The present subject matter is an improved skylight to improved low sun-angle light collection and reduced high sun angle light and heat collection. A steeply sloping dome contains parabolic reflectors that redirect low elevation light into a light passage. The steeply sloping sides and the reflectors reflect high elevation angle rays away from a light passage.

System for the cultivation of photosynthetic living organisms, such as plants (5), comprising a support structure for a plurality of shelves (1, 2) on which to cultivate said plants (5), said shelves (1, 2) being positioned one above the other, along a vertical axis, so as to identify a space (100, 110) interposed between the upper face of a shelf and the lower face of the overlying shelf, which space (100, 110) is adapted to cultivate the plants. A light (A. B. C) capture device (3) of a light source is provided, which capture device (3) is positioned above the highest shelf (1), there being transmission means of the light (A. B. C) connected to said capture device (3), which transmission means are configured for the transmission of the light (A. B. C) from the highest shelf (1) to the lower shelves, said activation/inactivation means of said capture device (3) and of said transmission means being provided.

A light pipe for distributing light from a light source within a space, comprises a first portion adapted for receiving light from the light source and directing the light along an internal path in a first direction; a second portion adapted for receiving and distributing light received by the first portion from the light source in the first direction into the space; and a third portion intermediate the first and second portions, wherein the third portion is adapted for distributing light to the space in a second direction generally transverse to the first direction. The first portion may comprise a band, a lens, or both. Related aspects and methods are also disclosed.

A daylighting system (1) according to one aspect of the invention includes a daylighting apparatus (2) and an artificial light source apparatus (3) that emits light toward the daylighting apparatus (2). The daylighting apparatus (2) includes a base material (4) having light transmission property, and a plurality of daylighting portions (5) that are provided on a first surface of the base material (4), have light transmission properties and reflect light incident from a light incident end surface on a reflection surface. The artificial light source apparatus (3) emits at least light that enters the daylighting portions (5) from the light incident end surface and travels toward the reflection surface.

A daylighting device includes a photo-voltaic (PV) device that is mounted in or proximate to the daylighting device that provides sunlight to a service area. The PV device generates a power signal from incident sunlight. The power signal provides operational power to circuitry associated with the daylighting device, such as a transmitter that transmits a value representing the intensity of light on or near the daylighting device. This signal, which is generated either from the power signal or from a signal provided by a photosensor mounted in or proximate to the daylighting device, may be used by a control system to adjust light levels provided by artificial light sources to supplement the sunlight provided by the daylighting device to approach the desired light level in the service area.

A light harvester or collector collects solar radiation from an unshaded location adjacent a growing plant. The light harvester can be either imaging (e.g., parabolic reflectors) or non-imaging (e.g., compound parabolic concentrator). The concentrated solar radiation is projected into a light transmitter that conducts the light through the plant's outer canopy and into the inner canopy to a diffuser which disperses and reradiates the light into the inner canopy. The diffused light transforms a non-productive, potentially leafless zone of the plant into a productive zone so that more fruit can be produced per volume of land surface. The system can prevent transmission of infrared into the inner canopy so that the inner canopy zone is not heated and the amount of water lost to transpiration is reduced. The system can also modify other spectral components to affect plant development and to control pests and diseases.

Lighting devices and methods for providing daylight to the interior of a structure are disclosed. Some embodiments disclosed herein provide a daylighting device including a tube having a sidewall with a reflective interior surface, a light collecting assembly, and a light reflector positioned to reflect daylight into the light collector. In some embodiments, the light collector is associated with one or more light-turning and/or light reflecting structures configured to increase the amount of light captured by the daylighting device. Optical elements may allow for the absorption and/or selective transmission of infrared light away from an interior of the daylighting device.

The present subject matter is an improved skylight employing four key elements to achieve its twin objectives of improved low sun-angle light collection and reduced high sun angle light and heat collection: (1) a transparent truncated pyramid-shaped dome, (2) two horizon-facing parabolic reflectors, (3) a collimating curb, and (4) a dual-pane diffuser assembly.

An example optical device for backlighting includes a receiver disposed in a mobile device to receive ambient light. The optical device also includes a concentrator to concentrate the received ambient light received through the receiver. The optical device further includes a channeler to direct the ambient light beneath a surface of the mobile device to a digital display of the mobile device.

Light-redirecting optical system for building fenestrations, such as glass doors and windows, storefront glazing systems, and curtain walls, that can collect and redirect daylight into the interior of a building. The light-redirecting optical system includes an outward-facing light-redirecting optical surface and an inward-facing light-redirecting surface. The outward-facing light-redirecting optical surface collects and redirects daylight mostly upward toward the inward-facing light-redirecting surface. The inward-facing light-redirecting surface receives the redirected daylight and further redirects it into the interior environment at pre-determined angles; so that all specular rays of light are at or above the horizon for a wide range of incident angles of daylight striking the outward-facing light-redirecting optical surface. The light-redirecting optical surfaces can be fabricated on a film or flexible substrate that may be directly applied to glass, acrylic, or other glazing surfaces. Alternatively, the light-redirecting optical surfaces may be fabricated directly on the glazing surfaces.