Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making an arrangement for collecting or emitting light. A flexible sheet of material serves as substrate for a plurality of light collecting or emitting devices mounted in spaced relation on the sheet. The sheet has thereon electrical leads for interconnection to each device. For each device, a respective light coupler is formed by (1) forming a plurality of reflectors on the sheet around the intended periphery of the respective device, by applying reflective material to selected areas of the sheet; (2) forming cut lines around selected edges of the plurality of reflectors; (3) forming fold lines associated with the reflectors; and (4) folding the reflectors and attached substrate away from the substrate portion on which the device is mounted, to form a coupler whose interior is reflective and that is substantially closed around a main axis of light propagation into or from the respective device.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system for providing personalized energy usage feedback. The system comprises an arrangement to determine respective energy-usage of a specific person for each of a plurality of energy-consuming devices. The foregoing arrangement comprises power-usage sensors for the plurality of energy-consuming devices, an allocation arrangement for determining an estimated or measured allocation of power for each energy-consuming device that is attributable to the specific person, and an arrangement for determining the length of time of power usage that is attributable to the specific person. A feedback arrangement provides feedback to the specific person of all or a subset of the respective energy-usage attributable to that person.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of passivating and reducing reflectance of a silicon photovoltaic cell. The method includes the step of providing a silicon wafer of a solar cell having a major surface. A passivation layer of silicon nitride is applied on at least 98 percent of the major surface through a vacuum deposition process. An index-matching film structure, different from silicon nitride, is applied on top of the passivation layer. The index matching film structure provides the majority of the antireflective property of the combination of the passivation layer and the index matching film structure.

Abstract: An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making solar collector assemblies for photovoltaic conversion. The method comprises providing a mold for receiving encapsulant, the mold having serially arranged, alternating peaks and valleys. A respective PV solar cell is placed into each of a series of the valleys such that the light-receiving surfaces of the PV solar cells face upwards. Uncured encapsulant is delivered into the mold and onto the light-receiving surfaces, and from the light-receiving surfaces to a level at least as high as the peaks so as to form, above the light-receiving surfaces, optical concentrators for concentrating light received by the optical concentrators and directing the light to the light-receiving surfaces. The encapsulant is then cured.

Abstract: A photovoltaic conversion assembly comprises an optical slab with first and second major surfaces and an intermediate surface therebetween. Light energy to be collected impinges as incoming photons on the first major surface. At least one PV cell is mounted to receive light energy from the intermediate surface of the optical slab and convert such light energy to electrical energy. The PV cell has a highest band gap E. A down-converting structure is located on the second major surface of the slab for converting to lower energy light received through the slab, with at least about 75 percent of the converted light having an energy level above the band gap E. A two-way spectrally selective reflector, located proximate the first major surface, cooperates with the down-converting structure for preventing high angle light from undesirably exiting the optical slab via the first major surface.

Abstract: A lighting device operable to supply temporally appropriate light to a user comprises a light socket adapter interposed between a primary socket and a first type of lamp. The primary socket is connected to a switchable supply of electrical power. A first type of lamp includes wavelengths below 530 nm that are suppressive of melatonin production in a user viewing the light. There is a second type of lamp that supplies light substantially all above 530 nm so as to avoid suppressing melatonin production in a user viewing the light. The light socket adapter has at least one mode of operation in which automatic means causes the first and second types of lamp to be exclusively operable during respective predetermined periods of time.

Abstract: An LED lighting arrangement comprising at least one LED, for producing light is disclosed. A power supply provides power for the at least one LED. At least one control circuit is coupled to the at least one LED in a way that directly or indirectly uses, to power the at least one control circuit, one or more forward voltage drops across the at least one LED. Beneficially, one or more additional control circuits can be added without redesign of the power supply for the at least one LED.

Abstract: An LED lighting system, with first and second types of LEDs of different efficacies, has a reduced-power usage mode. A control system independently controls first and second control groups of first and second types of LEDs, respectively. The control system has one or more modes including a reduced-power usage mode for decreasing the overall power consumption of the lighting system while maintaining a light level of at least a predetermined percentage of the level present when the first control group of LEDs operates at a power level between less-than-full power and full power and the second control group is off. The predetermined percentage is 50. The control system decreases the overall power consumption of the lighting system in the reduced-power usage mode by turning off or dimming the first control group and turning on the second control group to at least some extent.

Abstract: Lighted refrigerated display case with remote light source comprises a closed container with an interior of the container refrigerated to a temperature below 7 C. The container is thermally insulated from ambient, having internal and external walls. A solid fiber optic luminaire is at least partially mounted within the container, having an elongated side-light emitting portion for emitting light from the side of the luminaire onto contents in an interior of the display case. The side-light emitting portion comprises an extractor of light arranged to preferentially extract light from the luminaire and direct the light in at least one radial direction along the length of the side-light emitting portion to at least one target area of said contents along a longitudinal axis of the side-light emitting portion. A light-delivery system provides light to the fiber optic luminaire, having a light source mounted remotely from the interior of the container.

