Refractive optics to provide uniform illumination in a display case

• US 8,613,524 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2010
• Issued: 12/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Sekela, William, Sommers, Mathew, Stadelman, Larry, Kaminski, Mark, Schultz, Samantha
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US12/913,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20110096533A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 362/125, 362/245, 362/219, 362/244, 362/249.02, 405/44, 405/59, 405/60
• US Class Current: 362/125
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 3/001 Devices for lighting, humidifying, heating, ventilation
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/08 producing an asymmetric light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/305 for refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/405 for shop-windows or displays
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case, where the lighting assembly is mounted to a display case and includes a visibility envelop within which an onlooker of the display case cannot see. The lighting assembly includes an elongated frame provisioned to receive modular inserts and at least one modular insert operatively connected to the elongated frame. The at least one modular insert includes a light module, where the light module includes an optical lens and a light source. The optical lens is disposed over and/or around the light source and is disposed exclusively within the visibility envelope. The optical lens is fashioned to control light emitted from the light source using refraction and total internal reflection.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case, said assembly comprising:

an elongated frame; and

,

a plurality of modular inserts removably connected to the elongated frame, wherein the plurality of modular inserts include a plurality of light modules and at least one spacer, wherein each of the plurality of light modules is removably coupled to adjacent light modules electrically;

wherein said light modules comprise a printed circuit board hosting at least one light emitting diode (LED), a lens optically coupled to said at least one LED, said printed circuit board and said lens being retained by a housing, said housing including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame; and

wherein the spacer comprises a housing defining an opening, said opening configured to receive said light module, said spacer further including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of light modules is disposed within one of the at least one spacer.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of modular inserts includes a plurality of spacers, wherein the plurality of light modules and the plurality of spacers alternate along the length of the lighting assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the each of the plurality of light modules is in electrical communication with each other light module.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of light modules receives power from an external power supply electrically connected to one of the plurality of modular inserts disposed at a distal end of the lighting assembly.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the plurality of modular inserts includes a power module disposed on a distal end of the lighting assembly.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the lens directs a majority of light generated by the at least one light source perpendicular to the normal of a base upon which the at least one light source rests.

8. A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case, said assembly comprising:

an elongated frame; and

,

a plurality of modular inserts removably connected to the elongated frame, wherein the plurality of modular inserts include a plurality of light modules and at least one spacer, wherein each of the plurality of light modules is removably coupled to adjacent light modules electrically;

wherein said light modules comprise a printed circuit board hosting at least one light emitting diode (LED), a lens optically coupled to said at least one LED, said printed circuit board and said lens being retained by a housing, said housing including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame; and

wherein the spacer comprises a housing defining an opening, said opening configured to receive said light module, said spacer further including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame and opposed raised peripheral edges, and wherein a line connecting said edges in conjunction with the housing defines a region encompassing said LED.

9. A lighting assembly for illuminating a display case, said assembly comprising:

an elongated frame; and

,

a plurality of modular inserts removably connected to the elongated frame, wherein the plurality of modular inserts include a plurality of light modules and at least one spacer, wherein each of the plurality of light modules is removably coupled to adjacent light modules electrically;

wherein said light modules comprise a printed circuit board hosting at least one light emitting diode (LED), a lens optically coupled to said at least one LED, said printed circuit board and said lens being retained by a housing, said housing including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame and a conduit configured to receive an electrical cable;

wherein the spacer comprises a housing defining an opening, said opening configured to receive said light module, said spacer further including opposing tabs configured to be received slidably in the frame and a groove configured to receive said electrical cable.