and the second end segments of the fins together define a light pipe, such that at least some light impinging on the first opening is directed by reflection between adjacent faces of adjacent fins through the gap between the second end segments of adjacent fins into the light pipe, wherein the length of the second end segment of a fin and the curvature of the mid-portion of a fin are such that a vertical plane beginning at the end of the first end segment of a fin and extending towards the floor intersects two fins in the array that are located in a direction away from the second opening; wherein the second end segments of the fins prevent the light within the light pipe from exiting the light pipe in the first direction, and wherein the light within the light pipe travels towards and exits the light pipe at the second opening.