DIRECT AND INDIRECT LIGHT DIFFUSING DEVICES AND METHODS

• US 20110141570A1
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solatube International, Inc. (Kingspan Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Solatube International, Inc. (Kingspan Group PLC)
• Inventors: Kopitzke, Keith Robert, Shay, Ding Yao, Rillie, David Windsor
• Granted Patent: US 8,098,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/598
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/007 characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/147 using averaging effects by spatially variable reflectivity on a microscopic level, e.g. polka dots, chequered or discontinuous patterns, or rapidly moving surfaces G02B27/1086 takes precedence

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a daylighting apparatus comprising an internally reflective tube configured to direct daylight from a first end of the tube to a second end of the tube opposite the first end. A diffuser can be positioned at the second end of the tube. The diffuser can comprise a first optical structure configured such that, when the daylighting apparatus is installed with the first end positioned outside a room and the second end positioned to provide light to the room, a reflected portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one upper region (e.g., a ceiling or upper wall surface) of the room and a transmitted portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one lower region (e.g., a floor surface) of the room.

Claims

1. A daylighting apparatus comprising:

an internally reflective tube configured to direct daylight from a first end of the tube and a second end of the tube opposite the first end; and

a diffuser positioned at the second end of the tube, the diffuser comprising a first optical structure configured such that, when the daylighting apparatus is installed with the first end positioned outside a room and the second end positioned to provide light to the room;

a reflected portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one ceiling or upper wall surface of the room; and

a transmitted portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one floor or lower surface of the room.

2. The daylighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical structure comprises a reflective surface shaped and positioned to turn the reflected portion of the daylight.

3. The daylighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface comprises at least a first face configured to reflect collimated daylight at a first incident angle.

4. The daylighting apparatus of claim 3, wherein the reflective surface comprises at least a second face configured to reflect the collimated daylight at a second incident angle different from the first incident angle.

5. The daylighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface comprises at least a first curved face configured to reflect collimated daylight at a plurality of incident angles.

6. The daylighting apparatus of claim 2, wherein the reflective surface comprises a lower reflective face region, a middle reflective face region, and an upper reflective face region.

7. The daylighting apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the lower reflective face region, the middle reflective face region, and the upper reflective face region comprises a conical frustum.

8. The daylighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical structure comprises at least one aperture shaped and positioned to permit at least some of the transmitted portion of the daylight to pass through the first optical structure.

9. The daylighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical structure comprises at least one reflective surface interrupted by a plurality of openings configured to permit at least some of the transmitted portion of the daylight to pass through the first optical structure.

10. The daylighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the diffuser comprises a second optical structure configured to receive light exiting the first optical structure.

11. The daylighting apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second optical structure is configured to spread the reflected portion of the daylight.

12. The daylighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second optical structure is configured to spread the transmitted portion of the daylight.

13. The daylighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first optical structure comprises a reflective element in the shape of a frustum of a hyperboloid.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning a diffuser comprises:

positioning a first optical element configured to reflect at least some of the daylight; and

positioning a second optical element around the first optical element, the second optical element configured to spread the daylight exiting the tube.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein positioning a diffuser at an end of the tube comprises positioning an optical element such that it extends at least partially into the tube.

14. A method of providing light inside of a structure, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning an internally reflective tube between a first location outside the structure and a second location in a room of the structure in a manner that permits daylight to be directed along the tube from the first location to the second location; and

positioning a diffuser at an end of the tube in the room such that the diffuser reflects a first substantial portion of the daylight exiting the tube towards at least one ceiling and upper wall surface of the room and permits a second substantial portion of the daylight exiting the tube to pass through the diffuser towards at least one floor or lower surface of the room.

17. A method of manufacturing a daylighting device, the method comprising the steps of:

disposing a reflective material on each side of a substrate to form at least one sheet having two reflective surfaces;

forming a plurality of openings in the sheet;

shaping the at least one sheet to form an optical element having at least one reflective face region with a substantially circular cross-section and an aperture extending through the at least one reflective face region; and

placing the optical element at one end of an internally reflective tube configured to receive daylight and to direct the daylight towards the optical element.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of placing a second optical element over the first optical element, the second optical element configured to spread light exiting the tube.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the optical element is configured such that, when the daylighting apparatus is installed with the first end positioned outside a room and the second end positioned to provide light to the room, a reflected portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one ceiling or wall surface of the room and a transmitted portion of the daylight is directed towards at least one floor surface of the room.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein shaping the at least one sheet comprises:

shaping at least a first and second sheet; and

joining the at least a first and second sheet to form the optical element.