LED ASSEMBLY FOR A SIGNAGE ILLUMINATION

• US 20130010468A1
• Filed: 09/15/2012
• Published: 01/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zon Led LLC
• Original Assignee: Zon Led LLC
• Inventors: Stoll, Arnold, Von Zittwitz, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,610,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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

Abstract

An LED light source assembly for signage illumination includes one or more planar LED arrays located with respect to a light spreading system for uniformly distributing light onto a viewing surface. The light spreading system includes a plurality of reflectors in combination with a transverse deflector disposed directly above and in the light emanating path of a planar LED array. The transverse deflector is oriented angularly and projects at least a portion of light onto a lateral reflector of the light spreading system. In one embodiment, a heat dissipation fixture is supported external to a housing assembly for improved heat management. The LED arrays and the plurality of reflectors and transverse deflectors are affixed directly to the heat dissipation fixture.

Claims

1. A light emitting diode (LED) light source assembly for a sign in which a message thereon is made more apparent by illumination and wherein said assembly is external to the sign housing, said assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a base and a generally transparent cover,

at least one LED module operatively associated with said housing, said LED module including a planar LED array consolidated onto a single light emitting chip, said LED array configured to produce a light emission beam,

said LED module including a heat dissipating fixture,

said LED module including a light spreading system disposed between said base and said cover,

wherein the improvement comprises;

said light spreading system including a traverse deflector supported over said LED array and at least partially within said light emission beam thereof.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said transverse deflector is positioned relative to said LED array to deflect at least 50% of all light emanating in a normal direction from said LED array.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said light spreading system includes a low-angle lateral reflector, and said transverse deflector includes at least one reflective surface directing light from said light emission beam toward said low-angle lateral reflector.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said reflective surface of said transverse deflector is generally planar.

5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein said reflective surface of said transverse deflector is angularly supported relative to said base plate.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base comprises bottom and back panels, said back panel having a pass-through opening therein, said LED array disposed generally within said pass-through opening in said back panel so that said light emission beam emanates predominantly perpendicular to said back panel.

7. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said heat dissipating fixture attached to said back panel and substantially covering said pass-through opening therein.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein said heat dissipating fixture is attached directly to said LED array, said heat dissipating fixture made from a metallic material, said heat dissipating fixture including a plurality of cooling fins.

9. The assembly of claim 6 wherein said bottom and back panels each being generally planar bodies, said bottom and back panels intersecting one another along an intersection line, said bottom and back panels being angularly separated from one another by an oblique included angle greater than 90 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said light spreading system includes a top reflector and a bottom reflector and a low-angle lateral reflector.

11. The assembly of claim 10 further including an LED driver electrically coupled to said LED module for controlling said LED array, said LED driver disposed between said cover and said base.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said bottom reflector substantially shields said LED driver from said light emission beam.

13. The assembly of claim 12 wherein said LED driver is mounted directly to said bottom panel.

14. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said top reflector disposed adjacent said LED array, said top reflector extending generally parallel to said intersection line.

15. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said bottom reflector disposed on the opposite side of said LED array from said top reflector, said bottom reflector extending generally parallel to said intersection line.

16. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said lateral reflector disposed adjacent said LED array, said lateral reflector extending generally perpendicular to said intersection line.

17. The assembly of claim 1 further including a mounting bracket affixed to said housing.

18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said base is generally opaque.

19. A light emitting diode (LED) light source assembly for a sign in which a message thereon is made more apparent by illumination and wherein said assembly is external to the sign housing said assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a base and a separable cover, said cover being generally transparent,

at least one LED module operatively associated with said housing, said LED module including a planar LED array consolidated onto a single light emitting chip, said LED array configured to produce a light emission beam,

said LED module including a heat dissipating fixture, said heat dissipating fixture attached directly to said LED array,

said LED module including a light spreading system disposed between said base and said cover, said light spreading system including a bottom reflector and a low-angle lateral reflector,

an LED driver electrically coupled to said LED module for controlling said LED array, said LED driver disposed between said cover and said base, and

said light spreading system including a traverse deflector, said transverse deflector supported over said LED array and at least partially within said light emission beam thereof, said transverse deflector including at least one reflective surface directed toward said low-angle lateral reflector, said reflective surface of said transverse deflector being angularly supported relative to said base plate, said bottom reflector substantially shielding said LED driver from said light emission beam.

20. A light emitting diode (LED) light source assembly for a sign in which a message thereon is made more apparent by illumination and wherein said assembly is external to the sign housing said assembly comprising:

a housing, said housing comprising a base and a cover, said cover being generally transparent, said base comprising bottom and back panels, said bottom and back panels each being generally planar bodies, said bottom and back panels intersecting one another along an intersection line,

at least one LED module operatively associated with said housing, said LED module including a planar LED array consolidated onto a single light emitting chip, said LED array configured to produce a light emission beam, said light emission beam emanating predominantly perpendicular to said back panel,

said LED module including a heat dissipating fixture, said heat dissipating fixture attached directly to said LED array, said heat dissipating fixture made from a metallic material, said heat dissipating fixture including a plurality of cooling fins, said cooling fins being arranged parallel to one another and generally parallel to said intersection line, said heat dissipating fixture attached to said back panel and substantially covering said pass-through opening therein,

said LED module including a light spreading system disposed between said base and said cover, said light spreading system including a top reflector and a bottom reflector and a lateral reflector, said top reflector disposed adjacent said LED array, said top reflector extending generally parallel to said intersection line, said bottom reflector disposed on the opposite side of

said LED array from said top reflector, said bottom reflector extending generally parallel to said intersection line, said lateral reflector disposed adjacent said LED array, said lateral reflector extending generally perpendicular to said intersection line,

an LED driver electrically coupled to said LED module for controlling said LED array, said LED driver disposed between said cover and said base, said LED driver mounted to said bottom panel,

a mounting bracket affixed to said housing

wherein the improvement comprises;

said light spreading system including a traverse deflector, said transverse deflector disposed adjacent said LED array, said transverse deflector being supported over said LED array and at least partially within said light emission beam thereof, said transverse deflector deflecting, at least 50% of all light emanating in a normal direction from said LED array, said transverse deflector including at least one reflective surface directed toward said lateral reflector, said reflective surface of said transverse deflector being angularly supported relative to said base plate, said bottom reflector substantially shielding said LED driver from said light emission beam, said back panel having a pass-through opening therein, said LED array disposed generally within said pass-through opening in said back panel.