Collimating and Controlling Light Produced by Light Emitting Diodes

• US 20080174997A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Zampini, Thomas L. Zampini
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Zampini, Thomas L. Zampini
• Inventors: Zampini, Thomas L., Zampini, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 11/00663 Production of light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction

Abstract

A light source channel is described. The light source channel includes an extrusion forming a channel having an open length and a light source positioned within the channel. A light transfer medium is positioned above the light source and covers the open length of the channel. The light transfer medium has a cross section. A method embodiment according to the present invention produces a light source channel by installing a light engine within a channel of an extrusion and covering the channel length with a light transfer medium above the light engine. The light transfer medium has a cross-section.

Claims

1. A system for collimating light emitted from a plurality of light sources traversing a light transfer medium and averaging color temperatures of portions of the light emitted from the plurality of light sources, the system comprising:

an extrusion forming a channel having an open length;

a plurality of light sources positioned within the channel, wherein a first light source of the plurality of light sources emits a first light having a first color temperature different from a second color temperature of a second light emitted by a second light source of the plurality of light sources;

a light transfer medium positioned a height above the plurality of light sources and covering at least a part of the open length of the extrusion, the light transfer medium having a bottom side and a rounded top side having a diameter;

wherein the diameter of the rounded top side establishes an emitting angle of the first light and the second light traversing the light transfer medium; and

wherein the light transfer medium based on the diameter of the rounded top side and the height collimates the first light and the second light within the emitting angle and averages the first color temperature of a first portion of the first light with the second color temperature of a second portion of the second light.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the channel further comprises a plurality of sides wherein at least one of the plurality of sides comprises a first reflective surface and wherein the first portion of the first light and the second portion of the second light reflect off the first reflective surface toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising a second reflective surface and wherein the first portion of the first light reflects of the first reflective surface toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium and the second portion of the second light reflects off the second reflective surface toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the height of the light transfer medium determines a range of diffusion of the first light and the second light emanating through the light transfer medium

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the extrusion provides a heat sink for the plurality of light sources positioned within the channel.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the extrusion provides an intermediary heat sink for an external heat sink.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the channel further comprises a plurality of sides wherein at least one of the plurality of sides comprises one of a groove or a fin.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the channel further comprises one of a printed circuit board for controlling one or more of the plurality light sources or a plurality of printed circuit boards for controlling the plurality of light sources.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the channel further comprises a drive system mounted inside the channel to eliminate one of wiring or an external driver for the printed circuit board.

10. The system of claim 1 further wherein the extrusion and the light transfer medium are potted with one of an epoxy or a sealant to provide waterproofing.

11. A method of collimating light emitted from a plurality of light sources traversing a light transfer medium and averaging color temperatures of portions of the light emitted from the plurality of light, the method comprising steps of:

providing, by a lighting system, an extrusion forming a channel having an open length and housing a plurality of light sources, the lighting system comprising a light transfer medium having a bottom side and a rounded top side with a diameter and the light transfer medium positioned a height above the plurality of light sources housed by the extrusion;

emitting, by a first light source of a plurality of light sources, a first light having a first color temperature different from a second color temperature of a second light emitted by a second light source of the plurality of light sources;

collimating, by the light transfer medium based on the diameter and the height, the first light and the second light traversing the light transfer medium within an emitting angle established by the diameter; and

averaging, by the light transfer medium based on the diameter and the height, the first color temperature of a first portion of the first light with the second color temperature of a second portion of the second light.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising reflecting, by a first reflective surface of a side of a plurality of sides comprised by the channel, the first portion of the first light emitted from the first light source and the second portion of the second light emitted from the second light source toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a second reflective surface of a plurality of sides comprised by the channel reflects the second portion of the second light from the second light source toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising diffusing, by the light transfer medium based on the height, portions of the first light and the second light emanating through the light transfer medium

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the extrusion provides a heat sink for the plurality of light sources positioned within the channel.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the extrusion provides an intermediary heat sink for an external heat sink.

17. The method of claim 11 further wherein a side of a plurality of sides formed by the channel comprises one of a groove or a fin.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein the lighting system comprises a printed circuit board inside the channel to control one of or more of the plurality of light sources.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein the lighting system comprises a drive system mounted inside of the channel to provide one of a driver or a connection for the printed circuit board.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein the extrusion and the light transfer medium are potted with one of an epoxy or a sealant to provide waterproofing.

21. A lighting unit housing a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and having a light transfer medium controlling collimation of light emitted from LEDs and averaging color temperatures of light emitted from the LEDs, the lighting unit comprising:

an extrusion forming a channel having an open length, the extrusion housing a plurality of LEDs and a printed circuit board controlling one or more of the LEDs;

a first LED of the plurality of LEDs emitting a first light having a first color temperature different from a second color temperature of a second light emitted by a second LED of the plurality of LEDs;

a light transfer medium positioned a height above the plurality of LEDs and covering at least a part of the open length of the extrusion, the light transfer medium having a bottom side and a rounded top side having a diameter;

the diameter establishing an emitting angle of the first light and the second light traversing the light transfer medium; and

the light transfer medium based on the diameter and the height collimating the first light and the second light within the emitting angle and averaging the first color temperature of a first portion of the first light with the second color temperature of a second portion of the second light.

22. The lighting unit of claim 21 wherein the channel further comprises a plurality of sides wherein at least one of the plurality of sides comprises a first reflective surface and wherein the first portion of the first light and the second portion of the second light reflect off the first reflective surface toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium.

23. The lighting unit of claim 22 further comprising a second reflective surface wherein the second portion of the second light reflects of the second reflective surface toward the bottom side of the light transfer medium.