TROFFER-STYLE LIGHT FIXTURE WITH CROSS-LIGHTING

• US 20110205738A1
• Filed: 02/25/2010
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Lunera Lighting, Incorporated
• Inventors: Peifer, Donald A., Sanjurjo, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,740,410 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

This is directed to a troffer-style light fixture using a LED light to cross-light internal surfaces of the troffer. In particular, this is directed to a troffer-style fixture having several receptacles for receiving LED modules. The modules can be inserted in the fixture such that some light emitted by the LED modules is directed towards an opposite surface of the fixture, causing light from opposite LED modules to mix as light is emitted from the fixture (e.g., cross lighting the fixture environment. The resulting light transmitted and reflected by the troffer can have softer qualities than direct light emitted by a LED module, and enhance the aesthetic appeal of light provided by the fixture. In some embodiments, one or more optical treatments can be applied to internal surfaces of the fixture to enhance the light output by the fixture.

Claims

1. A LED-based light fixture, comprising:

a troffer comprising;

a back plate;

side walls extending from a periphery of the back plate; and

at least two receptacles positioned apart from each other, the at least two receptacles coupled to at least one of the back plate and the side walls; and

at least two LED modules, wherein the LED modules are retained by the at least two receptacles such that light emitted by each of the at least two LED modules is substantially oriented toward another of the at least two LED modules.

2. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein:

the side walls comprise at least two side wall sections positioned on opposite ends of the troffer; and

the at least two receptacles are coupled

to each of the at least two side wall sections.

3. The LED-based light fixture of claim 2, wherein:

the light emitted by each of the at least two LED modules is substantially oriented out of the fixture towards a region that is substantially closer to the one of the at least two receptacles that does not retain the one of the at least two LED modules than to the one of the at least two receptacles that retains the one of the at least two LED modules.

4. The LED-based light fixture of claim 3, wherein:

the light emitted by the at least two

LED modules mixes as it propagates out of the fixture.

5. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein:

the light emitted by each of the at least two LED modules is substantially oriented in a direction that is in the range of 5 to 42 degrees from a plane perpendicular to a plane of the back plate.

6. The LED-based light fixture of claim 1, wherein:

the at least two receptacles comprise at least two slots extending through the troffer.

7. The LED-based light fixture of claim 5, wherein:

the at least two LED modules comprise a retention wall extending from a body of the LED modules; and

the retention wall is operative to be inserted in one of the at least two slots.

8. The LED-based light fixture of claim 7, wherein:

a portion of the retention wall is operative to extend out of a volume of the troffer defined by the back plate and side walls.

9. The LED-based light fixture of claim 7, wherein:

the body of the LED modules comprises at least one LED package, a circuit board, and a heat sink; and

the retention wall serves as a portion of the heat sink.

10. A method for constructing a LED-based light fixture, comprising:

defining a troffer comprising a back plate and side walls defining an internal volume; and

coupling at least two LED modules to the troffer, wherein the at least two LED modules direct light out of the internal volume such that at least a substantial portion of the light directed by each of the at least two LED modules intersects before reaching a distance of 6 vertical feet from the troffer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

defining at least two receptacles in the troffer for receiving the at least two LED modules.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

releasably securing the at least two LED modules in the at least two receptacles.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

defining further comprises defining the at least two receptacles in the side walls of the troffer.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

defining further comprises cutting at least two slots extending through the surface of the troffer.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

the at least two LED modules output different amounts of light but have the same size; and

the at least two slots have the same size.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

applying an optical treatment to an internal surface of the troffer reached by the light directed by each of the at least two LED modules.

17. A troffer-style light fixture, comprising:

a rectangular back plate

a side wall extending around a periphery of the back plate, the side wall comprising distinct segments extending from each side of the rectangular back plate; and

at least two slots extending through a surface of the side wall, wherein the at least two slots extend from segments of the side wall that are not adjacent, wherein;

the at least two slots are operative to each receive a retention wall of a LED module inserted in the slot such that light emitted by the LED module is substantially directed towards a region out of a volume enclosed by the light fixture, the region adjacent to the side wall segment opposite the side wall segment comprising the slot receiving the LED module.

18. The troffer-style light fixture of claim 17, further comprising:

an optical coating applied to at least one of the back plate and the side wall.

19. The troffer-style light fixture of claim 17, further comprising:

a power connector operative to provide power to each of the at least two LED modules when they are inserted in the at least two slots.

20. The troffer-style light fixture of claim 17, wherein:

each of the at least two slots is operative to receive and retain a LED module having a retention wall length of one of a plurality of available lengths.

21. The troffer-style light fixture of claim 17, further comprising:

at least one slot not used to retain a LED module when the light fixture is in use.