Zoomable spot module

• US 6,866,401 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Petroski, James T., Sommers, Mathew
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeade, Bertrand
• Application Number:
  US09/683,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20030117797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 362/268, 362/269, 362/270, 362/273, 362/232, 362/237, 362/238, 362/239, 362/240, 362/800, 362/804, 362/294, 362/373, 362/169, 362/170, 362/171, 362/275
• US Class Current: 362/268
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/027 the light sources being a LED
• 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 5/006 applied to portable lighting devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A lamp (10, 30, 80) includes an LED module (16, 36, 86) having at least one LED (12, 32, 82) arranged on a substrate (14, 34, 84). An optical system includes at least one lens (18, 38, 88) in optical communication with the LED module (16, 36, 86). A zoom apparatus (20, 40, 90) selectively adjusts the relative axial separation of the optical system and the LED module (16, 36, 86). In one embodiment (30), the zoom apparatus (40) is slidably adjustable. In a another embodiment (80), the zoom apparatus (90) is rotatably adjustable.

Claims

1. A lamp comprising:

an LED module including a plurality of LEDs arranged in a first pattern on a substrate;

an optical system including a plurality of lenses in optical communication with the LED module;

a zoom apparatus that selectively relatively axially translates the optical system and the LED module, the zoom apparatus including;

an inner sleeve on which the LED module is disposed, and

an outer sleeve on which the zoom apparatus is disposed,

the inner and outer sleeves being slidably interconnected with the inner sleeve disposed inside the outer sleeve.

2. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses comprises:

a plurality of Fresnel lens arranged in a second pattern that corresponds with the first pattern.

3. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the plurality of lenses remain optically aligned with the LEDs of the LED module during relative axial translation of the optical system and the LED module.

6. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the zoom apparatus further comprises:

a mechanical interlock between the inner and outer sleeves that prevents relative rotation therebetween.

8. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a stop that relatively biases the inner and outer sleeves into one or more selectable relative axial stop positions.

11. The lamp as set forth in claim 1, wherein the outer sleeve defines fixed outside dimensions of the zoom apparatus.

4. A lamp comprising:

an LED module including at least one LED arranged on a rigid substrate;

an optical system including at least one lens in optical communication with the LED module; and

a zoom apparatus that selectively adjusts the relative axial separation of the optical system and the LED module, the zoom apparatus including;

a first sleeve having the LED module rigidly arranged thereon, the first sleeve further having a first threading arranged thereon; and

a second sleeve having a second threading arranged thereon that is adapted to cooperate with the first threading such that the first sleeve and the second sleeve are relatively movable in a screwing fashion, the second sleeve further having the optical system rigidly arranged thereon.

5. The lamp as set forth in claim 4, further comprising:

an index system that relatively biases the first sleeve and the second sleeve into a selected one of a plurality of selectable relative rotational positions.

7. A lamp comprising:

an LED module including at least one LED arranged on a substrate;

an optical system including at least one lens in optical communication with the LED module; and

a zoom apparatus that selectively adjusts the relative axial separation of the optical system and the LED module, the zoom apparatus including a first sleeve having the LED module disposed thereon and a second sleeve having the optical system disposed thereon, the second sleeve slidingly connected with the first sleeve, the zoom apparatus further including a mechanical interlock between the first and the second sleeves that prevents relative rotation therebetween, the mechanical interlock including;

a protrusion on one of the first and the second sleeves, the protrusion being aligned parallel to the optical axis, and

a groove on one of the first and the second sleeves that receives the protrusion to prevent relative rotation of the first and the second sleeves.

9. A lamp comprising:

a plurality of light sources;

an optical system including a plurality of lenses in optical communication with the light sources; and

a zoom apparatus that selectively adjusts a relative axial separation of the optical system and the light sources, the zoom apparatus including two threadedly interconnected sleeves, the first sleeve having the light sources arranged thereon, and the second sleeve having the optical system arranged thereon.

10. The lamp as set forth in claim 9, wherein the light sources are rigidly mounted on the first sleeve and the optical system is rigidly mounted on the second sleeve.