Automatically adjusting light shelf and method of use

摘要

An automatically adjusting light shelf has a circuit of components used to measure light levels within a space; a light shelf hinged to a window assembly, used to reflect light entering the space; and a rotation device used to alter the light entering the space by rotating the light shelf. The light levels are measured using light sensors having a capacitive component and phototransistor in parallel with one another, a microcontroller, and optionally, a clock. The automatic operation of the light shelf can be overridden for manual operation. A method of using the automatically adjusting light shelf includes the steps of measuring a differential between the light levels reaching the light sensors; determining a direction to rotate the light shelf to alter the light; and rotating the light shelf so that the reflected light is optimized within the space.

主权项

1. An automatically adjusting light shelf, comprising:
a. a circuit of components configured to measure a plurality of light levels within a space, wherein the circuit of components comprises:
i. one or more light sensors, comprising:
1. a capacitive component; and2. a phototransistor in parallel with the capacitive component, wherein the plurality of light levels reaching the one or more light sensors results in measurable differences in a resistive-capacitive time constant of the one or more light sensors; andii. a microcontroller, configured to measure the plurality of light levels reaching the one or more light sensors; b. a light shelf hingedly connected to a window assembly, the light shelf having a one and only undivided reflective surface configured to reflect a light entering the space, wherein the one or more light sensors are configured to detect the light being reflected into the space; and c. a rotation device configured to rotate the light shelf, wherein a rotation of the light shelf affects the light entering the space, and wherein the microcontroller is in communication with the rotation device, wherein the microcontroller is configured to measure the plurality of light levels reaching the one or more light sensors and to determine a rotation of the light shelf.