System and method for determining placement of photovoltaic strips using displacement sensors

1. A method for forming a solar energy collection device comprising:

receiving a sheet of glass comprising glass material, wherein the sheet of glass includes a plurality of light concentrating geometric features;

measuring geometric characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features;

mathematically calculating predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the geometric characteristics;

determining placement locations for a plurality of PV strips in response to the predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features; and

securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein measuring geometric characteristics comprises determining the geometric characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features with a device selected from a group consisting of: laser range finder, a displacement sensor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein mathematically calculating the predicted light concentration characteristics comprises mathematically calculating the predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the geometric characteristics and in response to a diffraction model for the glass material.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

determining actual light concentration characteristics of another sheet of glass;

measuring geometric characteristics of other sheet of glass; and

determining the diffraction model for the glass material in response to the actual light concentration characteristics of the other sheet of glass and to the geometric characteristics for the other sheet of glass.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining the actual light concentration characteristics comprises:

receiving the other sheet of glass, wherein the other sheet of glass includes a front surface comprising a plurality of light concentrating geometric features, and a back surface;

disposing a layer of adhesive material adjacent to the back surface of the other sheet of glass;

applying a light source to the front surface; and

determining the actual light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features with a light detector directed towards the layer of adhesive material and in response to the light source that is applied.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein securing comprises:

disposing a sheet of light diffusing material adjacent to the sheet of glass;

disposing the plurality of PV strips on top of the sheet of light diffusing material; and

subjecting the sheet of light diffusing material to a lamination process with a controlled variable pressure profile.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the sheet of light diffusing material is selected from a group consisting of: an adhesive material, an ethylene vinyl acetate material.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the controlled variable pressure profile includes a pressure less than atmospheric pressure.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein securing comprises:

using a device to pick-up the plurality of PV strips; and

using the device to place the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips.

10. The method of claim 9

wherein the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips comprise PV alignment marks; and

wherein securing the plurality of PV strips comprises locating the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the PV alignment marks.