The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 30, 1980
Filed:
Jun. 11, 1979
Roy Kaplow, Newton, MA (US);
Robert I Frank, Lexington, MA (US);
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA (US);
Abstract
The invention contemplates improved apparatus for use in a self-tracking optical system for directing highly concentrated solar radiation upon utilization means such as a photovoltaic cell, wherein the full image of the sun covers the exposure surface substantially only when the axis of the optical system is aligned with the sun. Certain structural features associated with the optical system in the vicinity of cell support effectively enlarge the margin of off-axis misalignment within which self-tracking is achievable. At the same time, certain aspects of these features inherently prevent thermal losses which would otherwise be attributable to convection currents of air in the region of heat concentration.