Kinematically linked optical components for light redirection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10801684-B2
Application number	US-201715853919-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 25, 2017
Priority date	Aug 20, 2015
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments described herein may relate to a system comprising a plurality of optical elements, comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements, a heliostat comprising the first optical element, where the heliostat is operable to move the first optical element to continuously reflect light from a non-stationary light source in a beam towards a first of the secondary optical elements, and where the secondary optical elements are arranged to re-direct the reflected beam of light towards an illumination target. The system further includes a controller configured to receive position data indicative of the position of the non-stationary light source over time, and in response to the position data, control at least the heliostat to continuously direct the beam of light towards the first of the secondary optical elements, such that the beam of light is continuously re-directed towards the illumination target.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a plurality of optical elements installed in a proximity of a building, the plurality of optical elements comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements;
a heliostat operable to move the first optical element to reflect light from a non-stationary light source towards the one or more secondary optical elements;
a renewable energy cell installed in the proximity of the building;
a plurality of different types of sensors installed in a room of the building; and
a computer apparatus having one or more processors and memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to carry out operations including:
receiving instructions indicating to redirect the light towards the renewable energy cell when one or more combinations of a plurality of predefined thresholds corresponding to the plurality of different types of sensors are met;
receiving, from the plurality of different types of sensors, sensor data indicative of a current status of the room;
determining that the sensor data meets at least one of the one or more combinations of the plurality of predefined thresholds; and
based on determining that the sensor data meets the at least one of the one or more combinations of the plurality of predefined thresholds, repositioning one or more of the plurality of optical elements to redirect the light towards the renewable energy cell.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different types of sensors comprises a sensor configured to generate sensor data indicative of occupancy of the room, and wherein the current status of the room is indicative of a number of individuals located in the room.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of predefined thresholds comprises a predetermined threshold number of individuals, and wherein the one or more combinations comprise the number of individuals located in the room being less than the predetermined threshold number of individuals.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of different types of sensors comprises a sensor configured to generate sensor data indicative of a temperature of the room, and wherein the current status of the room is indicative of a temperature of the room.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of predefined thresholds comprises a predetermined threshold temperature, and wherein the one or more combinations comprise the temperature of the room being greater than the predetermined threshold temperature.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the renewable energy cell comprises a battery, and wherein redirecting the light towards the renewable energy cell causes the renewable energy cell to charge the battery.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the operations further include:
determining that a charge level of the battery has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further include:
determining that an electrical selling price to an electric grid exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the system is coupled to the electric grid; and
in response, determining to provide energy to the electric grid.

9. The system of claim 7 , wherein the operations further include:
determining that an individual living within a threshold distance of the room is interested in purchasing energy from the system.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
determining that an energy selling price to the individual is greater than a selling price to an electric grid; and
in response, determining to redirect the light towards a second renewable energy cell associated with the individual.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the operations further include:
determining that an electrical energy selling price to the individual is less than or equal to an electrical energy selling price to an electric grid, wherein the system is coupled to the electric grid; and
in response, determining to provide energy from the renewable energy cell to the electric grid.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the non-stationary light source is a natural light source.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more secondary optical elements is a mirror.

14. A method comprising:
receiving, at a light redirection system, instructions indicating to redirect light towards a renewable energy cell when one or more combinations of a plurality of predefined thresholds corresponding to a plurality of different types of sensors are met;
receiving, at the light redirection system and from the plurality of different types of sensors, sensor data indicative of a current status of a room of a building,
wherein the plurality of different types of sensors is installed in the room, and wherein the light redirection system comprises: (i) a plurality of optical elements installed in a proximity of the building, the plurality of optical elements comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements, and (ii) a heliostat operable to move the first optical element to reflect light from a non-stationary light source towards the one or more secondary optical elements;

determining that the sensor data meets at least one of the one or more combinations of the plurality of predefined thresholds; and
based on determining that the sensor data meets the at least one of the one or more combination of the plurality of predefined thresholds, repositioning one or more of the plurality of optical elements to redirect the light towards the renewable energy cell, wherein the renewable energy cell is installed in the proximity of the building.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the renewable energy cell comprises a battery, and wherein redirecting the light towards the renewable energy cell causes the renewable energy cell to charge the battery.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining that a charge level of the battery has exceeded a predetermined threshold.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining that an electrical energy selling price to an electric grid exceeds a predetermined threshold, wherein the light redirection system is coupled to the electric grid; and
in response, determining to provide electrical energy to the electric grid.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
determining that an individual living within a threshold distance of the room is interested in purchasing energy from the light redirection system.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
determining that an electrical energy selling price to the individual is greater than an electrical energy selling price to an electric grid; and
in response, determining to redirect the light towards a second renewable energy cell associated with the individual.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon program instructions that, when executed by a computing device associated with a light redirection system, cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:
receiving instructions indicating to redirect light towards a renewable energy cell when one or more combinations of a plurality of predefined thresholds corresponding to a plurality of different types of sensors are met;
receiving, from the plurality of different types of sensors, sensor data indicative of a current status of a room of a building,
wherein the plurality of different types of sensors is installed in th

Assignees

• X Dev Llc

Inventors

• Bitterman Matthew
• Reekmans Eli

Classifications

• G02B19/0019

  having reflective surfaces only (e.g. louvre systems, systems with multiple planar reflectors) · CPC title

• Y02E10/52

  PV systems with concentrators · CPC title

• G02B26/0816

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• F21S11/00

  Non-electric lighting devices or systems using daylight {(hybrid lighting devices combining artificial and natural light F21S19/00; roofs with sky-light opening E04D13/03; sun blinds for windows with means for redirecting light onto ceiling of a room E06B9/00; solar heat collectors F24S)} · CPC title

• G02B19/0042

  for use with direct solar radiation · CPC title