Devices and methods for distributing radially collected and collimated light

• US 6,502,964 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 01/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerome H. Simon
• Original Assignee: Jerome H. Simon
• Inventors: Simon, Jerome H.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US09/556,203
• Time in Patent Office: 988 Days
• Field of Search: 362/145, 362/147, 362/290, 362/291, 362/296-299, 362/302, 362/308-310, 362/311, 362/326-329, 362/337, 362/340, 362/341, 362/346, 362/347, 362/285
• US Class Current: 362/328
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/081 of low-built type, e.g. landscape light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/046 the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/02 for roads, paths or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/109 of gardens

Abstract

A luminaire for creating a uniform light pattern on an architectural surface, in the form of uniformly diminishing light with the distance from the light source. The luminaire includes a quasi point light source arranged vertically in the vicinity of an architectural surface, and a multi-zone refractor assembly radially surounding the light source and bending the light from the source toward the architectural surface. There is a reflector above the light source for reflecting light from the source toward the architectural surface. The refractor assembly may include a Fresnel lens, a lower refracting condenser ring, a toroidal reflector, or a conical reflecting surface. The uppermost zone of the refractor assembly can include a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source in the same radial zone as the reflector structure toward and onto an upper conical reflector, and the reflector structure can include a parabolic reflector and a conical reflector. The lowermost zone of the refractor assembly may include a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source toward and onto a lower conical reflector. This zone may include a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source toward and onto a lower conical reflector. The refractor assembly can include a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source in the same radial zone as the reflector structure toward the upper reflector. There is a lower reflector which collects 180 degrees of the light from the light source and projects it toward and onto the architectural surface. The light source is selectively movable vertically to change the angular relationships of the refractor assembly and the light source. There is a collimating ring surrounding the portion of the light source which is on the opposite side thereof from the reflector structure. The reflector structure can include an ellipsoidal reflector and a conical reflector. There is a ring condenser surrounding the portion of the light source which is on the opposite side thereof from the reflector structure. The refractor assembly may include a wedge prism ring structure. There are a plurality of such luminaires spaced from each other and which provide overlapping light patterns on the architectural surface. The luminaire system can also include a plurality of remote refractors at least partially surrounding the refractor assembly for further modifying and distributing light being received from the refractor assembly. There can be a plurality of remote refractors radially surrounding the light source and which includes a lens prism or a ring lens segment or a prismatic surface. The luminaire can include at least one remote reflector at least partially surrounding the refractor assembly for further distributing light being received from the refractor assembly. The light source may be attached to a post intended to be set into the ground, and said refractor assembly including a radial lens and the radial lens can include a collimating ring section and a flange disk section.

Claims

1. A luminaire for creating a uniform light pattern on an adjacent architectural surface, comprising:

a. a quasi point light source arranged vertically in the vicinity of an architectural surface;

b. a multi-zone optical assembly radially surrounding said light source for its vertical length, and including a Fresnel lens and a composite reflector of a parabolic ring section and a conical reflector lens which surround the source for at least 180°

radially, for bending the light from said source toward the architectural surface for evenly illuminating a broad area of the architectural surface.

2. A luminaire as defined in claim 1 where the optical element is a refractor assembly which includes a reflector structure which collects and redirects 180 degrees of the light from the light source in the same radial zone as the reflector structure toward and onto an upper conical reflector.

3. A luminaire as defined in claim 1 wherein said reflector structure includes a parabolic reflector and a conical reflector.

4. A luminaire as defined in claim 1 wherein the lowermost zone of the refractor assembly includes a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source toward and onto a lower conical reflector.

5. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, wherein the lowermost zone of the refractor assembly includes a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source toward and onto a lower conical reflector.

6. A luminaire as defined in claim 1, wherein the refractor assembly includes a reflector structure which collects and projects 180 degrees of the light from the light source in the same radial zone as the reflector structure toward the upper reflector.

7. A luminaire as defined in claim 6 wherein there is a lower reflector which collects 180 degrees of the light from the light source and projects it toward and onto the architectural surface.

8. A luminaire as defined in claim 1 wherein the light source is selectively movable vertically to change the angular relationships of the refractor assembly and the light source.