Abstract: Disclosed is a method of passivating and reducing reflectance of a silicon photovoltaic cell. The method includes the step of providing a silicon wafer of a solar cell having a major surface. A passivation layer of silicon nitride is applied on at least 98 percent of the major surface through a vacuum deposition process. An index-matching film structure, different from silicon nitride, is applied on top of the passivation layer. The index matching film structure provides the majority of the antireflective property of the combination of the passivation layer and the index matching film structure.

Abstract: An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making solar collector assemblies for photovoltaic conversion. The method comprises providing a mold for receiving encapsulant, the mold having serially arranged, alternating peaks and valleys. A respective PV solar cell is placed into each of a series of the valleys such that the light-receiving surfaces of the PV solar cells face upwards. Uncured encapsulant is delivered into the mold and onto the light-receiving surfaces, and from the light-receiving surfaces to a level at least as high as the peaks so as to form, above the light-receiving surfaces, optical concentrators for concentrating light received by the optical concentrators and directing the light to the light-receiving surfaces. The encapsulant is then cured.

Abstract: A photovoltaic conversion assembly comprises an optical slab with first and second major surfaces and an intermediate surface therebetween. Light energy to be collected impinges as incoming photons on the first major surface. At least one PV cell is mounted to receive light energy from the intermediate surface of the optical slab and convert such light energy to electrical energy. The PV cell has a highest band gap E. A down-converting structure is located on the second major surface of the slab for converting to lower energy light received through the slab, with at least about 75 percent of the converted light having an energy level above the band gap E. A two-way spectrally selective reflector, located proximate the first major surface, cooperates with the down-converting structure for preventing high angle light from undesirably exiting the optical slab via the first major surface.

Abstract: A lighting device operable to supply temporally appropriate light to a user comprises a light socket adapter interposed between a primary socket and a first type of lamp. The primary socket is connected to a switchable supply of electrical power. A first type of lamp includes wavelengths below 530 nm that are suppressive of melatonin production in a user viewing the light. There is a second type of lamp that supplies light substantially all above 530 nm so as to avoid suppressing melatonin production in a user viewing the light. The light socket adapter has at least one mode of operation in which automatic means causes the first and second types of lamp to be exclusively operable during respective predetermined periods of time.

Abstract: Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.

Abstract: Luminaire with directional side-light extraction comprises a light pipe with a light-carrying core, and with a light-extraction structure along a first longitudinal side of the luminaire, confined to a radial swath of the luminaire, along the longitudinal axis of the luminaire, of substantially less than 180°. The second end of the light pipe has light-saving means for directing saved light from the second end towards the first end. The light-extraction means is adjustable to accommodate angular distributions of light from various light sources.

Abstract: An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system.

Abstract: A luminaire with improved lateral illuminance control comprising a light pipe with a longitudinal center is disclosed. A light-extraction means applied to a radial swath of the light pipe has a longitudinal portion having dimension along its length, centered about a slice on the light pipe longitudinally; said slice being orthogonal to the longitudinal center and located in a propagation plane through which light propagates to a virtual target area intersecting the propagation plane. The light pipe intervenes between the radial swath and the target area. A first average efficiency point of the light-extraction means corresponds to the minimum distance to the target area being at least approximately 20% less than a respective, second average efficiency point corresponding to a respective maximum distance to such area. The light-extraction means efficiency varies from the first average efficiency point to the second average efficiency point though more than one non-zero value.

Abstract: A method of making an optical filter wheel of a device synchronizable with an internal, rotatable virtual reference wheel, created in a memory of a motor controller of the device, is disclosed. The method includes a single trigger event that initializes rotation of the virtual reference wheel. The controller determines the orientation of an optical filter wheel of the device and maintains an ongoing representation of said orientation over time. The controller controls the motor, which causes the filter wheel to become coincident with the virtual reference wheel after the trigger event. A self-contained light fixture is also disclosed, which includes an optical filter wheel driven by an electric motor that is synchronizable with an internal, rotatable virtual reference wheel of the fixture. The method and light fixture permits optical filter wheels of multiple light fixtures, which may be identical, to synchronize with one another.

Abstract: A hub arrangement for mounting light pipe to receive light includes a light pipe hub for mounting at least one light pipe, with a plug-and-socket arrangement. The plug-and-socket arrangement includes (i) a socket in the light pipe hub for receiving a plug, and (ii) a plug for mounting a light pipe end that is to receive light. A fore end of the plug is receivable within the socket. The plug has a channel for receiving the light pipe through an aft end of the plug. The hub arrangement may also include, if desired, a rod hub for mounting at least one thermally isolating, light-collection rod for receiving light from a light source. The hub arrangement allows easy and rapid coupling of light pipe to an illumination source, using a “plug-and-socket” feature. The hub arrangement may incorporate several safety features to prevent premature light pipe failure.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-fight emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern atone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.