Tubular Skylight Diffuser with Zoned Translucency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tubular skylights do not effectively maximize the amount of natural light entering a room, as the diffuser elements are typically flush with the ceiling and have uniform translucency, limiting the distribution and appearance of light.
Innovation Solution
The tubular skylight design incorporates a diffuser element with a light path zone that is more translucent than the bottom portion, allowing for increased luminance and creating a 'glowing' effect on the sidewall, which enhances the amount of natural light entering the room by directing more light through the sidewall portion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the diffuser element is made flush with the ceiling and has uniform translucency, then the internal structural details are hidden from view, but the amount of natural light entering the room is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser element is divided into two zones with different translucency properties: a light path zone with higher translucency for maximizing light transmission, and a bottom portion with lower translucency for maintaining aesthetic appearance and hiding internal structures. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by applying different optical properties to different functional regions of the same component.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser element is segmented into distinct functional zones (light path zone and bottom portion) with different translucency characteristics. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally while working together as an integrated whole, thereby increasing overall light entry while maintaining aesthetic concealment where needed.
2Illumination intensity
If the diffuser element is made more translucent to increase light transmission, then the amount of natural light entering the room increases, but the internal structural details become more visible
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the diffuser element are assigned different translucency levels: the light path zone uses highly translucent material to maximize light transmission, while the bottom portion uses less translucent material to conceal internal structures. This localized quality differentiation allows the system to achieve high light transmission without compromising aesthetic appearance in critical viewing areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser is segmented into functional zones with distinct optical properties. The light path zone is optimized for light transmission with high translucency, while the bottom portion is optimized for aesthetic appearance with lower translucency. This segmentation enables the system to simultaneously achieve both high light entry and effective hiding of internal structures.
3Ease of manufacture
If a uniform diffuser element is used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but the light distribution and appearance effect are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The diffuser element incorporates zones with different translucency properties within a single integrated structure. This can be achieved through co-molding techniques or assembling multiple pieces, which while slightly more complex than uniform diffusers, still maintain relative manufacturing simplicity while dramatically improving light distribution and creating the desired glowing appearance effect on sidewalls.
Solution Approach 2:
The diffuser element functions as a composite structure with regions of different optical properties. This can be implemented using different materials or material treatments in different zones, allowing the system to achieve superior light distribution and aesthetic effects while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure that can be manufactured in one piece or assembled from few components.
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
This design increases the amount of natural light entering the room by creating a brighter light path zone that appears to glow, providing unfiltered sunlight and improving the overall lighting effect without requiring additional steps or components, such as extra materials or processes.
Implementation Method 1
The light path zone is more translucent than the bottom portion
Implementation Method 2
The photons of the light may or may not be scattered at the two interfaces of the material or internally
Data Source
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AI summary
A tubular skylight (100) comprising; - a roof mounted element (200), for collecting exterior light, - a ceiling mounted element (300), - a tube (400) connecting the roof mounted element (200) and the ceiling mounted element (300), and - a diffuser element (340), for distributing the exterior light in a room, wherein the diffuser element (340) is mounted in the ceiling mounted element (300), wherein the diffuser element (340) comprises a first diffuser pane (341) with a translucent bottom portion (342) and a sidewall portion (343) with a translucent light path zone (346), wherein the tubular skylight (100) has means configured for affecting the luminance of the light exiting the diffuser such that the luminance of the light exiting through the light path zone (346) has a different luminance than the light exciting through the bottom portion (342), wherein the bottom portion (342) is substantially planar having a width-to-height ratio of more than 6, wherein the bottom portion (342) adjoins the sidewall portion (343) at a transition line (347), wherein the sidewall portion (343) is substantially parallel to a central axis (348) through the diffuser element (340), and wherein the ceiling mounted element (300) and the diffuser element (340) are configured for providing a light passage from the light path zone (346) to the room in the form of a free space (344) adjacent the light path zone (346), a diffuser element (340) and a method of manufacturing a diffuser element (340).