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Daylight collectors with thermal control

  • US 9,921,397 B2
  • Filed: 12/11/2012
  • Issued: 03/20/2018
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An at least partially transparent light-collecting device configured to be installed on a roof of a building for illumination of an interior of the building with natural visible light, the device comprising:

  • a top cover portion configured to receive daylight from outside of the building;

    an at least partially transparent substantially vertical sidewall portion configured to support the top cover portion above an upper end of the substantially vertical sidewall portion and to define a collector base aperture at a lower end of the substantially vertical sidewall portion, wherein the substantially vertical portion has a height that extends between the top cover portion and the collector base aperture, and wherein the substantially vertical portion is configured to receive daylight from outside of the building, the daylight comprising a visible light portion and an infrared light portion;

    an optical element associated with the substantially vertical sidewall portion, the optical element configured to turn a substantial portion of the visible light portion of the daylight received through the at least partially transparent substantially vertical sidewall portion towards the collector base aperture and to transmit the infrared light portion of the daylight received through the at least partially transparent substantially vertical sidewall portion through the optical element; and

    an infrared control element connected to the vertical sidewall portion of the light-collecting device and disposed at least partially above the collector base aperture, the infrared control element configured to receive at least a portion of the infrared light portion of the daylight transmitted through the optical element, wherein the infrared control element is configured to direct a substantial portion of the received infrared light portion of the daylight away from the collector base aperture to outside of the building;

    wherein the collector base aperture of the light-collecting device is configured to be positioned over an opening in the roof of the building and is configured to direct daylight into the opening in the roof.

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