Divergent luminescent collector for photovoltaic device

摘要

In the photovoltaic conversion of solar radiation to electrical energy, light energy passes through an upper or outer surface of a collector member where the light energy is absorbed and reradiated by luminescent materials in the collector. Internal light energy strikes the upper surface and a lower surface of the collector until it is emitted at an edge surface of the collector into a photovoltaic cell mounted on the edge surface. The upper and lower surfaces of the collector are divergent in one or more preselected directions. This divergence changes the internal angle of reflection and directs the light energy to the edge surface and photovoltaic cell thereby decreasing loss of useful energy from within the collector. Light emissive areas of the edge and lower surfaces not covered by a photovoltaic cell may also be covered by a reflective material. The reflective material may be a diffusive material.