Patent ID: 8068282

Claim:
A tubular skylight having a roof-top element, an interior light diffuser, at least one light-conveying structure having an interior surface and being positioned between the roof-top element and the interior light diffuser, and a light damper for controlling the amount of light conveyed through the interior light diffuser, the light damper comprising: a first panel, a second panel, and a shoulder connecting the first panel and the second panel, the first and second panels residing in different planes; the light damper further comprising an axle affixed to the shoulder, the axle securing the light damper within the light-conveying structure and defining an axis of rotation for the light damper; a motor connected with the axle of the light damper and adapted to rotate the light damper; and a photovoltaic cell attached to at least one of the light damper and the interior surface of the light conveying structure, the photovoltaic cell configured to generate power for the motor.