Artificial Skylight Using Collimators and Prism Sheets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional skylights are costly to install and modify, offer variable and uncontrollable light, result in glare, and expose users to harmful UV radiation, while simulated sunshine methods often require high lux levels and are impractical for achieving the psychological benefits of natural lighting.
Innovation Solution
A compact artificial skylight system using light sources, collimators, prism sheets, and transmissive materials to create a realistic virtual sky and sun, providing controlled luminance and a wide field of view, decoupling collimated solar light from diffuse sky light for a practical and safe lighting solution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional skylights are installed to provide natural lighting, then illumination intensity is improved, but installation cost increases and roof modification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual sky by capturing real sky imagery and displaying it through optical elements (collimators and prism sheets) that simulate the appearance of natural sky and sun. This copying approach provides natural lighting effects without physical roof modifications, resolving the contradiction between illumination quality and installation complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses an intermediary display device between the light source and the observer, employing collimators and prism sheets to create the virtual sky effect. This intermediary approach delivers natural lighting benefits while avoiding direct roof structure modifications
2Illumination intensity
If conventional skylights are used to provide natural light, then illumination intensity is improved, but light control capability deteriorates due to variable and uncontrollable light
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the virtual sky display by adjusting brightness levels, color temperature, and sun position based on time of day, season, and user preferences. This dynamic control provides the benefits of natural lighting while eliminating the uncontrollability issue of conventional skylights
3Illumination intensity
If conventional skylights are installed to provide natural lighting, then illumination intensity is improved, but harmful UV radiation exposure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the beneficial visual aspects of natural sunlight (brightness, color, directionality) while completely removing the harmful UV radiation component. The virtual sky display provides illumination and psychological benefits without the damaging radiation present in real sunlight
4Illumination intensity
If simulated sunshine methods are used to provide lux levels, then illumination intensity is improved, but device complexity increases due to high lux requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system concentrates illumination locally where needed by using collimators to create focused sun beams and prism sheets to direct light precisely. This localized quality approach achieves high lux levels at specific points without requiring overall high illumination throughout the entire system
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system offers a cost-effective, controllable, and safe means to replicate natural lighting effects, alleviating claustrophobia and providing necessary lux levels without the need for high room illumination, while protecting against UV radiation and allowing for dynamic lighting effects.
Implementation Method 1
at least one first collimator configured to collimate light from the at least one light source
Implementation Method 2
a prism sheet disposed adjacent to the at least one first collimator and configured to reflect and refract collimated light received from the at least one first collimator
Implementation Method 3
at least one transmissive material disposed adjacent to the prism sheet and configured to radiate light diffusely
Implementation Method 4
a prism sheet disposed adjacent to the at least one first collimator and configured to reflect and refract collimated light
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An artificial skylight generally includes at least one light source, at least one first collimator, a prism sheet, and at least one transmissive material. The at least one first collimator is configured to collimate light from the at least one light source. The prism sheet is disposed adjacent to the at least one first collimator and is configured to reflect and refract collimated light received from the at least one first collimator. The at least one transmissive material is disposed adjacent to the prism sheet and is configured to radiate light diffusely.