Mark J O'Neill

US Patent:

20010013207, Aug 16, 2001

Filed:

Dec 21, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/740797

Inventors:

Mark O'Neill - Keller TX, US

Assignee:

Entech, Inc.

International Classification:

E04B007/18

US Classification:

052/200000

Abstract:

A passive collimating tubular skylight consisting of a radiant energy-collecting aperture, a radiant energy-delivering aperture, and a radiant energy passageway between these two apertures, the passageway having a specularly reflective interior surface and a configuration to improve the collimation of the radiant energy passing therethrough. The skylight can be configured with the radiant energy-collecting aperture located above the roof of a building, oriented to collect sunlight; and equipped with a sealed weatherproof glazing, with the radiant energy-delivering aperture, or luminaire, located at ceiling level within the building, and equipped with a diffusing glazing; and with the reflective tubular light passageway constructed with a larger cross sectional area near the radiant energy-delivering aperture than near the radiant energy-collecting aperture. In complete accord with the second law of thermodynamics, and as proven by experimental results, the new passive collimating tubular skylight provides significant advantages over the prior art, including better solar energy collection, higher throughput optical efficiency, improved radiant energy collimation, enhanced interior illumination levels, and more precise positional control of the interior illumination.

US Patent:

20100288332, Nov 18, 2010

Filed:

May 7, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/776184

Inventors:

Mark J. O'Neill - Keller TX, US

Assignee:

ENTECH SOLAR, INC. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

H01L 31/052

US Classification:

136246

Abstract:

A solar photovoltaic concentrator panel comprises a Fresnel lens concentrator which may be arched and a photovoltaic receiver within a container comprising a top window. The lens, photovoltaic cell, and window may be affixed in a container with no internal sun-tracking mechanisms or related internal moving parts such as motors, drive systems, or bearings. The window is transparent and the bottom of the container typically dimensioned and configured as a heat exchanger to passively dissipate waste heat from the photovoltaic receiver to the ambient environment. The Fresnel lens concentrator is typically a free-standing Fresnel lens concentrator disposed within the container at a fixed position relative to an interior dimension of the container, optically forming a focal region of concentrated sunlight. The photovoltaic receiver comprises a photovoltaic cell or group of such cells disposed within the container and attached to the bottom at a fixed position relative to an interior dimension of the container to maintain alignment of a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic receiver within the focal region of the free-standing Fresnel lens concentrator.

US Patent:

20110203638, Aug 25, 2011

Filed:

Jul 2, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/830108

Inventors:

Mark J. O'Neill - Keller TX, US

Assignee:

ENTECH SOLAR, INC. - Fort Worth TX

International Classification:

H01L 31/052
H01L 31/0232
H01L 31/0203

US Classification:

136246, 136259

Abstract:

A photovoltaic receiver for a concentrating photovoltaic module comprises a photovoltaic cell comprising an active area with an electrically conductive gridline; an encapsulating layer disposed substantially about a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell where the encapsulating layer comprises a transparent portion disposed over a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell active area; and a prismatic cell cover attached to the transparent portion. The prismatic cell cover is dimensioned and configured to refract focused sunlight away from the electrically conductive gridline on the solar cell. The receiver may comprise a carrier; a first thermally loaded adhesive layer disposed above the carrier; a dielectric layer disposed above the first thermally loaded adhesive layer; a second thermally loaded adhesive layer disposed above the dielectric layer; a solar cell assembly disposed above the second thermally loaded adhesive layer, further comprising a photovoltaic cell comprising an active area further comprising an electrically conductive gridline; an encapsulating layer disposed substantially about a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell, the encapsulating layer comprising a transparent portion disposed over a predetermined portion of the photovoltaic cell active area; and a prismatic cell cover attached to the transparent portion, the prismatic cell cover dimensioned and configured to refract focused sunlight away from the electrically conductive gridline on the solar cell.

