AN APPARATUS FOR MIMICKING THE LIGHT AND SKY-CONDITIONS AT THE HORIZON

Abstract

of the Invention. Disclosed herein an apparatus for mimicking the light and sky-conditions at the horizon comprises a light assembly (2) provided with at least two angularly disposed horizontal strips (9a and 9b) of light source, a composite lens (5) fixedly placed above the light assembly (2) and configured to selectively reflect and transmit the light incident on it, a reflecting dome (3) centrally and partially disposed over the composite lens (5) and light assembly module (2) and provided with an LED spotlight (12) under it, a mounting bracket (4) adapted to receive the light assembly and the composite lens; and a controller (11) configured to control and monitor one or more predetermined parameters of the light source (9), wherein the characteristic of the composite lens (5) is translated depending on the desired geographical location. A corresponding method for mimicking the light and sky-conditions at the horizon is also disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for mimicking the light and sky-conditions at the horizon comprises: a light assembly (2) provided with at least two horizontal strips (9a and 9b) of light source, wherein each said strip (9) comprises of a plurality of LED lights (9) arranged in series; a composite lens (5) fixedly placed above the light assembly (2) and configured to selectively reflect and transmit the light incident on it; a reflecting dome (3) centrally and partially disposed over the composite lens (5) and light assembly module (2) and provided with an LED spotlight (12) under it; a mounting bracket (4) adapted to receive the light assembly and the composite lens; and a controller (11) configured to control and monitor one or more predetermined parameters of the light source (9); and wherein said horizontal strips (9a and 9b) are angularly disposed relative to each other in order to enable the light emitted from the horizontal strips (9a and 9b) strike the composite lens (5) at various angle of incidence with the horizontal for reflecting, transmitting and interfering/diffusing to form a composite light corresponding to lights of the desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location corresponding to said composite light is visualized on the front surface (6) of the composite lens (5).

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite lens (5) is formed from a combination of a plurality of optical layers (5) stacked upon one another to selectively filter the wavelengths emitted from the horizontal strips (9a and 9b) of light source as per the desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite lens (5) is formed from a combination of at least three optical layers (6, 7 and 8) stacked upon one another to selectively filter the wavelengths emitted from the horizontal strips (9a and 9b) of light source as per the desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said optical layers altogether combining to form the composite lens are selected from dichroic lens (7), ribbed lens (6), prismatic lens (6) and mirror (8), wherein the characteristics of said composite lens (7) is variably modified depending on the predetermined geographic location and is used in different combinations of ribbed lens (6), prismatic lens (6) and mirror (8).

6. The apparatus as claimed in claims 3 and 4, wherein the combination of a plurality of optical layers stacked upon one another effectively forms the composite lens (5), wherein the characteristic of the composite lens is formulated by translating the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location into mimicking the same, wherein the composite lens is selected and employed in the apparatus based on the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus employs the controller (11) for indicating the passage of time corresponding to the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location by optimizing the angle between the LEDs (9) of the strips (9a and 9b) and the light intensity from the strips (9a and 9b) of light source.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein another desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location is obtained by optimizing the angle between the LEDs (9) of the strips (9a and 9b) and light intensity from the strips (9a and 9b) of light source and alternating the relative placements and characteristics of the optical layers (5) and the selected combination of the optical layers (5).

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said various angle of incidence with the horizontal of light emitted from the strip (9a and 9b) the with the composite lens (5) is equal to or more than 0 degrees but always less than 90 degrees.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said composite light contains spectral wavelengths corresponding to the lights of the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location, wherein said spectral wavelengths are distributed as per the actual light conditions of different coordinates of the desired light and sky-conditions at the horizon.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the LED spotlight (12) is either on or off depending on the desired moments of light and sky condition of the predetermined geographic location, wherein, when the LED spotlight (12) is on, light emitted from the LED spotlight (12) is incident on to the dome to mimic the sun at or above the horizon on the front surface (6) of the composite lens (5).

12. A method for mimicking the light and sky-conditions at the horizon comprising: instructing to mimicking the desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location; emitting lights in a predetermined range of spectral wavelength from a plurality of angularly disposed light source and optionally from another light source; striking the emitted lights angularly at various angle of incidence with the horizontal onto a combination of a plurality of optical layers (6,7 and 8) for reflecting and transmitting the lights; diffusing the reflected and transmitted lights from and through the combination of a plurality of optical layers (6,7 and 8) to form a composite light corresponding to the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location followed by visualizing the mimicked desired light and sky-conditions; and wherein the method comprises of reflecting and transmitting the lights angularly and selectively from and through the combination of the plurality of optical layers (6,7 and 8) for filtering out the emitted lights to form the composite light as per the instruction for the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said optical layers altogether combining to form the composite lens are selected from dichroic lens (7), ribbed lens (6), prismatic lens (6) and mirror (8), wherein the characteristics of said composite lens (7) is variably modified depending on the predetermined geographic location and is used in different combinations of ribbed lens (6), prismatic lens (6) and mirror (8).

