Illumination for horticultural and other applications

Abstract

A method for increasing availability of light at a target area, comprising: selecting, at a time of manufacture of a convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof, maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by an orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is to be mounted, such that the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof will, when mounted, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, inclinations, or curvature of the convex reflective surface; statically mounting the convex reflective surface in a fixed orientation at the position above the target area, and deflecting sunlight received at the convex reflective surface vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, inclinations, or curvature of the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof throughout the day.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for increasing availability of light at a target area, the method comprising:
 selecting, at a time of manufacture of a convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof, maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by an orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is to be mounted, such that the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof will, when mounted, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the convex reflective surface;   statically mounting the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof in a fixed orientation at the position above the target area, so that the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof has the selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by the orientation and the latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at the location where the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is to be mounted, and   deflecting sunlight received at the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof throughout the day.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  in which the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is a convex reflective surface. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  in which multiple reflective surfaces provide the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface, the method comprising:
 selecting, at a time of manufacture, maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature of the convex reflective surface determined by a orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the multiple reflective surfaces are to be mounted, such that the multiple reflective surfaces will, when mounted, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the multiple reflective surfaces; 
 statically mounting the multiple reflective surfaces in a fixed orientation at the position above the target area; and 
 deflecting sunlight received at the multiple reflective surfaces vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the multiple reflective surfaces throughout the day. 
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  in which a Fresnel mirror provides the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface, the method comprising:
 selecting maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature of the convex reflective surface, determined by a orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the Fresnel mirror is to be mounted, such that the Fresnel mirror will, when mounted, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the Fresnel mirror after mounting; 
 manufacturing the Fresnel mirror to provide the optical equivalent to the convex reflective surface in fixed orientation at the position above the target area; 
 statically mounting the Fresnel mirror in fixed orientation at the position above the target area; and 
 deflecting sunlight received at the Fresnel mirror vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the Fresnel mirror throughout the day. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein selecting further comprises eliminating deflection of insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by selecting one or more of the maximum and minimum inclinations and the curvature of the convex reflective surface to eliminate deflection corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising eliminating deflection of insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by removing or obscuring at least one segment of the convex reflective surface corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein selecting further comprises eliminating insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by selecting one or more of the maximum and minimum inclinations and the curvature of the multiple convex reflective surfaces to eliminate deflection corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising eliminating deflection of insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by removing or obscuring at least one segment of the multiple convex reflective surfaces corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein selecting further comprises eliminating deflection of insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by selecting one or more of the maximum and minimum inclinations and the curvature of the Fresnel mirror to eliminate deflection corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising eliminating deflection of insolation to the target area at certain times of the day by removing or obscuring at least one segment of the Fresnel mirror corresponding to the certain times. 
     
     
         11 . A method for increasing availability of light at a target area, the method comprising:
 statically mounting a convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof in a fixed orientation at a position above the target area, so that the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof has maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by a orientation and a latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the convex reflective surface or or optical equivalent thereof is mounted and that vary with the orientation, and deflecting sunlight received at the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof throughout the day, the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof being manufactured to have selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by the orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at the location where the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is mounted such that the convex reflective surface will when mounted at the location deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  in which the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is a convex reflective surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  in which multiple reflective surfaces provide the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface the method comprising:
 statically mounting the multiple reflective surfaces in a fixed orientation at a position above the target area; and deflecting sunlight received at the multiple reflective surfaces vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the multiple reflective surfaces throughout the day, the multiple reflective surfaces being manufactured to provide an optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface having selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by the orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at the location where the multiple reflective surfaces are mounted such that the multiple reflective surfaces will when mounted at the location deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the multiple reflective surfaces. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  in which a Fresnel mirror provides the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface, the method comprising:
 statically mounting the Fresnel mirror in fixed orientation at a position above the target area; and deflecting sunlight received at the Fresnel mirror vertically or obliquely downwards onto the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the Fresnel mirror throughout the day the Fresnel mirror being manufactured to provide an optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface having selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by the orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at the location where the Fresnel mirror is mounted, such that the Fresnel mirror will, when mounted, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of a position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the Fresnel mirror after mounting. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacture of a convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof for use in increasing availability of light at a target area, the method comprising:
 (i) selecting maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature determined by an orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is to be mounted, such that the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof will when mounted at the location in a fixed orientation at a position above the target area, deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof;   (ii) manufacturing the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof to have the selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  in which the convex reflective surface or optical equivalent thereof is a convex reflective surface. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , in which multiple reflective surfaces provide the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface for use in increasing availability of light at a target area, the method comprising:
 (i) selecting maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature of the convex reflective surface determined by a orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the multiple reflective surfaces are to be mounted, such that the multiple reflective surfaces will when mounted at the location in a fixed orientation at a position above the target area deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the multiple reflective surfaces   (ii) manufacturing the multiple reflective surfaces to provide the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface having the selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , in which a Fresnel mirror provides the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface for use in increasing availability of light at a target area, the method comprising:
 (i) selecting maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature of the convex reflective surface determined by a orientation and latitude and range of azimuths available for insolation at a location where the Fresnel mirror is to be mounted, such that the Fresnel mirror will when mounted at the location in a fixed orientation at a position above the target area deflect insolation to the target area without adjustment of the position, the inclinations, or the curvature of the Fresnel mirror;   (ii) manufacturing the Fresnel mirror to provide the optical equivalent to a convex reflective surface having the selected maximum and minimum inclinations and curvature.