Method and apparatus for the efficient collection and distribution of light for illumination
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a source of light emitting light rays with a defined forward direction which is substantially the direction of the center of all rays emanating from the source; and
a light reflector with a defined optical axis and a defined forward direction;
wherein the source of light is oriented toward the reflector so that the light reflected by the reflector is propagated substantially opposite the forward direction of the source and along the forward direction of the reflector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The emitter within LED lamp(s) radiates light over of solid angle of approximately 2π steradians or an approximate hemisphere. Conventionally, some of the light emitted is directly transmitted to the object to be illuminated and another portion is indirectly transmitted by means of a reflector, refractive optic or both. The disclosed method increases the collection efficiency of the radiated energy from LED lamp(s) by turning the LED or other light source so that all of its transmitted light is directed away from the object of the apparatus and directed into a reflector. The reflector then reflects the light toward the object. This singular handling of all the energy from the emitter results in more precise control of the radiated energy of the source. Optional subsequent controlling elements may be utilized efficiently due to the fact that the rays they will affect are of a single class of rays.
78 Citations
45 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a source of light emitting light rays with a defined forward direction which is substantially the direction of the center of all rays emanating from the source; and
a light reflector with a defined optical axis and a defined forward direction;
wherein the source of light is oriented toward the reflector so that the light reflected by the reflector is propagated substantially opposite the forward direction of the source and along the forward direction of the reflector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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providing light from a source in at least one direction of preferred light propagation defined as a solid light angle while not providing any substantial amount of light in at least one other direction defined as a solid shadow angle;
directing light in the solid light angle to a reflector to be entirely collected;
redirecting substantially all of the collected light from the reflector into at least one predetermined direction; and
directing the solid shadow angle in a direction other than to the reflector so that the reflector collects substantially all of the light emitted by the source. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for illuminating an object in combination with a light collecting reflector comprising:
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providing a light source; and
orienting and positioning the light source relative to the reflector to direct to the light toward the collecting reflector which reflects substantially all of the light toward the object. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An apparatus comprising:
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an LED emitter with emitted ray pattern substantially directed into a hemispherical angle space, the pattern having a defined forward direction; and
a reflective surface facing the forward direction of the LED emitter, which reflective surface reflects the energy from the emitter back in an approximately opposite direction to the LED emitter'"'"'s forward direction. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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Specification