Light emitting diode lamp having parabolic reflector and diffuser

• US 6,851,834 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Leysath
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Leysath
• Inventors: Leysath, Joseph A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US10/327,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• Field of Search: 362/800, 362/227, 362/234, 362/235, 362/236, 362/237, 362/240, 362/241, 362/247, 362/255, 362/257, 362/296, 362/307, 362/310, 362/311, 362/3, 362/11, 362/16, 362/217, 362/219, 362/238, 362/304, 362/305, 362/242, 362/243, 362/248, 362/246, 362/297, 362/298, 362/302, 362/303, 313/106, 313/107, 313/483, 313/498, 313/499, 313/500, 313/110, 313/113, 313/116, 313/117
• US Class Current: 362/303
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/10 the elements being reflectors and screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A light fixture consists of one or more light emitting diode (LED) packaging systems within a housing. Each LED packaging system includes one or more LED light sources that simultaneously shines onto opposing reflecting surfaces, then shines forward through encapsulation material. The housing consists of a cluster of prewired sockets with an outer reflective surface. Electrical wiring runs from the rear of the first socket and then to an adjacent socket in a daisy chain fashion. Each socket includes connectors configured to provide each LED packaging system with a source of electricity. The housing has diffusers that adjust the light to an evenly distributed appearance.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

a reflector having a generally parabolic cross-sectional configuration;

a light emitting diode located a selected distance from an inner surface of the reflector and at a midpoint thereof; and

a diffuser suspended a distance from the inner surface of the reflector and configured to prevent light emitted from the diode that has not reflected from the inner surface of the reflector from exiting from the device; and

wherein the reflector, the diode, and the diffuser are encapsulated in a lighting unit formed from a transparent medium.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the reflector is circular in plan view.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the transparent medium is a polymer.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the generally parabolic reflector comprises a plurality of planar facets.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the diode is located on a side of the reflector away from the inner surface of the reflector, such that light emitted from the diode passes through an opening in the reflector to reflect from the diffuser and the inner surface of the reflector.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the light emitting diode is one of a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in a regular configuration relative to the center of the reflector.

7. The device of claim 6 reflector has an elongated shape, in plan view, the plurality of diodes are distributed along the length thereof, and the diffuser is shaped and configured to block direct passage of light from each of the plurality of diodes out of the reflector.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein a surface of the lighting unit opposite a concave face of the parabolic reflector has light diffusive properties.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the light diffusive properties include texturing of the surface.

10. The device of claim 1 wherein a side of the lighting unit opposite a convex face of the reflector has a shape configured to mount into a socket.

11. The device of claim 10, further comprising a socket configured to removably receive the shaped side of the lighting unit.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a lighting fixture, and wherein the socket is one of a plurality of sockets, each configured to removably receive a lighting unit therein.

13. A method, comprising:

mounting a light emitting diode within a parabolic reflector;

mounting a diffuser between the diode and a mouth of the reflector, the diffuser shaped and positioned to prevent light from passing directly out of the mouth of the reflector from the diode; and

encapsulating the diode, reflector, and diffuser within a transparent encapsulate.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising mounting additional diodes within the reflector.

15. A lighting device, comprising:

a reflector having a generally parabolic cross-sectional configuration;

a light emitting diode located a selected distance from an inner surface of the reflector and at a midpoint thereof, the reflector and the diode being encapsulated in a lighting unit formed from a transparent medium; and

a diffuser suspended a distance from the inner surface of the reflector and configured to prevent light emitted from the diode that has not reflected from the inner surface of the reflector from exiting from the device.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein the diffuser is encapsulated with the diode and reflector in the transparent medium.

17. A method, comprising:

applying electricity across a light emitting diode positioned within a parabolic reflector to generate light from the diode;

reflecting the light from the diode against an inner surface of the reflector in a direction generally away from an open side of the reflector; and

blocking light from the diode that has not reflected from the surface of the parabolic reflector.

18. A lighting device, comprising:

a reflector having a generally parabolic cross-sectional configuration;

a light emitting diode located a selected distance from an inner surface of the reflector at a midpoint thereof, and on a side of the reflector away from the inner surface of the reflector;

a diffuser suspended a distance from the inner surface of the reflector and configured to prevent light emitted from the diode that has not reflected from the inner surface of the reflector from exiting from the device; and

an opening in the reflector positioned such that light emitted from the diode passes through the opening in the reflector to reflect from the diffuser and the inner surface of the reflector.