Illumination device

• US 7,997,759 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2009
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Designs For Vision, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Designs For Vision, Inc.
• Inventors: Braganca, Kenneth, Botta, Michael, Feinbloom, Richard E, Yan, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Alavi; Ali
• Application Number:
  US12/321,520
• Publication Number:
  US 20090219717A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.1, 362/277, 362/249.03, 362/249.07, 362/249.11, 362/572, 362/238, 362/240
• US Class Current: 362/239
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/04 with provision for changing light source, e.g. turret auxiliary devices for cleaning, placing, or removing incandescent lamps H01K3/32, fluorescent lamps H01J9/006
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/00 Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/508
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/202 for dentistry
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• 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 2113/00 Combination of light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

Disclosed is an illumination device for projecting a substantially uniform light at a remote distance. The illumination device comprises a mounting assembly divided into a plurality of sections, each section comprising a plurality of light emitting sources arranged substantially equidistant along a circumference of the assembly to project a light substantially perpendicular to the assembly, an contact plate connected via a central axis with, and fixed to, the mounting assembly, the contact plate providing an electrical contact to each of the light emitting devices, a plurality of lensing assemblies equal in number to the plurality of sections axially aligned with the mounting assembly, the lensing assembly aligned with a select one of the light emitting sources in a corresponding section, the light emitting source being positioned in front of a focal point of the lensing assembly, each lensing assembly comprising at least one optically transparent lens determining the lensing assembly focal point wherein the lensing assembly is oriented at a known angle with regard to the light projected from the light source, and means for shifting the contact plate and mounting assembly to align a select one of said light emitting devices with a corresponding lensing assembly.

Claims

1. An illumination device for projecting a substantially uniform light at a remote distance, said device comprising:

a mounting assembly divided into a plurality of sections, each section comprising;

a plurality of light emitting sources arranged substantially equi-distant along a circumference of said assembly, said light emitting sources projecting a light image substantially perpendicular to said mounting assembly;

an contact plate connected via a central axis with, and fixed to, said mounting assembly, said contact plate providing an electrical contact to each of said light emitting devices;

a plurality of lensing assemblies equal in number to said plurality of sections, axially aligned with said mounting assembly, each lensing assembly aligned with a select one of said light emitting sources in a corresponding section of said mounting assembly wherein said select light emitting source is positioned in front of a focal point of said lensing assembly, each lensing assembly comprising at least one optically transparent lens determining said lensing assembly focal point, said lensing assemblies optically oriented at a known angle with respect to said light projected from a corresponding one of said light emitting source; and

means for shifting said contact plate and mounting assembly to align a select one of said light emitting devices with said lensing assembly.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said light emitting devices are selected from the group consisting of:

LEDs and LED arrays.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said light emitting devices are selected from the group consisting of devices having:

color temperatures of 2400-8000°

K and wavelengths of 300-600 nm.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an electrical contact plate, axially contacted, via said central axis, to said contact plate, said electrical contact plate proving an electrical source to said select one light emitting device aligned with said lensing assembly.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly comprises:

a plurality of wells arranged around the circumference of said mounting assembly, each of said wells retaining a mounting upon which said light emitting sources is attached.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein said wells are arranged in said mounting assembly at an angle substantially perpendicular to said mounting assembly.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said mounting is formed with a facing surface substantially perpendicular to said mounting assembly.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said known angle has at least one of a known angle of depression and a known toe-in angle, wherein said angle of depression and said toe-in angle are determined as a function of the remote distance, a distance of said LEDs from said central axis and an orientation of said lensing assemblies about said central axis.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said means for shifting said contact plate and mounting assembly is selected from the group consisting of:

manual, mechanical, electrical and electric-mechanical.

10. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a device mounted along said central axis, said device selected from the group consisting of;

a television camera and a light emitting source.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said lensing assembly further comprising:

means for adjusting said focal point of said lensing assembly.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein said adjustment means of said lensing assembly is selected from the group consisting of:

rotary and sliding.

13. An illumination device for projecting a substantially uniform light at a remote distance, said device comprising:

a mounting assembly divided into a plurality of sections, each section comprising;

a plurality of light emitting sources arranged substantially equi-distant along a circumference of and mounted onto said mounting assembly, said light emitting sources projecting a light image substantially perpendicular to said mounting assembly;

a contact plate connected via a central axis with, and fixed to, said mounting assembly, said contact plate providing an electrical contact to each of said light emitting devices;

a plurality of lensing assemblies equal in number to said plurality of sections, axially aligned with said mounting assembly, each lensing assembly aligned with a select one of said light emitting sources in a corresponding section of said mounting assembly wherein said select light emitting source is positioned in front of a focal point of said lensing assembly, each lensing assembly comprising at least one optically transparent lens determining said lensing assembly focal point, said tensing assemblies optically oriented at a known angle with respect to said light projected from a corresponding one of said light emitting source; and

means for shifting said contact plate and mounting assembly to align a select one of said light emitting devices with said lensing assembly.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein said light emitting sources are mounted to said mounting assembly with an adhesive.

15. The device of claim 13, wherein said light emitting sources are mounted on a circuit board and said circuit board is attached to said mounting assembly.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein said light emitting sources are wave-soldered onto said circuit board.

17. The device of claim 15, wherein said circuit board is attached to said mounting using at least one of:

an adhesive and a mechanical attachment.