Light transmitting building material and method for producing the same

Abstract

A light-transmitting structure for use as a building block or panel, and a related method of fabrication. The structure includes a composite of a primary building material and one or more light-transmitting elements. The primary building material may have structural and / or insulative characteristics. The light-transmitting elements extend from one surface of the primary building material to the other and preferably make up a small part of the bulk of the structure. One or more light-concentrating elements are positioned on one or both surfaces of the structure and are configured to concentrate incoming light rays to the light-transmitting elements. The light-transmitting elements may be optical fibers, optical film in a parallel or intersecting arrangements, or other suitable geometries. The light-concentrating elements may be spherical, aspherical, or other geometries suitable for enabling light transmission through the primary building material via the light-transmitting elements. The structure may be fabricated in a variety of ways. In one process, the light-transmitting and light-concentrating elements may be formed separately and joined together in an aligned manner. In another process, both elements may be formed at the same time, either using a preformed mold, extrusion or shaping and selectively curing portions of a fluid with optical characteristics. The panel may be used to introduce light and or heating sunshine through the structure with little impact on its structural and / or insulative characteristics.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to building structures. More particularly, the present invention relates to traditionally opaque building materials including, but not limited to, cement, concrete blocks, wood, fiber batting and solid, cellular and porous polymeric structural and cover materials. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for making such traditional building materials capable of light transmission. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] Buildings within which people live, work and play must have certain physical characteristics to ensure structural integrity in a manner that preserves the condition of the building and the security and comfort of the people within. That is, buildings are built to remain in place for some period of time, and to be used as intended, under the particular environmental conditions to be expected where the building is located. Unfortu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides building materials that have both structural and insulative characteristics, and also allow light to pass through. The panels are made up of a primary structural and insulative material, with light-transmitting elements embedded within. The light-concentrating elements on the panels concentrate the light that strikes the panel, resulting in a high percentage of light transmission. The panels can be designed to allow for clear viewing from inside the building, and can also be shaped to selectively allow sunlight to pass through. The panels can be fabricated using existing techniques and materials. Overall, the invention provides building materials that allow for better light transmission and improved energy efficiency in building construction.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, these desired characteristics of a building tend to produce a conflict in the selection of materials used to build the building.

Building occupants cannot see through the opaque structural materials to the outside environment.

As a result, sunlight cannot heat the interior of the building and artificial lighting is required to light the interior of the building.

As a result, building heat loss tends to occur through its windows much more so than through its opaque walls.

This is due to the optical fibers' property of transmitting light entering from many angles causing mixing and blurring of all but the closest objects or shadows.

Also, the optical fibers provide for some light transmission but the light transmission is limited to the percentage of optical fiber included in the material.

This creates a large trade off between light transmission and maintenance of the physical properties of the building material.

However, the powder scatters light such that the panel may not be used as a window and, again, there is a trade off between light transmission and thermal insulation characteristics.

Also, none of the above solutions provide for the selective transmission of light based on incoming angle which can allow for heat gain in a building during the winter months while rejecting building heating light during the summer months, for example.

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