LED Illumination Module With Fixed Optic and Variable Emission Pattern

• US 20180172242A1
• Filed: 12/19/2016
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Stopa, James L., Smith, Todd J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,400,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/003 Searchlights, i.e. outdoor lighting device producing powerful beam of parallel rays, e.g. for military or attraction purposes searchlights mounted on a vehicle B60Q1/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/16 square or rectangular, e.g. for light panels
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An LED illumination module including an LED lamp with a plurality of light emitting dies on a substrate in combination with an optic having a single focus. The light emitting dies include a single center light emitting die centered on an optical axis and peripheral dies arranged around the center die. The illumination module includes a beam forming optic having a single focus arranged over the LED lamp with the focus on the optical axis of the center die. Light emitted from the center die is substantially collimated by the optic in a focused “spot” emission pattern. Light emitted from the peripheral dies results in a more dispersed or divergent “flood” emission pattern. The center die and peripheral dies are independently controlled and the power delivered to the dies can be varied independently to generate different light emission patterns using the same optic.

Claims

1. An LED light assembly comprising:

a plurality of light emitting dies each having an optical axis centered on an area of light emission, said plurality of light emitting dies arranged on a support;

a beam-forming optic having a focus and arranged with the optical axis of a first light emitting die of said plurality of light emitting dies passing through said focus so that light emitted from said first light emitting die is collimated into a beam relative to the optical axis of said first light emitting die,

wherein said plurality of light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die are disposed adjacent to said first light emitting die and light emitted from said plurality of light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die is emitted from said beam forming optic as a non-collimated flood light emission pattern.

2. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said first light emitting die and said plurality of light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die can be independently energized.

3. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting dies are arranged on a common support.

4. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting dies are arranged on separate supports.

5. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said first light emitting die emits light of a first color different from a color of light emitted from plurality of light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die.

6. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said first light emitting die is larger than said plurality of light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die.

7. The LED light assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of beam-forming optics, a first beam-forming optic is arranged with the focus coincident with the optical axis of said first light emitting die having a first color and a second beam-forming optic is arranged with a focus coincident with the optical axis of said first light emitting die having a second color.

8. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitting dies can be partially energized and can vary independently.

9. The LED light assembly of claim 1, wherein said light emitting dies other than said first light emitting die are separately energized in at least two subsets of light emitting dies.

10. An LED light assembly comprising:

a plurality of beam forming optics, each of said beam forming optics having a focus;

at least two light emitting dies arranged to emit light into each beam forming optic, a first light emitting die having an optical axis passing through the focus and a second light emitting die having an optical axis offset from the focus, said at least two light emitting dies emit light having at least a first color and a second color;

wherein a first beam forming optic is arranged with said first light emitting die having a first color and a second beam forming optic is arranged with said first light emitting die having a second color.

11. The LED light assembly of claim 10, wherein said first beam forming optic is arranged said second light emitting die having the second color and said second beam forming optic is arranged with said second light emitting die having the first color.

12. The LED light assembly of claim 11, wherein said light emitting dies having said first color are energized at the same time and said light emitting dies having said second color are energized at the same time.

13. The LED light assembly of claim 10, wherein said first light emitting die is larger than said second light emitting die.

14. The LED light assembly of claim 10, wherein said at least two light emitting dies can be partially energized and can vary independently.

15. The LED light assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least two light emitting dies can be partially energized and can vary independently.

16. A method of generating light emission patterns of different colors, said method comprising:

providing a plurality of light generating modules, each said module comprising;

an optic having a focus, said optic configured to collimate light emitted from said focus;

a plurality of light emitting dies arranged to emit light into said optic, said plurality of light emitting dies including a first die with an area of light emission centered on the focus and at least one second die with an area of light emission offset from the focus, said plurality of light emitting dies emitting light of at least a first and second color,

selecting the first die to be of the first color in a first pre-determined number of said plurality of light generating modules; and

selecting the second die to be of the second color in a second pre-determined number of said plurality of light generating modules,

wherein said plurality of light emitting dies of the first color are energized at the same time and said plurality of light emitting dies of the second color are energized at the same time.

17. The method of generating light emission patterns of different colors of claim 16, further comprising:

selecting said offset die to be of the second color in said first predetermined number of said plurality of light generating modules; and

selecting said offset die to be of the first color in said second predetermined number of said plurality of light generating modules.

18. The method of generating light emission patterns of different colors of claim 16, wherein said light emitting dies of the first color can be partially energized and can vary independently.

19. The method of generating light emission patterns of different colors of claim 16, wherein said light emitting dies of the second color can be partially energized and can vary independently.

20. The method of generating light emission patterns of different colors of claim 16, wherein said plurality of light emitting dies of the second color are energized in at least two separate subsets.