Luminaire having an asymmetrical light distribution pattern

• US 10,345,509 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumileds LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lumileds LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Den Breejen, Jeroen, Diana, Frederic Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K
• Application Number:
  US15/700,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20180074255A1
• Time in Patent Office: 666 Days
• Field of Search: 362628, 362602, 362395, 362612
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 2/00 Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/085 of high-built type, e.g. street light
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/18 annular; polygonal other than square or rectangular, e.g. for spotlights or for generating an axially symmetrical light beam
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0063 for extracting light out both the major surfaces of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0091 of the light source relative to the light guide G02B6/0021 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed including a light guide and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The light guide includes a rear portion including a first edge, a second edge, and a rear edge. The first edge meets the rear edge at a first obtuse angle, and the second edge meets the rear edge at a second obtuse angle. The plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the first edge, the second edge, and the rear edge, and it is arranged to produce an asymmetric light distribution pattern including a rear light emission and a forward light emission having a greater peak intensity than the rear light emission.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a light guide including a rear portion, the rear portion including a first edge, a second edge, and a rear edge, the first edge meeting the rear edge at a first obtuse angle, and the second edge meeting the rear edge at a second obtuse angle; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on the first edge, the second edge, and the rear edge, the plurality of LEDs being arranged to produce an asymmetric light distribution pattern including a rear light emission and a forward light emission, the forward light emission having a greater peak intensity than the rear light emission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide further includes a front portion, the front portion including a third edge, a fourth edge, and a front edge coupled to the third edge and the fourth edge, the third edge meeting the first edge at a third obtuse angle, and the fourth edge meeting the second edge at a fourth obtuse angle.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first obtuse angle equals the second obtuse angle and the third obtuse angle equals the fourth obtuse angle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light guide has a thickness of less than 1 cm.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first obtuse angle is different from the second obtuse angle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs is disposed in a different recess formed in any of the first edge, the second edge, and the rear edge.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEDs is arranged on an LED strip that is coupled to the rear portion of the light guide.

8. An apparatus comprising:

a support structure;

a housing coupled to the support structure;

a light guide arranged in the housing, the light guide including a front portion comprising a uniform width throughout the front portion and a rear portion comprising a tapered width, the front portion including a front edge facing away from the support structure, and the rear portion including a rear edge facing towards the support structure; and

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted around a perimeter of the rear portion of the light guide to produce an asymmetric light distribution having at least a front emission that is directed away from the support structure and a rear emission that is directed towards the support structure, the front emission having a greater peak intensity than the rear emission.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the rear portion further includes a first edge and a second edge, the first edge meeting the rear edge at a first obtuse angle, and the second edge meeting the rear edge at a second obtuse angle.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the front portion further includes a third edge and a fourth edge, the third edge meeting the first edge at a third obtuse angle, and the fourth edge meeting the second edge at a fourth obtuse angle.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein all LEDs in the apparatus are disposed on one or more of the first edge, the second edge, and the rear edge.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first obtuse angle equals the second obtuse angle and the third obtuse angle equals the fourth obtuse angle.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of LEDs is disposed in a different recess formed in the rear portion of the light guide.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plurality of LEDs is arranged on an LED strip that is coupled to the rear portion of the light guide.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the light guide has a thickness that is less than 1 cm.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a light guide including a light emitting surface having a front portion that is rectangular in shape and a rear portion that is trapezoidal in shape; and

a plurality of LEDs disposed on one or more edges of the light guide meeting the rear portion of the light emitting surface, the plurality of LEDs being arranged to produce a light distribution pattern including a rear light emission and a front light emission, the forward light emission having a greater peak intensity than the rear light emission.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the light guide further includes:

a rear edge, a first edge, and a second edge that meet with the rear portion of the light emitting surface, the first edge meeting the rear edge at a first obtuse angle, and the second edge meeting the rear edge at a second obtuse angle; and

a front edge, a third edge, and a fourth edge meeting the front portion of the light emitting surface, the third edge meeting with the first edge at a third obtuse angle and the fourth edge meeting with the second edge at a fourth obtuse angle.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first obtuse angle is greater than the third obtuse angle, and the second obtuse angle is greater than the fourth obtuse angle.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein all LEDs in the apparatus are disposed on one or more of the first edge, the second edge, and the rear edge.