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:
Mar. 15, 2016
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2007
Gregory N. Nielson, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Vipin P. Gupta, Las Cruces, NM (US);
Murat Okandan, Edgewood, NM (US);
Michael R. Watts, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Gregory N. Nielson, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Vipin P. Gupta, Las Cruces, NM (US);
Murat Okandan, Edgewood, NM (US);
Michael R. Watts, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Sandia Corporation, Albuquerque, NM (US);
Abstract
A photovoltaic solar concentrator is disclosed with one or more transverse-junction solar cells (also termed point contact solar cells) and a lens located above each solar cell to concentrate sunlight onto the solar cell to generate electricity. Piezoelectric actuators tilt or translate each lens to track the sun using a feedback-control circuit which senses the electricity generated by one or more of the solar cells. The piezoelectric actuators can be coupled through a displacement-multiplier linkage to provide an increased range of movement of each lens. Each lens in the solar concentrator can be supported on a frame (also termed a tilt plate) having three legs, with the movement of the legs being controlled by the piezoelectric actuators.