US4173495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solar collector structures containing thin film polysiloxane, and solar cells
Assignee: OI Glass Inc
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Filing: 1978-05-03
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Granted: 1979-11-06
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Expires: 1998-05-03
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a composite collector and concentrator structure comprising a laminate having a self-supporting layer of solid light transmitting material of extended area in one plane in optical contact with a relatively thin layer of a silicone resin derived from a trifunctional silane containing at least one species of luminescent material which absorbs electromagnetic radiation and emits electromagnetic radiation of a longer wave length. Use with photovoltaic solar cells is also disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles F. Rapp
- 👤 Norman L. Boling
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:34
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10F; H10F77/00; H10F77/40; H10F77/42; H10F77/45; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer, (3) is less absorptive of said emitted luminescent radiation than said thin layer and (4) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer, (3) is less absorptive of said emitted luminescent radiation than said thin layer and (4) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 1 wherein said thick layer also contains a luminescent species.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 1 wherein said thin layer contains at least two luminescent species, the first of which has an emission spectrum overlapping the absorption spectrum of the other, said two luminescent species having a concentration sufficiently high that the major mode of activation of said other species by said first species is radiationless.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 1 wherein said thick layer is a glass.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 4 wherein said glass contains a luminescent species which absorbs ultraviolet light and emits light of a longer wave length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
175 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, a relatively small surface area of said medium being optically coupled to a photovoltaic solar cell responsive to said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer, (3) is less absorptive of said emitted luminescent radiation than said thin layer and (4) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
175 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, a relatively small surface area of said medium being optically coupled to a photovoltaic solar cell responsive to said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer, (3) is less absorptive of said emitted luminescent radiation than said thin layer and (4) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 6 wherein said thick layer also contains a luminescent species.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 6 wherein said thin layer contains at least two luminescent species, the first of which has an emission spectrum overlapping the absorption spectrum of the other, said two luminescent species having a concentration sufficiently high that the major mode of activation of said other species by said first species is radiationless.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 6 wherein said thick layer is a glass.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
A collector and concentrator of claim 9 wherein said glass contains a luminescent species which absorbs ultraviolet light and emits light of a longer wave length.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
140 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer and (3) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
140 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer and (3) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
162 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, a relatively small surface area of said medium being optically coupled to a photovoltaic solar cell responsive to said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer and (3) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
162 words
A luminescent solar collector and concentrator comprising a radiation collection medium for receiving incident solar radiation, said medium containing at least one luminescent species capable of emitting luminescent radiation upon excitation with incident solar radiation, said medium being totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, a relatively small surface area of said medium being optically coupled to a photovoltaic solar cell responsive to said emitted luminescent radiation, wherein said radiation collection medium is a composite structure comprising a thin layer of a thermoset polysiloxane of a trifunctional silane containing dispersed therein at least one luminescent species, said layer being optically coupled to a thick radiation conducting layer of at least 0.5 mm thickness, which thick layer (1) is totally internally reflective of a major portion of said emitted luminescent radiation, (2) has an index of refraction close to that of said thin layer and (3) has a thickness ratio to said thin layer of higher than 4:1.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-05 | 1983-05-07 | 1983-11-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-05 | 1987-05-07 | 1987-11-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-05 | 1991-05-07 | 1991-11-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |