Illumination devices including multiple light emitting elements

• US 8,506,112 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2012
• Issued: 08/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
• Original Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
• Inventors: Dau, Wilson, Gardner, Robert C., Lerman, George, Lerman, Louis, Lowery, Christopher H., Ogonowsky, Brian D., Smith, George E., Speier, Ingo, Steele, Robert V., Teng, Jacqueline, York, Allan Brent
• Primary Examiner(s): Shallenberger, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/611,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20130201715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 335 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/558, 362/560, 362222-225, 362/217.04, 362/217.05, 362/311.06
• US Class Current: 362/217.05
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/10 of light guides of the optical fibres type
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/20 of light guides of a generally planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/008 the casing being outside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/77 with essentially identical diverging planar fins or blades, e.g. with fan-like or star-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0033 with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 1/045 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 : by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 : Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 : provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 : Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 : Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 : Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 : the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured to manipulate light provided by one or more light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the illumination devices feature one or more optical couplers that redirect illumination from the LEEs to a reflector which then directs the light into a range of angles. In some embodiments, the illumination device includes a second reflector that reflects at least some of the light from the first reflector. In certain embodiments, the illumination device includes a light guide that guides light from the collector to the first reflector. The components of the illumination device can be configured to provide illumination devices that can provide a variety of intensity distributions. Such illumination devices can be configured to provide light for particular lighting applications, including office lighting, task lighting, cabinet lighting, garage lighting, wall wash, stack lighting, and downlighting.

Claims

1. An illumination device comprising:

a substrate having first and second opposing surfaces, such that each of the first and second surfaces are elongated and have a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension shorter than the longitudinal dimension;

a plurality of light-emitting elements (LEEs) arranged on the first surface of the substrate and distributed along the longitudinal dimension, such that the LEEs emit, during operation, light in a first angular range with respect to a normal to the first surface of the substrate;

one or more solid primary optics arranged in an elongated configuration along the longitudinal dimension of the first surface and coupled with the LEEs, the one or more solid primary optics being shaped to redirect light received from the LEEs in the first angular range, and to provide the redirected light in a second angular range, a divergence of the second angular range being smaller than a divergence of the first angular range at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate;

a solid light guide comprising input and output ends, the input and output ends of the solid light guide being elongated in the longitudinal dimension and having substantially the same shape, wherein

the input end of the solid light guide is coupled to the one or more solid primary optics to receive the light provided by the solid primary optic in the second angular range, and

the solid light guide is shaped to guide the light received from the solid primary optic in the second angular range and to provide the guided light in substantially the same second angular range with respect to the first surface of the substrate at the output end of the solid light guide; and

a solid secondary optic comprising an input end, a redirecting surface opposing the input end and first and second output surfaces, such that each of the input end, and redirecting, first output and second output surfaces of the solid secondary optic are elongated along the longitudinal dimension, wherein

the input end of the solid secondary optic is coupled to the output end of the solid light guide to receive the light provided by the solid light guide in the second angular range,

the redirecting surface has first and second portions that reflect the light received at the input end of the solid secondary optic in the second angular range, and provide the reflected light in third and fourth angular ranges with respect to the normal to the first surface of the substrate towards the first and second output surfaces, respectively, wherein at least prevalent directions of propagation of light in the third and fourth angular ranges are different from each other and from a prevalent direction of propagation of light in the second angular range at least perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate,

the first output surface is shaped to refract the light provided by the first portion of the redirecting surface in the third angular range as first refracted light, and to output the first refracted light in a fifth angular range with respect to the normal to the first surface of the substrate outside the first output surface of the solid secondary optic, and

the second output surface is shaped to refract the light provided by the second portion of the redirecting surface in the fourth angular range as second refracted light, and to output the second refracted light in a sixth angular range with respect to the normal of the first surface of the substrate outside the second output surface of the solid secondary optic.

2. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the divergence of the second angular range is smaller than the divergence of the first angular range also along the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate.

3. The illumination device of claim 1, further comprising a tertiary optic comprising:

a first reflector elongated along the longitudinal dimension, the first reflector at least in part facing the first output surface of the solid secondary optic, wherein the first reflector is shaped to reflect at least some of the light output by the first output surface of the solid secondary optic in the fifth angular range as first reflected light in a seventh angular range with respect to the normal to the first surface of the substrate, wherein at least a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the seventh angular range is different from a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the fifth angular range at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, such that a first portion of an intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes at least some of the first reflected light.

4. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein the first reflector is coupled to an edge of the first output surface of the solid secondary optic, and at least a portion of the first reflector is an involute of at least a portion of the first output surface of the solid secondary optic.

5. The illumination device of claim 3, wherein the tertiary optic further comprises:

a second reflector elongated along the longitudinal dimension, the second reflector facing the second output surface of the solid secondary optic, wherein the second reflector is shaped to reflect at least some of the light output by the second output surface of the solid secondary optic in the sixth angular range as second reflected light in an eighth angular range with respect to the normal to the first surface of the substrate, wherein at least a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the eighth angular range is different from a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the sixth angular range at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension, such that the first portion of the intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes at least some of the second reflected light.

6. The illumination device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second reflectors is spaced apart from the second output surface of the solid secondary optic.

7. The illumination device of claim 5, wherein the first and second reflectors at least in part transmit at least some of the light output by the first and second output surfaces of the solid secondary optic in the fifth and sixth angular ranges, respectively, wherein a second portion of the intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes the transmitted light.

