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US 8,831,392 B2Granted
Lighting using natural light
AssigneeEmpire Technology Development LLC
InventorToshimi Fukui
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments described herein generally relate to re-using the energy of natural light. In some examples, a lighting unit is described. An example lighting unit can include a multiple number of bound light-conductive members. A long-lasting phosphorescent material can be dispersed between the multiple number of bound light-conductive members. A luminance of the lighting unit can be at least several thousand cd/m2.
Claims21
A lighting unit, comprising:
- a housing with a cavity extending from a waveguide at a first end to a light outlet at a second end;
- a lighting assembly located in the cavity, the lighting assembly comprising:
- a plurality of bound light-conductive cores extending between the waveguide and light outlet;
- and
- a phosphorescent material dispersed between and contacting the plurality of bound light-conductive cores;
- and
- a diverging lens positioned in the housing between the first end and the lighting assembly,
- wherein a luminance of the lighting unit is at least several thousand candela per square meter (cd/m2).
5 more elements
A method of forming a lighting unit, comprising:
- forming a textured surface on at least one side of a light-conductive core;
- depositing a layer of phosphorescent material on the textured surface of the light-conductive core to form a combined layer;
- binding a plurality of combined layers together to form a lighting assembly;
- and
- locating the lighting assembly in a cavity of a housing, the housing having the cavity extending from a waveguide at a first end to a light outlet at a second end, wherein a diverging lens is positioned in the housing between the first end and the lighting assembly.
2 more elements
A method for storing and re-using energy of natural light comprising:
- collecting natural light from the sun at a light collector;
- storing energy from the natural light in a lighting unit optically coupled to the light collector, the lighting unit comprising;
- a housing with a cavity extending from a waveguide at a first end to a light outlet at a second end;
- a lighting assembly located in the cavity, the lighting assembly comprising:
- a plurality of bound-light conductive cores extending between the waveguide and light outlet;
- a phosphorescent material dispersed between and contacting the plurality of light-conductive cores;
- and
- a diverging lens positioned in the housing between the first end and the lighting assembly;
- and
- emitting the stored energy as light to provide illumination.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.