Abstract: A multiview backlight, multiview display, and method of multiview backlight operation include reflective multibeam elements configured to provide emitted light having directional light beams with directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. The multiview backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and an array of the reflective multibeam elements. Each reflective multibeam element includes a plurality of reflective sub-elements and is configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light as the emitted light. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image. Each reflective sub-element protrudes from a guiding surface of the light guide by a respective protrusion distance. At least some of the protrusion distances can vary as a function of distance along a length of the light guide.

Abstract: A multiview backlight, multiview display, and method of multiview backlight operation include reflective multibeam elements configured to provide emitted light having directional light beams with directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. The multiview backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and an array of the reflective multibeam elements, each reflective multibeam element including a plurality of reflective sub-elements and being configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light as the emitted light. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image.

Abstract: A multiview backlight, multiview display, and method of multiview backlight operation include reflective multibeam elements having one or more curved reflective surfaces configured to provide emitted light having directional light beams with directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. The multiview backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and an array of the reflective multibeam elements. Each reflective multibeam element includes a plurality of reflective sub-elements and is configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light as the emitted light. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image. A reflective sub-element of the reflective sub-element plurality includes a curved reflective surface, a surface curvature of the curved reflective surface being in a plane parallel to a guiding surface of the light guide.

Abstract: A micro-slit scattering element based backlight, a multiview display, and a method of backlight operation include reflective micro-slit scattering elements configured to provide emitted light having a predetermined light exclusion zone. The micro-slit scattering element based backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and a plurality of the reflective micro-slit scattering elements having sloped reflective sidewalls configured to reflectively scatter out the guided light as the emitted light. The sloped reflective sidewalls of the reflective micro-slit scattering elements are configured to provide the predetermined light exclusion zone of the emitted light. The multiview display includes the reflective micro-slit scattering elements arranged as an array of micro-slit multibeam elements. The multiview display also includes an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image, except within the predetermined light exclusion zone.

Abstract: A reflective microprism scattering element based backlight, a multiview display, and a method backlight operation include reflective microprism scattering elements configured to provide emitted light having a predetermined light exclusion zone. The reflective microprism scattering element based backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and a plurality of the reflective microprism scattering elements having sloped reflective sidewalls configured to reflectively scatter out the guided light as the emitted light. The sloped reflective sidewalls of the reflective microprism scattering elements are configured to provide the predetermined light exclusion zone of the emitted light. The multiview display includes the reflective microprism scattering elements arranged as an array of reflective microprism multibeam elements.

Abstract: A multiview backlight, multiview display, and method of multiview backlight operation include micro-slit multibeam elements configured to provide emitted light having directional light beams with directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. The multiview backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and an array of the micro-slit multibeam elements, each micro-slit multibeam element including a plurality of micro-slit sub-elements and being configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light as the emitted light. Each micro-slit sub-element of the micro-slit sub-element plurality includes a sloped reflective sidewall having a slope angle tilted away from the propagation direction of the guided light. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image.

Abstract: A multiview backlight, multiview display, and method of multiview backlight operation include reflective multibeam elements configured to provide emitted light having directional light beams with directions corresponding to view directions of a multiview image. The multiview backlight includes a light guide configured to guide light and an array of the reflective multibeam elements, each reflective multibeam element including a plurality of reflective sub-elements and being configured to reflectively scatter out a portion of the guided light as the emitted light. The multiview display includes the multiview backlight and an array of light valves to modulate the directional light beams to provide the multiview image.

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrators in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be designed to minimize photon thermalization losses and incomplete light trapping using various components and techniques. Cadmium selenide core, cadmium sulfide shell (CdSe/CdS) quantum dot (“QD”) technology can be implemented in such devices to allow for near-unity QDs and sufficiently large Stokes shifts. Many embodiments of the invention include a luminescent solar concentrator that incorporates CdSe/CdS quantum dot luminophores. In further embodiments, anisotropic luminophore emission can be implemented through metasurface/plasmonic antenna coupling. In several embodiments, red-shifted luminophores are implemented. Additionally, top and bottom spectrally-selective filters, such as but not limited to selectively-reflective metasurface mirrors and polymeric stack filters, can be implemented to enhance the photon collection efficiency.

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

Abstract: Luminescent solar concentrators having a grid-based PV design can be implemented in many different ways. In several embodiments, the LSC is implemented using infrared luminophore technology combined with a PV design implementing a grid of PV cells. LSCs can incorporate quantum dots that absorb uniformly across the visible spectrum and photoluminesce down-shifted energy light in the infrared wavelength regime. Some embodiments include PV cells utilizing micro-grid structures that can be implemented for scalable and controllably transparent applications, such as but not limited to power windows targeted for building integrated photovoltaic applications. In a number of embodiments, the LSCs can utilize a unique PV cell form factor and spectral filter coatings to increase the thermal insulation of the window and enhance photocurrent capture by a silicon micro-grid.

Abstract: Superstrates containing ETCs in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can be implemented to reduce optical losses by decreasing the thickness of the TCO and by reducing or eliminating shading losses of metal grid fingers. ETC superstrates can include a transparent material with grooves, which can be infilled with reflective, conductive material(s) such as but not limited to silver and aluminum. In further embodiments, the grooves are triangular-shaped. ETC superstrates can enable a significant reduction in the TCO thickness required for current extraction with a high fill factor. By reducing the thickness of the TCO layer in solar cells, the short circuit current density can be enhanced by more than 1 mA/cm2 due to decreased parasitic absorption and optimized antireflection properties.

Abstract: In conventional solar cells with metal contacts, a non-negligible fraction of the incoming solar power is immediately lost either through absorption or reflection upon interaction with the contacts. Effectively transparent contacts (“ETCs”) for solar cells can be referred to as three-dimensional contacts designed to redirect incoming light onto a photoabsorbing surface of a solar cell. In many embodiments, the ETCs have triangular cross-sections. Such ETCs can be placed on a photoabsorbing surface such that at least one of their sides forms an angle with the photoabsorbing surface. In this configuration, the ETCs can redirect incident light onto the photoabsorbing surface, mitigating or eliminating reflection loss compared to conventional solar cells. When constructed in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention, ETCs can be effectively transparent and highly conductive.

Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are disclosed. The structures can comprise randomly or periodically structured layers, a dielectric layer to reduce back diffusion of charge carriers, and a metallic layer to reflect photons back towards the absorbing semiconductor layers. This design can increase efficiency of photovoltaic structures. The structures can be fabricated by nanoimprint.

Abstract: Solar cells in accordance with a number of embodiments of the invention incorporate effectively transparent 3D contacts that redirect light incident on the contacts onto the photoabsorbing surfaces of the solar cells. One embodiment includes a photoabsorbing surface and a plurality of three-dimensional contacts formed on the photoabsorbing surface. The plurality of three-dimensional contacts are spaced apart so that radiation is incident on a portion of the photoabsorbing surface. In addition, the three-dimensional contacts include at least one surface that redirects radiation incident on the three-dimensional contacts onto the photoabsorbing surface.

Abstract: Photovoltaic structures are disclosed. The structures can comprise randomly or periodically structured layers, a dielectric layer to reduce back diffusion of charge carriers, and a metallic layer to reflect photons back towards the absorbing semiconductor layers. This design can increase efficiency of photovoltaic structures. The structures can be fabricated by nanoimprint.