NEON-TUBE SUBSTITUTE USING LIGHT-EMITTING DIODES
First Claim
1. A tubular luminaire comprising:
- a line of discrete light sources; and
a cylindrical transparent annular waveguide;
said waveguide comprising a receiving zone, said zone receiving the light of said sources so as to admit said light within said transparent material of said annular waveguide;
said waveguide comprising an ejector to promote the homogeneous escape of said light from said waveguide.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tubular luminaire efficiently utilizes the light of a line of high-brightness unlensed LEDs to reproduce the homogeneous appearance of a neon tube. The transparent tube has an annular cross-section suitable for cost-effective manufacturing by extrusion. The LEDs are mounted in a line on a circuit board that can be positioned either inside or outside the tube. Their light shines into a cylindrical groove, thereby entering within the material of the tube. Above the groove, the wall of the tube has a spiral shape that reflects the light laterally so that it stays within the annular tube for a considerable path length. Volume scattering by a low density of scattering inclusions causes the light to escape as a homogenous glow. Alternatively, mild surface scattering from the inside surface can be used.
43 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A tubular luminaire comprising:
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a line of discrete light sources; and a cylindrical transparent annular waveguide; said waveguide comprising a receiving zone, said zone receiving the light of said sources so as to admit said light within said transparent material of said annular waveguide; said waveguide comprising an ejector to promote the homogeneous escape of said light from said waveguide. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification