A fibre-optic device that carries sunlight through buildings has been further developed by La Foret Engineering Co., a joint venture between Japan“s Asahi Glass and Mori Building Co. The device“s re…
A fibre-optic device that carries sunlight through buildings has been further developed by La Foret Engineering Co., a joint venture between Japan“s Asahi Glass and Mori Building Co. The device“s receiving lenses track the sun with the help of a stepping motor, a sensor and a microprocessor. The lenses filter out most of the ultraviolet and infrared rays. The resulting light is roughly equal to that of two 100-watt glow bulbs. The company earlier released a model with 18 lenses. The new version features 12 larger lenses and 40% more luminescence. It also costs 10% less than the original model. Prices differ according to the length of cable. A unit with 10 metres of cable sells for JPY 630,000 while a 20-metre version costs JPY 730,000. Asahi Glass and another Japanese group, Itochu, have finalised a joint venture agreement with the Chinese group Shanghai Zi Jiang to make and sell rigid urethane systems for refrigerators, with 6,000 tonnes/year capacity, beginning in 1997 and plans to double capacity by 1999.