LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT PROFILE

• US 20140056028A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FLEx Lighting II, LLC
• Original Assignee: FLEx Lighting II, LLC
• Inventors: Nichol, Anthony J., Coleman, Zane A., Pucylowski, Shawn
• Granted Patent: US 9,645,304 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/611
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0015 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0043 provided on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0075 Arrangements of multiple light guides G02B6/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0088 of the light guide or other optical sheets in the package
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like

Abstract

A device includes a film-based lightguide and a film adjustment mechanism configurable to adjust an orientation of a region of the film-based lightguide such that an angular light output profile from the device changes when a light source emits light that travels in a waveguide condition through the film-based lightguide.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a film-based lightguide; and

a film adjustment mechanism configurable to adjust an orientation of a region of the film-based lightguide such that an angular light output profile from the device changes when a light source emits light that travels in a waveguide condition through the film-based lightguide.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the film adjustment mechanism is configurable to adjust a radius of curvature of the region of the film-based lightguide.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the film adjustment mechanism is electronically adjustable.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the film adjustment mechanism comprises at least one drawstring configurable to change the angular light output profile.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the film adjustment mechanism comprises a plastically deformable element deformable to adjust the orientation of the region of the film-based lightguide.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the film adjustment mechanism is configurable to adjust the position of the region of the film-based lightguide.

7. The device of claim 1 further comprising a light source configured to emit light that enters the film-based lightguide.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the film adjustment mechanism is configurable to adjust the orientation of the region of the film-based lightguide relative to the light source.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the device is a light fixture.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the orientation of the region of the film-based lightguide is adjustable to change an angle of a peak luminous intensity of the angular light output profile.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the orientation of the region of the film-based lightguide in a light output plane is adjustable to change an angular full-width at half maximum luminous intensity of the angular light output profile in the light output plane.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the light angular light output profile has an angular full-width at half maximum luminous intensity in a light output plane less than 120 degrees.

13. The device of claim 7 further comprising an array of coupling lightguides extending from the film-based lightguide, the array of coupling lightguides are folded and positioned to receive light emitted from the light source.

14. A light emitting device with an adjustable angular light output profile, the light emitting device comprising:

a light source; and

a film-based lightguide configured to receive light emitted from the light source, the film-based lightguide comprising a light emitting region at least partially defined by a group of light extraction features, the light emitting region having a first radius of curvature, wherein the first radius of curvature of the light emitting region is adjustable to a second radius of curvature to change the angular light output profile of the light emitted from the light emitting device.

15. The light emitting device of claim 14 further comprising a film adjustment mechanism configurable to adjust the first radius of curvature of the light emitting region.

16. The light emitting device of claim 14 wherein the film-based lightguide comprises a substantially non-light emitting region defined in an optical path of light from the light source between the light source and the light emitting region.

17. The light emitting device of claim 16 wherein a curvature of the film-based lightguide in the light emitting region is different from a curvature of the film-based lightguide in the substantially non-light emitting region.

18. The light emitting device of claim 16 wherein the light emitting device is a point of purchase display comprising a base and the light source is positioned proximate a ceiling.

19. The light emitting device of claim 14 wherein the film-based lightguide comprises a curved surface in a light output plane and the light emitting region comprises an inflection point of the curved surface.

20. The light emitting device of claim 14 wherein the first radius of curvature of the light emitting region is adjustable to change an angle of a peak luminous intensity of the angular light output profile.

21. The light emitting device of claim 14 wherein the first radius of curvature of the light emitting region in a light output plane is adjustable to change an angular full-width at half maximum luminous intensity of the angular light output profile in a light output plane.

22. The light emitting device of claim 14 wherein the light emitting device further comprises a low contact area cover comprising surface relief features.

23. A method of changing an angular light output profile of a light emitting device, said method comprising changing an orientation of a light emitting region of a film-based lightguide configured to receive light emitted from a light source through an array of coupling lightguides to change the angular light output profile of the light emitting device.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein changing an orientation of the light emitting region comprises changing a radius of curvature of the light emitting region.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein changing an orientation of the light emitting region comprises adjusting a film adjustment mechanism physically coupled to the film-based lightguide.