FR2730294A1 - Device for collection of daylight for delivery to interior locations, or for use in motor vehicle lighting - Google Patents

Abstract

The device collects daylight by a panel (12) fixed to the roof or an outside wall of a building facing the sun, concentrates it and then transmits (13) the concentrated light to diffusers (14) in the dark area. The light is collected and concentrated by parabolic reflectors or by convergent lenses. The light is transmitted by an internally reflective guide, eg. optical fibre. The diffuser may use parabolic reflectors or lenses to spread the light brought by the transmission medium over the surface of the diffuser, reducing the brightness of the light and providing broader illumination. An alternative arrangement for vehicle lighting applications includes a light bulb which is used instead of natural daylight. Light from the bulb is similarly concentrated and transmitted through optical fibres to the headlights etc. of the vehicle.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for collecting, conveying and diffusing light.

Traditionally, lighting is obtained through two main techniques (possibly used simultaneously).

First technique:
We use an opening in a wall or roof (window).

Second technique:
We use electric lighting.

The first technique is limited by the fact that in some cases it is impossible (or it was not provided for in the architectural design) to make an opening. This is the case in certain cellars or certain underground car parks or other buildings.

 he second technique has the disadvantage of providing a light which is artificial, sensitive to a power supply failure and a cost of use not zero.

The device according to the invention overcomes these drawbacks partially or completely.

tI1 indeed has according to a first characteristic: - an elementary collector,
I1 allows to receive the light on a certain surface and to concentrate it on a lower surface. The concentration of light is done using an exclusively optical and trunk process without using electricity. The elementary collector is essentially intended to collect natural light (daylight or direct sunlight) - an elementary transmitter,
I1 makes it possible to convey the light concentrated by the elementary collector. Its section is less or even much less than the surface of the elementary collector. It can therefore be handled like an electric cable and be installed in a sheath or passed through a wall.

The end of the elementary transmitter located on the side of the elementary collector is designated subsequently by the term: input of the elementary transmitter.

The end of the elementary transmitter located on the side of the elementary diffuser (defined below) is designated hereafter by the term: output of the elementary transmitter.

The elementary transmitter can be an optical fiber. The optical fiber used by the invention is not the subject of this patent.

- an elementary diffuser,
It I1 diffuses the light received from the elementary transmitter. Its section is greater than that of the elementary transmitter. The distribution of the concentrated light is, as for the elementary collector, obtained exclusively by an optical process.

ISepending on the particular embodiments: - the elementary collector can be installed on a mechanically driven support so that it always optimally orientates the elementary collector with respect to the sun.

- the elementary collector may include a shutter device to no longer transmit any light.

- the elementary collector can consist only of a simple converging lens concentrating the rays of the sun in its focus (where the entry of the elementary transmitter would be) and of a box ensuring mechanical cohesion.

- The elementary collector can consist only of a reflective parabola at the focus of which would be the entrance to the elementary transmitter and the mechanical elements necessary to ensure the cohesion of the whole.

- several elementary collectors can be grouped into a panel of elementary collectors.

- the elementary transmitter can be rigid (cylinder of hard plastic of small section).

- the elementary transmitter can be flexible. In this case, it will preferably consist of one or more optical fibers.

- the elementary transmitter can have a constant or variable section.

- the elementary transmitter can be of any length, from a few centimeters (to cross a partition) to several kilometers (to light a cave).

- Several elementary transmitters can be grouped inside the same cable to form a multiple transmitter of larger diameter conveying the light collected by several elementary collectors.

- the elementary diffuser can be in all points analogous to an elementary collector.

- the elementary diffuser may include a device (electric motor connected to the elementary diffuser housing) making it possible to modify the direction of the rays of light that it emits.

- The elementary diffuser may include a device for controlling the scattering of light. This possible control can be done by controlling the color of the light (by the interposition of a colored filter on the path of the light) as well as the power of the light (by the interposition of more or less opaque filters).

- several elementary diffusers can be grouped into a panel of elementary diffusers.

- the elementary collector, the elementary transmitter and the elementary diffuser can be made of different materials according to the wavelengths that we want to let through (or filter). All transparent materials are a priori usable: glasses, plastics, crystals, gels, fluids. In general, the wavelengths which it will be sought to transmit using the invention are those of daylight.

- the transmission of complex digital signals through the entire device, is not the subject of this invention.

It does not aim to use light to circulate information but rather to use the illuminating faculties of light itself.

- the elementary collectors panel may be nonexistent, an artificial light is then injected directly into the input of the multiple transmitter. The assembly is then reduced to the multiple transmitter and to the elementary diffuser panel.

- the elementary diffusers panel may be nonexistent, the output of the multiple transmitter then provides a ray of light that can be used to illuminate a very specific place.

The assembly is then reduced to the panel of elementary receivers and to the multiple transmitter.

- It is not conceivable in the context of the invention that the panel of elementary collectors and the panel of elementary diffusers are simultaneously absent.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:
Figure 1 shows in section an elementary collector and the input of an elementary transmitter.

Figure 2 shows in section an elementary diffuser and the output of an elementary transmitter.

Figure 3 shows in section an elementary collector (of another type) and the input of an elementary transmitter.

Figure 4 shows in section an elementary collector (yet another type) and the input of an elementary transmitter.

FIG. 5 represents a view along A of this same elementary collector.

FIG. 6 represents a top view of a device allowing the reorientation of several elementary collectors (or diffusers).

FIG. 7 represents in top view a part of a panel of elementary collectors (or diffusers). In this nonlimiting example, each elementary collector (or diffuser) is of the same type as that shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 8 represents an example of use of the device according to the invention.

Figure 9 shows a device to control the power of the light that is diffused.

