Illumination unit

• US 9,000,346 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vishay Electronic GmbH (Vishay Intertechnology Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Vishay Electronic GmbH (Vishay Intertechnology Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dinc, Mustafa, Lunt, Harald, Rettenmeier, Franz X., Angerstein, Jrg
• Primary Examiner(s): Sohn, Seung C
• Application Number:
  US13/146,411
• Publication Number:
  US 20120018623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.AL, 136250-251, 257 91- 93
• US Class Current: 250/214.AL
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/12 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0435 activated by remote control means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0442 activated by means of a sensor, e.g. motion or photodetectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/505 of reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/74 with fins or blades
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/103 of streets or roads
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An illumination unit for illuminating large surfaces comprises a carrier device (11), to which a plurality of light emitting diodes (13) is fastened in a two-dimensional arrangement. A plurality of separate reflector elements (17) is fastened to the carrier device between the light emitting diodes.

Claims

1. An illumination unit for illuminating large areas, having a carrier device (1) to which a plurality of light emitting diodes (13) are fastened in a two-dimensional arrangement, wherein a plurality of separate reflector elements (17) are fastened to the carrier device (11) between the light emitting diodes (13),

wherein the reflector elements (17) are formed from metal or from a metal-coated plastic, and

wherein the reflector elements (17) are thermally conductively connected to the light emitting diodes (13) via the carrier device (11) so that the reflector elements (17) are active as a cooling device for the light emitting diodes (13).

2. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein each reflection unit (17) is associated with a plurality of light emitting diodes (13).

3. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector units (17) are elongate and are in particular made as reflector webs.

4. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) have a straight-line shape, a curved shape, an angled shape or a meandering shape.

5. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) taper as the distance from the carrier device (11) increases with respect to a cross-sectional plane extending perpendicular to the carrier device (11).

6. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) are trapezoidal or wedge-shaped with respect to a cross-sectional plane extending perpendicular to the carrier device (11).

7. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) have flanks (33) which are inclined with respect to a surface normal (2) of the carrier device (11).

8. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein the flanks (3) are straight-lined or are concavely curved with respect to a cross-sectional plane extending perpendicular to the carrier device (11).

9. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 7, wherein the flanks (33) are formed as continuously planar, continuously concave or with a plurality of indentations (39) with respect to a longitudinal sectional plane extending parallel to the carrier device (11).

10. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the height of the reflector elements (17) is larger than the width.

11. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) are screwed, riveted, adhesively bonded, soldered, welded, latched or fastened by press fit to the carrier device (11).

12. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least some of the light emitting diodes (13) are arranged in a plurality of rows (15), with the reflector elements (17) being fastened to the carrier device (11) between the rows (15) of light emitting diodes (13).

13. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least one reflector element (17) is fastened to the carrier device (11) between each pair of adjacent rows (15) of light emitting diodes (13).

14. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 12, wherein the rows (15) of light emitting diodes (13) extend along a longitudinal direction (X) and are arranged adjacent to one another along a transverse direction (Y) so that the light emitting diodes (13) form a two-dimensional matrix, with the reflector elements (17) likewise extending along the longitudinal direction (X).

15. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 14, wherein a respective reflector element (17) is also fastened to the carrier device (11) adjacent to the two outermost rows (15) of light emitting diodes (13) in the transverse direction (Y).

16. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 12, wherein at least two rows (15) of light emitting diodes (13) are provided, with each row having at least three light emitting diodes (13).

17. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) are formed from matt aluminum.

18. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the reflector elements (17) are diffusely reflective, and/or wherein the light emitting diodes (13) are arranged outside the focal point of the reflector elements (17).

19. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier device (11) has at least one layer (32) of metal, with the reflector elements (17) being connected to the metal layer (32) directly or via a thermally conductive insulating layer (34).

20. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 19, wherein the metal layer (32) is provided at that side of the carrier device (11) to which the light emitting diodes are fastened, with the insulating layer (34) being transparent.

21. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier device (11) is planar.

22. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the carrier device (11) has conductor tracks (19, 21, 23) to which the light emitting diodes (13) are electrically connected.

23. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein a plurality or all of the light emitting diodes (13) are connected electrically in series or in parallel, or wherein the light emitting diodes (13) are controlled individually.

24. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination unit has a light sensor (41) for measuring the environmental light and an evaluation device (43) which is made to control an energy supply (45) of the light emitting diodes (13) in dependence on a measured value of the light sensor.

25. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 24, wherein the light sensor (41) has a spectral sensitivity which is matched to the spectral sensitivity of the human eye.

26. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 25, wherein the light sensor (41) has a combination of a light-sensitive element having an optical filter, and/or wherein the spectral sensitivity of the light sensor (41) ranges from approximately 400 nm to approximately 620 nm with a maximum at approximately 510 nm.

27. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 24, wherein the light sensor (41) is arranged at an end face or a rear side of the illumination unit.

28. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination unit has a radio receiver (51) and an evaluation device (43) which is made to control an energy supply (45) of the light emitting diodes (13) in dependence on a received value of the radio receiver.

29. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 28, wherein the illumination unit further has a radio transmitter, with the evaluation device (43) being made to control the radio transmitter for transmitting state data and/or environmental data.

30. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the light emitting diodes (13) has a white emission spectrum, an infrared emission spectrum or different-colored emission spectra.

31. An illumination unit in accordance with claim 1, wherein the illumination unit is formed without separate lenses and/or without filler material in the intermediate space between adjacent reflector elements (17).

32. An illumination device having a plurality of illumination units for illuminating large areas, wherein the illumination units each have a carrier device (1) to which a plurality of light emitting diodes (13) are fastened in a two-dimensional arrangement, wherein a plurality of separate reflector elements (17) are fastened to the carrier device (11) between the light emitting diodes (13), wherein the illumination units are arranged next to one another in one direction or in two directions (X, Y) perpendicular to one another,

wherein the reflector elements (17) are formed from metal or from a metal-coated plastic, and

wherein the reflector elements (17) are thermally conductively connected to the light emitting diodes (13) via the carrier device (11) so that the reflector elements (17) are active as a cooling device for the light emitting diodes (13).

33. An illumination unit modular system having at least one illumination unit for illuminating large areas, having a carrier device (1) to which a plurality of light emitting diodes (13) are fastened in a two-dimensional arrangement, wherein a plurality of separate reflector elements (17) are fastened to the carrier device (11) between the light emitting diodes (13), wherein the modular system includes at least one kind of a carrier device (11) and different sets of reflector elements (17) which can be selectively fastened to the carrier device (11), with the reflector elements (17) of the different sets differing from one another with respect to:

a respective angle of inclination (α

) with respect to a surface nom al (Z) of the carrier device (11);

the shape;

the length;

the number of reflector elements (17) per carrier device (11); and

/or

the arrangement of the reflector elements (17) at the carrier unit (11),

wherein the reflector elements (17) are formed from metal or from a metal-coated plastic, and

wherein the reflector elements (17) are thermally conductively connected to the light emitting diodes (13) via the carrier device (11) so that the reflector elements (17) are active as a cooling device for the light emitting diodes (13).