Lighting device with visible light illumination and ultraviolet light illumination that is broader than the visible light illumination and vehicle having the same

• US 10,076,993 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2016
• Issued: 09/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avid IP Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Avid Labs LLC
• Inventors: Nichols, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai, Anh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Horikoshi, Steven
• Application Number:
  US15/205,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20170009956A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/02 the devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/13 Ultraviolet light; Infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/153 arranged in a matrix
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/18 Combination of light sources of different types or shapes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device including an ultraviolet light source emanating ultraviolet light, a visual light source and a light directing device. The visual light source is coupled to the ultraviolet light source, and the visual light source emanates visual light. The light directing device is arranged to direct the visual light in a first direction primarily within an angle of illumination. The light directing device is further arranged to direct the ultraviolet light in an area wider than the angle of illumination.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising:

an ultraviolet light source emanating ultraviolet light;

a visible light source coupled to the ultraviolet light source, the visible light source emanating visible light; and

a light directing device arranged to direct the visible light in a first direction primarily within an angle of illumination, the light directing device being further arranged to direct the ultraviolet light in an area wider than the angle of illumination, with the angle of illumination being centrally located within the wider area thereby causing the ultraviolet light to be symmetrically arranged relative to the area of illumination.

2. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source and the visible light source are on a common substrate.

3. The lighting device of claim 2, wherein the ultraviolet light source is adjacent to a plurality of visible light sources.

4. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source emanates the ultraviolet light primarily in the wavelength 360 nm to 385 nm range.

5. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source combined with the visible light source emanates primarily in the wavelength 360 nm to 670 nm range.

6. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light source and the visible light source are both light emitting diodes.

7. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light is directed toward fluorescent material in a second direction apart from the angle of illumination.

8. The lighting device of claim 7, wherein the fluorescent material is part of an item that is wearable by a person.

9. The lighting device of claim 1, wherein the ultraviolet light continuously distributed across the wider area.

10. A vehicle having a light fixture coupled thereto, the light fixture comprising:

an ultraviolet light source emanating ultraviolet light;

a visible light source coupled to the ultraviolet light source, the visible light source emanating visible light; and

a light directing device arranged to direct the visual light in a first direction away from the vehicle primarily within an angle of illumination, the light directing device being further arranged to direct the ultraviolet light in an area wider than the angle of illumination, with the angle of illumination being centrally located within the wider area thereby causing the ultraviolet light to be symmetrically arranged relative to the area of illumination.

11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet light source and the visible light source are on a common substrate.

12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the ultraviolet light source is adjacent to a plurality of visible light sources.

13. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet light source emanates the ultraviolet light primarily in the wavelength 360 nm to 385 nm range.

14. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet light source combined with the visible light source emanates primarily in the wavelength 360 nm to 670 nm range.

15. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet light source and the visible light source are both light emitting diodes.

16. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the ultraviolet light is directed toward fluorescent material in a second direction apart from the angle of illumination.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the fluorescent material is part of an item that is wearable by a person.