Abstract: An electrical junction box cover system includes a waterproof dome-like covering lid allowing the system to be installed near water. The system also includes a manual power switch with a manual actuator installed on the outside of the covering lid and accessible to the user. The switch actuator has three positions, wherein the actuator in the first position turns an external load circuit on, in the second position it turns the external circuit off, and in the third position it enables the remotely controlled operation of the external circuit. A remote control receiver with an electronic control module and an electric power switch are included in the system as an assembly in order to allow a remotely controlled operation of the system.

Abstract: A light pipe with directional side-light extraction comprises a light pipe and light-extraction structure applied to the light pipe over only a part of the cross-sectional perimeter of the light pipe and over an active section of the length of the light pipe in which directional side lighting is desired. The light-extraction structure comprises any of (i) material, other than a light-carrying portion of the light pipe or any fluoropolymer cladding on the light-carrying portion, including light-scattering material, (ii) surfaces treated to have light-scattering properties, and (iii) material with a reflective property. The foregoing light pipe eliminates the need for using a reflector, as with fluorescent lamps, by extracting the light only in the desired direction, towards a target area to be illuminated. Other embodiments of the invention promote uniformity in side light emission from a light pipe.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-light emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern alone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: A hub arrangement for mounting light pipe to receive light includes a light pipe hub for mounting at least one light pipe, with a plug-and-socket arrangement. The plug-and-socket arrangement includes (i) a socket in the light pipe hub for receiving a plug, and (ii) a plug for mounting a light pipe end that is to receive light. A fore end of the plug is receivable within the socket. The plug has a channel for receiving the light pipe through an aft end of the plug. The hub arrangement may also include, if desired, a rod hub for mounting at least one thermally isolating, light-collection rod for receiving light from a light source. The hub arrangement allows easy and rapid coupling of light pipe to an illumination source, using a “plug-and-socket” feature. The hub arrangement may incorporate several safety features to prevent premature light pipe failure.

Abstract: Fiberoptic luminaire with scattering and specular side-light extractor patterns comprises a fiberoptic light pipe with elongated side-fight emitting portion. Such portion illuminates a target area with a scattering, and a specular, light extractor pattern. The extractor patterns are arranged to extract light from the side-light emitting portion over a radial angle, orthogonal to said main axis, of less than 180°. The scattering extractor pattern atone may provide greater than 50% of light on the target area, and light extracted by the specular extractor pattern alone may produce an illuminance on a selected portion of the target area that is greater than 5% of the maximum illuminance produced on the target area by the scattering extractor pattern. Furthermore, the scattering extractor pattern may comprise a Lambertian type of extractor pattern. Each specular extractor pattern may comprise a notch having main faces parallel to within 10° of each other.

Abstract: An illumination system for a video-imaging device has a light source and a collector of light from the light source. The collector is formed according to the principles of non-imaging optics and receives a portion of the light from the light source. The collector is configured to reduce the angular distribution of the collected light from the light source to match the requirements of a digital pixelation device.

Abstract: An adjustable-aim light pipe fixture, comprising a generally spherical eyeball for receiving an end of a light pipe is disclosed. The eyeball has a longitudinal axis coincident with a longitudinal axis of that portion of the light pipe that is received in the eyeball. A socket holds the eyeball. The socket comprises a first retainer ring and a second retainer ring. Each retainer ring has an interior surface with contact points to an outer surface of the eyeball. The first and second retainer rings are oriented with respect to each other so as to hold the eyeball in a fixed position when the first and second rings are pressed towards each other. Clamping structure clamps the first and second rings against each other in such manner as to hold the eyeball in fixed relation to the first retainer ring.

Abstract: A light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to achieve uniform side-light emission. Another light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within at least one of the cladding and the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to yield uniform side light emission, and substantially only in a radial swath, along the longitudinal axis of the light pipe, of substantially less than 360 degrees.

Abstract: A solid light pipe arrangement with reduced Fresnel-reflection losses includes a light pipe with a solid core comprising a polymer. An optically clear substrate has first and second sides with an anti-reflective coating on at least one side. The substrate is adhered to an end-face of the core of the light pipe by adhesive material so as to create an optically clear interface between the substrate and the end-face that passes more than about 96 percent of transmitted light. A preferred method of applying an anti-reflective coating to an end-face of a core of a solid, polymeric light pipe comprises diverting uncrosslinked polymer used for forming a light pipe core, and using the diverted polymer as adhesive material between a substrate with at least one antireflective coating and the end-face of a light pipe having the same polymeric components, in the same proportions, as the diverted polymer.

Abstract: Disclosed is a light appliance and a cooling arrangement, comprising a light appliance and a substantially sealed enclosure for the light appliance that gives off unwanted heat into surrounding air within the enclosure during operation. The enclosure has an external wall at least part of which is thermally conductive. A medium, cooler than the external wall of the enclosure, contacts the external wall. An air circulating device is provided for circulating air, heated by the electrical appliance or by the air circulating device, to the thermally conductive portion of the external wall for removing heat from the air by thermally dissipating the heat into the cooler medium through said thermally conductive portion.