Incandescent visual display system having a shaped reflector

• US 6,095,668 A
• Filed: 06/19/1996
• Issued: 08/01/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Radiant Imaging, Inc. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Radiant Imaging, Inc. (Konica Minolta Inc.)
• Inventors: Rykowski, Ronald F., Albrecht, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tso, Laura K.
• Application Number:
  US08/665,888
• Time in Patent Office: 1,504 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/240, 362/241, 362/249, 362/294, 362/267, 362/373, 362/375, 362/812, 362/247, 362/237, 362/345, 362/238, 362/243, 362/252, 362/235, 362/311, 362/245, 362/367 , 362/350, 362/296, 362/341, 313/113
• US Class Current: 362/350
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/04 Optical design
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133308 Support structures for LCD panels, e.g. frames or bezels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/28 Signs formed by filament-type lamp by selective lighting G09F9/00

Abstract

A visual display sign having a lighting unit that provides high-efficiency light output from a non-point source of light. The reflector in the lighting unit is sealed and has a shaped reflecting surface obtained by generating a curve from a set of predetermined curve reference points. The shaped reflecting surface provides a light output efficiency of about 60 percent from a non-point source of light and spreads the emitted light about eight degrees from the plane of circumference of the reflector. The lighting units are attached to the visual display sign at a downward angle of about eight degrees from the horizontal.

Claims

1. A lighting unit comprising:

a solid reflector having an open front, a back opposite said open front, a predetermined shaped reflecting surface, and a center axis, said open front having a circumference, said back of said solid reflector having an opening formed therein, said formed opening centered on said center axis; and

an incandescent light source having a fixedly mounted but replaceble bulb, said bulb containing a filament therein, said filament having a top and a bottom, said filament further having a predetermined height, said bulb extending through said formed opening in said back of said solid reflector with the illuminated bottom of said filament substantially aligned with said formed opening and perpendicular to the center axis, said predetermined shaped reflecting surface configured from a set of predetermined curve reference points in relation to said predetermined height to maximally reflect light emitted from said predetermined height of said filament.

2. The lighting unit of claim 1 wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said filament of said bulb about eight degrees to about twelve degrees beyond a plane delimited by the circumference of said open front of said reflector.

3. The lighting unit of claim 1 wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said incandescent light source with an efficiency of about 60 percent.

4. The visual display sign of claim 1 wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface is obtained from a curve derived from the following set of coordinates, where x,y=0,0 is located on the center axis of said reflector where said center axis crosses said open front of said reflector:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ x y Curve Reference Point (inches) (inches) ______________________________________ 1 0.0000 -0.9000 2 -0.0182 -0.8917 3 -0.0547 -0.8750 4 -0.0909 -0.8580 5 -0.1395 -0.8345 6 -0.1877 -0.8105 7 -0.2356 -0.7858 8 -0.2831 -0.7603 9 -0.3303 -0.7341 10 -0.3769 -0.7071 11 -0.4230 -0.6792 12 -0.4686 -0.6504 13 -0.5135 -0.6205 14 -0.5576 -0.5896 15 -0.6009 -0.5574 16 -0.6432 -0.5240 17 -0.6843 -0.4892 18 -0.7241 -0.4528 19 -0.7623 -0.4147 20 -0.7986 -0.3749 21 -0.8326 -0.3331 22 -0.8640 -0.2892 23 -0.8920 -0.2432 24 -0.9161 -0.1950 ______________________________________

5. A lighting unit comprising:

a solid reflector having an open front, a back opposite said open front, a predetermined shaped reflecting surface, and a center axis, said open front having a circumference, said back of said solid reflector having an opening formed therein, said formed opening centered on said center axis; and

an incandescent light source having a fixedly mounted but replaceable bulb, said bulb containing a filament therein, said filament having a top and a bottom, said filament further having a predetermined height, said bulb extending through said formed opening in said back of said solid reflector with the illuminated bottom of said filament substantially aligned with said formed opening and perpendicular to the center axis said predetermined shaped reflecting surface configured from a set of predetermined curve reference points in relation to said predetermined height to reflect light emitted from said predetermined height of said filament with an efficiency of about 60 percent and about eight degrees to about twelve degrees beyond a plane delimited by the circumference of said open front of said solid reflector.

6. The visual display sign of claim 5 wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface is obtained from a curve derived from the following set of coordinates, where x,y=0,0 is located on the center axis of said reflector where said center axis crosses said open front of said reflector:

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ x y Curve Reference Point (inches) (inches) ______________________________________ 1 0.0000 -0.9000 2 -0.0182 -0.8917 3 -0.0547 -0.8750 4 -0.0909 -0.8580 5 -0.1395 -0.8345 6 -0.1877 -0.8105 7 -0.2356 -0.7858 8 -0.2831 -0.7603 9 -0.3303 -0.7341 10 -0.3769 -0.7071 11 -0.4230 -0.6792 12 -0.4686 -0.6504 13 -0.5135 -0.6205 14 -0.5576 -0.5896 15 -0.6009 -0.5574 16 -0.6432 -0.5240 17 -0.6843 -0.4892 18 -0.7241 -0.4528 19 -0.7623 -0.4147 20 -0.7986 -0.3749 21 -0.8326 -0.3331 22 -0.8640 -0.2892 23 -0.8920 -0.2432 24 -0.9161 -0.1950 ______________________________________

