A photovoltaic cell structure for converting light energy into electrical energy is provided herein. One of skill will appreciate having, for example, a photovoltaic cell structure configured to increase capture of electron hole pairs. Such a photovoltaic cell structure can include a semiconductor substrate configured with a circuit having a P-N junction: and, a P/P+ junction; wherein, the P-N junction and the P/P+ junction are separated by a maximum distance of no more than 3.5 microns to increase the capture of electron hole pairs by decreasing the distance the holes have to travel for the capture.

A solar cell assembly is provided, the configuration of which effectuates artificial tropism. The solar cell assembly may include a combination of at least one transparent solar cell and at least one opaque solar cell. The at least one transparent solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight while the at least one opaque solar cell may transmit some wavelength(s) of incident sunlight and absorbing some other wavelength(s) of incident sunlight. The transmitted wavelength(s) of incident sunlight excite or cause one or more shape-changing elements that support the at least one transparent solar cell and the at least one opaque solar cell to actuate in a manner that causes the solar cell assembly to re-orient itself towards a direction of the incident sunlight.

A photovoltaic module having a superstrate layer, an encapsulant having an upper layer and a lower layer, the upper layer being juxtaposed with a lower surface of the superstrate layer, and a photovoltaic layer intermediate the upper layer and the lower layer of the encapsulant. A first portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant includes a first light scattering value as measured in accordance with an ASTM E430 standard, and a second portion of the upper layer of the encapsulant has a second light scattering value as measured in accordance with the ASTM E430 standard. The second light scattering value is greater than the first light scattering value.

This invention provides a light diffusion member for an interconnector that enables the amount of light incident on the surface of a solar cell to be increased compared with the related art and achieves excellent power generation efficiency, and an interconnector for solar cells that comprises the light diffusion member.

The light diffusion member for an interconnector 3 is disposed on the surface of an interconnector 1 for connecting adjacent solar cells 6 opposite to the solar cells 6, and the light diffusion member comprises a light diffusion layer 3a containing a resin and inorganic particles.

A thin support structure for solar collectors is provided. The support structure includes service lines, such as fluid lines and electrical signal lines, disposed within an interior cavity of the support structure. The movement and flexing of the service lines is accounted for by a pulley assembly having a rotating element, without the need for complex and expensive swivel joints and slip rings.

A system for collecting light energy through smaller photovoltaic cells (PV cell) such that the length of the PV cell is much greater than the width. The PV cells may be linear strung together and placed within a recess of a frame or pan that is part of a PV module. The PV module includes a lens and waveguide which provide advantages for focusing and concentrating the light energy by positioning a waveguide over the smaller PV cell and engaging the PV cell with a lens such that the lens is held by the frame.

An inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrator based Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) system powered airship consists of a conventional airship with an upper transparent cover and an array of inflatable non-imaging non-tracking concentrator based CPV modules. Where in, the inflatable non-imaging non-tracking solar concentrators are inflated with helium or hydrogen and fused into the structure of the airship to generate lifting force and concentrate sunlight to supply power simultaneously. The introduction of the CPV system into the airship dramatically reduces the cost and significantly raises conversion efficiency of the photovoltaic system without adding any extra weight to the airship. The expansion of the airship will both increase the buoyant force and power supply.

A photovoltaic (“PV”) module may comprise an array of freeform micro-optics and an array of PV cells. The PV module may be a flat panel with a nominal thickness smaller than the length and width of the flat panel. An array of lenses may be embedded in an array substrate. The lenses may be coupled to light pipes. The lenses may concentrate light through the light pipes to multi-junction cells. Diffuse light may be transferred through the array substrate to a silicon cell. The lenses and light pipes may be manufactured using a molding and drawing process.

An energy harvesting electro-optic display is disclosed comprising a photovoltaic cell that converts part of the incident light to electric current or voltage, wherein the electric current or voltage is used for the operation of the electro-optic display upon the conversion or stored in a storage component to be used for the operation of the display.

A multijunction solar cell assembly and its method of manufacture including interconnected first and second discrete semiconductor body subassemblies disposed adjacent and parallel to each other, each semiconductor body subassembly including first top subcell, second (and possibly third) lattice matched middle subcells; a graded interlayer adjacent to the last middle solar subcell; and a bottom solar subcell adjacent to said graded interlayer being lattice mismatched with respect to the last middle solar subcell; wherein the interconnected subassemblies form at least a four junction solar cell by a series connection being formed between the bottom solar subcell in the first semiconductor body and the bottom solar subcell in the second semiconductor body.