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 forming a solar energy collection device includes receiving a sheet of glass comprising glass material, wherein the sheet of glass includes a plurality of light concentrating geometric features, measuring geometric characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, mathematically calculating predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the geometric characteristics, determining placement locations for a plurality of PV strips in response to the predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, and securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips.

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 sheet of glass comprising glass material, wherein the sheet of glass includes a plurality of light concentrating geometric features, measuring geometric characteristics for the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, mathematically calculating predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features in response to the geometric characteristics, determining placement locations for a plurality of PV strips in response to the predicted light concentration characteristics for each of the plurality of light concentrating geometric features, and securing the plurality of PV strips relative to the sheet of glass in response to the placement locations for the plurality of PV strips.