An optical semiconductor element includes an optical receiver including a first semiconductor layer, a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor. A first semiconductor layer that absorbs light and generates electric carriers; a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor including a second semiconductor layer in which dark current is changed by heat generated by the heater.

An optical semiconductor element includes an optical receiver including a first semiconductor layer, a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor. A first semiconductor layer that absorbs light and generates electric carriers; a heater for heating the first semiconductor layer; and a monitor including a second semiconductor layer in which dark current is changed by heat generated by the heater.

Hybrid solar panel including a photovoltaic module having a front face and a rear face, a heat exchanger having a lower face and an upper face, said upper face being arranged facing the rear face of the photovoltaic module, a rigid frame surrounding the photovoltaic module and the heat exchanger, at least one elastic element adapted to exert a compression force against the lower face of the exchanger in such a way that the exchanger is thrust against the rear face of the photovoltaic module, the elastic element bears against at least one bearing element, and the bearing element being in connection with the frame in such a way that at least one portion of the compression force exerted by the elastic element on the bearing element is taken up by the frame.

Hybrid solar panel including a photovoltaic module having a front face and a rear face, a heat exchanger having a lower face and an upper face, said upper face being arranged facing the rear face of the photovoltaic module, a rigid frame surrounding the photovoltaic module and the heat exchanger, at least one elastic element adapted to exert a compression force against the lower face of the exchanger in such a way that the exchanger is thrust against the rear face of the photovoltaic module, the elastic element bears against at least one bearing element, and the bearing element being in connection with the frame in such a way that at least one portion of the compression force exerted by the elastic element on the bearing element is taken up by the frame.

Provided is a light-concentrating solar energy system, comprising a pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110), a pair of inner reflective elements (120, 120) and a solar energy utilization device (130), wherein each pair of reflective elements comprises two reflective elements which are arranged opposite to each other in a tilted manner, and one end thereof with a larger opening is an upper end, which faces a sunlight (LL) incident direction; the pair of inner reflective elements (120, 120) is arranged between the pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110); and a light receiving surface (131) of the solar energy utilization device (130) is arranged at a lower end of the pair of outer reflective elements (110, 110), and the inner reflective elements (120, 120) are located on the light receiving surface (131). The system can realize a relatively high light-concentrating ratio and light-concentrating efficiency at a lower cost.

A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.

A micro-concentrator solar array is provided, and includes a plurality of solar cells and a plurality of micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) based reflectors. Each solar cell includes a focal point. The MEMS based reflectors are each selectively tiltable about at least one axis to reflect a beam of light onto the focal point of one of the solar cells.

A device for harvesting sunlight includes a frame and a plurality of sunlight harvesting units. Each sunlight harvesting unit includes a first reflector having a first reflective surface; a second reflector having a second reflective surface; a first light collection unit positioned proximate the second reflector and oriented to receive reflected light from first reflective surface, and a second light collection unit positioned proximate the first reflector and oriented to receive reflected light from the second reflective surface. Each light collection unit has a lower-efficiency photovoltaic cell and a higher-efficiency photovoltaic cell, the cells in thermal communication. The cells are arranged such that sunlight parallel to an axial plane impinging on the reflective surface and reflected thereby is focused on the higher-efficiency photovoltaic cell, and sunlight non-parallel to the axial plane impinging on the reflective surface and reflected thereby is collected by the lower-efficiency photovoltaic cell.

A device for harvesting sunlight includes a frame and a plurality of sunlight harvesting units. Each sunlight harvesting unit includes a first reflector having a first reflective surface; a second reflector having a second reflective surface; a first light collection unit positioned proximate the second reflector and oriented to receive reflected light from first reflective surface, and a second light collection unit positioned proximate the first reflector and oriented to receive reflected light from the second reflective surface. Each light collection unit has a lower-efficiency photovoltaic cell and a higher-efficiency photovoltaic cell, the cells in thermal communication. The cells are arranged such that sunlight parallel to an axial plane impinging on the reflective surface and reflected thereby is focused on the higher-efficiency photovoltaic cell, and sunlight non-parallel to the axial plane impinging on the reflective surface and reflected thereby is collected by the lower-efficiency photovoltaic cell.

Provided are optical devices and systems fabricated, at least in part, via printing-based assembly and integration of device components. In specific embodiments the present invention provides light emitting systems, light collecting systems, light sensing systems and photovoltaic systems comprising printable semiconductor elements, including large area, high performance macroelectronic devices. Optical systems of the present invention comprise semiconductor elements assembled, organized and/or integrated with other device components via printing techniques that exhibit performance characteristics and functionality comparable to single crystalline semiconductor based devices fabricated using conventional high temperature processing methods. Optical systems of the present invention have device geometries and configurations, such as form factors, component densities, and component positions, accessed by printing that provide a range of useful device functionalities. Optical systems of the present invention include devices and device arrays exhibiting a range of useful physical and mechanical properties including flexibility, shapeability, conformability and stretchablity.