7. A lighting unit comprising:

a reflector having an open front, a back opposite said open front, a predetermined shaped reflecting surface, and a center axis, said open front of said reflector having a circumference, said back of said reflector having an opening formed therein, said formed opening centered on said center axis; and

an incandescent light source having a bulb, said bulb containing a filament therein, said filament having a top and a bottom, said filament further having a predetermined height, said bulb extending through said formed opening in said back of said reflector with the bottom of said filament substantially aligned with said formed opening, wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said predetermined height of said filament with an efficiently of about 60 percent and about eight degrees to about twelve degrees beyond a plane delimited by the circumference of said open front of said reflector;

said predetermined shaped reflecting surface being obtained from a curve derived from the following set of coordinates, where x,y=0,0 is located on the center axis of said reflector where said center axis crosses said open front of said reflector;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ x y Curve Reference Point (inches) (inches) ______________________________________ 1 0.0000 -0.9000 2 -0.0182 -0.8917 3 -0.0547 -0.8750 4 -0.0909 -0.8580 5 -0.1395 -0.8345 6 -0.1877 -0.8105 7 -0.2356 -0.7858 8 -0.2831 -0.7603 9 -0.3303 -0.7341 10 -0.3769 -0.7071 11 -0.4230 -0.6792 12 -0.4686 -0.6504 13 -0.5135 -0.6205 14 -0.5576 -0.5896 15 -0.6009 -0.5574 16 -0.6432 -0.5240 17 -0.6843 -0.4892 18 -0.7241 -0.4528 19 -0.7623 -0.4147 20 -0.7986 -0.3749 21 -0.8326 -0.3331 22 -0.8640 -0.2892 23 -0.8920 -0.2432 24 -0.9161 -0.1950 ______________________________________

8. A lighting unit comprising:

a reflector having an open front, a back opposite said open front, a predetermined shaped reflecting surface, and a center axis, said open front having a circumference, said back of said reflector having an opening formed therein, said formed opening centered on said center axis; and

an incandescent light source having a bulb, said bulb containing a filament therein, said filament having a top and a bottom, said filament further having a predetermined height, said bulb extending through said formed opening in said back of said reflector with the bottom of said filament substantially aligned with said formed opening, wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface maximally reflects light emitted from said predetermined height of said filament;

wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said filament of said bulb about eight degrees to about twelve degrees beyond a plane delimited by the circumference of said open front of said reflector;

wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said incandescent light source with an efficiency of about 60 percent; and

wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface is obtained from a curve derived from the following set of coordinates, where x,y=0,0 is located on said center axis of said reflector where said center axis crosses said open front of said reflector;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ x y Curve Reference Point (inches) (inches) ______________________________________ 1 0.0000 -0.9000 2 -0.0182 -0.8917 3 -0.0547 -0.8750 4 -0.0909 -0.8580 5 -0.1395 -0.8345 6 -0.1877 -0.8105 7 -0.2356 -0.7858 8 -0.2831 -0.7603 9 -0.3303 -0.7341 10 -0.3769 -0.7071 11 -0.4230 -0.6792 12 -0.4686 -0.6504 13 -0.5135 -0.6205 14 -0.5576 -0.5896 15 -0.6009 -0.5574 16 -0.6432 -0.5240 17 -0.6843 -0.4892 18 -0.7241 -0.4528 19 -0.7623 -0.4147 20 -0.7986 -0.3749 21 -0.8326 -0.3331 22 -0.8640 -0.2892 23 -0.8920 -0.2432 24 -0.9161 -0.1950 ______________________________________

9. A lighting unit comprising:

a reflector having an open front, a back opposite said open front, a predetermined shaped reflecting surface, and a center axis, said open front having a circumference, said back of said reflector having an opening formed therein, said formed opening centered on said center axis; and

an incandescent light source having a bulb, said bulb containing a filament therein, said filament having a top and a bottom, said filament further having a predetermined height, said bulb extending through said formed opening in said back of said reflector with the bottom of said filament substantially aligned with said formed opening, wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface reflects light emitted from said predetermined height of said filament with an efficiency of about 60 percent and about eight degrees to about twelve degrees beyond a plane delimited by the circumference of said open front of said reflector;

wherein said predetermined shaped reflecting surface is obtained from a curve derived from the following set of coordinates, where x,y=0,0 is located on the center axis of said reflector where said center axis crosses said open front of said reflector;

space="preserve" listing-type="tabular">______________________________________ x y Curve Reference Point (inches) (inches) ______________________________________ 1 0.0000 -0.9000 2 -0.0182 -0.8917 3 -0.0547 -0.8750 4 -0.0909 -0.8580 5 -0.1395 -0.8345 6 -0.1877 -0.8105 7 -0.2356 -0.7858 8 -0.2831 -0.7603 9 -0.3303 -0.7341 10 -0.3769 -0.7071 11 -0.4230 -0.6792 12 -0.4686 -0.6504 13 -0.5135 -0.6205 14 -0.5576 -0.5896 15 -0.6009 -0.5574 16 -0.6432 -0.5240 17 -0.6843 -0.4892 18 -0.7241 -0.4528 19 -0.7623 -0.4147 20 -0.7986 -0.3749 21 -0.8326 -0.3331 22 -0.8640 -0.2892 23 -0.8920 -0.2432 24 -0.9161 -0.1950 ______________________________________