The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses and opposing concave focusing mirrors and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The transparent sheet contains small angled mirrors, where each angled mirror corresponds to a particular set of the lenses/focusing mirrors and is in the focal plane. The lightguide also includes a fluid surrounding the transparent sheet, and lower index cladding layers sandwich the fluid. The sheet is translated within the fluid by an actuator to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an edge of the lightguide for extraction to a light transmission system or to a PV system. A position sensor on the sheet provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

Improved building-integrated photovoltaic systems according to certain example embodiments may include concentrated photovoltaic skylights or other windows having a cylindrical lens array. The skylight may include an insulated glass unit, which may improve the Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The photovoltaic skylight and lens arrays may be used in combination with strip solar cells. Arrangements that involve lateral displacement tracking systems, or static systems (e.g., that are fixed at one, two, or more predefined positions) are contemplated herein. Such techniques may advantageously help to reduce cost per watt related, in part, to the potentially reduced amount of semiconductor material to be used for such example embodiments. A photovoltaic skylight may permit diffuse daylight to pass through into an interior of a building so as to provide lighting inside the building, while the strip solar cells absorb the direct sunlight and convert it to electricity, providing for SHGC tuning.

The invention relates to a solar conversion system, comprising solar focusing means for focusing solar energy incident thereon into a solar beam, said solar beam at its smallest cross section having a cross section less than about ten percent of the cross section of the solar focusing means, container means to retain a fluid to be heated by solar energy, said container means having an opening approximately the size of the smallest cross section of the solar beam, positioning means operable for positioning said focusing means so that the smallest cross section of said solar beam is located at the opening so that substantially all of the solar beam enters into said container, dispersing means positioned in said container in the path of said solar beam operable to disperse the solar beam in said container, thereby reducing the amount of reflected solar beam exiting the opening.

A sunlight focusing analysis device relating to an analysis and verification device for a potential failure mode of a vehicle lamp projection unit, and a method for using same, and in particular to the analysis and verification of ablation of peripheral parts of a lens caused by focal spots formed by sunlight focused via a vehicle lamp lens. The device comprises a base, a lens holder, and a test piece holder. A horizontal rotary table and an inclination angle adjustment mechanism are provided on the base; the inclination angle adjustment mechanism is formed by a fixed support arm and a vertical swing arm connected to each other; the lens holder is fixed on the vertical swing arm; the test piece holder is mounted on a test piece lifting platform below the lens holder.

A sunlight focusing analysis device relating to an analysis and verification device for a potential failure mode of a vehicle lamp projection unit, and a method for using same, and in particular to the analysis and verification of ablation of peripheral parts of a lens caused by focal spots formed by sunlight focused via a vehicle lamp lens. The device comprises a base, a lens holder, and a test piece holder. A horizontal rotary table and an inclination angle adjustment mechanism are provided on the base; the inclination angle adjustment mechanism is formed by a fixed support arm and a vertical swing arm connected to each other; the lens holder is fixed on the vertical swing arm; the test piece holder is mounted on a test piece lifting platform below the lens holder.

Disclosed is a multifunctional solar energy system comprising a converging system and two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2), wherein the converging system comprises at least one light-focusing refractive surface (s1) and one reflective surface (s2); at least one of the reflective surface (s2) and the two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2) are movable; if the reflective surface (s2) is movable, the two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2) are respectively provided on light paths before and after the reflective surface (s2) moves; and if the reflective surface (s2) is fixed, the two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2) are successively provided in the light path after the reflective surface (s2). The solar energy system is able to place one of the two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2) in the light path by moving the movable component so as to respectively use the two solar energy utilization devices (P1, P2) at different times, thereby greatly extending the function of the solar energy system and improving the comprehensive utilization rate of the system.

The method is for of conveying a solar power. A parabolic reflector receives sunrays that reflects and concentrates the sunrays as light into second reflector that reflects the light into a tapering device. The tapering device conveys the light to a first curved glass rod section. The first curved glass rod section conveying the light to a second curved glass rod section via a gap defined between the ends of the first and second rod sections. The second rod section conveys the light to a third rod section via a second gap. The first rod section is rotated relative to the second rod section and the second rod section is rotated relative to the third rod section so that the parabolic reflector follows a path of the sun.

The method is for of conveying a solar power. A parabolic reflector receives sunrays that reflects and concentrates the sunrays as light into second reflector that reflects the light into a tapering device. The tapering device conveys the light to a first curved glass rod section. The first curved glass rod section conveying the light to a second curved glass rod section via a gap defined between the ends of the first and second rod sections. The second rod section conveys the light to a third rod section via a second gap. The first rod section is rotated relative to the second rod section and the second rod section is rotated relative to the third rod section so that the parabolic reflector follows a path of the sun.

The invention is directed to a solar tracking apparatus containing a polar axis aligned shaft which rotates continuously or intermittently at a rate simulating the apparent approximate fifteen degree per hour movement of the sun across the sky. A Fresnel lens, photovoltaic panel, parabolic dish or other solar collection/concentration device is adjustably mounted to about twenty three degrees either side of perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and directly at the Sun, collecting, focusing or concentrating the solar radiation on a receiving device, which stores the solar energy in the form of heat, re-directs the light or converts the energy into electricity.

The method is for conveying solar power from a sun. A solar concentrator conveys and concentrates solar power as rays into a cable. The solar concentrator has a tapering device disposed at a bottom thereof. The cable has a first curved glass loop section, a second curved glass loop section and a curved section. The curved glass section is connected to a storage unit wherein the light is converted into heat. The first loop section is rotated relative to the second loop section at a first gap and the second section is rotated relative to the curved section at a second gap so that the concentrator can follow the path of the sun during the day.