SOLAR CELL CONCENTRATOR STRUCTURE INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF CONCENTRATOR ELEMENTS WITH A NOTCH DESIGN AND METHOD HAVING A PREDETERMINED EFFICIENCY
A solar cell concentrator structure. The structure has a first concentrator element, which has a first aperture region and a first exit region. The structure has a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region. The structure has a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the separation region is characterized by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a triangular shaped region including an apex defined by the radius of curvature and a base defined by the separation region. In a preferred embodiment, a refractive index of about 1 characterizes the triangular region.
1 . A solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:
a first concentrator element, the first concentrator element including a first aperture region and a first exit region;
a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element, the second concentrator element including a second aperture region and a second exit region;
a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the separation region being characterized by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region;
a radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element;
a triangular shaped region including an apex defined by the radius of curvature and a base defined by the separation region; and
a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region.
2 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature is about 0.001 mm and greater.
3 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the first concentrator element integrally formed with the second concentrator element are essentially a single piece of polymeric material.
4 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the first concentrator element integrally formed with the second concentrator element are molded polymeric material.
5 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature reduces an efficiency of the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element by about 5% and less.
6 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature reduces a scattering effect of a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation.
7 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element are characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and greater.
8 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the first concentrator is characterized by a first truncated pyramid shape and the second concentrator is characterized by a second truncated pyramid shape.
9 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the first concentrator element is optically coupled to a first photovoltaic region and the second concentrator element is optically coupled to a second photovoltaic region.
10 . The structure of claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature is greater than an amount that causes a crack within a portion of a thickness of the polymeric material.
11 . A solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:
a piece of optical material characterized by a first spatial direction and a second spatial direction, the first spatial direction being normal to the second spatial direction;
a first concentrator element and a second concentrator element provided within a first portion of the piece of optical material and a second portion of the piece of optical material, respectively, defined along the second spatial direction;
an aperture region provided on a first surface region of the piece of optical material, the aperture region being adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation to be illuminated thereon;
an exit region provided on a second surface region of the piece of optical material, the exit region being adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation to be outputted;
a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the separation region being characterized by a width within a vicinity of the exit region;
a radius of curvature of 0.1 mm and less within a predetermined depth of the piece of optical material, the radius of curvature being provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.
12 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature is about 0.001 mm and greater.
13 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the piece of optical material is essentially a polymeric material.
14 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the piece of optical material is a molded polymeric material.
15 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the piece of optical material is provided with at least two patterns to define the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.
16 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature reduces an efficiency of the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element by about 5% and less.
17 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature reduces a scattering effect of a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation.
18 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the piece of optical material is characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and more.
19 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the first concentrator is characterized by a first truncated pyramid shape and the second concentrator is characterized by a second truncated pyramid shape.
20 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature is an apex of a triangular region having a base provided within a portion of a first exit region of the first concentrator element and a second exit region of the second concentrator element.
21 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the first concentrator element is optically coupled to a first photovoltaic region and the second concentrator element is optically coupled to a second photovoltaic region.
22 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature is an apex of a triangular region having a base provided within a portion of a first exit region of the first concentrator element and a second exit region of the second concentrator element, the triangular region having a refractive index of about one (1).
23 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the radius of curvature is greater than an amount that causes a crack within a portion of the thickness of material.
24 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the thickness of optical material is made of an acrylic polymer material.
25 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the first surface is a continuous and substantially flat surface.
26 . The structure of claim 11 wherein the second surface is characterized by a pattern.
27 . A method for manufacturing a solar cell, the method comprising:
providing a solar concentrator structure, the structure including:
a first concentrator element, the first concentrator element including a first aperture region and a first exit region;
a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element, the second concentrator element including a second aperture region and a second exit region;
a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the separation region being characterized by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region;
a radius of curvature of 0.1 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element;
a triangular region including an apex formed by the radius of curvature and a base formed by the separation region;
a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region;
coupling a first photovoltaic region to the first concentrator element; and
coupling a second photovoltaic region to the second concentrator element.
28 . The method of claim 27 wherein the coupling of the first photovoltaic region includes an optical coupling material between the first photovoltaic region and the first concentrator element.
29 . The method of claim 27 wherein the coupling of the second photovoltaic region includes an optical coupling material between the second photovoltaic region and the second concentrator element.
30 . A solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:
a thickness of material characterized along a first spatial direction including at least a first concentrator element and a second concentrator element provided within a first portion of the thickness of material and a second portion of the thickness of material defined along a second spatial direction;
an aperture region provided on a first surface region of the thickness of material, the aperture region being adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation to be illuminated thereon;
an exit region provided on a second surface region of the thickness of material, the exit region being adapted to allow electromagnetic radiation to be outputted;
a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the separation region being characterized by a width within a vicinity of the exit region;
a radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less within a predetermined depth of the thickness of material.
31 . The structure of claim 30 wherein an irradiation loss of about 5% and less occurs using a radius of curvature of 0.1 mm and less.
32 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the radius of curvature is about 0.001 mm and greater.
33 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the thickness of material is essentially a polymeric material.
34 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the radius of curvature is more than an amount to cause separation of the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.
35 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the radius of curvature does not cause separation of the between about −40 to 85 Degrees Celsius in accordance with IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission) 61215 test.
36 . The structure of claim 30 wherein heat is generated via current and external heat.
37 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the concentrator is acrylic, diamond, etc.
38 . The structure of claim 30 wherein the solar concentrator is fabricated using a mold having a radius of curvature of less than 0.18 mm.
39 . The structure of claim 38 wherein the mold comprises a fan gate and includes a compression and heating component.