Optical Waveguide Bodies and Luminaires Utilizing Same

• US 20140347885A1
• Filed: 05/30/2014
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilcox, Kurt S., Durkee, John W., Lay, James Michael, Heeter, Shawn, Medendorp, Nicholas W. Jr., McBryde, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,366,799 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/612
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/061 with a non-rigid pendant, i.e. a cable, wire or chain
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0048 with stepwise taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays

Abstract

According to one aspect, a luminaire comprises a waveguide body including a central section and first and second separate side sections extending away from the central section along first and second opposed directions, respectively. The central section includes a coupling portion and the waveguide body has a length and includes a plurality of light extraction features that extract light out of the side sections. At least one LED is disposed adjacent the coupling portion and is operated by a power circuit to produce light that is directed into the waveguide body by the coupling portion. At least one structural member extends along the length of the waveguide body for supporting the waveguide body and encloses at least one of the power circuit and the at least one LED.

Claims

1. A luminaire, comprising:

a waveguide body including a central section and first and second separate side sections extending away from the central section along first and second opposed directions, respectively, wherein the central section includes a coupling portion and wherein the waveguide body has a length and includes a plurality of light extraction features that extract light out of the side sections;

at least one LED disposed adjacent the coupling portion and operated by a power circuit to produce light that is directed into the waveguide body by the coupling portion; and

at least one structural member extending along the length of the waveguide body for supporting the waveguide body and enclosing at least one of the power circuit and the at least one LED.

2. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminaire includes a plurality of LED elements disposed in the coupling portion.

3. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the at least one structural member is disposed on one side of the waveguide body.

4. The luminaire of claim 3, wherein a further structural member is disposed on another side of the waveguide body opposite the one side.

5. The luminaire of claim 4, wherein the structural members are secured to one another.

6. The luminaire of claim 5, wherein the at least one LED is carried by a circuit board disposed in the another structural member.

7. The luminaire of claim 1, further including a control circuit at least a portion of which is disposed in the at least one structural member, wherein the control circuit includes at least one of a network component, an RF component, a control component, and a sensor.

8. The luminaire of claim 7, further including first and second end caps disposed at first and second ends of the coupling portion to enclose at least a portion of at least one of the power circuit, control circuit, and the at least one LED.

9. The luminaire of claim 7, wherein the at least one structural member encloses the power circuit, control circuit, and the at least one LED and the waveguide body extends from the at least one structural member and emits light away from the at least one structural member.

10. The luminaire of claim 8, wherein the at least one structural member includes first and second structural members disposed on opposing sides of the waveguide body.

11. The luminaire of claim 10, wherein at least one of the power circuit, the control circuit, and the at least one LED is disposed in at least one of the first and second structural members.

12. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the at least one structural member has a linear extent and the side sections of the waveguide body extend transverse to the linear extent at a non-zero angle with respect to one another.

13. A luminaire, comprising:

a plurality of luminaire sections secured to one another in an end to end relationship wherein each luminaire section includes an optical waveguide body that exhibits a total internal reflectance characteristic, at least one LED adapted to develop light transmitted through the waveguide body, at least one structural member supporting the waveguide body, at least one junction member carried at an end of the luminaire section, and an electrical connector that delivers electrical power to luminaire sections;

wherein junction members of adjacent luminaire sections are in contact with one another; and

at least one clamping member secured to junction members of adjacent luminaire sections for joining the adjacent luminaire sections together.

14. The luminaire of claim 13, wherein each junction member includes a compression surface and a pair of recesses each defined by an angled surface and wherein the at least one clamping member includes four projections each having an angled surface and the projections are disposed in the recesses of the junction members such that the angled surfaces of the projections engage the angled surfaces defining the recesses.

15. The luminaire of claim 14, wherein at least one of the angled surfaces of the projections and at least one of the angled surfaces defining the recesses are inclined relative to a center line of the clamping member.

16. The luminaire of claim 15, further including a fastener engaged with the clamping member for moving the clamping member to cause the projections to move into the recesses and place the clamping member in tension and the compression surfaces in compression.

17. The luminaire of claim 14, wherein each of the angled surfaces of the projections and each of the angled surfaces defining the recesses is inclined relative to a center line of the clamping member.

18. The luminaire of claim 17, wherein an angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces of the projections is between about 29 degrees and about 31 degrees relative to a center line of the clamping member.

19. The luminaire of claim 17, wherein an angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces defining the recesses is between about 34 degrees and about 36 degrees relative to a center line of the clamping member.

20. The luminaire of claim 13, wherein each luminaire section includes a male junction member at one end of the luminaire section and a female junction member at another end of the luminaire section.

