Patents Assigned to SOLBEAM, INC.
  • Publication number: 20090250094
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for light ray concentration. In one aspect, a solar concentration assembly includes an array of light focusing elements and an array of photovoltaic devices positioned beneath the array of light focusing elements. The arrays of light focusing elements and photovoltaic devices are spaced from one another and configured to concentrate solar rays incident on the light focusing elements to the photovoltaic elements, such that solar ray communication is maintained as an angle of the assembly relative to the sun is altered by movement of the sun during a day and wherein the angle is an oblique angle for the majority of the day.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: SOLBEAM, INC.
    Inventors: John Henry Robison, Daniel T. Colbert, John G. Pender, Dwight P. Duston, Joshua N. Haddock
  • Publication number: 20080271784
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for steering light rays are described. An electro-optic prism configured to provide controllable steering of solar rays includes a first electrode including multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes positioned on a first substrate and a reference electrode positioned on a second substrate. An electro-optic material is positioned between the first electrode and the reference electrode. In one implementation, a wavelength selective filter is in optical communication with the electro-optic prism. The wavelength selective filter is configured to substantially eliminate selected wavelengths from solar rays before the solar rays are received by the electro-optic prism. In another implementation, a chemical compound is configured in the assembly to convert ultra-violet photons included in the solar rays into visible photons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight P. Duston, Joshua N. Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald D. Blum
  • Publication number: 20070157924
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for light ray steering are described. A method includes receiving solar rays onto a surface of an electro-optic prism. The electro-optic prism includes a first electrode positioned on a first substrate, a second electrode positioned on a second substrate, and an electro-optic material positioned between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes. The method further includes applying multiple voltages to some or all of the substantially parallel linear electrodes to generate a refractive index gradient across the electro-optic prism. The method further includes controlling the refractive index gradient so that the solar rays exit the electro-optic prism in a direction substantially normal to a light focusing element, and utilizing the light focusing element to focus the solar rays on a solar energy collector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Daniel Colbert
  • Publication number: 20070153354
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for steering light rays are described. An electro-optic prism includes a variable resistance electrode on a first substrate, a reference electrode positioned on a second substrate and an electro-optic material positioned between the variable resistance electrode and the reference electrode. The electro-optic prism is operable for generating an internal electrical field by providing a variable voltage to the variable resistance electrode, such that a dynamic refractive index of the electro-optic prism is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum
  • Publication number: 20070153227
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for light ray steering are described. A method for directing light rays includes steering the light rays using a static prism and controllably steering the light rays using an electro-optic prism, such that the combination of the light ray steerings from the static prism and the electro-optic prism substantially steer the light rays to impinge on a light focusing element at a predetermined angle. The electro-optic prism includes a first electrode positioned on a first substrate, a second electrode positioned on a second substrate, and an electro-optic material positioned between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode includes multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes. Applying multiple voltages to some or all of the multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes generates a refractive index gradient across the electro-optic prism. The direction of solar rays exiting the electro-optic prism is controllable by controlling the refractive index gradient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Daniel Colbert
  • Publication number: 20070151558
    Abstract: A prism having a variable apex angle is described. The prism has a variable volume and an apex angle of the prism varies based on variations in the volume of the prism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum
  • Publication number: 20070153358
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for steering light rays are described. A system includes an electro-optic prism configured to provide controllable steering of solar rays and a photovoltaic device. The electro-optic prism includes a first electrode including multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes positioned on a first substrate and a reference electrode positioned on a second substrate. An electro-optic material is positioned between the first electrode and the reference electrode. The prism is operable to disperse light in a first wavelength band and a second wavelength band. The photovoltaic device is arranged in optical communication with the electro-optic prism. The photovoltaic device includes a first light-absorbing material and a second light-absorbing material arranged such that the first light-absorbing material receives the first wavelength band light and the second light-absorbing material receives the second wavelength band light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: July 5, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum
  • Publication number: 20070146624
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for steering light rays are described. An electro-optic prism is operable to provide controllable steering of solar rays. The electro-optic prism includes a first electrode, a reference electrode and an electro-optic material positioned between the first and reference electrodes. In one implementation, the first electrode includes multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes positioned on a first substrate and the reference electrode is positioned on a second substrate. Such implementation can include that when separately controllable voltages are provided to at least some of the linear electrodes, a gradient electric field is provided within the electro-optic material to cause the electro-optic material to have a refractive index gradient. The refractive index gradient can be controlled by varying the magnitude of the separately controllable voltages provided to at least some of the linear electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Steven Parry, Daniel Colbert
  • Publication number: 20070146910
    Abstract: Techniques and assemblies for steering light rays are described. An electro-optic prism is operable to provide controllable steering of light rays. The electro-optic prism includes a first electrode including multiple substantially parallel linear electrodes on a first substrate and a reference electrode on a second substrate. An electro-optic material is positioned between the first electrode and the reference electrode. When separately controllable voltages are provided to at least some of the linear electrodes, a gradient electric field is provided within the electro-optic material to cause the electro-optic material to have a refractive index gradient. The refractive index gradient can be controlled by varying the magnitude of the separately controllable voltages provided to at least some of the linear electrodes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: June 28, 2007
    Applicant: SolBeam, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwight Duston, Joshua Haddock, William Kokonaski, Ronald Blum, Daniel Colbert