Variable optics spot module

• US 6,773,139 B2
• Filed: 09/17/2001
• Issued: 08/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sommers, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20030053310A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 362/236, 362/237, 362/231, 362/240, 362/800, 362/332, 362/335, 362/336, 362/522, 362/242, 362/244, 362/241, 362/249
• US Class Current: 362/237
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/02 changing colors F21S10/002 - F21S10/007, F21S10/04 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/02 by movement of light sources in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/025 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/065 in portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/001 the light sources being semiconductors devices, e.g. LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/02 with provision for adjustment, e.g. for focusing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements

Abstract

A lamp (10) includes a substrate (12), a first lighting unit (14A) and a second lighting unit (14B). The first lighting unit (14A) includes a first light emitting diode (22A) arranged on the substrate (12), and a first lens element (24A) that has a first optical prescription and is arranged to interact with light produced by the first light emitting diode (22A). The second lighting unit (14B) includes a second light emitting diode (22B) arranged on the substrate (12), and a second lens element (24B) that has a second optical prescription and is arranged to interact with light produced by the second light emitting diode (22B). A means (30) for selectively applying electrical power has at least a first selectable mode in which the means (30) applies power to the first lighting unit (14A) whereby a first light output pattern is emitted, and a second selectable mode in which the means (30) applies power to the second lighting unit (14B) whereby a second light output pattern is emitted.

Claims

1. A variable angular distribution lamp comprising:

a substrate;

a first lighting unit comprising;

a first light emitting diode (LED) arranged on the substrate, and

a first lens element having a first optical prescription, said first tens element being arranged to interact with light produced by the first LED to produce a first lamp illumination having a first angular distribution;

a second lighting unit comprising;

a second light emitting diode (LED) arranged on the substrate, and

a second lens element having a second optical prescription different from the first optical prescription, said second lens element being arranged to interact with light produced by the second LED to produce a second lamp illumination having a second angular distribution that is different from the first angular distribution; and

,

a controller for energizing a selected one of the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit to produce a lamp illumination having a selected one of the first angular distribution and the second angular distribution, the controller including a first switch selectably operated to energize the first lighting unit and a second switch selectably operated to energize the second lighting unit.

2. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

light emitted from the first LED has a first spectral composition; and

light emitted from the second LED has a second spectral composition different from the first spectral composition.

3. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein:

at least one of the first and second lens elements has a tinted region that alters a spectral composition of light emitted from the lighting unit including the tinted region.

4. The spot light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the substrate is a copper plate having a plurality of wells formed therein, each well containing one of the light emitting diodes and having the coupled lens disposed over the contained light emitting diode.

5. The spot light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second lighting units each include a plurality of LEDs distributed essentially uniformly across the substrate.

6. The spot light as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first and second lighting units each include a plurality of LEDs, the arranged in concentric circles about the center of the substrate.

7. The spot light as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a third lighting unit consisting of a single light emitting diode and optically coupled third lens element disposed at the center of the substrate.

8. A variable beam spot light including:

a substrate;

a first set of light emitting diodes disposed over the substrate;

a first set of lenses optically coupled to the first set of light emitting diodes, the lenses of the first set of lenses having a radius and refractive index that effects a first angular distribution of light produced by the first set of light emitting diodes;

a second set of light emitting diodes disposed over the substrate;

a second set of lenses optically coupled to the second set of tight emitting diodes, the lenses of the second set of lenses having a radius and refractive index that effects a second angular distribution of light produced by the second set of light emitting diodes, the second angular distribution being different from the first angular distribution, the light emitting diodes of the second set being interspersed amongst the light emitting diodes of the first set; and

a control module that energizes a selected one of the first set of light emitting diodes and the second set of light emitting diodes to produce a spot light beam with a corresponding selected one of the first angular distribution and the second angular distribution.

9. The variable beam spot light as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control module includes:

a power input control that applies variable power energizing of the selected one of the first set of light emitting diodes and the second set of light emitting diodes to effect a variable intensity of the spot light beam.

10. The variable beam spot light as set forth in claim 9, wherein the power input control of the control module is one of a user-operable rheostat and a variable voltage divider.

11. The variable beam spot light as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control module includes:

a voltage divider that conditions voltage applied to one of the first set of light emitting diodes and the second set of light emitting diodes.

12. A variable beam spot light including:

a substrate;

a first set of light emitting diodes disposed over the substrate, the first set of light emitting diodes is being distributed substantially uniformly across the substrate;

a first set of lenses optically coupled to the first set of light emitting diodes, the lenses of the first set of lenses having a radius and refractive index that effects a first angular distribution of light produced by the first set of light emitting diodes;

a second set of light emitting diodes disposed over the substrate, the second set of light emitting diodes is being distributed substantially uniformly across the substrate, the light emitting diodes of the second set being interspersed amongst the light emitting diodes of the first sets

a second set of lenses optically coupled to the second set of light emitting diodes, the lenses of the second set of lenses having a radius and refractive index that effects a second angular distribution of light produced by the second set of light emitting diodes, the second angular distribution being different from the first angular distribution; and

a control module that energizes a selected one of the first set of light emitting diodes and the second set of light emitting diodes to produce a soot light beam with a corresponding selected one of the first angular distribution and the second angular distribution.