Luminaire and method of operation

• US 8,038,319 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Original Assignee: Lighting Science Group Corporation (Pegasus Capital Advisors, L.P.)
• Inventors: Bailey, Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Han, Jason Moon
• Application Number:
  US12/472,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20090296407A1
• Time in Patent Office: 874 Days
• Field of Search: 362240-248, 362/249.02, 362/311.02, 362/327, 362332-340, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/245
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0037 characterized by the distribution or form of lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/0043 Inhomogeneous or irregular arrays, e.g. varying shape, size, height
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/02 with non-spherical faces G02B3/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A luminaire and a method of operating a luminaire is provided. The luminaire includes a light source emitting a plurality of light rays. A collimation device is arranged to receive a portion of light from the light source and transmits the portion of light through an exit aperture towards an illuminated area. The exit aperture includes a planar portion and at least one lenslet formed thereon. The lenslet is arranged having a first profile and a second profile, where the portion of light is refracted on a plurality of angles to form a twisted profile by the lenslet.

Claims

1. A luminaire comprising:

a light source emitting a plurality of light rays;

a collimation device receiving a portion of light from said light source and transmitting said portion of light through an exit aperture, said exit aperture having at least one wisp lenslet formed thereon, said at least one wisp lenslet having a first profile with an associated non-linear center line and a series of second profiles each orthogonal to the non-linear line, wherein said portion of light is refracted on a plurality of angles by said at least one wisp lenslet to form a bundle of light rays having a twisted coil profile.

2. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein said exit aperture includes a plurality of wisp lenslets, each of said plurality of wisp lenslets being oriented on a different angle with respect to each other.

3. The luminaire of claim 1 wherein said at least one wisp lenslet includes a semicircular first end and a substantially pointed second end.

4. The luminaire of claim 3 wherein said first profile extends along a centerline between said first end and said second end.

5. The luminaire of claim 4 wherein said centerline curves from said first end to said second end.

6. A luminaire comprising:

a light emitting diode (LED);

a collimator device arranged to receive light from said LED, said collimator device having an exit aperture opposite said LED;

a lenslet array operably coupled to said exit aperture, said lenslet array having a plurality of substantially tear-drop shaped wisp lenslets thereon, said plurality of wisp lenslets being arranged in a noncontiguous pattern, wherein each of said plurality of wisp lenslets are shaped to diffract a group of parallel light rays received from said exit aperture to be formed into a twisted coil profile.

7. The luminaire of claim 6 wherein each of said plurality of wisp lenslets include a semicircular first end, a substantially pointed second end and a centerline defined between said first end and said second end, wherein said centerline curves between said first end and said second end.

8. The luminaire of claim 7 wherein each of said plurality of wisp lenslets includes a curved profile arranged transverse to said centerline.

9. The luminaire of claim 8 wherein said lenslet array includes a substantially flat surface between said plurality of wisp lenslets.

10. The luminaire of claim 9 wherein each of said plurality of wisp lenslets is arranged on angle relative to a centerline of said surface.

11. The luminaire of claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of wisp lenslets is on a different angle relative to said centerline of said surface.

12. The luminaire of claim 11 wherein said collimator device includes a mirror portion, wherein said mirror portion is arranged to reflect light into said array of lenslets.

13. The luminaire of claim 12 wherein said collimator device includes an interior polynomial surface.

14. A method of lighting an area comprising:

generating a plurality of rays of light;

collimating a first portion of said plurality of rays of light, wherein said first portion includes a second portion and a third portion;

directing said first portion of rays of light into a wisp lenslet array having a first wisp lenslet;

refracting said second portion of rays of light with said first wisp lenslet, wherein said refracted second portion of rays of light forms a twisted coil profile.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising transmitting said third portion of rays of light through a substantially flat surface adjacent said first lenslet.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

collimating a fourth portion of rays of light from said plurality of rays of light, wherein said fourth portion includes a fifth portion of rays of light and a sixth portion of rays of light;

reflecting said fourth portion of rays of light into said wisp lenslet array.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising refracting said fifth portion of rays of light with a second wisp lenslet in said wisp lenslet array, wherein said refracted fifth portion of rays of light forms a twisted coil profile.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising transmitting said sixth portion of rays of light through a substantially flat surface adjacent said second wisp lenslet.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said first wisp lenslet and said second wisp lenslet are the same lenslet.