Land Of The Indoor Rising And Setting Sun

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18 October 2018 | Updated 22 October 2018

An indoor lighting technology that mimics the daily change of natural light from sunrise to blue sky to sunset, has been revealed in Tokyo and Chiba by the Mitsubishi Electric Corporation.

The system, which consists of a thin panel and frame measuring less than 100mm, incorporates a proprietary edge-lit method that emits LED light from the side of the light panel to achieve highly natural light with the depth and colour of the sky.

Mitsubishi Electric launched the system in Tokyo and then displayed its new technology during CEATEC JAPAN 2018 at the Makuhari Messe exhibition complex in Chiba, Japan from October 16 to 19. The timing of the envisioned commercial release will be announced later.

Motivation

At a presentation at the expo, a Mitsubishi spokesperson said: "Modern workplaces are being upgraded to create comfortable environments that stimulate and motivate employees. This includes the enhancement of lighting in offices that have darkened or covered windows or no windows altogether.

"Mitsubishi Electric's new system, unlike conventional LED lighting systems, produces highly natural light, including colours similar to those of sunrises and sunsets as well as blue skies and creates a sense of depth to make indoor spaces feel larger and more open."

Main Features

• Edge-lit panel emits LED light from the side to mimic the sky's Rayleigh scattering effect, which occurs when sunlight strikes atmospheric air molecules in the daytime and scatterers short-wavelength blue light more strongly than long-wavelength red light, making the sky appear blue when viewed from below.
• Panel and frame thickness measure less than 100mm combined, comparable to an ordinary lighting fixture, for wide-ranging applications in offices and public facilities. Also, panels can be tiled to cover large ceilings.
• LED light source colours are controlled automatically throughout the day to replicate daily transitions of natural light from sunrise to midday sunlight to sunset.

Early Forecasting of Torrential Rain

Elsewhere, Mitsubishi Electric has also started demonstration testing of a new system equipped with wind LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and water vapour DIAL (differential absorption LIDAR) measuring methods for the early forecasting of torrential rain.

The tests are expected to demonstrate that the system simultaneously measures water vapour in the air and upward air currents, which cause cumulonimbus clouds, quicker, more accurately and in a wider range compared to conventional alternatives. Mitsubishi Electric expects to make further improvements prior to launching a commercial system.

The system was also previewed at CEATEC JAPAN 2018, October 16 to 19.

Picture: Mitsubishi Electric spent the week demonstrating an indoor lighting system that mimics the daily change of natural light from sunrise to blue sky to sunset.

Article written by Brian Shillibeer | Published 18 October 2018

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