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.

A method for moving an end effector based on receipt of sunlight, the end effector divided into a first and second upper quadrant located above a Y-axis that corresponds to a solar azimuth and a first and second lower quadrant located below the Y-axis, the first upper and first lower quadrant located on a first side of an X-axis that corresponds to a solar angle and the second upper and second lower quadrant located on a second side of the X-axis, determining a vertical difference between an average of the illuminance received in first and second upper quadrants and an average of the illuminance received in first and second lower quadrants, determining a lateral difference between an average of the illuminance received in the first upper quadrant and the first lower quadrant and an average of the illuminance received in the second upper quadrant and the second lower quadrant, moving end effector along the X-axis in response to the vertical difference being greater than a vertical tolerance; and moving the end effector along the Y-axis in response to the lateral difference being greater than a lateral tolerance.

A sun-tracking light distributor system for use in an open-ended photo-bioreactor having an aqueous liquid for a photosynthetic culture, comprising: at least one light distributor each including a concentrator supporting section with a light entry surface adapted to receive sunlight rays, an elongated rod section with a light distribution surface adapted to redirect the received sunlight rays within the aqueous liquid, a light concentrating element provided at the light entry surface which concentrates within the elongated rod at least a portion of the sunlight rays received at the light entry surface; a displacement system operatively connected to the light distributors and adapted to change an orientation of the light entry surface of the light distributors to track a solar position.

This invention presents a solar light collecting and guiding system for stabilizing the output light intensity, wherein the system comprising an array of converging lenses and optical fibers for collecting light focused by converging lenses. The fibers and the lenses are in one-to-one correspondence wherein the input end of an optical fiber is located in the focus position of the corresponding converging lens, and the axis of the optical fiber overlaps with the principal axis of the corresponding converging lens. The system is equipped with a sunlight tracking positioning device for synchronized motion, wherein the device is applied to tracking the sun light ray vertical incident into the central converging lens. The system has the function of outputting stable light intensity, that is, it can effectively reduce the variation of the collecting efficiency caused by the positioning deviation between the incident angle of sunlight and the designed input angle.

This invention presents a solar light collecting and guiding system for stabilizing the output light intensity, wherein the system comprising an array of converging lenses and optical fibers for collecting light focused by converging lenses. The fibers and the lenses are in one-to-one correspondence wherein the input end of an optical fiber is located in the focus position of the corresponding converging lens, and the axis of the optical fiber overlaps with the principal axis of the corresponding converging lens. The system is equipped with a sunlight tracking positioning device for synchronized motion, wherein the device is applied to tracking the sun light ray vertical incident into the central converging lens. The system has the function of outputting stable light intensity, that is, it can effectively reduce the variation of the collecting efficiency caused by the positioning deviation between the incident angle of sunlight and the designed input angle.

The solar illumination distribution system (10) uses a series of parabolic reflectors (12, 14, 42, 44, 46) and other optical components to direct and distribute solar radiation onto a desired surface (G), such as for illuminating a stadium or arena as well as providing light for the growth of natural turf in desired locations within the stadium or arena. A primary parabolic reflector (12) and a secondary parabolic reflector (14) focus solar radiation onto one end of a fiber optic bundle (24), which transmits the solar radiation to a desired location. At the desired location, the light transmitted through the fiber optic bundle (24) is distributed through a plurality of fiber optic cables (36, 38, 40) to a plurality of tertiary parabolic reflectors (42, 44, 46) to illuminate the desired surface (G).

Embodiments described herein may relate to a system comprising a plurality of optical elements, comprising at least a first optical element and one or more secondary optical elements, a heliostat comprising the first optical element, where the heliostat is operable to move the first optical element to continuously reflect light from a non-stationary light source in a beam towards a first of the secondary optical elements, and where the secondary optical elements are arranged to re-direct the reflected beam of light towards an illumination target. The system further includes a controller configured to receive position data indicative of the position of the non-stationary light source over time, and in response to the position data, control at least the heliostat to continuously direct the beam of light towards the first of the secondary optical elements, such that the beam of light is continuously re-directed towards the illumination target.

A structural lighting system including a structural member having an outward facing portion and an inward facing portion. The structural member being configured to support a light transmissive environmental barrier. The outward facing portion of the structural member having a reduced light blocking shape as compared to the inward facing portion. A light source is coupled to the structural member, the light source being arranged to emit light from the inward facing portion.

A solar light system may include two stages of optical concentration with intermediate removal of infrared radiation between the optical concentration stages. A second stage of optical concentration may prepare multiple concentrating beams of processed solar radiation with visible light with each such concentrating beam directed to a different corresponding light conduit for transmission to an interior space for interior lighting. System modularization may provide flexibility to accommodate a variety of interior lighting applications.

A natural light guiding system used for plant cultivation includes a chasing light and collecting light device and at least one lighting device connected to the chasing light and collecting light device. The at least one lighting device includes a lampshade is hollow and cone-shaped. A top plate is mounted to a top of the lampshade. At least one optical fiber is connected to the chasing light and collecting light device. At least one collecting lens barrel is disposed on the top of the lampshade and projects light into the lampshade. A free ends of the at least one optical fiber is connected to the at least one collecting lens barrel. At least one LED light source is mounted onto an inner periphery of the lampshade and provides an auxiliary lighting effect when a natural light source is not enough.