Light-redirecting window covering
AssigneeS.V.V. Technology Innovations, Inc.
InventorSergiy Vasylyev
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A window covering for natural illumination of building interiors by redirecting the incident daylight at angles that promote its deeper penetration into the interior space. The window covering comprises an optically transmissive, flexible polymeric sheet having a layered structure with a light diffusing output surface and a number of total internal reflection surfaces incorporated into its material. The total internal reflection surfaces are dimensioned such that the multi-layer sheet diffusely redirect at least a portion of light towards a direction which is generally not coincident with the incidence direction.
Claims22
A light redirecting window covering, comprising:
- a flexible translucent sheet of a plastic material having a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface extending parallel to the first broad-area surface;
- a plurality of random surface microstructures formed in the first broad-area surface and configured for randomizing light propagation directions;
- a parallel array of truncated linear prismatic structures formed on the second broad-area surface and extending parallel to an edge of the flexible translucent sheet, wherein each of the prismatic structures has a tapered shape and comprises a first curved side wall forming a first non-zero angle with respect to a normal to the second broad-area surface, a second curved side wall extending at a different non-zero angle with respect to the normal, and a terminal surface facing away from the flexible translucent sheet and connecting the first and second curved side walls;
- and
- a flexible optically transmissive sheet bonded to the terminal surfaces of the truncated linear prismatic structures using an optically transmissive adhesive so as to form a single layered flexible film structure adapted for being retained in a planar form and further adapted for being retained in a form of a roll,
- wherein at least one of the first and second curved side walls is configured for reflecting light using a total internal reflection, and wherein at least one of the first and second curved side walls is configured for deflecting light using refraction.
A light redirecting window covering, comprising:
- a flexible translucent sheet of a plastic material having a first broad-area surface and an opposing second broad-area surface extending parallel to the first broad-area surface;
- a plurality of random surface microstructures formed in the first broad-area surface and configured for randomizing light propagation directions;
- a parallel array of linear prismatic structures formed on the second broad-area surface and tapering away from the second broad-area surface in a perpendicular direction, wherein each of the linear prismatic structures has a first curved side wall forming a first non-zero angle with respect to a normal to the second broad-area surface, a second curved side wall forming a different non-zero angle with respect to the normal, and a terminal surface facing away from the flexible translucent sheet and connecting the first and second curved side walls;
- and
- a flexible optically transmissive sheet bonded to the terminal surfaces of the linear prismatic structures using an optically transmissive adhesive so as to form a single layered flexible film structure adapted for being retained in a planar form and further adapted for being retained in a form of a roll,
- wherein at least one of the first and second curved side walls is configured for reflecting light using a total internal reflection, and wherein at least one of the first and second curved side walls is configured for deflecting light using refraction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.