21. The luminaire of claim 20, wherein the luminaire includes two end sections and further including an end cover disposed on a junction member of one of the end sections and an input power cover disposed on a junction member of another of the end sections.

22. The luminaire of claim 13, wherein each luminaire section includes a first structural member disposed on one side of the waveguide body and a second structural member disposed on another side of the waveguide body opposite the one side.

23. The luminaire of claim 22, wherein the first structural member includes a pair of opposed slots on opposite sides thereof and wherein the slots are adapted to receive mounting members.

24. The luminaire of claim 23, wherein a power circuit coupled to the at least one LED is disposed in the first structural member.

25. The luminaire of claim 22, wherein the first and second structural members are secured to one another.

26. The luminaire of claim 22, wherein a plurality of LEDs is carried by a circuit board.

27. The luminaire of claim 26, wherein the circuit board is disposed in the second structural member.

28. The luminaire of claim 22, wherein electrical conductors that supply power to the at least one LED are disposed in at least the first structural member.

29. The luminaire of claim 13, wherein each luminaire section includes a plurality of LED elements adjacent the waveguide body.

30. A luminaire, comprising:

a plurality of luminaire sections secured to one another in an end to end relationship wherein each luminaire section includes an optical waveguide body that exhibits a total internal reflectance characteristic and having a coupling portion and first and second side sections extending away from the coupling portion, a plurality of LEDs adapted to develop light transmitted through the waveguide body and disposed on a circuit board disposed adjacent the coupling portion, a first structural member disposed on one side of the waveguide body, a second structural member disposed on a second side of the waveguide body opposite the first side and secured to the first structural member, a male junction member carried at a first end of the luminaire section, a female junction member carried at a second end of the luminaire section, at least one electrical connector disposed in at least one of the male and female junction members and that delivers electrical power to the luminaire section;

wherein junction members of adjacent luminaire sections are in contact with one another at least at compression surfaces of the junction members; and

at least one clamping member secured to junction members of adjacent luminaire sections for joining the adjacent luminaire sections together wherein the at least one clamping member includes a plurality of projections each having an angled surface that contact angled surfaces defining recesses in the junction members; and

a plurality of fasteners that engage the clamping member and cause the angled surfaces of the projections to move along the angled surfaces defining the recesses and thereby cause the at least one clamping member to be placed in tension and clamp the junction members together such that the compression surfaces are placed in compression.

31. The luminaire of claim 30, wherein at least one of the angled surfaces of the projections and the angled surfaces defining the recesses is inclined relative to a center line of the clamping member.

32. The luminaire of claim 31, wherein each of the angled surfaces of the projections and each of the angled surfaces defining the recess is inclined relative to a center line of the clamping member.

33. The luminaire of claim 32, wherein an angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces of the projections is between about 29 degrees and about 31 degrees and an angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces defining the recesses is between about 34 degrees and about 36 degrees.

34. The luminaire of claim 32, wherein an angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces of the projections is between about 29.5 degrees and about 30.5 degrees.

35. The luminaire of claim 33, wherein each angle of inclination of each of the angled surfaces defining the recesses is between about 34.5 degrees and about 35.5 degrees.

36. The luminaire of claim 33, wherein each of the angled surfaces of the projections is between about 4.82 mm and about 4.98 mm in length and each of the angled surfaces defining the recess is between about 2.12 mm and about 2.28 mm in length.

37. The luminaire of claim 30, wherein the luminaire includes two end sections and further including an end cover disposed on a junction member of one of the end sections and an input power cover disposed on a junction member of another of the end sections.

38. The luminaire of claim 30, wherein the first structural member includes a pair of opposed slots on opposite sides thereof and wherein the slots are adapted to receive mounting members.

39. The luminaire of claim 30, wherein a driver circuit coupled to the LEDs is disposed in the first structural member.

40. The luminaire of claim 30, wherein the circuit board is disposed in the second structural member.

41. The luminaire of claim 40, wherein electrical conductors that supply power to the LEDs are disposed in at least the first structural member.

42. A luminaire, comprising:

an optical waveguide body having first and second opposed light emitting sections and a coupling section therebetween;

a first structural member disposed on a first side of the waveguide body;

a second structural member disposed on a second side of the waveguide body opposite the first side;

at least one LED disposed in the coupling section and further disposed in the second structural member; and

a control circuit that operates the at least one LED and disposed in the first structural member.

43. The luminaire of claim 42, wherein the first structural member includes a pair of opposed slots on opposite sides thereof and wherein the slots are adapted to receive mounting members.

44. The luminaire of claim 42, wherein a plurality of LEDs is disposed on a circuit board located in the second structural member.

45. The luminaire of claim 42, wherein electrical conductors that supply power to the LEDs are disposed in at least the first structural member.