Hybrid light redirecting and light diffusing constructions

• US 8,995,059 B2
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Padiyath, Raghunath, Hao, Bing, Marttila, Charles A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mahoney, Christ
• Application Number:
  US14/008,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20140104689A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 359592-594, 359/597
• US Class Current: 359/592
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10036 comprising two outer glass sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10174 Coatings of a metallic or dielectric material on a constituent layer of glass or polymer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/1044 Invariable transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 17/10761 containing vinyl acetal
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/002 characterised by the means for collecting or concentrating the sunlight, e.g. parabolic reflectors or Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 11/007 characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0009 having refractive surfaces only
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0273 characterized by the use
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/045 Prism arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/208 for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation, e.g. for separating visible light from infrared and/or ultraviolet radiation

Abstract

Solar light redirecting glazing units include light redirecting and light diffusing constructions. The solar light redirecting glazing units may include a glazing substrate, a visible light diffusing layer, and a light redirecting layer oriented such that incoming solar light contacts the visible light diffusing layer before contacting the light redirecting layer. The solar light redirecting glazing units may include a glazing substrate, a patterned visible light diffusing layer, and a light redirecting layer. The solar light redirecting glazing units may include two glazing substrates separated by an intervening space with a solar light redirecting layer disposed on one glazing substrate, and a visible light diffusing layer disposed on the other glazing substrate.

Claims

1. A solar light redirecting glazing unit, comprising:

a first glazing substrate comprising a first major surface and a second major surface;

a solar light redirecting layer disposed on the first major surface of the first glazing substrate, the solar light redirecting layer comprising a major surface forming an ordered arrangement of a plurality of microstructure prism structures;

a second glazing substrate comprising a first major surface and a second major surface;

a visible light diffusing layer disposed on the first major surface of the second glazing substrate; and

an intervening space between the solar light redirecting layer and the visible light diffusing layer.

2. The solar light redirecting glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the first glazing substrate is directed towards the first major surface of the second glazing substrate.

3. The solar light redirecting glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the glazing unit is arranged such that incoming solar light contacts the visible light diffusing layer before contacting the light redirecting layer.

4. The solar light redirecting glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the glazing unit is arranged such that incoming solar light contacts the light redirecting layer before contacting the visible light diffusing layer.

5. The solar light redirecting glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the first glazing substrate is directed away from the first major surface of the second glazing substrate.

6. The solar light redirecting glazing unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of prism structures comprises a plurality of asymmetric prisms.