Abstract: A method for forming a solar energy collection device includes receiving a sheet of glass, wherein the sheet of glass includes light concentrating geometric features, applying a light source to the light concentrating geometric features, determining physical concentration characteristics for each of the light concentrating geometric features in response to the light source that is applied, associating the physical concentration characteristics for each light concentrating geometric features with an identifier associated with the sheet of glass in a computer memory, determining placements for a plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the physical concentration characteristics for each light concentrating geometric features stored in the computer memory, and securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placements for the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing solar strips. The method includes providing a photovoltaic material including a back side region, a front side surface, and a plurality of photovoltaic strip regions separated by a plurality of scribe regions. A first portion of the photovoltaic material is supported while a second portion of the photovoltaic material including at least one of the photovoltaic strips is left unsupported. The method includes applying a predetermined force along a portion of the photovoltaic strip that remains unsupported to cause the photovoltaic strip to be separated from the supported photovoltaic material.

Abstract: Assembly system for photovoltaic packages. According an embodiment, the present invention provides a system for assembling photovoltaic packages. The system includes a base plate member, which comprises a plurality of coupling elements. The plurality of coupling elements are characterized by a first length. The plurality of coupling elements is aligned according to a predetermined configuration. The plurality of coupling elements includes first and second coupling elements. The system also includes a top plate member, which includes a plurality of openings and a plurality of locator elements. The plurality of openings is characterized by a second length. The second length is greater than the first length. The openings and the locator elements are aligned according to the first predetermined configurations. The top plate member is disengageably coupled to the base plate member by the coupling elements and the openings.

Abstract: A light energy collection device includes a glass layer having light concentrators for receiving light and for concentrating concentrated light, the light concentrators are elongated and substantially parallel manner to a first edge of the glass layer, wherein pitches of the light concentrators vary along the length generally within the range of approximately 5.5-5.8 mm, strings of multiple PV strips extending in a parallel manner to a second edge (perpendicular to the first edge) of the glass layer, wherein a string of PV strips includes: electrodes extending substantially parallel to the second edge, PV strips electrically coupled to the electrodes and extending substantially parallel to the first edge, wherein pitches of the PV strips vary along their length according to varying pitches of the light concentrators, wherein the PV strips receive concentrated light and output electrical energy in response to the concentrated light.

Abstract: A method for forming a solar energy collection device includes determining physical concentration characteristics for a plurality of light concentrating geometric features of a sheet of transparent material, determining placements for a plurality of photovoltaic strips in response to the physical concentration characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, wherein the placements for each of the plurality of photovoltaic strips is associated with a two-dimensional displacement and an offset angle, placing the plurality of photovoltaic strips onto a stage in response to two-dimensional displacements and offset angles associated with each of the plurality of photovoltaic strips, and electrically coupling the plurality of photovoltaic strips with a plurality of conductors to form a photovoltaic assembly.

Abstract: A method for forming a solar energy collection device includes receiving a first photovoltaic string comprising a first plurality of photovoltaic strips coupled via a first plurality of conductors, wherein the first photovoltaic string is tested to have a first dark-field current/voltage characteristic, receiving a second photovoltaic string comprising a second plurality of photovoltaic strips coupled via a second plurality of conductors, wherein the second photovoltaic string is tested to have a second dark-field current/voltage characteristic, electrically coupling the first photovoltaic string and the second photovoltaic string, and wherein the first dark-field current/voltage characteristic is substantially similar to the second dark-field current/voltage characteristic.