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:
May. 23, 2017
Filed:
Aug. 25, 2013
Mark Joseph O'neill, Keller, TX (US);
Mark Joseph O'Neill, Keller, TX (US);
Other;
Abstract
This invention includes a Fresnel lens assembly positioned relative to an energy receiver, onto which the lens assembly focuses sunlight for collection and conversion. The Fresnel lens assembly includes a thin polymeric film with prisms molded into or attached to the film. This invention also includes an articulating energy receiver which can move closer to or farther away from the lens depending on the longitudinal angle of incidence of the sunlight relative to the lens, to maintain the best focus of sunlight on the energy receiver. The prisms in the present lens are specified to provide acceptable optical performance in the presence of relatively large longitudinal solar incidence angles, relatively smaller lateral solar incidence angles, in combination with the articulating energy receiver. The new lens assembly can further be deployed and supported as a thin flexible stretched membrane with tension maintaining the lens in proper position on orbit.