A photovoltaic array includes a two-dimensional array of photovoltaic cells having a plurality of rows, each row having a pivot axis parallel to the row. Each cell has a lens which has a front surface configured to concentrate light normal to the front surface onto the photovoltaic element. The photovoltaic array further includes a rotational actuator, coupled to the array of photovoltaic cells configured to rotate the array of photovoltaic cells about an axis perpendicular to a plane defined by the array of photovoltaic elements and a tilt actuator, coupled to each of the rows of photovoltaic elements configured to pivot the rows of photovoltaic elements about their pivot axes.

The present invention relates to an assembling method for a base plate of a concentrated photovoltaic module comprising the steps of: assembling a heat sink on the base plate; and assembling a photovoltaic cell assembly on the heat sink after the heat sink has been assembled on the base plate.

A solar module in a concentrating solar system including: a box including a top wall, formed from an optical system, and walls; at least one photovoltaic cell placed in the box; and at least one humidity management device. At least one first wall among the walls includes a principal part contained in a plane. The humidity management device includes a housing defined between the first wall and a cover fixed to the first wall including an occultation part and an inner part forming an air film at the occultation part. A moisture-absorbing material is placed in the housing, at least part of the moisture-absorbing material is located on one side of the plane containing the occultation part.

Disclosed is a photovoltaic device that includes a solar cell on a light transmissive substrate in the form of an array of equal diameter optical fibers laid adjacent to each other in the transversal direction of the fibers. With such an arrangement, light harvesting at high angles is improved by 30%.

Provided are an image sensor and an imaging apparatus. The image sensor of a multi-layered sensor structure, the image sensor includes a plurality of sensing pixels, each of the plurality of sensing pixels including a micro lens configured to collect light, a first photoelectric converter configured to convert light of a first wavelength band into an electric signal, and a second photoelectric converter formed on a substrate configured to convert incident light into the electric signal, wherein a central axis of the second photoelectric converter is spaced apart from an optical axis of the micro lens.

A flexible, CPV array having high incident light conversion efficiency, the CPV array comprising: a reflective surface; a plurality of photovoltaic cells configurable to collect radiation from the reflective surface; a concentrating lens (optics) configurable to concentrate the incident light onto the reflective surface and onto the plurality of photovoltaic cells; and a conductor adapted to conduct electricity and heat from the plurality of photovoltaic cells, wherein the CPV array is exposed to incident solar radiation to generate electricity without an incident solar tracking mechanism.

A light control film includes a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel first light absorbing regions arranged along a first direction, each first light absorbing region having a width and a height, the plurality of first light absorbing regions including nonoverlapping first and second sub-pluralities of the plurality of first light absorbing regions, the first sub-plurality of the plurality of first light absorbing regions having a first viewing angle, the second sub-plurality of the plurality of first light absorbing regions having a different second viewing angle.

A general method is provided for electronically reconfiguring the internal structure of a solid to allow precision control of the propagation of wave energy. The method allows digital or analog control of wave energy, such as but not limited to visible light, while maintaining low losses, a multi-octave bandwidth, polarization independence, large area and a large dynamic range in power handling. Embodiments of the technique are provided for large-angle beam steering, lenses and other devices to control wave energy.

Illumination panel comprises: (1) a receiver substrate assembly including: (a) a rigid sheet of light transmissive material having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a conductor pattern attached to the first surface; and (b) at least one receiver assembly affixed to the rigid sheet, each receiver assembly including a light source in electrical communication with the conductor pattern; and (2) at least one light-guide optic attached to and supported by the receiver substrate assembly, each light-guide optic in optical communication with the photovoltaic cell of an associated one of the at least one receiver assembly for guiding light for output via the rigid sheet.

There is proposed a decorative element containing (a) a transparent gemstone with a faceted surface comprising convex curved regions, (b) a wavelength-selective layer, and (c) a photovoltaic cell.