HERMETIC RECEIVER PACKAGE
The present invention is a hermetic receiver package for improving reliability of optical components within a solar concentrator system. The hermetic receiver package includes a non-imaging concentrator and a solar cell sealed within a shell structure to provide protection from environmental degradation. The non-imaging concentrator and solar cell are guarded from degradation caused by the outside environment as well as by sources within the solar concentrator system. Features are incorporated into the non-imaging concentrator and shell which allow the hermetic receiver package to be manufactured in a cost-effective manner.
1 . A hermetic receiver package, comprising:
a non-imaging concentrator having an entrance aperture, an exit aperture and a lateral surface;
a solar cell positioned to receive light transmitted from said exit aperture of said non-imaging concentrator;
a shell surrounding said non-imaging concentrator and said solar cell, said shell having a top end and a bottom end, wherein said top end of said shell is coupled to said non-imaging concentrator near said entrance aperture, and wherein said shell is spaced away from said lateral surface of said non-imaging concentrator; and
a base coupled to said shell near said bottom end of said shell.
2 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said non-imaging concentrator is configured with integral protrusions near said entrance aperture to cause said shell to be spaced away from said lateral surface of said non-imaging concentrator.
3 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said non-imaging concentrator is a truncated pyramid configured for total internal reflection.
4 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said non-imaging concentrator is made of glass, wherein said shell is made of glass, and wherein said shell is coupled to said non-imaging concentrator by fritting.
5 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , further comprising a coupling material between said solar cell and said exit aperture of said non-imaging concentrator.
6 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said shell is spaced away from said lateral surface of said non-imaging concentrator by a distance of at least one wavelength of light.
7 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , further comprising a vacuum environment enclosed by said shell.
8 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said base comprises a circuit board, and wherein said solar cell is electrically connected to said base.
9 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , wherein said base is coupled to said shell by fritting.
10 . The hermetic receiver package of claim 1 , further comprising a compression member for applying compression from said top end of said shell to said bottom end of said shell.
11 . A method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package, said hermetic receiver package comprising a non-imaging concentrator having an entrance aperture, an exit aperture and a lateral surface, a shell having a top end and a bottom end, and a solar cell coupled to a base, said method comprising the steps of:
attaching said top end of said shell to said non-imaging concentrator near said entrance aperture of said non-imaging concentrator, positioning said shell around said non-imaging concentrator and spaced away from said lateral surface of said non-imaging concentrator;
securing said base to said shell near said bottom end of said shell; and
hermetically sealing said shell to said non-imaging concentrator and to said base.
12 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said step of hermetically sealing comprises applying a vacuum.
13 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said step of attaching comprises fritting.
14 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said shell is constructed of glass walls.
15 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 14 , wherein said glass walls are trapezoidal in shape and said non-imaging concentrator is a truncated pyramid.
16 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 14 , further comprising the step of assembling said glass walls by fritting at a first temperature, and wherein said step of attaching comprises fritting at a second temperature which is lower than said first temperature.
17 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , further comprising the step of encapsulating said photovoltaic cell.
18 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said step of securing comprises fritting.
19 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said non-imaging concentrator comprises integral protrusions, and wherein said integral protrusions are used to space said shell away from said non-imaging concentrator during said step of positioning.
20 . The method of manufacturing a hermetic receiver package of claim 11 , wherein said shell is spaced away from said non-imaging concentrator by a distance of at least one wavelength of light.