How to Make Solar Troughs Catch More Sunlight at Their Ends
This patent describes adding special reflective extensions and caps to the ends of a single-axis tracking solar trough to capture more sunlight that would otherwise be lost, making the collector more efficient.
Original patent title: “Solar collector with end modifications”
This patent describes adding special reflective extensions and caps to the ends of a single-axis tracking solar trough to capture more sunlight that would otherwise be lost, making the collector more efficient. Granted to Skyline Solar in 2011 with 17 claims and 23 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2030.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a concentrating solar energy collector that tracks the sun along one axis. It includes a main reflective trough and one or more solar receivers positioned to catch the reflected sunlight (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). The key invention is an "end unit" attached to at least one end of the main reflector. This end unit contains a "reflector extender" that has the same curved shape as the main trough, effectively making the reflective surface longer (Claim 1). This extender is designed to direct incoming sunlight towards the solar receivers, especially the ones located at the ends of the receiver row (Claim 2). For example, if the sun is low in the sky, the extender ensures that the receiver at the very end of the trough still gets reflected light (Claim 8). The end unit also includes an "end cap" that covers the outer end of the reflector extender (Claim 1).
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Solar collectors that do not track the sun along a single axis, such as fixed-position panels or systems that track on two axes.
- Collectors where the reflector extender's curved shape does not match the cross-sectional shape of the main reflective trough.
- Systems that use a receiver extension (an optional part of the invention) that contains solar cells, as the patent specifies it does not (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 3).
- Non-concentrating solar energy collectors, like standard flat-plate solar panels that do not focus sunlight.
- Collectors that do not include both a reflector extender and an end cap as part of the end unit (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1).
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The clever part is recognizing and precisely engineering a solution for the 'end-loss' problem in single-axis tracking parabolic troughs. By adding a reflector extender that mirrors the main trough's shape and an end cap, the system effectively extends its light-gathering capability, capturing sunlight that would otherwise be wasted, especially at varying sun angles.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Parabolic trough concentrated solar power (CSP) plants
Concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) systems using trough reflectors
Any single-axis tracking solar collector designed for high efficiency
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, which use mirrors to focus sunlight, often lose efficiency at the ends of their long troughs because some sunlight misses the collector or the receiver. This patent addresses that specific problem, aiming to increase the total amount of sunlight captured and converted into energy. By improving efficiency, these systems can generate more electricity from the same footprint, potentially lowering the cost of solar power.
Filed
January 11, 2010
Granted
November 1, 2011
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Skyline Solar Inc., the original assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →, was focused on concentrated photovoltaics. While the company's specific operations may have changed, the principles of optimizing end-losses in concentrating solar collectors remain relevant. Companies like BrightSource Energy and various research institutions in the concentrated solar power (CSP) sector continue to develop and refine technologies that improve the efficiency of solar energy collection, including addressing optical losses.
Market impact
This patent contributes to the ongoing effort to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. By reducing energy losses at the ends of solar troughs, such innovations can increase the overall energy yield of a solar field. This helps CSP projects become more competitive in the energy market, supporting their role in providing large-scale, dispatchable renewable electricity, often with integrated thermal storage.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a concentrating solar energy collector that tracks the sun along one axis. It includes a main reflective trough and one or more solar receivers positioned to catch the reflected sunlight (Claim 1). The key invention is an "end unit" attached to at least one end of the main reflector. This end unit contains a "reflector extender" that has the same curved shape as the main trough, effectively making the reflective surface longer (Claim 1). This extender is designed to direct incoming sunlight towards the solar receivers, especially the ones located at the ends of the receiver row (Claim 2). For example, if the sun is low in the sky, the extender ensures that the receiver at the very end of the trough still gets reflected light (Claim 8). The end unit also includes an "end cap" that covers the outer end of the reflector extender (Claim 1).
The clever bit
The clever part is recognizing and precisely engineering a solution for the 'end-loss' problem in single-axis tracking parabolic troughs. By adding a reflector extender that mirrors the main trough's shape and an end cap, the system effectively extends its light-gathering capability, capturing sunlight that would otherwise be wasted, especially at varying sun angles.
What it does not cover
- Solar collectors that do not track the sun along a single axis, such as fixed-position panels or systems that track on two axes.
- Collectors where the reflector extender's curved shape does not match the cross-sectional shape of the main reflective trough.
- Systems that use a receiver extension (an optional part of the invention) that contains solar cells, as the patent specifies it does not (Claim 3).
- Non-concentrating solar energy collectors, like standard flat-plate solar panels that do not focus sunlight.
- Collectors that do not include both a reflector extender and an end cap as part of the end unit (Claim 1).
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
11/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
5/20
Granted 10–20 years ago
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$102K – $328K
Midpoint $205K · 3.5 yr remaining · industry baseline
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Patent Claims
0 independent claims · 1 dependent
Claims are the legal boundaries of the patent. An independent claim stands alone. A dependent claim adds limitations to its parent, narrowing — but not broadening — the scope.
The original legal language
Original claims
17 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Wells, J. R., Finot, M. A., Johnson, E. C., BILODEAU, J. L., & Nightingale, J. L. (2011). How to Make Solar Troughs Catch More Sunlight at Their Ends (U.S. Patent No. 8,049,150). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/8049150/solar-collector-with-end-modifications
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How to Make Solar Troughs Catch More Sunlight at Their Ends cover?
This patent describes adding special reflective extensions and caps to the ends of a single-axis tracking solar trough to capture more sunlight that would otherwise be lost, making the collector more efficient.
Who owns patent US 8049150?
Skyline Solar owns this patent, granted in 2011.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on January 11, 2030, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 8049150 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 23 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems, which use mirrors to focus sunlight, often lose efficiency at the ends of their long troughs because some sunlight misses the collector or the receiver. This patent addresses that specific problem, aiming to increase the total amount of sunlight captured and converted into energy. By improving efficiency, these systems can generate more electricity from the same footprint, potentially lowering the cost of solar power.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Solar collectors that do not track the sun along a single axis, such as fixed-position panels or systems that track on two axes.
Patent monitoring