LED light engine
DC CAFCFirst Claim
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1. A light engine for illuminating a target plane at a defined uniformity, the light engine spaced from the target plane a distance D and comprising:
- a plurality of LEDs arranged in adjacent rows spaced from one another by a distance W, each of the LEDs having an off-axis angle β
1 defined by a half intensity boundary where luminous intensity of the LED on a plane is about half the luminous intensity on the plane at the direct on-axis view, wherein tan β
1<
(W/2)/D; and
a plurality of optical elements each cooperating with a respective LED to broaden the off-axis angle β
1 to an off-axis angle β
2 wherein the half intensity boundary of one row of LEDs is in close proximity to the half intensity boundary of the adjacent row of LEDs at the target plane.
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Abstract
A light engine comprises a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of optical elements each cooperating with a respective LED. The optical elements broaden the off-axis angle from the respective LEDs to provide a more uniform illumination at a target plane.
34 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A light engine for illuminating a target plane at a defined uniformity, the light engine spaced from the target plane a distance D and comprising:
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a plurality of LEDs arranged in adjacent rows spaced from one another by a distance W, each of the LEDs having an off-axis angle β
1 defined by a half intensity boundary where luminous intensity of the LED on a plane is about half the luminous intensity on the plane at the direct on-axis view, wherein tan β
1<
(W/2)/D; anda plurality of optical elements each cooperating with a respective LED to broaden the off-axis angle β
1 to an off-axis angle β
2 wherein the half intensity boundary of one row of LEDs is in close proximity to the half intensity boundary of the adjacent row of LEDs at the target plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for illuminating a sign comprising:
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placing a plurality of electrically interconnected LED modules in a sign having a translucent cover, each LED module including an LED and an optical element cooperating the with LED, each LED having an off-axis angle β
1 where luminous intensity of light emanating from the respective LED that is not redirected by the respective optical element is about half the luminous intensity of on-axis luminous intensity for the respective LED;spacing each LED a distance D from the translucent cover; arranging the LED modules in adjacent rows such that adjacent LEDs are spaced from one another a distance W, wherein tan β
1<
(W/2)/D; andilluminating the plurality of LEDs to generate a plurality of beam patterns on the translucent cover by redirecting light from each LED via the respective optical element to have off-axis angle β
2 where luminous intensity of light emanating from the respective LED that is redirected by the respective optical element is about half the luminous intensity of on-axis luminous intensity for the respective LED and the respective optical element, wherein a first beam pattern on the target plane generated by the first LED in combination with a first optical element in the first row and bounded by the off-axis angle β
2 overlaps or coincides with a second altered beam pattern on the target plane generated by the second LED in combination with a second optical element in the adjacent row and bounded by the off-axis angle β
2. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A light engine comprising:
a plurality of electrically interconnected LED modules, the LED modules including a support having circuitry on a first surface; an LED on the first surface of the support and electrically connected to the circuitry, the LED having a primary viewing angle; a substantially dome-shaped refractive optical element covering the LED, the optical element having a generally spherical outer profile and substantially ellipsoidal inner profile to increase the primary viewing angle of the LED to provide an altered viewing angle that is greater than the primary viewing angle; and an overmolded housing substantially surrounding said support and contacting the optical element to seal the LED protecting the LED from ambient. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A light engine for illuminating a target plane at a defined uniformity, said light engine spaced from the target plane a distance D and comprising:
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a plurality of LEDs arranged in adjacent rows spaced from one another by a distance W, each of the LEDs having an off-axis angle β
1 defined by a boundary where the luminous intensity of the LED is about half the intensity at the direct on-axis view, wherein tan β
1<
(W/2)/D; anda plurality of optical elements each cooperating with a respective LED to broaden the off-axis angle β
1 to an off-axis angle β
2 wherein tan β
1 is about (W/2)/D.
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Specification