Lighting system cover including AR-coated textured glass, and method of making the same

• US 20100067223A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Guardian Glass LLC (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Guardian Industries Corporation (KOCH Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: St. Jean, Jim, Lu, Yiwei, Mellott, Nathan P., Wang, Zhongming
• Granted Patent: US 8,317,360 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 17/00 Surface treatment of glass, not in the form of fibres or filaments, by coating optical coatings of optical elements G02B1/10
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2204/08 Glass having a rough surface
• CPC Class Codes: C03C 2217/73 Anti-reflective coatings with specific characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/105 of arenas or the like

Abstract

Certain example embodiments relate to lighting system covers that include AR-coated textured glass, and/or methods of making the same. In certain example embodiments, at least one light source is provided proximate to a cover comprising a glass substrate. The glass substrate includes an anti-reflective (AR) coating on the surface that is closer to the at least one light source, and the glass substrate is textured (e.g., such that it is substantially prismatic in texture) on the surface opposite the AR-coated surface. The surface of the glass substrate on which the AR coating is formed may be a flat, irregular, or textured matte. An optional AR coating also may be formed on the textured surface of the glass substrate.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a glass cover, the glass cover comprising a first anti-reflective (AR) coating provided directly or indirectly on a first major surface of the glass cover,

wherein a second major surface of the glass cover is textured, the second major surface being opposite the first major surface,

wherein the glass cover is arranged such that the first major surface thereof would be closer than the second major surface to any light source(s) used in connection with the lighting system.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the second major surface of the glass cover is textured so as to be substantially prismatic when viewed in cross-section.

3. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the glass cover is substantially flat.

4. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first major surface of the cover glass is an irregular matte.

5. The lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a second AR coating directly or indirectly applied to the second major surface.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the first and second AR coatings are the same.

7. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first AR coating has a refractive index of about 1.30-1.35 at 550 nm.

8. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the first AR coating has a physical thickness of about 100-200 nm.

9. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the lighting system increases radiation transmitted from light source(s) used in connection with the lighting system by at least about 2.5%.

10. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the lighting system increases radiation transmitted from light source(s) used in connection with the lighting system by at least about 4.5%.

11. A lighting system, comprising:

at least one light source;

a glass cover, the glass cover comprising a first anti-reflective (AR) coating provided directly or indirectly on a first major surface of the glass cover, the first major surface being either a substantially flat matte or an irregular matte,

wherein a second major surface of the glass cover is textured so that the second major surface is substantially prismatic when viewed in cross-section, the second major surface being opposite the first major surface,

wherein the glass cover is arranged such that the first major surface thereof is closer to the at least one light source than the second major surface, and

wherein the first AR coating provided on the first major surface of the glass cover and the textured second surface of the cover glass cooperate to increase radiation transmitted from the at least one light source by at least about 2.5%.

12. The lighting system of claim 11, further comprising a second AR coating directly or indirectly applied to the second major surface.

13. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the first and second AR coatings are the same.

14. The lighting system of claim 12, wherein the first AR coating provided on the first major surface of the glass cover, the second AR coating provided on the second major surface of the glass cover, and the textured second surface of the cover glass cooperate to increase radiation transmitted from the at least one light source by at least about 4.5%.

15. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the first AR coating has a refractive index of about 1.30-1.35 at 550 nm.

16. The lighting system of claim 11, wherein the first AR coating has a physical thickness of about 100-200 nm.

17. A method of making a lighting system, comprising:

providing a glass cover;

forming a first anti-reflective (AR) coating directly or indirectly on a first major surface of the glass cover, the first major surface being either a substantially flat matte or an irregular matte;

texturing a second major surface of the glass cover so that the second major surface is substantially prismatic when viewed in cross-section, the second major surface being opposite the first major surface; and

arranging the glass cover such that the first major surface thereof would be closer than the second major surface to any light source(s) used in connection with the lighting system,

wherein the first AR coating provided on the first major surface of the glass cover and the textured second surface of the cover glass cooperate to increase radiation transmitted from the at least one light source by at least about 2.5%.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a second AR coating directly or indirectly on the second major surface.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first AR coating provided on the first major surface of the glass cover, the second AR coating provided on the second major surface of the glass cover, and the textured second surface of the cover glass cooperate to increase radiation transmitted from the at least one light source by at least about 4.5%.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the first AR coating has a refractive index of about 1.30-1.35 at 550 nm has a physical thickness of about 100-200 nm.