Multiple lamp lighting device

• US 5,782,553 A
• Filed: 10/28/1993
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kevin Mcdermott
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mcdermott
• Inventors: McDermott, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/144,653
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235-237, 362/241, 362/244, 362/245, 362/247, 362/249, 362/252, 362/307, 362/308, 362/310, 362/327, 362/328, 362/329, 362/363, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/56 using liquid coolants F21V29/51 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/85 characterised by the material liquid coolants F21V29/56
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/04 Provision of filling media
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/07 with hyperbolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

An electric lighting device that uses a concave reflector to collect and concentrate the light emitted by a plurality of luminescent light sources. The cooperating relationship between the orientation of the light sources and contour of the reflector increases the parallelism of the light beams projected from the device so that they can combine to form a composite beam. The spatial relationship between the light sources and the inclusion of a light transmitting medium reduce overheating and increase the efficiency of the device.

Claims

1. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone to form a first light beam having a first geometric beam axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form a second light beam having a second geometric beam axis;

d) the projection of said first geometric beam axis upon a reference plane intersects the projection of said second geometric beam axis upon said reference plane to form an included angle;

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said included angle.

11. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein:

said first light source further includes a first transparent housing with a first exterior surface;

said second light source further includes a second transparent housing with a second exterior surface;

said first luminescent element is a light emitting diode, and;

said second luminescent element is a light emitting diode.

12. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein;

said first light source further includes a first transparent housing with a first exterior surface;

said second light source further includes a second transparent housing with a second exterior surface;

said first transparent housing includes a light refracting optic to concentrate said percentage of said light emitted by said first luminescent element before it impinges upon said first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, and;

said second transparent housing includes a light refracting optic to concentrate said percentage of said light emitted by said second luminescent element before it impinges upon said second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector.

13. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein;

said first light source further includes a first transparent housing with a first exterior surface;

said second light source further includes a second transparent housing with a second exterior surface;

said first exterior surface includes a first spherical surface, wherein;

said percentage of said light emitted by said first luminescent element passes through said first spherical surface before impinging upon said first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector;

said second exterior surface includes a second spherical surface, wherein;

said light emitted by said second luminescent element passes through said second spherical surface before impinging upon said second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector.

15. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-3 wherein;

first reflective zone is located on a first side of a first location reference plane and said first light source is located on a second side of said first location reference plane, said first location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution;

said second light source is further oriented so that said second reflective zone is located on a first side of a second location reference plane and said second light source is located on a second side of said second location reference plane, said second location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution, and;

said means to curve said primary mirrored reflector comprises the curving of said primary mirrored reflector into an elliptical reflector.

17. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a solid primary transparent medium having an index of refraction exceeding 1.25 between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector.

18. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a primary transparent medium between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector,

said primary transparent medium having a transmissivity through a one inch thickness of at least 75 percent when measured using said light emitted by said first light source.

19. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a primary transparent medium between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector, said primary transparent medium is a solid contoured and reflectized to create said primary mirrored reflector.

20. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a solid primary transparent medium between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector contoured to create a light refracting optic.

21. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a solid primary transparent medium between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector,

said solid transparent medium is an acrylic plastic.

22. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 which further includes;

a liquid primary transparent medium between each of said light sources and said primary mirrored reflector.

23. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-9 wherein;

said first light source further includes a first concave mirrored auxiliary reflector to redirect light emitted by said first luminescent element into said primary mirrored reflector, and;

said second light source further includes a first concave mirrored auxiliary reflector to redirect light emitted by said second luminescent element into said primary mirrored reflector.

24. A high efficiency lighting device according to claims 1, 5, 6, 8 or 10 wherein;

said reference plane is the horizontal plane.

25. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein;

for each said light source said directional spatial radiation pattern includes a peak intensity and said percentage of said emitted light includes light emitted in substantially all of the directions of said directional spatial radiation pattern along which the emitted intensity exceeds fifty percent of said peak intensity.

26. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein;

for each said light source said directional spatial radiation pattern includes a peak intensity and said percentage of said emitted light includes light emitted in substantially all of the directions of said directional spatial radiation pattern along which the emitted intensity exceeds thirty percent of said peak intensity.

27. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-9 wherein;

said concave surface of revolution further includes a vertex,

said first reflective zone does not include said vertex, and;

said second reflective zone does not include said vertex.

28. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 1-10 wherein;

each said reflective zone is at a different location on said primary mirrored reflector.

2. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone to form at a first distance from said lighting device a first beam pattern having a first geometric axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form at said first distance from said lighting device a second beam pattern having a second geometric axis;

d) said second geometric axis spaced at a second distance from said first geometric axis; and

,

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said second distance.

3. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone to form a first light beam;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form a second light beam;

d) said second light beam at a distance from said lighting device diverging from said first light beam; and

,

e) means to curve said primarily mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said divergence.

4. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said first light source further oriented such that said first reflective zone and said first light source are located on a first side of a first location reference plane, said first location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone to form at a first distance from said lighting device a first beam pattern having a first geometric axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said second light source further oriented such that said second reflective zone and said second light source are located on a first side of a second location reference plane, said second location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form at said first distance from said lighting device a second beam pattern having a second geometric axis;

d) said second geometric axis spaced at a second distance from said first geometric axis; and

,

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said second distance, said means comprising the curving of said primary mirrored reflector into a hyperbolic reflector.

5. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said first light source further oriented such that said first reflective zone and said first light source are located on a first side of a first location reference plane, said first location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone to form a first light beam having a first geometric beam axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said second light source further oriented such that said second reflective zone and said second light source are located on a first side of a second location reference plane, said second location reference plane is coincident with said axis of revolution, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form a second light beam having a second geometric beam axis;

d) the projection of said first geometric beam axis upon a reference plane intersects the projection of said second geometric beam axis upon said reference plane to form an included angle;

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said acute Included angle, said means comprising the curving of said primary mirrored reflector into a hyperbolic reflector.

6. A high efficiency lighting device including

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, a first light refracting optic, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone subsequently refracted by said first light refracting optic to form a first light beam having a first geometric beam axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone to form a second light beam having a second geometric beam axis;

d) the projection of said first geometric beam axis upon a reference plane intersects the projection of said second geometric beam axis upon said reference plane to form an included angle;

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said included angle.

7. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone forming a first reflected light beam, a first light refracting optic redirecting said first reflected light beam to form at a first distance from said lighting device a first projected beam pattern having a first geometric axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone forming a second reflected light beam, a second light refracting optic redirecting said second reflected light beam to form at said first distance from said lighting device a second projected beam pattern having a second geometric axis;

d) said second geometric axis spaced at a second distance from said first geometric axis; and

,

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said second distance.

14. A high efficiency lighting device as in any one of claims 7-9 wherein;

said concave surface of revolution has a parabolic contour.

8. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone forming a first projected light beam, a first light refracting optic redirecting said first reflected light beam to form a first refracted light beam having a first geometric beam axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone forming a second projected light beam a second light refracting optic redirecting said second reflected light beam to form a second refracted light beam having a second geometric beam axis;

d) the projection of said first geometric beam axis upon a reference plane intersects with the projection of said second geometric beam axis upon said reference plane to form an included angle; and

,

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said included angle.

9. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a first light source including a first luminescent element emitting light in a first directional spatial radiation pattern, said first light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said first luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a first reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said first reflective zone forming a first reflected light beam, a first light refracting optic redirecting said first reflected light beam to form a first refracted light beam having a first geometric beam axis;

c) a second light source including a second luminescent element emitting light in a second directional spatial radiation pattern, said second light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said second luminescent element is separated from said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a second reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector, said percentage of said emitted light reflected at said second reflective zone forming a second reflected light beam, a second light refracting optic redirecting said second reflected light beam to form a second refracted light beam having a second geometric beam axis;

d) said second refracted light beam at a distance from said lighting device diverging from said first refracted light beam; and

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of said first light source and said orientation of said second light source to reduce said divergence.

10. A high efficiency lighting device including:

a) a primary mirrored reflector conforming to a concave surface of revolution, said concave surface of revolution having an axis of revolution;

b) a plurality of light sources;

c) each said light source including a luminescent element emitting light in a directional spatial radiation pattern, each said light source oriented relative to said primary mirrored reflector such that said luminescent element is at a different location than said axis of revolution and a percentage of said emitted light impinges upon a reflective zone of said primary mirrored reflector where it is reflected to form a light beam having a geometric beam axis;

d) the projection of each said geometric beam axis upon a reference plane intersects the projection of said axis of revolution upon said reference plane to form an included angle;

e) means to curve said primary mirrored reflector to cooperate with said orientation of each said light source to reduce each said included angle.

16. A high efficiency lighting device as in claim 10 wherein;

said means to curve said primary mirrored reflector includes curving it into a hyperbolic reflector.