Lighting device and method of generating output illumination

• US 8,690,406 B2
• Filed: 11/11/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lumileds LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Drenten, Ronald R., Schug, Josef A., Valster, Adriaan
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Joseph L
• Application Number:
  US13/130,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222265A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• Field of Search: 362/539, 362/545
• US Class Current: 362/545
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/16 Laser light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/176 Light sources where the light is generated by photoluminescent material spaced from a primary light generating element
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/635 by moving refractors, filters or transparent cover plates
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/675 by moving reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/683 by moving screens
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/08 for producing coloured light, e.g. monochromatic; for reducing intensity of light with provision for controlling the colour F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/14 for producing polarised light
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2202 Reconstruction geometries or arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 1/2294 Addressing the hologram to an active spatial light modulator
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2001/2218 being perpendicular to optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2210/20 2D object

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting device for generating output illumination having at least one directional characteristic. The lighting device includes at least one light-emitting device and at least one optical element disposed in an optical path of the light-emitting device. The lighting device also includes a screen-like member for changing at least one physical property of light passing therethrough and an optical device for generating an intermediate image on the screen-like member. The screen-like member and the optical device are located in the optical path between the light-emitting device and the optical element projecting the intermediate image.

Claims

1. A lighting device comprising

at least one light-emitting device,

at least one optical element disposed in an optical path of the light-emitting device for generating output illumination having at least one directional characteristic, and

a screen-like member for changing at least one physical property of light passing therethrough and an optical device for generating an intermediate image on the screen-like member, wherein the screen-like member and the optical device are located in the optical path between the light-emitting device and the optical element, wherein the optical element is configured for projecting said image.

2. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is a high-luminance light-emitting device and/or a laser.

3. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device is a vehicle lighting device.

4. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the physical property of the light is the color of the light and/or the polarization of the light.

5. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the screen-like member is an at least partially transparent screen-like member or a reflective screen-like member.

6. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the screen-like member is a phosphor plate or a phosphor film.

7. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting device is a light-emitting device emitting blue light and/or ultraviolet light.

8. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises at least one scanning device.

9. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical device comprises at least one hologram device with at least one hologram.

10. A lighting device according to claim 9, wherein the hologram is a fixed hologram and/or an interchangeable hologram and/or a controllable hologram.

11. A lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the lighting device further comprises an aperture member for restricting a light cone of the output illumination.

12. A method of generating output illumination having a plurality of directional characteristics, using at least one light-emitting device, an optical device, a screen-like member and at least one optical element for generating output illumination having a directional characteristic, the method comprising the steps of:

generating at least one intermediate image on the screen-like member by using light emitted by the light-emitting device and the optical device,

changing at least one physical property of the light by means of said member, and

projecting said image by means of the optical element, wherein the screen-like member and the optical device are located in the optical path between the light-emitting device and the optical element.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the directional characteristic of the output illumination is changed by an alteration of the intermediate image and/or a change of an aperture by moving an aperture member for restricting a light cone of the output illumination.