Area lighting device using discrete light sources, such as LEDs

• US 6,676,279 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2000
• Issued: 01/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: David Allen Hubbell, Philip V. Desantis
• Original Assignee: David Allen Hubbell, Philip V. Desantis
• Inventors: Hubbell, David A., Desantis, Philip V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cariaso, Alan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi, Jacob Y.
• Application Number:
  US09/678,659
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/800, 362/545, 362/301, 362/293-231, 362/247, 362/276, 362/802
• US Class Current: 362/293
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/088 with lighting device mounted on top of the standard, e.g. for pedestrian zones
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/72 in street lighting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/802 Position or condition responsive switch

Abstract

An area lighting device comprises a plurality of panels arranged into a hollow box having interconnected side walls and open bottom; and at least one of the side wall panels comprising a light emitting panel having a lighted side facing inside the hollow box.

Claims

1. An area lighting device, comprising:

a) plurality of panels arranged into a hollow box having interconnected side walls and open bottom;

b) at least one of said side wall panels comprising a panel-shaped light source having a lighted side facing inside said hollow box; and

c) a retro-reflective panel disposed across said open bottom such that light from within said box is transmitted and light from outside is reflected.

2. An area lighting device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said light source is an LED panel.

3. An area lighting device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said light source is an electroluminescent panel.

4. An area lighting device as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a) a retro-reflective panel disposed in front of said light source such that light from said light source is transmitted through said retro-reflective panel.

5. An area lighting device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said box is a cube.

6. An area lighting device as in claim 1, wherein:

a) said box is a trapezoid in one cross-section.

7. An area lighting device as in claim 1, and further comprising:

a) a light sensor for measuring the light output from said box;

b) a controller for controlling the power output of a power source connected to said light source such that deviations from a desired light output is compensated by increasing the power output of said power source.

8. An area lighting device, comprising:

a) plurality of panels arranged into a hollow box having interconnected side walls, open bottom and an enclosing top wall; and

b) first, second and third of said side walls panels comprising different wavelength panel-shaped light sources respectively, each having a lighted side facing inside said hollow box; and

c) a retro-reflective panel disposed across said open bottom such that light from within said box is transmitted and light from outside is reflected.

9. An area lighting device as in claim 8, wherein:

a) said different wavelength panel-shaped light sources include red, green and blue light sources.

11. An area lighting device as in claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a retro-reflective panel disposed across said open bottom of said second hollow box such that light from within is transmitted to said enclosure and light from outside is reflected.

12. An area lighting device as in claim 9, and further comprising:

a) a retro-reflective panel disposed across said open bottom of said first hollow box such that light from within is transmitted to the outside and light from outside is reflected back.

13. An area lighting device as in claim 9, wherein:

a) said light emitting panel is an LED panel.

10. An area lighting device, comprising:

a) a first plurality of panels arranged into a first hollow box having interconnected side walls and open top and bottom, at least one of said side wall panels comprising a panel-shaped light source having a lighted side facing inside said first hollow box;

b) a second plurality of panels arranged into a second hollow box having interconnected side walls and open bottom, at least one of said side wall panels comprising a panel-shaped light source having a lighted side facing inside said second hollow box; and

c) an enclosure connecting said bottom of said second box to said open top of said first box such that light generated within said second box is transmitted to said first box.

14. An area lighting device as in claim 10, wherein:

a) said light source is an LED panel.

15. An area lighting device as in claim 10, wherein:

a) said light source is an electroluminescent panel.

16. An area lighting device as in claim 10, and further comprising:

a) a retro-reflective panel disposed in front of said light source such that light from said light source is transmitted and light reflected to said retro-reflective panel is reflected back.