Method and LED apparatus for billboard lighting

• US 8,454,215 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2010
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ringdale Incorporated (Network Technology PLC)
• Original Assignee: Ringdale Incorporated (Network Technology PLC)
• Inventors: Bollmann, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Tracie Y
• Application Number:
  US12/837,213
• Publication Number:
  US 20110188235A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 362/218, 362/227, 362/547, 315/112.113, 405/59
• US Class Current: 362/547
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0404 the light source being enclosed in a box forming the character of the sign
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/145 curved reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1854 Light diffusing layer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

A high efficiency LED billboard lighting system with four LED modules replacing existing lighting modules. Each module has six heat sink assemblies arranged in two rows. The heat sink assemblies comprise an LED package mounted on a heat sink reflector. The LED package has a flat fine diffusing lens positioned over the diode. A diffusing lens is spaced apart from the heat sink assemblies. An LED controller is provided for each module, with power factor corrected, switch mode Power Supply, where the secondary side can be connected directly to a battery to monitor and charge one or more battery, and can run directly from the battery.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising

a first side lighting system comprising

a plurality of lighting modules, each lighting module comprising

a housing,

a plurality of heat sink assemblies, each heat sink assembly comprising

a heat sink reflector, wherein said heat sink reflector is designed to provide a uniformly lit surface by an asymmetric pattern,

at least one LED package mounted with respect to the heat sink reflector, the LED package comprising

 

a diode,

a first refraction element, and

a diffusing lens spaced apart from the first refraction element, and

a first LED controller.

2. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising

a second side lighting system comprising

a plurality of lighting modules, each lighting module comprising

a housing,

a plurality of heat sink assemblies, each heat sink assembly comprising

a heat sink reflector,

at least one LED package mounted with respect to the heat sink housing, the LED package comprising

a diode,

a first refraction element, and

a diffusing lens spaced apart from the first refraction element, and

a second LED controller.

3. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising

four lighting modules, each lighting module comprising

six LED heat sink assemblies, such that the heat sink assemblies are arranged in two rows in the lighting module.

4. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising

a reflector extension plate attached to each heat sink reflector.

5. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the LED package further comprises a flat fine diffusing lens positioned over the diode.

6. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the LED package is substantially larger than the diode.

7. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the LED package comprises a Citizen Electronics Group Co., LTD. CL-L102 series LED with a 120 degree viewing angle.

8. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the LED package provides approximately provide 140 lumens/watt.

9. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the first refraction element is a diffuser clamp.

10. The lighting system of claim 9 wherein

the diffuser clamp comprises 3/16 inch Industrex®

glass with an upward-facing fine scattering pattern.

11. The lighting system of claim 1 wherein

the first refraction element has an area approximately 10×

of the diode.

12. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising

a plurality of additional controllers, such that each lighting module comprises a controller.

13. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising

a communication link between the first LED controller and one of the plurality of additional controllers.

14. The lighting system of claim 1 further comprising a power supply.

15. The lighting system of claim 14 wherein

the power supply comprises a 48 volt battery power supply.

16. A method for providing lighting comprising

providing a first side lighting system comprising

a plurality of lighting modules, each lighting module comprising

a housing,

a plurality of heat sink assemblies, each heat sink assembly comprising

a heat sink reflector,

at least one LED package mounted with respect to the heat sink housing, the LED package comprising

a diode,

a first refraction element, and

a diffusing lens, and

a first LED controller and a plurality of other controllers;

improving light capture and reducing the point source properties of each LED package by providing a phosphor diffuser area much larger than the diode cross section;

designing the reflector to provide a uniformly lit surface by an asymmetric pattern; and

optimizing refraction by spacing apart the first refraction element from the diffusing lens.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising

communicating from the first LED controller to at least one other controller.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising

optimizing junction temperature by replacing an existing non-LED modules with the first side lighting system of claim 16.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein designing the reflector to provide a uniform asymmetric pattern further comprises

providing mirrors to deflect light in unwanted areas of the reflector region and directing those light beams to regions of a billboard.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising

providing, for each module, a power factor corrected, switch mode Power Supply, where the secondary side can be connected directly to a battery to monitor and charge one or more battery, and can run directly from the battery.