A transparent solar heat absorbing apparatus includes a transparent member allowing sunlight to pass through, a wavelength selective member disposed beneath the transparent member, a heating tank formed between the transparent member and the wavelength selective member. The wavelength selective member allows light in a transmission range including at least a visible wavelength range to pass through and reflects light in a reflection range including at least an infrared wavelength range. At least one of the transparent member and the wavelength selective member has a waveform structure on at least one of its upper surface and bottom surface.

A transparent solar heat absorbing apparatus includes a transparent member allowing sunlight to pass through, a wavelength selective member disposed beneath the transparent member, a heating tank formed between the transparent member and the wavelength selective member. The wavelength selective member allows light in a transmission range including at least a visible wavelength range to pass through and reflects light in a reflection range including at least an infrared wavelength range. At least one of the transparent member and the wavelength selective member has a waveform structure on at least one of its upper surface and bottom surface.

A roofing, cladding or siding product which is light weight, easy to install, durable, and resistant to environmental wear includes a module that can be used to form a weatherproof covering over top of a building surface. The module can also form a weatherproof covering, and be used as part of a thermal energy recovery or removal system. The module can also form part of a thermal energy recovery system that includes an array of solar cells to generate electrical energy.

A roofing, cladding or siding product which is light weight, easy to install, durable, and resistant to environmental wear includes a module that can be used to form a weatherproof covering over top of a building surface. The module can also form a weatherproof covering, and be used as part of a thermal energy recovery or removal system. The module can also form part of a thermal energy recovery system that includes an array of solar cells to generate electrical energy.

Systems and methods for the desalination of water are disclosed. A system includes a concentrated solar power (CSP) system, the CSP system operable to concentrate solar energy to increase temperature and pressure of a heat transfer fluid and operable to produce steam utilizing heat from the heat transfer fluid; a photovoltaic (PV) system, the PV system operable to collect solar energy to produce electricity; a desalination system in fluid communication with the CSP system and in electrical communication with the PV system, the desalination system operable to produce desalinated water from a salt water source utilizing the steam from the CSP system and electricity from the PV system; and a pump station in fluid communication with the CSP system and the desalination system, and in electrical communication with the PV system, the pump station operable to transmit the desalinated water to consumers for use.

An apparatus for generating electricity with the ability to distill a liquid and/or expand a working fluid and/or produce mechanical energy and/or produce thermal energy and/or produce chemical transformations through separately utilizing light in the infrared (IR) region and light within the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regions. The apparatus uses methods to capture diffuse and direct polychromatic light, concentration and multiplication of that light up to 1000 times or more, collimation of light, separation of the spectrum into the IR and UV/visible bands, generation of electricity through conversion of at least UV/visible light, and useful conversion of infrared light into applications to generate a distilled liquid or compound, expand a working fluid, produce mechanical energy, produce thermal energy, produce chemical energy and/or generate additional electricity. Non-reflected radiant energy may be used to operate a suitable photovoltaic cell or stack of cells. In alternative embodiments, the spectral separator may reflect most radiant energy incident upon it to one or more photovoltaic cells and pass infrared to an accumulator for use as heat energy to generate mechanical or chemical energy or generate further electrical energy.

An apparatus for generating electricity with the ability to distill a liquid and/or expand a working fluid and/or produce mechanical energy and/or produce thermal energy and/or produce chemical transformations through separately utilizing light in the infrared (IR) region and light within the visible and ultraviolet (UV) regions. The apparatus uses methods to capture diffuse and direct polychromatic light, concentration and multiplication of that light up to 1000 times or more, collimation of light, separation of the spectrum into the IR and UV/visible bands, generation of electricity through conversion of at least UV/visible light, and useful conversion of infrared light into applications to generate a distilled liquid or compound, expand a working fluid, produce mechanical energy, produce thermal energy, produce chemical energy and/or generate additional electricity. Non-reflected radiant energy may be used to operate a suitable photovoltaic cell or stack of cells. In alternative embodiments, the spectral separator may reflect most radiant energy incident upon it to one or more photovoltaic cells and pass infrared to an accumulator for use as heat energy to generate mechanical or chemical energy or generate further electrical energy.

A photosensitive thin film device includes a substrate that is transparent and insulative; a first electrode on the substrate; a circular semiconductor layer on the substrate and surrounding a perimeter of the first electrode; a circular second electrode on the substrate and surrounding a perimeter of the semiconductor layer; an interlayer insulating layer on the semiconductor layer and the first and second electrodes and having a first aperture exposing the first electrode; and a conductive layer including an upper surface light barrier arranged on the interlayer insulating layer and covering an upper surface of the semiconductor layer, and a contact plug extending from the upper surface light barrier and connected to the first electrode via the first aperture.

An imaging device which offers an image with high quality and is suitable for high-speed operation is provided. The imaging device includes a first region to an n-th region (n is a natural number of 2 or more and 16 or less) each including a first circuit, a second circuit, a third circuit, and a fourth circuit. The first to third circuits each include a transistor in which silicon is used in an active layer or an active region. The fourth circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element and a transistor in which an oxide semiconductor is used in an active layer. The first circuit includes a region overlapping with the fourth circuit. The third circuit includes a region overlapping with the fourth circuit.

A method and apparatus for the thermal energy management of systems of electrically powered vehicles (EVs), which enhance the mission capabilities, or performance. The method includes an approach in which thermal energy harvesting, dissipation, storage, and distribution operate in concert. The method concurrently enables, immediate and longer-term management, including storage of thermal energy for subsequent use. The apparatus, includes the multi-functional integration of thermal energy storage, for the benefit of enhanced EV form, capabilities or performances. The apparatus includes connecting elements which provide selective, thermal conduction pathways, which link the management system. The thermal conductive pathways may be actuated in response to temperature, or by other activation means. Thermally managed systems which require persistent heating, or cooling or maintenance within a specified range, are addressed.