Importance

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Abstract

A light collection and concentration system includes a primary light concentrator, a light transport structure, and a light directing structure optically associated with the primary light concentrator. The system may include an optional secondary light concentrator. Each unit-system includes a plurality of the primary light concentrators and a respective plurality of the light directing structures, and only a single light transport structure. A photo-voltaic (PV) cell may advantageously be associated with each unit-system. Solar radiation is focused by the primary concentrators onto respective light directing structures incorporated in a low aspect ratio, sheet-type waveguide light transport structure. Each respective light directing structure intercepts the focused light and deflects it transversely to travel along the length of the light transport structure primarily via total internal reflection (TIR) towards an exit-end of the light transport structure, where it can be input to the PV cell. The optional secondary light concentrator may further concentrate the light out-coupled from the transport structure into the PV cell.

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First Claim