8. The illumination device of claim 7, wherein the first and second reflectors have perforations, the perforations being positioned to transmit at least some of the light output by the first and second output surfaces of the solid secondary optic in the fifth and sixth angular ranges, respectively, wherein the second portion of the intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes the transmitted light.

9. The illumination device of claim 5, wherein at least one of the first and second reflectors is thermally coupled with the substrate.

10. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein

a first parameter combination comprises (i) a shape of the one or more primary optics, (ii) a shape of the first portion of the redirecting surface and an orientation thereof relative to the input end of the solid secondary optic, (iii) a shape of the first output surface and an orientation thereof relative to the first portion of the redirecting surface, and (iv) a configuration of the light guide, the first parameter combination determining the fifth angular range, wherein the first parameter combination is tailored such that the fifth angular range matches a predefined fifth angular range;

a second parameter combination comprises (v) the shape of the one or more primary optics, (vi) a shape of the second portion of the redirecting surface and an orientation thereof relative to the input end of the solid secondary optic, (vii) a shape of the second output surface and an orientation thereof relative to the first portion of the redirecting surface, and (viii) the configuration of the light guide, the second parameter combination determining the sixth angular range, wherein the second parameter combination is tailored such that the sixth angular range matches a predefined sixth angular range, and

a relative offset of the first and second portions of the redirecting surface with respect to the input end of the solid secondary optic determines a relative distribution of light between the fifth angular range and the sixth angular range, wherein the relative offset is selected such that the relative distribution matches a predefined relative distribution.

11. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the configuration of the light guide includes an aspect ratio of a width of an input end of the light guide versus a length of the light guide.

12. The illumination device of claim 10, wherein the first parameter combination further comprises an intensity distribution of the first angular range, the second parameter combination further comprises the intensity distribution of the first angular range.

13. The illumination device of claim 10, further comprising a tertiary optic comprising:

a reflector elongated along the longitudinal dimension, the reflector at least in part facing the first output surface of the solid secondary optic, wherein the reflector reflects at least some of the light output by the first output surface of the solid secondary optic in the predefined fifth angular range as first reflected light in a seventh angular range with respect to the normal to the first surface of the substrate, wherein at least a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the seventh angular range is different from a prevalent direction of propagation of light of the predefined fifth angular range at least in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension,

such that a first portion of the intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes the first reflected light, and a second portion of the intensity distribution output by the illumination device during operation includes at least some of the light output by the second output surface of the solid secondary optic within the predefined sixth angular range, wherein the intensity distribution is asymmetric with respect to the first portion and the second portion.

14. The illumination device of claim 13, wherein the reflector has a first end having a curved portion and a second end having a substantially planar portion, the first end being arranged proximate the light guide.

15. A system comprising N illumination devices according to claim 13, where N is an even number larger or equal to 4, the N illumination devices being connected to each other to form a polygon, such that the substrates of the connected illumination devices lie in a common plane, and any of pair-wise parallel illumination devices from among the connected illumination devices outputs the first portion of the intensity distribution towards each other, and the second portion of the intensity distribution away from each other.

16. A system comprising N illumination devices according to claim 13, where N is a number larger or equal to 3, the N illumination devices arranged such that the substrates of the illumination devices are substantially coplanar, and each one of the illumination devices outputs the first portion of the intensity distribution towards one or more opposite ones of the illumination devices, and emits the second portion of the intensity distribution away from each other.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein N is an odd number.

18. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the redirecting surface comprises a reflective material, where the reflective material includes one or more of Ag or Al.

19. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the input end, the redirecting surface, and the first and second output surfaces of the solid secondary optic has a uniform cross-sectional shape along the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate in planes perpendicular thereto.

20. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate, the redirecting surface has an apex that separates the first and second portions of the redirecting surface.

21. The illumination device of claim 20, wherein the apex of the redirecting surface is a rounded apex with a non-zero radius of curvature.

22. The illumination device of claim 20, wherein the first and second portions of the redirecting surface have first and second arcuate shapes in the cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate.

23. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate, the redirecting surface is shaped as an arc of a circle, and the first and second portions of the redirecting surface represent first and second portions of the arc of the circle.

24. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein

the first and second portions of the redirecting surface are separated, at least in part, by a slot, and

for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate that intersects the slot, first and second curves corresponding to the first and second portions of the redirecting surface are separated by a discontinuity.

25. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein

either of the first and second portions of the redirecting surface comprise one or more slots, and

for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate that intersects the one or more slots, first and second curves corresponding to the first and second portions of the redirecting surface comprise one or more discontinuities associated with the one or more slots.

26. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate, either of the first and second portions of the redirecting surface has one or more apexes.

27. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein for a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the first surface of the substrate, the first portion of the redirecting surface is shaped as a plurality of potentially disjoint, piecewise differentiable first curves, and the second portion of the redirecting surface is shaped as a plurality of potentially disjoint, piecewise differentiable second curves.

28. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of LEEs and the one or more solid primary optics are integrally formed.

29. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein the one or more solid primary optics, the solid light guide and the solid secondary optic are integrally formed of one or more transparent materials, and the one or more transparent materials have substantially matching refractive indices.

30. The illumination device of claim 1, wherein an angular range comprises (i) a divergence of the angular range and (ii) a prevalent direction of propagation of light in the angular range, wherein the prevalent direction of propagation corresponds to a direction along which a portion of an intensity distribution has a maximum, and the divergence corresponds to a solid angle outside of which the intensity distribution drops below a predefined fraction of the maximum of the intensity distribution.