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method comprises of controlling and transitioning the passage of time corresponding to the desired light and sky-conditions by optimizing the angle of incidences with the horizontal and light intensities of the plurality of light source.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the method comprises of obtaining another desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location by controlling and optimizing the angle of incidences with the horizontal, light intensities, and alternating the relative placements and characteristics of the optical layers (5) and the selected combination of the optical layers (5).

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said plurality of optical layers are at least three (6, 7 and 8) in number and are stacked upon one another to selectively filter the wavelengths emitted from the plurality of light source as per the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location.

17. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the combination of a plurality of optical layers stacked upon one another effectively forms the composite lens (5), wherein the characteristic of the composite lens is formulated by translating the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location into mimicking the same, wherein the composite lens is selected and employed in the apparatus based on the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location.

18. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said various angle of incidence with the horizontal of light emitted from the plurality of light source is equal to or more than 0 degree but always less than 90 degrees.

19. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein said composite light contains spectral wavelengths corresponding to the lights of the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location, wherein said spectral wavelengths are distributed as per the actual light conditions of different coordinates of the desired light and sky-conditions at the horizon.

20. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the light emitted from the plurality of light source is in visible range of spectral wavelength.

21. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the light filtered out from and through the plurality of optical layers to form the composite light contains spectral wavelength in the range of 470 nm to 640 nm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 shows exploded view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky condition at the horizon.

[0050] FIG. 2a shows the side view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky condition at the horizon.

[0051] FIG. 2b shows the ray tracing of the lights emitted from the LED strip to form the composite light corresponding to the light and sky condition at the horizon.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows the isometric view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky condition at the horizon.

[0053] FIG. 4 shows the translation of light and sky conditions of a particular geographic location into mimicking it.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0054] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method for mimicking the light and sky-conditions at the horizon comprising instructing to mimicking the desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location, emitting lights in a predetermined range of spectral wavelength from a plurality of angularly disposed light source and optionally from another light source, striking the emitted lights angularly at various angle of incidence with the horizontal onto a combination of a plurality of optical layers for reflecting and transmitting the lights, diffusing the reflected and transmitted lights from and through the combination of a plurality of optical layers to form a composite light corresponding to the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location followed by visualizing the mimicked desired light and sky-conditions and wherein the method comprises of reflecting and transmitting the lights angularly and selectively from and through the combination of the plurality of optical layers for filtering out the emitted lights to form the composite light as per the instruction for the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location.

[0055] In accordance with just above embodiment of the present invention, wherein said optical layers altogether combining to form the composite lens are selected from dichroic lens, ribbed lens, prismatic lens and mirror, wherein the characteristic of said composite lens is variably modified depending on the predetermined geographic location and is used in different combinations of ribbed lens, prismatic lens and mirror.

[0056] In accordance with one of the above embodiments of the present invention, wherein the method comprises of controlling and transitioning the passage of time corresponding to the desired light and sky-conditions by optimizing the angle of incidences with the horizontal and light intensities of the plurality of light source.

[0057] In accordance with one of the above embodiments of the present invention, wherein the method comprises of obtaining another desired light and sky-conditions at a specific time of a predetermined geographic location by controlling and optimizing the angle of incidences with the horizontal, light intensities, and alternating the relative placements and characteristics of the optical layers and the selected combination of the optical layers, wherein said plurality of optical layers are at least three in number and are stacked upon one another to selectively filter the wavelengths emitted from the plurality of light source as per the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location.

[0058] In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention for the method, wherein said various angle of incidence with the horizontal of light emitted from the plurality of light source is equal to or more than 0 degree but always less than 90 degrees, wherein said composite light contains spectral wavelengths corresponding to the lights of the desired light and sky-conditions at the specific time of the predetermined geographic location, wherein said spectral wavelengths are distributed as per the actual light conditions of different coordinates of the desired light and sky-conditions at the horizon, wherein the light emitted from the plurality of light source is in visible range of spectral wavelength, wherein the light filtered out from and through the plurality of optical layers to form the composite light contains spectral wavelength in the range of 470 nm to 640 nm.

