Abstract: A method for manufacturing an integrated solar cell and concentrator. The method includes providing a first photovoltaic region and a second photovoltaic region disposed within a first mold member. A second mold member is coupled to the first mold member to form a cavity region. The cavity region forms a first concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the first photovoltaic region and a second concentrator region overlying a vicinity of the second photovoltaic region. The method includes transferring a molding compound in a fluidic state into the cavity region to fill the cavity region with the molding compound and initiating a curing process of the molding compound to form a first concentrator element and a second concentrator element overlying the respective photovoltaic regions.

Abstract: A solar cell device. The device has a housing member. The device also has a lead frame member coupled to the housing member. In a preferred embodiment, the lead frame member has at least one photovoltaic strip thereon, which has a surface region and a back side region. The device has an optical elastomer material having a first thickness overlying the surface region of the photovoltaic surface. The device has a second substrate member comprising at least one optical concentrating element thereon. The optical concentrating element has a first side and a second side. The device has a first interface within a vicinity of the surface region and the first thickness of the optical elastomer material and a second interface within a vicinity of the second side and the optical elastomer material.

Abstract: The invention provides a solar concentrator structure including a first concentrating element. The first concentrating element includes a first aperture region, a first exit region, a first side and a second side. The solar concentrator structure further includes a second or more concentrating elements integrally coupled with the first concentrating element in a parallel manner. The second concentrating element includes a second aperture region, a second exit region, the third side, and a fourth side. The third side joins with the second side to form an apex notch structure characterized by a radius of curvature. Additionally, the solar concentrator structure includes a separation region by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region and a triangular region including the apex notch structure and a base defined by the separation region and a refractive index of about 1 characterizing the triangular region.

Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.25 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass concentrator for a solar module. The method includes providing a glass material in a molten state and processing the glass material in the molten state to form a ribbon glass including a first surface and a second surface. Additionally, the method includes subjecting the first surface to one or more drum members to form a plurality of concentrating structures while continuously passing the ribbon glass via the second surface over a plurality of rollers. Each of the concentrating structures includes an aperture region, an exit region, and one or more reflection regions. The aperture region is configured to receive incoming light and the one or more reflection regions are configured to concentrate the received incoming light to the exit region. The method further includes cutting the ribbon glass into one or more sheets of glasses including a predetermined number of the plurality of concentrating structures.

Abstract: A glass concentrator for manufacture of solar energy conversion module is provided including a webbing that has a load sustenance characteristic and a hail impact resistance characteristic based on a first thickness of the webbing. The concentrator also includes a plurality of elongated concentrating elements integrally formed with the webbing. Each of the elongated concentrating elements has an aperture region, an exit region and two side regions, which bears a geometric concentration characteristic provided by a highly reflective side regions and an aperture-to-exit scale ratio in a range from about 1.8 to about 4.5. The glass concentrator can be attached with a plurality of photovoltaic strips cumulatively on each and every exit regions and clamped with a rigid or flexible back cover member to form a solar concentrator module for converting sunlight to electric energy. The solar concentrator module based on certain embodiments meets the industrial qualification standards.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.

Abstract: Method and system for assembling a solar cell package. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for fabricating solar cells for a solar panel. The method includes providing a first substrate member comprising a plurality of photovoltaic strips thereon. The method also includes providing an optical elastomer material overlying a portion of the first substrate member. The method further includes aligning a second substrate member comprising a plurality of optical concentrating elements thereon such that at least one of the optical concentrating elements being operably coupled to at least one of the plurality of photovoltaic strips, the second substrate member comprising an aperture surface region and an exit surface region. In addition, the method includes coupling the first substrate member to the second substrate member to form an interface region along a first peripheral region of the first substrate member and along a second peripheral region of the second substrate member.

Abstract: A solar cell concentrator structure. The structure has a first concentrator element, which has a first aperture region and a first exit region. The structure has a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region. The structure has a separation region provided between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the separation region is characterized by a width separating the first exit region from the second exit region. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a radius of curvature of 0.15 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element. In a specific embodiment, the structure has a triangular shaped region including an apex defined by the radius of curvature and a base defined by the separation region.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.

Abstract: An electrical coupling device for solar cells includes a conductive member characterized by a single shaped thickness of material. The member includes a first portion extending a first length from a first end region and a second portion extending a second length from a second end region. The member also includes a U-like-shaped portion including a first branch, a second branch, and a joint region integrally connecting the first branch and the second branch. The first branch is integrally connected to the first portion at a first junction region and the second branch is integrally connected to the second portion at a second junction region. The first end region connects a first electrical lead of a first solar cell and the second end region connects a second electrical lead of a second solar cell which is disposed at flexible distance allowed by deforming the U-like-shaped portion elastically.

Abstract: A solar panel apparatus and method. The apparatus has an optically transparent member comprising a predetermined thickness and an aperture surface region. The apparatus has a solar cell coupled to a portion of the optically transparent member. In a specific embodiment, the solar cell includes a transparent polymeric member and a plurality of photovoltaic regions provided within a portion of the transparent polymeric member. In a specific embodiment, the plurality of photovoltaic regions occupies at least about 10 percent of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member and less than about 80% of the aperture surface region of the transparent polymeric member.