skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules and systems

Patent ·
OSTI ID:1179227
; ;

A microsystem enabled photovoltaic (MEPV) module including: an absorber layer; a fixed optic layer coupled to the absorber layer; a translatable optic layer; a translation stage coupled between the fixed and translatable optic layers; and a motion processor electrically coupled to the translation stage to controls motion of the translatable optic layer relative to the fixed optic layer. The absorber layer includes an array of photovoltaic (PV) elements. The fixed optic layer includes an array of quasi-collimating (QC) micro-optical elements designed and arranged to couple incident radiation from an intermediate image formed by the translatable optic layer into one of the PV elements such that it is quasi-collimated. The translatable optic layer includes an array of focusing micro-optical elements corresponding to the QC micro-optical element array. Each focusing micro-optical element is designed to produce a quasi-telecentric intermediate image from substantially collimated radiation incident within a predetermined field of view.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Lab. (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
Assignee:
Sandia Corporation (Albuquerque, NM)
Patent Number(s):
9,029,681
Application Number:
12/914,441
OSTI ID:
1179227
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2010 Oct 28
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (24)

Silicon point contact concentrator solar cells journal August 1985
Design criteria for Si point-contact concentrator solar cells journal October 1987
Microstructure to substrate self-assembly using capillary forces journal March 2001
Micro-optics for high-efficiency optical performance and simplified tracking for concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) conference August 2010
Array positioning system with out-of-focus solar cells patent January 1983
Multielement optical panel patent June 1984
High-magnification wide-field-of-view telemicroscopic lens configuration patent February 1995
Micro mirror photovoltaic cells patent January 1996
Method of anisotropically etching silicon patent March 1996
Solar tracking system patent May 1997
Method and apparatus for the generation of charged carriers in semiconductor devices patent July 2000
Mini-optics solar energy concentrator patent September 2003
Apparatus to position a microelectromechanical platform patent September 2003
Nonimaging concentrator lens arrays and microfabrication of the same patent October 2004
Group alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors patent October 2005
Alignment of solar concentrator micro-mirrors patent November 2005
Manufacture of and apparatus for nearly frictionless operation of a rotatable array of micro-mirrors in a solar concentrator sheet patent January 2006
Advanced micro-optics solar energy collection system patent January 2006
Micro-optics concentrator for solar power satellites patent July 2006
Methods and apparatus for fluidic self assembly patent February 2007
Transfer assembly for manufacturing electronic devices patent July 2007
Method for assembling micro-components to binding sites patent August 2007
Terrestrial solar array patent June 2008
Self-powered systems and methods using auxiliary solar cells patent-application May 2007

Cited By (1)

Microsystem enabled photovoltaic modules and systems patent May 2015

Similar Records

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION