LIGHTING SYSTEM HAVING A MULTI-LIGHT SOURCE COLLIMATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH

• US 20130077304A1
• Filed: 09/20/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Inventors: Gordin, Myron, Boxler, Lawrence H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,406 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/235
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/90 Methods of manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/105 of arenas or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/406 for theatres, stages or film studios
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/407 for indoor arenas
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

A lens is provided which is elongated along an axis so to accommodate a linear array of LEDs, the elongation of the lens resulting in a corresponding elongation of the beam output pattern; in practice, the axis of elongation may be oriented so to suit a target area or some portion thereof. A methodology is provided for use with said lens so to evaluate various factors such as droop, heat management, and light output for a given combination of light sources and luminaire design. Alternative designs of lens, as well as alternative optical devices, are also presented for use with said methodology.

Claims

1. A method of determining the efficacy of one or more light sources in a luminaire housing for a given set of operating conditions comprising:

a. characterizing the luminaire housing for effectiveness as a heat sink;

b. determining one or more light source output degradation factors for the one or more light sources at the given set of operating conditions based, at least in part, on the characterization of the luminaire housing; and

c. predicting actual light output and/or the efficacy of the one or more light sources based on the characterization of the luminaire housing and the one or more degradation factors.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of characterizing the luminaire housing comprises determining a housing temperature for the given set of operating conditions based on one or more of:

a. a physical dimension of at least a portion of the luminaire housing;

b. a property of one or more materials from which the luminaire housing is comprised;

c. the number of light sources in the luminaire housing;

d. a property of a light source in the luminaire housing; and

e. spacing between light sources in the luminaire housing.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of characterizing the luminaire housing is further based on number of and properties of light sources in the luminaire housing.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the given set of operating conditions comprises an assumed forward operating current for the light sources.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more degradation factors comprise one or more of:

a. lumen depreciation of the light sources relating to the given set of operating conditions;

b. lumen depreciation relating to other than the light sources.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the light sources are solid state light sources and the one or more degradation factors comprise one or more of:

a. a temperature factor related to junction temperature of the solid state light sources;

b. a droop factor related to droop of the solid state light sources.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the temperature factor comprises:

a. deriving a ratio between relative luminous flux and junction temperature of at least one of the said solid state light sources.

8. The method of claim 6 where the droop factor comprises:

a. deriving a ratio between rated and ideal relative luminous flux for one of said solid state light sources.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the rated luminous flux is derived from a light source manufacturer and the ideal luminous flux assumes no light loss.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of predicting actual light output and/or efficacy of said light sources comprises:

a. deriving a rated luminous efficacy for said light sources;

b. multiplying the rated luminous efficacy by the cumulative number and power of all said light sources in the luminaire housing; and

c. adjusting that product by;

i. a droop factor; and

ii. a temperature factor.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the predicted actual light output and/or efficacy is used to:

a. design a luminaire and its beam output pattern;

b. select a configuration of light source arrays related to number of light sources per area or space in the luminaire housing;

c. compare two luminaires of different light sources, luminaire housing, or assumed operating conditions;

d. alter the design of a luminaire;

e. operate a luminaire;

or

f. adjust operation of a luminaire.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the predicted actual light output and/or efficacy to achieve a target efficacy for a given luminaire housing.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising using the predicted actual light output and/or efficacy to select a configuration for at least some of the light sources.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the configuration comprises an optical component and at least some of said light sources in a linear array, with the array sharing the optical component.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the optical component comprises a lens, a reflector, and/or a visor.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the configuration comprises at least some of the light sources are in a non-linear array.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising a lens for use with the one or more light sources which share the lens, the lens comprising:

a. a lens body extending between;

i. a first surface which is formed to substantially encapsulate light-emitting portions of one or more light sources;

ii. a second surface from which light from the one or more light sources issues.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising a reflector for use with one or more light sources which share the reflector, the reflector comprising:

a. a reflector body having;

i. a proximal portion through which the light-emitting portion of the one or more light sources at least partially extends;

ii. a reflective surface which captures and redirects at least some of the light emitted from the light sources;

iii. a distal portion from which light emitted from the light sources and captured and redirected by the reflective surface issues.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or more light sources are placed in a linear array.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the second surface is one of:

a. flat;

b. curved;

c. dimpled;

d. prismatic;

e. ribbed;

f. having a design of microlens;

or

g. having a void.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the body has a generally parabolic profile.

22. A luminaire comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a lighting module mounted in the housing;

c. a plurality of LED light sources in the lighting module;

d. one optical component for the plurality of LED light sources in the lighting module.

23. The luminaire of claim 22 further comprising a plurality of said lighting modules in the housing, each lighting module being adjustable relative to the housing.

24. The luminaire of claim 22 wherein the optical component comprises a lens.

25. The luminaire of claim 22 wherein the optical component comprises a reflector.

26. The luminaire of claim 22 further comprising a power supply configured to adjust power to the LED light sources based on a thermal property of the LED light sources.

27. A luminaire comprising:

a. a housing;

b. a plurality of light source modules mounted in the housing;

c. each light source module comprising;

i. an array of single-chip LEDs;

ii. a single optical component for the array;

d. a power circuit connected to each light source.

28. The luminaire of claim 27 wherein the power circuit is configured to deliver power to the each light source based on a degradation factor.

29. The luminaire of claim 28 wherein the degradation factor is one or more of:

a. a temperature factor; and

b. a droop factor.

30. The luminaire of claim 27 wherein the array comprises four LEDs in a two-by-two configuration.