A luminaire includes a housing, a luminous zone coupled with the housing, and one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone. The luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area, and the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area. The first light is harsher than the second light. A method of illuminating an area includes providing a first light to the area from a luminous zone of a luminaire and providing a second light to the area from one or more transition zones disposed adjacent to the luminous zone within the luminaire. The first light is a harsher light than the second light.

A light source generally comprising a light tube configured with artificial light sources and sustainable sources of energy is disclosed. The light source may provide natural light during daylight hours, and a combination of natural light and artificial light, or only artificial light during hours when natural light is diminished or not available. The resultant light output may be constant and the artificial light may be powered by sustainable energy sources such as solar panels and rechargeable batteries.

A daylighting blind according to an aspect of the invention includes: a plurality of slats; and a support mechanism that interconnects the plurality of slats, a longitudinal direction of which is oriented in a horizontal direction, and supports the plurality of slats suspended in a vertical direction. At a boundary between a daylighting slat group composed of a plurality of daylighting slats in an upper position in the vertical direction and a light-shielding slat group composed of a plurality of light-shielding slats in a lower position in the vertical direction, the daylighting slats and the light-shielding slats are arranged consecutively. The support mechanism includes a lifting/lowering member that causes the daylighting slat group to be stored or extend independently.

A solar mounting frame for a ventilator apparatus includes: a solar mounting frame having four sides mounted to the ventilator; and a side solar mounting frame having two L-shaped angle rails to mount a solar panel.

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 versatile length, deep well skylight, with supplementary light emitting diodes, that are powered by a back-up battery, charged by the sun. This green energy unit is self-contained and saves the cost of primary power. It is dual domed which attracts solar rays which are then reflected through a mirror polished aluminum interior. The light is then diffused through a lower lens to produce cool, even light in the structure interior.

The rim of the upper lens houses multiple solar panels which collect the solar energy for the battery back-up. The battery back-up provides the energy to the light emitting diodes through the inverter which converts the direct current electricity to alternating current electricity and then through the driver which in turn produces light from the light emitting diodes.

Light which is produced directly from the sun and/or indirectly through the light emitting diodes is then reflected through the deep well, mirror polished aluminum interior to the diffuser. The lower lens or diffuser spreads the light evenly across the interior of the structure. The unit is thermal neutral and designed for leak-proof installation. It is also designed for simple, easy maintenance with snap in parts and a hinged lower lens.

A lighting fixture appears as a skylight and is referred to as a skylight fixture. The skylight fixture has a sky-resembling assembly and a plurality of sun-resembling assemblies. The sky-resembling assembly has a sky-resembling optical assembly and a sky-specific light source, wherein light from the sky-specific light source exits a planar interior surface of the sky-resembling light optical assembly as skylight light. The plurality of sun-resembling assemblies are arranged adjacent one another and extend downward from a periphery of the sky-resembling assembly. Each of the plurality of sun-resembling assemblies has a sun-resembling optical assembly and a sun-specific light source, wherein light from the sun-specific light source exits a planar interior surface of the sun-resembling optical assembly as sunlight light.

A light fixture, e.g., as an artificial skylight, in which light within a region defined by x, y color coordinates (0.37, 0.34), (0.35, 0.38), (0.15, 0.20), and (0.20, 0.14) exits a first light engine, and light within a region defined by coordinates (0.29, 0.32), (0.32, 0.29), (0.41, 0.36), (0.48, 0.39), (0.48, 0.43), (0.40, 0.41), and (0.35, 0.38) exits a second light engine. Also, light fixtures in which a second light engine comprises a sidewall, and light exiting a first light engine passes through space defined by the sidewall; light fixtures in which first and second light engines are able to output light providing different CS values at a luminance; light fixtures in which light incident on a surface of the fixture and cumulative light exiting the fixture have different color points; light fixtures in which light distribution characteristics of light engines differ; and/or other features. Also, methods.

The present invention is directed generally to a new flat or A-frame pop-up canopy, shelter, cover, and/or awning, to the integration of skylights and electrical lights systems, to clocks and watches that can record a persons preferred alarm voice or video, winter gloves made to look like or with caricatures formed with or on them, digital radio and TV systems with a method of overcoming lost signal interruptions, and a single vent HVAC temperature control systems. Each of these approaches make life easier and/or more fun for people.