LED OPTICAL SYSTEM

• US 20110038151A1
• Filed: 08/05/2010
• Published: 02/17/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: U.S. Pole Company, Inc.
• Original Assignee: U.S. Pole Company, Inc.
• Inventors: Carraher, Timothy J., Peters, Lucas C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,662,704 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/242
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/08 with a standard F21S6/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An optical system for lighting fixtures uses light emitting diodes arranged in a 2-D array. In one embodiment, a lighting system comprises a framework carrying a plurality of diodes, where each diode has an associated optic that projects the light with a “high,” “medium” or “low” vertical throw, as provided by prismatic “teeth” that refract and reflect light rays in a predetermined manner so that the combined illumination patterns of each diode can blend to generally uniformly illuminate a target surface without dark spots or regions. Each optic has a common primary portion and a selected secondary portion whose tooth/teeth have a “swept” geometry for better angular (vertical and/or horizontal) control of light rays. Structural variations between different secondary portions reside in various factors, including plurality of teeth, length of the tooth along the longitudinal axis A, curvature(s) in the vertical and/or horizontal directions, and angularity or tightness of curvature of the swept geometry.

Claims

1. A lighting system, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

an optical member for each diode;

wherein each optical member comprises an optic selected from the optic group consisting of a high optic, a medium optic and a low optic.

2. A lighting system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first plate member on which the diodes are mounted; and

a second plate member on which the optical members are mounted.

3. A lighting system of claim 1, wherein the high optic has one prismatic portion.

4. A lighting system of claim 1, wherein the medium optic has two prismatic portions.

5. A lighting system of claim 1, wherein the low optic has at least three prismatic portions.

6. A lighting system of claim 1, wherein each optical member includes at least one alignment member adapted to align the member on the second plate member.

7. A lighting system, comprising:

a first support member and a second support member;

a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on the first support member; and

a plurality of optical members mounted on the second support member,

wherein the first and second supported members are arranged such that each diode is optically coupled to a respective optical member, and each optical member comprises an optic selected from the optic group consisting of a high optic, a medium optic and a low optic.

8. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the optic has at least one prismatic portion.

9. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the high optic has at least one prismatic portion.

10. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the medium optic has at least two prismatic portions.

11. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein low optic has at least three prismatic portions.

12. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the low optic has at least four prismatic portions.

13. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the low optic provides an iso-illuminance line having a generally salinon configuration.

14. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the medium optic provides an iso-illuminance line having a generally cardioid configuration.

15. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein the high optic provides an iso-illuminance line having an oval configuration.

16. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein each optical member has at least one alignment member adapted to indicate an alignment position on the second support member.

17. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein optical members of different optics have different plurality of alignment members.

18. A lighting system of claim 7, wherein optical members of different optics have different pattern of alignment members.

19. A lighting system for illuminating a target surface, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes and a plurality of optical members mounted on a structure, the structure defining a nadir relative to the target surface,

wherein each optical member is adapted to receive light rays of a respective diode, and each optical member comprises a primary optic to collimate the light rays and a secondary optic to redirect the light rays, the secondary optic being selected from the secondary optic group consisting of a high secondary optic, a medium secondary optic and a low secondary optic,

wherein the high secondary optic redirects the light rays to angles ranging between about 60 to 80 degrees from nadir, the medium secondary optic redirects the light rays to angles ranging between about 50 to 70 degrees from nadir, and the low secondary optic redirecting the light rays to angles ranging between about 0 to 50 degrees from nadir.

20. A lighting system of claim 19, wherein, the low secondary optic has more than two prismatic teeth.

21. A lighting system of claim 19, wherein the medium secondary optic has at least two prismatic teeth.

22. A lighting system of claim 19, wherein the high secondary optic has a single prismatic teeth.