[0059] In accordance with one of the embodiments of the present invention for the method, wherein the combination of a plurality of optical layers stacked upon one another effectively forms the composite lens (5), wherein the characteristic of the composite lens is formulated by translating the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location into mimicking the same, wherein the composite lens is selected and employed in the apparatus based on the light and sky conditions of the desired geographical location.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 1, an exploded view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon is shown. The apparatus comprises of a light assembly (2) provided with angularly disposed two horizontal strips (9a and 9b) of light source, wherein each said strip (9a or 9b) comprises of a plurality of LED lights (9) arranged in series, wherein the LEDs are angularly arranged along the horizontal length of the apparatus in said strips (9a and 9b) for emitting lights in visible range of wavelength for illuminating front surface of the composite lens (5) with the desired light and sky conditions at the horizon. The emitted lights from the angularly disposed strips are selectively reflected and refracted from and through the composite lens (5) at the various angle of incidences with the horizontal ranging from 0 to less than 90 degrees for diffusing with the lights to form the composite light, wherein the composite light contains all sets of wavelengths corresponding to the desired light and sky conditions at the horizon of the predetermined location and strikes the front surface to produce the visual effects of the desired light and sky conditions at the horizon. Also, there is provided an LED spotlight (12) disposed just under the reflecting dome to mimic the appearance of the sun at or above the horizon by striking lights on to the dome which is corresponding to the light appearance of the sun. A controller (11) is provided to control the light source's parameters such as power supply, light intensity and angles at which the lights are being emitted. Other than the above, the apparatus is provided with mounting options (10) for affixing or hanging it to or from any wall or surfaces. The mounting bracket (4) is provided with mounting holes (4a) on its top for mounting the mounting bracket on to a wall or any surface with the help of screw (4b). Also, the mounting brackets are provided with joiner (10) on its inner side surfaces for affixing with the complimentary joiner (13) provided on the outer side surfaces of the light assembly (2), therefore, when the light assembly (2) is received into the mounting bracket (4), it is affixed with the mounting bracket (4) via the engagement between the joiner (10) and complimentary joiner (13).

[0061] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a side cross-sectional view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon is shown. It shows the angular arrangement between the horizontal LED strips (9a and 9b), wherein the LEDs (9) contained in the strips emit lights in the visible range for the reflection and refraction from and through the composite lens (5), wherein the composite lens (5) comprises of three optical layers (6, 7 and 8) stacked one above the other, wherein a dichroic lens (7) forms the second layer in combination with ribbed lens (6) or prismatic lens (6) or both as third layer, wherein, dichroic lens (7) are coated with exotic materials onto its surface forming the first layer as mirror (8), wherein, said exotic materials are preferably chosen from quartz crystals and metal oxides, wherein, light of a definite wavelength emitted from the light source (9) first strikes the mirror (8) at a certain angle, and from thereon, it is reflected and transmitted through all three layers resulting into diffusion of light into the composite light (T) containing wavelength corresponding to the desirable light and sky-conditions, producing the visual effects of the desired light and sky-conditions at the horizon, wherein the reflected light (R) from the composite lens (5) is has a wavelengths complimentary to the wavelengths transmitted via the composite lens (5). The half portion of glass dome (3) is disposed onto the light assembly (2) and the other half portion is disposed onto the composite lens (5). The mounting bracket (4) is mounted on to the wall (1) with the help of screw (4b) fixed through mounting holes (4a).

[0062] Referring to FIG. 3, a perspective view of the apparatus for mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon is shown. The apparatus has reflecting dome (3), light assembly (2) and composite lens (5) and which are altogether joined to form the front surface of the apparatus. The composite lens (5) and light assembly (2) are attached with each other along their horizontal length, wherein the composite lens (5) is disposed on to the mounting bracket (4) above the light assembly (2) and at the junction of the composite lens (5) and light assembly (2), the reflecting dome (3) is disposed from the top sharing its perimeter partially with the composite lens (5) and light assembly (2). The joiner (10) provided on the sides of the apparatus for holding the light assembly (2) inside the mounting bracket (4). Also, the screw (4b) is passed through the mounting holes on the top of the mounting bracket (4) for mounting against any wall or surface.

[0063] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the composite lens is made up of a combination of multiple optical layers which in altogether forms an appropriate lens (composite lens), wherein the appropriate lens (composite lens) is customizable as per the desired light and sky conditions at the horizon of a predetermined geographic location. Therefore, depending on the requirement of a user, a different customized appropriate lens (composite lens) is employed in the apparatus to create the light and sky conditions at the horizon of the desired geographic location The characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) is formulated as per the light and sky conditions at the horizon of the desired geographic location, so that at any time, if a user wants to observe the light and sky conditions at the horizon of his choice of geographic location, he can simply select the appropriate lens (composite lens) designed for mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon of that particular geographic location and employ the same as the composite lens in the apparatus and observe the light and sky conditions at the horizon as desired from the particular geographic location.