FIG. 10 represents in section a device making it possible to concentrate the light conveyed by a multiple transmitter in an elementary transmitter.

For reasons of clarity, in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, the diameter of the elementary transmitter is not in proportion.

In reality, this diameter would, by way of nonlimiting example, of the order of 2 mm.

With reference to these drawings, the device comprises an elementary collector which can be of several types.

Figure 1 shows an elementary collector consisting of a converging lens (1) and a mechanical housing (2).

The input of the elementary transmitter (3) is also shown.

The converging lens as well as the walls of the input of the elementary transmitter can be glued to the housing.

FIG. 2 represents an elementary diffuser and illustrates the general principle that an elementary diffuser can be in all points similar to an elementary collector.

FIG. 3 represents an elementary collector constituted by a truncated cone (4) (produced in glass or in a transparent material) and a mechanical housing (5).

The wall of the truncated cone which is in contact with the housing is reflective.

In FIG. 3, the cone is of circular section (intersection with a plane perpendicular to the axis). But the cone can just as easily be of any cross-section, circular, elliptical or polygonal.

The input of the basic transmitter is also shown.

FIG. 4 represents an elementary collector constituted by a reflective parabola (6) and a triple fin (9) making it possible to link this parabola to the input of the elementary transmitter.

The ball joint (7) is inserted into the frame (ll) (fig.7) and allows the rotation of the entire elementary manifold.

A fork (10) can be inserted in the groove (8) and cause the rotation of the elementary collector.

FIG. 6 illustrates the fact that the fork is produced in a plate which has other forks thus making it possible to move all the elementary collectors (or diffusers) of a panel at once.

FIG. 7 represents elementary collectors (or diffusers) of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and grouped in a panel.

The ball joint of each elementary collector (or transmitter) is force-fitted into a frame (11).

At the rear of these elementary collectors (or diffusers), a set of forks similar to that shown in FIG. 6 and arranged so that each fork encloses the input of an elementary transmitter (3), makes it possible to modify the 'orientation of each elementary collector (or diffuser).

FIG. 8 represents the use of a panel of elementary collectors (12) positioned on a roof, a multiple transmitter (13) which crosses various walls of a building and a panel of elementary diffusers (14) which lights up a dark room.

FIG. 9 represents a device making it possible to modulate the light power captured by a panel of elementary collectors. This device is preferably installed as close as possible to the panel of elementary collectors.

The various elementary transmitters (each connected to an elementary collector) are grouped together in a transmitter (15) on the path of which a disk (18) is interposed controlled by a stepping electric motor (19).

This motor (19) can itself be remotely controlled. The pivoting disc (18) has a disc (16) on the light path.

This disc (16) can be perfectly transparent (cavity), slightly opaque, very opaque or completely opaque. This device makes it possible to control the light which is allowed to pass from the part (15) to the part (17) of the transmitter.

 FIG. 10 represents a device making it possible not to use a multiple transmitter to convey light over long distances, but to use, instead, a finer and less expensive elementary transmitter (21).

On the path of the multiple transmitter (20), as close as possible to the panel of elementary collectors, a lens (22) concentrates the light that it receives (from the multiple transmitter) in its focus where an elementary transmitter (21) is positioned. The assembly is held in a housing (23).

This same device, inverted, can be used to transform the elementary transmitter into a multiple transmitter.

According to a functional variant not illustrated, the device can be used for lighting a car (headlights, codes, position lights, etc.). The source is then no longer daylight but an electric bulb.

An advantage is that by using a multiple transmitter branched to several elementary diffusers, the number of electric bulbs used can be considerably reduced.

Another advantage is that part of the optical unit (source and transmitter) can be installed far from the front of the vehicle and therefore is more protected in the event of an accident.

When it is necessary to link a box to an optical element (lens or elementary transmitter or truncated cone), this can be done by gluing.

The housings, frames, fins can be made of plastic.

A set of elementary collectors (or diffusers) such as that of FIG. 7 can be inserted in a metal or plastic frame or even in wood of the same type as those used to make a conventional window.

Claims (10)

1) Device for collecting, conveying and diffusing light, characterized in that it comprises a panel of elementary collectors (12) which concentrates the light which it receives towards the input of a multiple transmitter (13 ) which carries the light to a panel of elementary diffusers (14) which distributes the light it has received from the multiple transmitter. 2) Device for lighting, characterized in that it comprises a panel of elementary collectors (12) which concentrates the light which it receives towards the input of a multiple transmitter (13). The output of the multiple transmitter is then used directly, without a panel of elementary diffusers, to light. 3) Device for lighting, characterized in that it comprises a multiple transmitter (13) and a panel of elementary diffusers (14). The multiple transmitter is used directly, without a panel of elementary collectors, to transmit light which is emitted directly in front of its input. 4) Device according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 characterized in that each collector of the lap of elementary collectors comprises mechanical elements (7, 8, 10) for modifying its position relative to the light source; or in that each diffuser of the elementary diffusers panel comprises mechanical elements making it possible to modify the direction of the light that it emits. 5) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that a reflective parabola (fig. 4 and fixa. 5) is used as a collector (or diffuser) elementary. 6) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that a converging lens (fig.l and fig. 2) is used as a collector (or diffuser) elementary. 7) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that a truncated cone with reflective walls (fig. 3) is used as a collector (or diffuser) elementary. The cone can be of any cross-section, circular, elliptical, polygonal. 8) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that a mechanism (fig. 9) allows to extinguish or modulate the scattered light. 9) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that a device (fig. 10) reduces the multiple transmitter into an elementary transmitter over a good part of its length. 10) Device according to claims 1 or 2 or 3 characterized in that it is used as an optical unit in a car to provide it with its various lights.