Solar cell structure including a plurality of concentrator elements with a notch design and predetermined radii and method

1. A solar cell module comprising a solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:

a pair of concentrator elements formed from a thickness of glass material comprising a first concentrator element, the first concentrator element including a first aperture region and a first exit region, the first exit region including a first back surface region and 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, the second exit region including a second back surface region, the thickness of glass material ranging from 5 to 7 mm;

a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device and a second coupling region between the second exit region and a second surface region of a second photovoltaic device;

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 characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the radius of curvature being less than about 0.15 mm and greater than 0.001 mm and configured to reduce a scattering effect of a portion of an incident electromagnetic radiation;

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 first concentrator element and the second concentrator element are characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and greater.

3. 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.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein the coupling region comprises an optical coupling material.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein the optical coupling material comprises an optical grade epoxy, or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), or silicones, or polyurethanes.

6. 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.

7. The structure of claim 1 wherein the second radius of curvature is greater than an amount that causes a crack within a portion of a thickness of the glass material.

8. A solar cell module comprising a solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:

a piece of optical glass material characterized by a first spatial direction and a second spatial direction, the first spatial direction being normal to the second spatial direction, the piece of optical glass material having a thickness ranging from 5 to 7 mm, the piece of optical glass material comprising a webbing including a first concentrator element characterized by a first truncated pyramid shape and a second concentrator element characterized by a second truncated pyramid shape and 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; and

a radius of curvature of less than about 0.15 mm and greater than 0.001 mm within a predetermined depth of the piece of optical material; a triangular shaped region including an apex defined by the radius of curvature, the radius of curvature being provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein the piece of optical material is essentially a glass.

10. The structure of claim 8 wherein the radius of curvature reduces an efficiency of the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element by about 50% and less.

11. The structure of claim 8 wherein the piece of optical material is characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and more.

12. The structure of claim 8 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.

13. The structure of claim 8 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 1.0.

14. A solar cell concentrator structure, the solar cell concentrator structure comprising:

a webbing characterized by a single piece of molded material comprising a first concentrator element, the first concentrator element including a first aperture region and a first exit region, the first exit region including a first back surface region, the first concentrator element being characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and greater and a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element, the second concentrator element being characterized by a refractive index of about 1.4 and greater, the second concentrator element including a second aperture region and a second exit region, the second exit region including a second back surface region, the first concentrator element integrally formed with the second concentrator element, the first concentrator element being optically coupled to a first photovoltaic region and the second concentrator element being optically coupled to a second photovoltaic region, the webbing having a thickness ranging from about 5 to 7 mm;

a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device, the first coupling region including an optical coupling material, an optical coupling material comprising an optical grade polyurethane material;

a second coupling region between the second exit region and a second surface region of a second photovoltaic device;

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 notch structure characterized by a radius of curvature characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element, the radius of curvature being about between 0.001 mm and 0.15 mm;

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.