Abstract

A direct beam solar lighting system for collecting and distributing sunlight into a room. The system includes a rotatable solar collector head to receive sunlight and to reflect the sunlight downward into a transition tube having a reflective interior surface. The light-concentrating transition tube reflects sunlight into a reflective light tube which directs the reflected sunlight through a plenum space into the room. The system includes a drive mechanism for rotating the rotatable solar collector, and a light fixture at end of the light tube to disburse said reflected sunlight onto a ceiling and a wall in the room. In an embodiment the system includes one or more homogenizing reflectors within the solar collector for collecting the sunlight and directing the sunlight more uniformly over the aperture of the transition tube.In an alternative embodiment, the solar collector includes a rotatable tiltable mirror for providing two-axis tracking.

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 7,982,956

Application Serial Number

12/622,833

Issue Date

7-19-2011

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC)

Department

FSEC

Allowance Date

3-8-2011

Filing Date

12-20-2009

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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