Reflexite Corporation

Solatube International, Inc.

John Futhey

James Fredric Munro

William P Rowland

Paul August Jaster

The inside surface of a cover for a skylight is molded to have a variable prism that directs low-angle light into the skylight tube and that reflects away some high-angle light, to achieve a more constant light output over the course of the day. The prism is established by a series of circular parallel grooves, with grooves nearer the apex of the cover having cross-sections that are different than the cross-sections of grooves nearer the periphery of the cover.

Tubular skylight dome with variable prism

A luminaire is provided which includes a light source, a light guide that receives light radiating from the light source, and a plurality of prisms adjacent the light guide that redirect the light from the light guide substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the light guide. The prism angles, in one embodiment, are 25&#xb0;-90&#xb0;-65&#xb0;. The fine pitch prism arrays preferably alternate or flip-flop every few millimeters, for example, one to two millimeters to create the visual appearance of bright and dark bands which cause the structure to appear like macro prisms.

Asymmetric alternating prism arrays

A luminaire and method are provided comprising a light source, a plurality of prisms, such as linear prisms, for redirecting light from the light source in a predetermined direction, and a reflector for redirecting light from the light source toward the plurality of prisms. Each of the linear prisms has a longitudinal axis and the light source has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axes of the linear prisms are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the light source. Each of the plurality of prisms has an included angle, which can vary as a function of the distance from the light source. The angle can vary stepwise or continuously. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of prisms adjacent the light guide has an included angle in the range of between about 35 and 45 degrees. In another embodiment, the included angle is substantially uniform among the prisms. The luminaire optical sheet can be made out of continuous sheet with built in hinge points to provide a complete light redirecting structure.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Rosa, CA, United States of America

John Futhey