US 11,750,150 B2
Method and apparatus for increased solar energy conversion
Nishikant Sonwalkar, Boston, MA (US)
Assigned to SunDensity Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed by SunDensity Inc., Boston, MA (US)
Filed on Oct. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/64,773.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/927,228, filed on Oct. 29, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/913,315, filed on Oct. 10, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0111668 A1, Apr. 15, 2021
Int. Cl. H02S 40/22 (2014.01); G02B 3/08 (2006.01); H01L 31/055 (2014.01)
CPC H02S 40/22 (2014.12) [G02B 3/08 (2013.01); H01L 31/055 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus for retrofit to a photovoltaic cell array for solar power conversion comprising:
a planar array of light concentrators distributed in light-path alignment with the photovoltaic cell array, wherein each cell in the photovoltaic cell array receives light that has been directed through at least one corresponding light concentrator of the planar array of light concentrators; and
a spectral converter that extends between the planar array of light concentrators and the photovoltaic cell array,
wherein the spectral converter is configured to convert incident light of a first spectral distribution and received from the planar array of light concentrators to outgoing light of a second spectral distribution and to direct the outgoing light along the alignment light path toward the photovoltaic cells array, wherein the second spectral distribution has higher spectral irradiance at longer wavelengths than the first spectral distribution,
and wherein the spectral converter comprises:
a set of layers formed to convert the incident light of the first spectral distribution to an adjusted spectral distribution,
wherein the set of layers has two or more pairs of alternating first and second layers, the first layers having a first refractive index, n1, and the second layers having a second refractive index, n2, greater than the first refractive index n1,
wherein the second layers each include a first distribution of nanoparticles of a first material, disposed to form resonant cavities for enhanced light coherence; and
a surface-enhanced Raman scattering layer having a second distribution of nanoparticles of a second material, disposed to generate, at predetermined wavelengths, a localized plasmonic response that converts received light energy of the adjusted spectral distribution to the second spectral distribution.