Serrated Optical Elements for Reflecting Beam Sunlight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building designs struggle to effectively admit diffuse skylight while preventing direct beam sunlight, which can cause thermal overload, glare, and require expensive adaptive lighting solutions.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising a sheet of optically transmissive material with serrations on one side, designed to reflect direct beam sunlight while allowing diffuse skylight to pass through, coupled with a rotation-imparting mechanism to track the Sun and maintain optimal orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If diffusing glazing is used to intercept and diffuse beam sunlight, then the beam sunlight is scattered around the interior space, but the energy content of the radiation is not reduced and thermal overload is not reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element is segmented into multiple discrete optical features (prisms, lenses, or reflective elements) arranged in an array pattern on one surface. Each optical feature independently redirects incident beam sunlight at specific angles, collectively achieving comprehensive beam sunlight rejection while maintaining diffuse light transmission. This segmentation allows selective directional control of different light components.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element exhibits local quality differentiation through its dual-surface design: one surface features optical features for beam sunlight redirection, while the opposite surface remains substantially flat or has complementary optical features for diffuse light transmission. This local differentiation enables the element to simultaneously perform beam rejection and diffuse light admission functions in different spatial locations within the same component.
2Temperature
If the transmissivity of diffusing glazing is reduced to solve thermal overload and glare, then beam sunlight is blocked, but not enough light is admitted when only diffuse skylight is available
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates a rotational mechanism that dynamically adjusts the orientation of the optical element to track the Sun's movement across the sky. This dynamic positioning ensures that the optical features continuously face the Sun to maximize beam sunlight redirection, while maintaining optimal angles for diffuse light transmission from other directions. The dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing solar positions throughout the day and seasonal variations.
3Illumination intensity
If beam sunlight is admitted directly into the building, then natural lighting is provided, but thermal overload and glare are caused
Solution Approach 1:
The optical element converts the harmful direct beam sunlight into beneficial diffuse illumination by redirecting it through optical features that scatter the light at multiple angles. The concentrated beam energy is transformed into distributed diffuse light that provides uniform illumination without the adverse effects of direct sunlight, effectively converting a harmful input into a beneficial output.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical element acts as an intermediary between incoming sunlight and the building interior. It mediates the interaction by selectively redirecting beam sunlight through its optical features while allowing diffuse skylight to pass through, thus controlling and modifying the sunlight properties before they enter the building space.
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 effectively prevents direct beam sunlight from entering buildings while allowing diffuse skylight to illuminate interior spaces, reducing thermal overload and glare, and minimizing the need for adaptive lighting.
Implementation Method 1
The second side has at least a first set of optical features formed therein that are designed to reflect beam sunlight while passing diffusive light when the optical element(s) is in a first orientation relative to the Sun
Data Source
AI summary
Optical elements and systems are disclosed that can be incorporated into buildings to prevent beam sunlight from entering through apertures of the building while allowing diffuse skylight to enter the building through the apertures. The optical system comprises optical elements configured to admit diffuse skylight through an aperture in the building envelope, while reflecting away the beam sunlight incident on the aperture in the building envelope. The apertures can be, for example, windows in walls or skylights in roofs of the building envelope. The optical system works for both windows in the walls and skylights in the roof, with somewhat different configurations for those two parts of the building envelope.