Lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance

• US 7,237,925 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Issued: 07/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Lumination LLC
• Inventors: Mayer, Mark J., Southard, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y MY QUACH
• Application Number:
  US10/780,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20050180135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,231 Days
• Field of Search: 362/84, 362/240, 362/244, 362/245, 362/246, 362/247, 362/249, 362/310, 362/311, 362/800, 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/247
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes an elongated envelope, an LED mounted in the elongated envelope, and a reflector. The elongated envelope includes a translucent portion. The reflector is positioned in relation to the LED such that the light emitted from the LED is directed toward the translucent portion of the elongated envelope and dispersed along the length of the lighting apparatus.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope including a light-transmissive portion, wherein said envelope defines a first axis along its length;

an LED mounted in said elongated envelope;

a reflector positioned in relation to said LED such that light emitted from said LED is directed from said reflector toward the light-transmissive portion of said elongated envelope, said reflector adapted to focus light toward a second axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis, said reflector comprises a material having greater light diffusing properties along a first axis than along a second axis.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel support attached to said elongated envelope opposite the light-transmissive portion, wherein said LED mounts to said channel support and said channel support includes engagement members adapted to receive associated connecting members.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflector is adapted to spread light emitted from said LED along the first axis.

4. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflector is arcuate in a cross-section taken substantially normal to the first axis.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LED faces substantially perpendicular to the light-transmissive portion of said elongated envelope.

6. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second LED, wherein said LEDs are positioned greater than 0.5 inches away from one another.

7. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible power cord, wherein said LED attaches to said flexible power cord.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongated envelope includes a first opaque leg and a second opaque leg interconnected by said light-transmissive portion, and said reflector is adapted to direct light toward said light-transmissive portion such that the light does not strike at least one of the first and second opaque legs.

9. A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an extruded elongated envelope defining a first axis along its length and having a general U-shape or V-shape configuration in a cross-section taken normal to the first axis, said envelope including a light-transmissive portion running at least substantially parallel to the first axis and an opaque portion adjacent the light-transmissive portion and formed integrally with the light-transmissive portion;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said elongated envelope aligned with the first axis; and

a reflector disposed adjacent said LEDs, said reflector being shaped and positioned in relation to said LEDs such that light emitted from said LEDs is directed from said reflector towards the light-transmissive portion of said elongated envelope and dispersed along the light-transmissive portion.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 9, wherein said opaque portion comprises first and second opaque legs and said light-transmissive portion is disposed between the opaque legs.

11. A lighting apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope including a first opaque leg and a second opaque leg interconnected by a light-transmissive portion, the envelope defining a first axis along its greatest dimension and a second axis transverse to the first axis;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said elongated envelope; and

a reflector positioned in relation to said LEDs such that light emitted from said LEDs is directed from said reflector toward the light-transmissive portion of said elongated envelope.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reflector is shaped such that it focuses light along the second axis and disperses light along the first axis.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reflector comprises a material that diffuses more light along the first axis than along the second axis.

14. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reflector is adapted to direct light such that light emitted from adjacent LEDs overlaps.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, wherein said reflector is curved in a cross section that is taken substantially normal to the first axis.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 15, wherein said reflector is parallel to the first axis in a cross section that is taken substantially normal to the second axis.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 16, wherein said LEDs are spaced greater than 0.5 inches away from one another.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a phosphor portion positioned in relation to said LED such that light emitted from said LED either reflects off and/or passes through said phosphor portion.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein said phosphor portion is affixed to or embedded in said light-transmissive portion.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein said phosphor portion is affixed to or embedded in said reflector.

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein said phosphor portion comprises a phosphor insert interposed between said reflector and said light-transmissive portion.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a support connected to said elongated envelope opposite the light-transmissive portion, said LEDs being mounted on said support.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 22, further comprising a flexible power cord disposed in a channel defined by said support, wherein said LEDs mount to said flexible power cord.

24. A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope including a light-transmissive portion;

a flexible power cord;

an LED attached to said flexible power cord; and

a reflector positioned in relation to said LED such that light emitted from said LED is directed from said reflector toward the light-transmissive portion of said elongated envelope, said reflector being configured to focus light towards a first axis and to disperse light along a second axis.

25. The lighting apparatus of claim 24, wherein the flexible power cord runs along a length of the envelope.

26. The lighting apparatus of claim 24, wherein the light-transmissive portion is translucent.

27. The lighting apparatus of claim 24, wherein said LED faces the reflector.

28. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, wherein said LED faces perpendicular to a direction in which the light-transmissive portion runs.

29. The lighting apparatus of claim 24, wherein the first axis is generally perpendicular to the second axis.

30. The lighting apparatus of claim 24, wherein said reflector is configured to develop an overlapping light intensity distribution along the first axis.