FRONTAL ILLUMINATION OF A SURFACE USING LED LIGHTING

• US 20090290338A1
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Formetco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Formetco, Inc.
• Inventors: Pitts, Dewey T., Heller, Todd R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,896,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/812 Signs

Abstract

A plurality of lamp arrays (30A-30N) provide uniform lighting across the copy area of a billboard sign. The arrays (30) are arranged end-to-end horizontally along the length of the copy area. Each array (30) comprises a plurality of LEDs (34A-34N) and a plurality of lenses (36A-36M). The various lenses (36) direct and focus the light from the LEDs (34) at the various parts of the copy area so as to minimize dark and light spots. A “TOP” set of LEDs preferably illuminates the top part of the copy area, a “MIDDLE” set of LEDs preferably illuminates the middle of the copy area, and “FILLER” LEDs preferably serve to illuminate the bottom of the copy area. The lamp arrays are preferably mounted to a catwalk (14) at the bottom of the billboard.

Claims

1. An apparatus for illuminating a surface, comprising:

a plurality of light arrays, the light arrays being arranged end-to-end and generally parallel to the surface, each light array comprising;

a housing;

a plurality of light sources contained within the housing and being generally evenly distributed within the housing along a line generally parallel to the surface, each light source of the plurality of light sources being oriented generally toward the surface; and

a plurality of lenses contained within the housing, the plurality of lenses covering at least a majority of the light sources, each lens of the plurality of lenses being associated with a light source of the plurality of light sources and focusing the light from the associated light source toward a predetermined portion of the surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, and the billboard has a catwalk extending from the front thereof, and wherein the light arrays are mounted to the catwalk.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of additional light sources, a light source from the plurality of light sources being placed in close proximity with at least one light source from the plurality of additional light sources to form a group of light sources.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of additional light sources, at least one light source from the plurality of light sources being placed in close proximity with at least one light source from the plurality of additional light sources to form a group of light sources, and wherein the light sources in the group provide at least two different colors of light.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a power supply contained within the housing of at least one light array to provide operating power to at least some of the light sources.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes (LEDs).

7. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of additional light sources, at least one light source from the plurality of light sources being placed in close proximity with at least one light source from the plurality of additional light sources to form a group of light sources, and wherein the group has at least three light sources.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a plurality of additional light sources, at least one light source from the plurality of light sources being placed in close proximity with at least one light source from the plurality of additional light sources to form a group of light sources, and wherein the light sources in the group provide at least three different colors of light.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, and the billboard has a catwalk extending from the front thereof, and further comprising at least one mounting bracket for securing a lighting array to the catwalk.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, at least one light source illuminates at least a higher part of the surface, at least one light source illuminates at least a central part of the surface, and at least one light source illuminates at least a lower part of the surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, and wherein at least one light array is mounted above the copy area.

12. A method for illuminating a surface, comprising:

generating light by providing operating power to a plurality of light arrays, the light arrays being arranged in end-to-end and generally parallel to the surface, each light array comprising a plurality of light sources which are generally evenly distributed within the light array along a line generally parallel to the surface, the light from each light source being oriented generally toward the surface; and

independently focusing the light from each of the light sources onto the surface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, and wherein the light from at least one light source illuminates at least a higher part of the surface, wherein the light from at least one light source illuminates at least a central part of the surface, and wherein the light from at least one light source illuminates at least a lower part of the surface.

14. The method of claim 12 and further comprising arranging the light sources into groups to form a plurality of groups of light sources.

15. The method of claim 12 and further comprising arranging light sources of a first color with light sources of a second color to form a plurality of groups, each group providing at least two different colors of light.

16. The method of claim 12 and further comprising arranging the light sources as a plurality of groups of light sources, each group having at least three light sources.

17. A light array for illuminating at least a part of a surface, comprising:

a housing;

a plurality of light sources contained within the housing and being generally evenly distributed within the housing along a line generally parallel to the surface, each light source of the plurality of light sources being oriented generally toward the surface; and

a plurality of lenses contained with the housing, the plurality of lenses covering at least a majority of the light sources, each lens of the plurality of lenses being associated with a light source of the plurality of light sources and focusing the light from the associated light source toward a predetermined portion of the surface.

18. The light array of claim 17 wherein a first light source illuminates at least a first part of the surface, a second light source illuminates at least a second part of the surface, and a third light source illuminates at least a third part of the surface.

19. The light array of claim 17 wherein the surface is the copy area on a billboard, a first light source illuminates at least a higher part of the surface, a second light source illuminates at least a central part of the surface, and a third light source illuminates at least a lower part of the surface.

20. The light array of claim 19 wherein the light sources are spaced four inches apart.

21. The light array of claim 17 wherein the light sources are spaced four inches apart.