[0064] In accordance with just above embodiment of the present invention, the characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) for a particular geographic location is formulated by translating the real corresponding scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon into mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon. Usually, multiple points in the real scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon are marked and accordingly the different dominant wavelengths at each of those points are calculated and further, corresponding to each of those dominant wavelengths, chromaticity coordinates are calculated using MATLAB programming. Therefore, while designing an appropriate lens (composite lens) for a particular geographical location, the characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) along its x-y axis is determined as per the obtained chromaticity coordinates. The formulated characteristic of the appropriate lens (composite lens) is such that it enables interference of multiple wavelengths to form the same dominant wavelengths corresponding to each of the above marked points in the real scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon after reflecting and transmitting lights received from the light source and accordingly, the light and sky condition corresponding to the marked points is being mimicked in the apparatus.

[0065] In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, the characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) for a particular geographic location is formulated by translating the real corresponding scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon into mimicking the light and sky conditions at the horizon. Referring to FIG. 4, for translating the real scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon of a particular geographical location into mimicking it with the help of the appropriate lens (composite lens)—Firstly, a total of seven (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G) and three concurrent points (1B, 1D, 1F, 3B, 3D and 3F) are marked across the vertical real scenario of the light and sky conditions, wherein said three concurrent points are marked on either side of the seven concurrent points, wherein, points 2A, 2B and 2C are above the horizon, 2D is at the horizon and 2E, 2F and 2G are below the horizon, wherein, points 1B and 3B are above the horizon, 1D and 3D are at the horizon and 1F and 3F are below the horizon. Further, the different dominant wavelengths at each of the marked points are calculated accordingly and corresponding to each of those dominant wavelengths, chromaticity coordinates are calculated using MATLAB programming. Therefore, while designing an appropriate lens (composite lens) for a particular geographical location, the characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) along its x-y axis is determined as per the obtained chromaticity coordinates since each such chromaticity coordinate represent a dominant wavelength and its complimentary wavelength which is emitted upon reflecting, transmitting and diffusing the light on to the said points, wherein said concurrent points marked across the vertical real scenario of the light and sky conditions are referenced for formulating the characteristic of the appropriate lens (composite lens) so as to enable interference of multiple wavelengths to form the same dominant wavelengths corresponding to each of the above marked points in the real scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon after reflecting and transmitting lights received from the light source and accordingly, the light and sky condition corresponding to the marked points is being mimicked in the apparatus.

[0066] In accordance with just above embodiment of the present invention, the reference for mimicking real light and sky conditions at the horizon of a particular geographical location is taken from the multiple pictures (more than 100) of various moments of real light and sky-conditions at the horizon light throughout the day and night clicked on the days of solstices and equinoxes of the year, wherein the positioning of seven (2A, 2B, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F and 2G) and three concurrent points (1B, 1D, 1F, 3B, 3D and 3F) marked across the vertical real scenario of the light and sky conditions remains same in all the cases, wherein the aggregate of the dominant wavelengths of each of the marked points is statistically calculated and corresponding to each of those aggregated dominant wavelengths, chromaticity coordinates are calculated using MATLAB programming. Therefore, while designing an appropriate lens (composite lens) for a particular geographical location, the characteristics of the appropriate lens (composite lens) along its x-y axis is determined as per the obtained chromaticity coordinates since each such chromaticity coordinate represent a aggregated dominant wavelength and its complimentary wavelength which is emitted upon reflecting, transmitting and diffusing the light on to the said points, wherein said concurrent points marked across the vertical real scenario of the light and sky conditions are referenced for formulating the characteristic of the appropriate lens (composite lens) so as to enable interference of multiple wavelengths to form the same aggregated dominant wavelengths corresponding to each of the above marked points in the real scenario of the light and sky conditions at the horizon after reflecting and transmitting lights received from the light source and accordingly, the light and sky condition corresponding to the marked points is being mimicked in the apparatus.

[0067] While the invention is amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, some embodiments have been illustrated by way of example in the drawings and are described in detail above. The intention, however, is not to limit the invention by those examples and the invention is intended to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives to the embodiments described in this specification.

[0068] The embodiments in the specification are described in a progressive manner and focus of description in each embodiment is the difference from other embodiments. For same or similar parts of each embodiment, reference may be made to each other.

[0069] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above description was in respect of preferred embodiments and that various alterations and modifications are possible within the broad scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention with the necessary modifications.

[0070] Based on the description of disclosed embodiments, persons skilled in the art can implement or apply the present disclosure. Various modifications of the embodiments are apparent to persons skilled in the art, and general principles defined in the specification can be implemented in other embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments in the specification but intends to cover the most extensive scope consistent with the principle and the novel features disclosed in the specification.