Power-over-fiber receiver with shingled PV cells
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional photovoltaic (PV) cell assemblies are not as efficient due to gaps between individual PV cells on non-planar surfaces, which reduce power production capacity as radiated electromagnetic energy misses the PV material, leading to inefficiencies in energy conversion.
Innovation Solution
The PV cells are arranged in a shingled configuration within an enclosed, arced surface, ensuring that more PV material is exposed to high-flux light, such as laser light, by overlapping non-PV material areas, thereby eliminating gaps and enhancing energy conversion efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If PV cells are arranged edge-to-edge on a non-planar surface, then the device structure is simple, but gaps between cells reduce energy conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional shingled configuration on a non-planar surface. PV cells are overlapped in multiple layers, creating a cylindrical or curved structure where cells extend in the radial direction. This dimensional change eliminates gaps between cells and increases the effective surface area exposed to incoming light, thereby improving energy conversion efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs curved or cylindrical surfaces for mounting PV cells, replacing flat planar surfaces. The shingled arrangement follows the curvature of the surface, with cells overlapping in a radial pattern. This curved geometry allows continuous coverage of the surface without gaps, maximizes light capture from multiple angles, and maintains structural simplicity while enhancing energy conversion efficiency.
2Ease of manufacture
If PV cells are arranged with gaps between them, then the manufacturing process is simple, but radiated electromagnetic energy misses the PV material reducing power production capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges adjacent PV cells by overlapping them in a shingled configuration, eliminating gaps between cells. Multiple cells are combined into a unified continuous surface that fully captures radiated electromagnetic energy. This merging approach maintains ease of manufacture through standardized cell components while dramatically improving power production capacity by ensuring no energy is lost to gaps.
3Ease of operation
If conventional PV cell assembly is used, then the assembly process is straightforward, but the efficiency of energy conversion is reduced due to gaps between cells
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the PV cell assembly into multiple overlapping layers or sections arranged in a shingled pattern. Each segment (individual cell) maintains its standard straightforward construction, but the segmented arrangement creates a continuous overlapping structure that eliminates gaps. This segmentation approach preserves ease of operation in manufacturing individual cells while achieving high energy conversion efficiency through the collective shingled configuration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This shingled arrangement increases the exposure of PV material to electromagnetic radiation, reducing optical losses and improving the overall efficiency of the energy conversion process by ensuring all radiated light is utilized, thereby enhancing power production capacity.
Implementation Method 1
each one of the plurality of PV assemblies is shingled upon at least one adjacent PV assembly... each of the plurality of PV assemblies arranged to convert light to electricity
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic energy receiving device includes an energy conversion component and an opto-mechanical coupling. The opto-mechanical coupling is arranged to receive a fiber-based conduit. The energy conversion component includes at least one internal surface having an arced profile of radius R, and the internal surface has a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) assemblies arranged thereon such that each one of the plurality of PV assemblies is shingled upon at least one adjacent PV assembly.