Abstract: This invention relates to a high efficiency solar cell with a novel architecture. In one embodiment, the solar cell is comprised of a high energy gap cell stack and a dichroic mirror. The high energy gap cell stack is exposed to solar light before there is any splitting of the solar light into spectral components. Each cell in the high energy gap cell stack absorbs the light with photons of energy greater than or equal to its energy gap, i.e., the blue-green to ultraviolet portion of the solar light. Each cell in the high energy gap cell stack is transparent to and transmits light with photons of energy less than its energy gap. Spectral splitting is then performed by means of the dichroic mirror on the remaining light, i.e., the light transmitted by the high energy gap cell stack.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved high efficiency solar cell. The improvement comprises the addition of one or more silicon cells to surround at least a portion of the active region of the solar cell. Preferably, the silicon cells completely surround the active region of the solar cell. The silicon cells act as scavenger cells to absorb light that would otherwise not be absorbed by other components of the solar cell and to convert that energy to electricity.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high efficiency hybrid solar cell preferably comprised of a static concentrator, a dichroic mirror, a first cell stack comprising two cells, the first cell being a GaInP cell and the second cell being a GaAs cell and a second cell stack comprising three cells, the first cell being a Si cell, the second cell being a GaInAsP cell and the third cell being a GaInAs cell. The dichroic mirror provides a separation of the solar light into two spectral components, one component of light with photons of energy?Eg that impinges upon the first cell stack and one component of light with photons of energy<Eg that impinges upon the second cell stack.

Abstract: This invention relates to a high efficiency solar cell with a novel architecture. In one embodiment, the solar cell is comprised of a high energy gap cell stack and a dichroic mirror. The high energy gap cell stack is exposed to solar light before there is any splitting of the solar light into spectral components. Each cell in the high energy gap cell stack absorbs the light with photons of energy greater than or equal to its energy gap, i.e., the blue-green to ultraviolet portion of the solar light. Each cell in the high energy gap cell stack is transparent to and transmits light with photons of energy less than its energy gap. Spectral splitting is then performed by means of the dichroic mirror on the remaining light, i.e., the light transmitted by the high energy gap cell stack.