A daylighting device of the present invention is provided with a planar optical member 1 and a support member. The planar optical member 1 is provided with a planar structure body which has a plurality of linear bodies 3 formed of optically transparent materials which are arrayed substantially in parallel and a plurality of binding members which are arranged in a direction which intersects with the plurality of the linear bodies 3 and which bind the plurality of the linear bodies 3 in a state of being arrayed substantially in parallel. The linear bodies 3 have reflective surfaces which reflect light which is incident to the linear body 3 along a direction which intersects with a length direction of the linear body 3 and refractive surfaces which refract the light. In at least a part of a planar structure body, the orientations of reflective surfaces of at least some of the linear bodies out of the plurality of linear bodies 3 substantially match and the orientations of the refractive surfaces of at least some of the linear bodies substantially match.

A lighting device includes a lighting film including a prism layer that emits incident light in a prescribed direction, and a rigid body that includes a receiving unit having a prescribed cross-sectional rigidity and supporting the lighting film, and a retaining unit that fixes the lighting film to the receiving unit.

A dimmer mechanism is movable by a motor that is powered by solar-charged supercapacitors between a first configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks little of the interior of a skylight tube to maximize light throughput into a room, and a second configuration, in which the dimmer mechanism blocks more of the interior of a skylight tube to reduce light throughput into the room.

A daylight illumination system for integration into a building or larger vehicle comprises a translucent facade element (800) containing a glass sheet and a light redirection element (302 or 708), and a light transport channel (801) for guiding light about horizontally into an interior of the building, the light transport channel comprising one opening attached to the interior side of said facade element and at least one opening towards the interior of the building, characterised in that the light redirection element (302 or 708) is formed as a structured polymer film or sheet attached to a glass sheet of the facade element (800) and is configured for changing the direction of incident light into the about horizontal light transport channel.

The disclosure presents methods and apparatus of light transmission control, comprising two layers of film separated by air, wherein each film is inlaid with a convex micro-lenses array. The first film will focus incoming light through the microlens, whereas the second film contains a grid of opaque areas that will be structured to block or un-block the focal planes of light depending on the thickness of the air layer. When the light is unblocked, the micro lens array in the second film will disperse the light to the other side of the film so it appears transparent or translucent. An attached hand pump can control the thickness of the air layer. The method and apparatus to control light levels is effective, reliable, affordable, intuitive and easy to use. The films can be attached to existing surfaces provide full transparency, a dimming effect, or complete blackout.

A daylight redirecting window film formed by a flexible multi-layer film laminate with a total thickness of less than one millimeter and configured to be applied to an indoor-facing window surface of a building facade. The window film includes a pair of outer film substrates flanking a light redirecting core layer. The core layer includes a parallel array of channels defining total internal reflection (TIR) surfaces and linear optically transmissive structures protruding transversely thought the core layer and bonded to the outer film substrates. A light output surface of the outer film substrate which is disposed on an indoor-facing side of the laminate includes a two-dimensional pattern of light scattering microstructures which are configured to spread light at least in a plane that is perpendicular to the channels. The TIR surfaces intercept and reflect a portion of sunlight propagating through the core layer such that the window film redirects that portion of incident sunlight towards a plurality of divergent directions, forming relatively high bend angles.

An optical article for illuminating building interiors including a reflective grid panel, an LED light source positioned above the reflective grid panel and configured to illuminate the reflective grid panel at incidence angles ranging from a minimum angle of 0° to a maximum angle of at least 45°, a light diffusing sheet of an optically transmissive dielectric material approximately coextensive with and oriented generally parallel to the reflective grid panel, and a pair of reflective side walls flanking a space between the reflective grid panel and the light diffusing sheet. The reflective grid panel incorporates a plurality of parallel longitudinal walls and a plurality of parallel transverse walls joining the walls and defining a plurality of rectangular openings configured to transmit light. Each of the parallel transverse walls extends transversely with respect to a plane of the reflective panel and is configured to diffusely reflect a portion of the light being transmitted through the plurality of rectangular openings.

An emission enhancement structure having at least one energy augmentation structure; and an energy converter capable of receiving energy from an energy source, converting the energy and emitting therefrom a light of a different energy than the received energy. The energy converter is disposed in a vicinity of the at least one energy augmentation structure such that the emitted light is emitted with an intensity larger than if the converter were remote from the at least one energy augmentation structure. Also described are various uses for the energy emitters, energy augmentation structures and energy collectors in a wide array of fields.

A shading and illumination system includes a shading device for shading viewing openings, an illumination device for illuminating a room, an external sensor for detecting an external parameter acting on the room, an internal sensor for detecting a 3D image of the room, a position of a person present in the room in the 3D image, and a viewing direction of the person, and a control unit for actuating the shading device and the illumination device. The shading device and the illumination device are actuatable depending on the values measured by the external sensor and by the internal sensor. A light parameter acting on the person is determinable depending on the detected viewing direction, on the detected position, on the 3D image of the room, and on the external parameter. The shading device and/or the illumination device are/is actuatable depending on the light parameter acting on the person.

A light control film is described comprising alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions disposed between the light input surface and the light output surface. The absorptive regions have an aspect ratio of at least 30. In some embodiments, an absorptive layer or reflective layer is disposed between the alternating transmissive regions and absorptive regions and the light input surface and/or light output surface. In another embodiment, the alternating transmissive regions comprise an absorptive material. The light control film can exhibit low transmission of visible light and high transmission of near infrared light. Also described is a light detection system comprising such light control films and a microstructured film.