Kinematically linked optical components for light redirection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9857040-B1
Application number	US-201514831259-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Aug 20, 2015
Priority date	Aug 20, 2015
Publication date	Jan 2, 2018
Grant date	Jan 2, 2018

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 continuously reflect light from a non-stationary light source in a beam towards the secondary optical elements, wherein the secondary optical elements are arranged to redirect the reflected beam of light towards a first illumination target located in a room of the building, and wherein the room has an opening;
sensors installed in the room of the building; and
a controller configured to:
receive position data indicative of a position of the non-stationary light source over time;
based on the position data, control at least the heliostat to continuously direct the beam of light towards the secondary optical elements, wherein a final secondary optical element redirects the beam of light through the opening towards the first illumination target;
receive an input indicating a current status of the room;
based on the input, determine a second illumination target; and
in response to the determination, adjust the final secondary optical element to redirect the beam of light towards the second illumination target.

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

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the secondary optical elements is a final optical element, and wherein the final optical element is moveable.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the controller is further configured control the final optical element.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the final optical element is a prism.

6. The system of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the secondary optical elements is a mirror.

7. The system of claim 3 , wherein the room does not receive substantial light from the non-stationary light source.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input is an input from the sensors installed in the room.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the input is an input from one or more users.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current status of the room is indicative of a number and location of users in the room.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the current status of the room is a temperature of the room.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the illumination target is a solar cell.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heliostat includes a parabolic solar collector configured to:
focus the light from the light source into a small beam; and
direct the small beam to the first of the secondary optical elements.

14. A system comprising:
a plurality of optical elements, wherein the plurality of optical elements are configured to direct light to follow a moveable illumination target deployed in an indoor environment, and wherein the plurality of optical elements comprise one or more first optical elements and a final optical element,
wherein the one or more first optical elements are arranged to receive light from a light source and reflect a beam of light along a path to the final optical element,
wherein the final optical element is moveable to continuously redirect the beam of light towards the moveable illumination target; and
a controller configured to:
receiving, from a sensor coupled to the moveable illumination target, position data indicative of movement of the moveable illumination target; and
based at least in part on the position data, move at least the final optical element to continuously redirect the beam of light to the moveable illumination target.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the light source is a concentrated LED.

16. The system of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the plurality of optical elements is a mirror.

17. The system of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of optical elements are installed in a proximity of a building.

Assignees

• X Dev Llc

Inventors

• Bitterman Matthew
• Reekmans Eli

Classifications

• F21S11/005 Primary

  with tracking means for following the position of the sun · CPC title

• H02S40/22

  Light-reflecting or light-concentrating means (directly associated with the PV cell or integrated with the PV cell H10F77/42) · CPC title

• F21S11/007

  characterised by the means for transmitting light into the interior of a building · CPC title

• G02B19/0042

  for use with direct solar radiation · CPC title

• G02B19/0028

  refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems · CPC title