DOWNWARDLY DIRECTING SPATIAL LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20140268764A1
• Filed: 03/17/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Kenall Manufacturing Company (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Mui, Yanwai, Stolte, Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 10,030,852 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/086 with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/00 Globes; Bowls; Cover glasses with refracting properties F21V5/00; with reflecting properties F21V7/00; characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/506
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/08 producing an asymmetric light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• 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

A luminaire that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs), a light diffuser having a planar surface facing the LEDs, and a reflector that surrounds a cavity formed between the light diffuser and the LEDs. Also disclosed is a light distribution system having a first plurality of lenses configured to convert incident light into a light distribution pattern and a second plurality of lenses configured to convert incident light into a different light distribution pattern. Further disclosed is a method of distributing light that involves emitting light towards a light diffuser, scattering a first portion of the light with the light diffuser, reflecting a second portion of the light with the light diffuser, reflecting the second portion of the light with a first reflective surface back towards the light diffuser, and scattering the second portion of the light with the light diffuser.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) disposed on a mount surface and configured to emit light away from the mount surface;

a light diffuser spaced apart from the plurality of LEDs and including a planar surface facing the plurality of LEDs; and

a reflector surrounding a cavity formed between the light diffuser and the plurality of LEDs.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, comprising:

a first plurality of lenses disposed on the mount surface, each of the first plurality of lenses being configured convert light emitted from one of the plurality of LEDs into a first light distribution pattern; and

a second plurality of lenses disposed on the mount surface and arranged around a periphery of the first plurality of lenses, each of the second plurality of lenses being configured to convert light emitted from one of the plurality of LEDs into a second light distribution pattern, the second light distribution pattern being different from the first light distribution pattern.

3. The luminaire of claim 2, the first light distribution pattern having a peak of light intensity along a conical plane centered about a central axis of a respective one of the first plurality of lenses.

4. The luminaire of claim 3, the second light distribution pattern having:

(i) a first peak of light intensity along a first conical plane centered about a central axis of a respective one of the second plurality of lenses, and (ii) a second peak of light intensity along a second conical plane centered about the central axis of the respective one of the second plurality of lenses.

5. The luminaire of claim 4, the second light distribution pattern having a third peak of light intensity disposed radially between the first and second peaks of light intensity, the third peak of light intensity being less than the first peak of light intensity and less than the second peak of light intensity.

6. The luminaire of claim 5, wherein the central axis of the respective one of the first plurality of lenses and the central axis of the respective one of the second plurality of lenses are parallel to each other.

7. The luminaire of claim 1, the light diffuser being configured to reflect a portion of the light emitted from the plurality of LEDs towards the reflector.

8. The luminaire of claim 1, the reflector including:

(i) a circumferential reflecting surface, and (ii) a planar reflecting surface facing the planar surface of the light diffuser.

9. A light distribution system comprising:

a first plurality of lenses disposed on a mount surface, each of the first plurality of lenses being configured to convert incident light into a first light distribution pattern;

a second plurality of lenses disposed on the mount surface and arranged around a periphery of the first plurality of lenses, each of the second plurality of lenses being configured to convert incident light into a second light distribution pattern different from the first light distribution pattern;

a light diffuser spaced apart from the first plurality of lenses; and

a reflector surrounding a cavity formed between the light diffuser and the first plurality of lenses.

10. The light distribution system of claim 9, the first light distribution pattern having a peak of light intensity along a conical plane centered about a central axis of a respective one of the first plurality of lenses.

11. The light distribution system of claim 10, the second light distribution pattern having:

(i) a first peak of light intensity along a first conical plane centered about a central axis of a respective one of the second plurality of lenses; and

(ii) a second peak of light intensity along a second conical plane centered about the central axis of the respective one of the second plurality of lenses.

12. The light distribution system of claim 11, the second light distribution pattern having a third peak of light intensity disposed radially between the first and second peaks of light intensity, the third peak of light intensity being less than the first peak of light intensity and less than the second peak of light intensity.

13. The light distribution system of claim 12, the central axis of the respective one of the first plurality of lenses and the central axis of the respective one of the second plurality of lenses being parallel to each other.

14. The light distribution system of claim 11, comprising a plurality of light sources mounted on the base, each of the plurality of light sources being configured to emit light through a respective one of the first plurality of lenses or the second plurality of lenses.

15. The light distribution system of claim 14, each of the plurality of light sources including a light emitting diode (LED).

16. A method of distributing light, the method comprising:

emitting light from a light source towards a light diffuser;

scattering a first portion of the light with the light diffuser, and reflecting a second portion of the light with the light diffuser;

reflecting the second portion of the light with a first reflective surface back towards the light diffuser; and

scattering the second portion of the light with the light diffuser.

17. The method of claim 16, the light diffuser including a planar surface that faces the light source.

18. The method of claim 17, the planar surface being coated with a reflective material.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising reflecting the second portion of the light with a second reflective surface prior to reflecting the second portion of the light with the first reflective surface.

20. The method of claim 19, the light source including a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs).