Light distribution systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964269-B2
Application number	US-201515318180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 11, 2015
Priority date	Jun 12, 2014
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods in which reflective slats are configured to redirect light received from various sun positions are provided. The slats or mirrored array could be coupled to a base of the redirector, such that an adjustment of an angle of the base relative to the horizontal adjusts an angle of each slat relative to the horizontal. In some aspects, an algorithm can be used to determine the angle of tilt that maximizes the transmission efficiency for the mirror array.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light redirection system, comprising:
a first base;
first and second substantially parallel slats coupled to the first base, each of the first and second slats including a reflective surface and configured to sequentially redirect light at different first and second angles based at least in part on an adjustment of an angle between a length of the first base and the horizontal; and
a first adjustment mechanism coupled to the first base and configured to enable the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal;
wherein an angle of the first slat relative to the length of the first base is adjustable independently of the second slat.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein a distance between the first and second slats is adjustable.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second slats are coupled to the first base such that each of the first and second slats extend substantially orthogonally from the first base.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second base coupled to the first base; and
third and fourth substantially parallel slats coupled to the second base, each of the third and fourth slats including a reflective surface and configured to sequentially redirect light at third and fourth different angles based at least in part on an adjustment of an angle between a length of the second base and the horizontal.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism is further coupled to the second base and configured to enable the adjustment of the angle between the length of the second base and the horizontal.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism is further configured to enable simultaneous adjustment of (a) the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal and (b) the angle between the length of the second base and the horizontal.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism is configured to enable an adjustment of an angle between the length of the first base and the length of the second base.

8. The system of claim 5 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism enables the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal and the angle between the length of the second base and the horizontal based on an algorithm that selects an optimal orientation of the first and second bases based on an angle of incoming light.

9. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a second adjustment mechanism coupled to the second base and configured to enable the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first second and the horizontal.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism enables the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal based on an algorithm that selects an optimal orientation of the first and second slats based on an angle of incoming light and wherein the second adjustment mechanism enables the adjustment of the angle between the length of the second base and the horizontal based on a second algorithm that selects an optimal orientation of the third and fourth slats based on an angle of redirected light.

11. The system of claim 4 , wherein the first and third slats are positioned on the first and second bases, respectively, to enable an alignment of the first and third slats when the first and second bases are juxtaposed.

12. The system of claim 4 , wherein a distance between the first and second slats is substantially the same as a distance between the third and fourth slats.

13. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a third base coupled to fifth and sixth substantially parallel slats, wherein each of the fifth and sixth slats are configured to redirect light received from at least one of the third and fourth slats.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second slats are connected to one another such that an adjustment of an angle of the first slat relative to the first base simultaneously adjusts an angle of the second slat relative to the first base.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first adjustment mechanism enables the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal based on an algorithm that selects an optimal orientation of the first and second slats based on an angle of incoming light.

16. A light redirection system, comprising:
a first base;
first and second slats coupled to the first base, wherein the first slat includes a reflective surface and is configured to sequentially redirect light at different first and second angles based at least in part on an adjustment of an angle between a length of the first base and the horizontal;
a first adjustment mechanism coupled to the first base and configured to enable the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal; a second base coupled to the first base; and
third and fourth slats coupled to the second base, wherein the third slat includes a reflective surface and is configured to redirect light received from at least one of the first and second slats at a third angle different from the first and second angles.

17. A light redirection system, comprising:
a first base;
first and second slats coupled to the first base, wherein the first slat includes a reflective surface and is configured to sequentially redirect light at different first and second angles based at least in part on an adjustment of an angle between a length of the first base and the horizontal;
a first adjustment mechanism coupled to the first base and configured to enable the adjustment of the angle between the length of the first base and the horizontal; a second base coupled to the first base;
third and fourth slats coupled to the second base, wherein the third slat includes a reflective surface and is configured to redirect light received from at least one of the first and second slats at a third angle different from the first and second angles;
a third base downstream from the first and second bases; and
fifth and sixth slats coupled to the third base, wherein the fifth slat is configured to redirect light received from at least one of the third and fourth slats.

Assignees

• Univ British Columbia

Inventors

• Upward Allen
• Whitehead Lorne

Classifications

• G02B17/002

  Arrays of reflective systems · CPC title

• G02B19/0042

  for use with direct solar radiation · CPC title

• G02B17/006 Primary

  Systems in which light light is reflected on a plurality of parallel surfaces, e.g. louvre mirrors, total internal reflection [TIR] lenses (Fresnel mirrors G02B5/09, Fresnel lenses G02B3/08) · CPC title

• G02B26/0816

  by means of one or more reflecting elements · CPC title

• G02B19/0019

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