US Patent:

20120272593, Nov 1, 2012

Filed:

Apr 29, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/097564

Inventors:

Mark J. O'Neill - Keller TX, US
David Gelbaum - Newport Beach CA, US
Don H. Spears - The Colony TX, US

International Classification:

E04D 13/03
E04B 7/18

US Classification:

52200, 527411

Abstract:

A passive collimating skylight system includes an energy-receiving aperture defining a first plane and an energy-delivering aperture defining a second plane that is spaced apart from and non-parallel to the first plane. An energy-directing passageway extends between the energy-receiving aperture and the energy-delivering aperture to redirect radiant energy incident on the energy-collecting aperture over a range of incidence angles to the energy-delivering aperture so that the redirected radiant energy emerges from the energy-delivering aperture over a range of emergence angles that is smaller than the range of incidence angles. The passageway is defined by a wall having a first end that defines the energy-delivering aperture and a second end that defines the energy-collecting aperture, the wall tapering inwardly and having a reflective inner surface along substantially the entire length from the first end to the second end. At least a portion of the wall of the passageway can be made of a flexible reflective film.

US Patent:

39917410, Nov 16, 1976

Filed:

Mar 20, 1975

Appl. No.:

5/560303

Inventors:

Leonard L. Northrup - Dallas TX
Mark J. O'Neill - Dallas TX

International Classification:

F24J 302

US Classification:

126271

Abstract:

An array of linear lenses is used as a combination roof-skylight-solar collector. The lenses are oriented at a given latitude to face the most remote of the earth's poles inclined by the local latitude angle. Moving absorbers are used to receive the sunlight at the focal spot of each lens. The absorbers move back and forth during the day as the sun's position changes, causing the focal spots to move.

US Patent:

61111902, Aug 29, 2000

Filed:

Mar 18, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/040733

Inventors:

Mark Joseph O'Neill - Keller TX

Assignee:

Entech, Inc. - Keller TX

International Classification:

H01L 31052
H01L 31045
F24J 236

US Classification:

136246

Abstract:

A novel, high-efficiency, extremely light-weight, inflatable refractive solar concentrator for space power is described. It consists of a flexible Fresnel lens, flexible sides, and a back surface, together enclosing a volume of space which can be filled with low pressure gas to deploy the concentrator on orbit. The back surface supports the energy receiver/converter located in the focal region of the Fresnel lens. The back surface can also serve as the waste heat radiator. Prior to deployment, the deflated flexible lens and sides are folded against the back surface to form a flat, low-volume package for efficient launch into space. The inflatable concentrator can be configured to provide either a line focus or a point focus of sunlight. The new inflatable concentrator approach will provide significant advantages over the prior art in two different space power areas: photovoltaic concentrator arrays and high-temperature solar thermal conversion systems. Photovoltaic concentrator arrays using the new inflatable lens will be much lighter than prior space concentrator arrays.

US Patent:

60752009, Jun 13, 2000

Filed:

Jun 30, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/343606

Inventors:

Mark Joseph O'Neill - Keller TX

Assignee:

Entech, Inc. - Keller TX

International Classification:

H01L 310232
H01L 31052
F24J 208

US Classification:

136246

Abstract:

A novel, high-efficiency, extremely light-weight, robust stretched Fresnel lens solar concentrator for space power is described. It consists of a flexible Fresnel lens attached to end supports, wherein said end supports stretch the lens to maintain its proper position and shape on orbit in space. One embodiment of the new concentrator includes means for lens deployment on orbit in space. In this embodiment, prior to deployment, the flexible lens and end supports are folded into a flat, low-volume package for efficient launch into space. Another embodiment of the new concentrator includes non-deployable means of stretching the lens to maintain its proper position and shape in space. Both embodiments of the new concentrator approach will provide significant advantages over the prior art in space photovoltaic concentrator arrays. Photovoltaic concentrator arrays using the new stretched lens will be much lighter and more economical than prior space concentrator arrays.

US Patent:

60311797, Feb 29, 2000

Filed:

May 9, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/854230

Inventors:

Mark J. O'Neill - Keller TX

Assignee:

Entech, Inc. - Keller TX

International Classification:

H01L 31052
G02B 308
G02B 504

US Classification:

136246

Abstract:

A color-mixing lens for use in a concentrator system and methods of manufacture and operation thereof. The color-mixing lens includes: (1) a light-transmissive substrate that receives broad spectrum light from a source, (2) a first plurality of prisms, located on the substrate, that refract and chromatically disperse the light received therein toward a first plurality of locations on an active region of a target cell, and (3) a second plurality of prisms located on the substrate that refract and chromatically disperse the light received therein toward a second plurality of locations on the active region. Relative dimensions of the first and second pluralities of prisms are preselected to cause the chromatically-dispersed light to mix and thereby increase a power output of the target cell by reducing inter-junction currents therein.