Edge-lit light panel having a downlight within a lined indentation in the panel
First Claim
1. A light fixture for producing downward-propagating illumination, comprising:
- a downward-facing panel producing diffuse light, the panel being generally flat and having an indentation, the indentation having a lining that produces diffuse light, the panel and the lining having essentially the same luminance;
wherein the downward-facing panel has a rectangular surface in plane parallel with a ceiling surface and has four edges of the rectangular surface sized and dimensioned to be received within a ceiling tile cavity used with a hanging grid ceiling;
a downlight recessed into the indentation, the downlight producing a directional beam that emerges downward from within the indentation, the directional beam having a luminance controllable separately from the diffuse light wherein the indentation produces a curved and funnel-shaped surface around the circumference of the indentation and within a center region of the rectangular surface extending from the generally flat rectangular surface of the downward-facing panel to a surface of the recessed downlight.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light fixture and method for producing downward-propagating illumination are disclosed. A downward-facing panel may produce diffuse light. The panel may be generally flat and may have an indentation, where the indentation may have a lining that also produces diffuse light. The panel and the lining may have essentially the same luminance, so that the indentation may be less visible for orientations other than directly below the indentation. The fixture may have a downlight recessed into the indentation, which may produce a directional beam that emerges downward from within the indentation. The directional beam may have a brightness controllable separately from the diffuse light, such as a dedicated dimmer switch. The indentation may be at the center of the panel. The panel may be incorporated into a ceiling tile, and may be bundled as part of a kit that can also include ceiling tiles with panels that don'"'"'t have a downlight.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A light fixture for producing downward-propagating illumination, comprising:
-
a downward-facing panel producing diffuse light, the panel being generally flat and having an indentation, the indentation having a lining that produces diffuse light, the panel and the lining having essentially the same luminance;
wherein the downward-facing panel has a rectangular surface in plane parallel with a ceiling surface and has four edges of the rectangular surface sized and dimensioned to be received within a ceiling tile cavity used with a hanging grid ceiling;a downlight recessed into the indentation, the downlight producing a directional beam that emerges downward from within the indentation, the directional beam having a luminance controllable separately from the diffuse light wherein the indentation produces a curved and funnel-shaped surface around the circumference of the indentation and within a center region of the rectangular surface extending from the generally flat rectangular surface of the downward-facing panel to a surface of the recessed downlight. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A light fixture for producing downward-propagating illumination, comprising
a generally flat downward-facing light-emitting surface substantially extending in a plane in a perpendicular direction to the downward-propagating illumination and has a rectangular planar surface in plane parallel with a ceiling surface, the light-emitting surface having a central portion and having an upward-extending indentation in the central portion, the light-emitting surface extending upward at least partially into the indentation, the light-emitting surface having an aperture at the apex of the indentation; - wherein the aperture extends upward beyond the light-emitting surface wherein the light-emitting surface at a circumference of the indentation produces a curved, conical surface extending from the generally flat rectangular surface of the downward-facing panel to a circumference of the recessed downlight; and
a downlight disposed within the aperture, the downlight emitting a directional beam downward out of the light fixture through the indentation; wherein the downlight has a brightness that is controllable and is independent of a brightness of the light-emitting surface. - View Dependent Claims (19)
- wherein the aperture extends upward beyond the light-emitting surface wherein the light-emitting surface at a circumference of the indentation produces a curved, conical surface extending from the generally flat rectangular surface of the downward-facing panel to a circumference of the recessed downlight; and
-
20. A method for disguising a downlight in a downward-facing flat-panel light fixture, the method comprising:
-
providing a generally flat downward-facing light-emitting surface on the light fixture;
wherein the generally flat downward-facing light-emitting surface is in the same plane provided by a bottom, exposed surface of a hanging grid ceiling;providing an upward recess extending past the downward-facing light-emitting surface in a central portion of the light-emitting surface, the light-emitting surface extending upward at least partially into the recess; providing an aperture at the center of the recess; providing an angled surface extending from a outer circumference of the upward recess to a outer circumference of the aperture; providing a downlight disposed within the aperture, the downlight emitting a directional beam out of the light fixture downward through the recess wherein the downlight has a brightness that is controllable and is independent of a brightness of the light-emitting surface; and wherein the downlight itself is visible only over a limited area directly underneath the indentation.
-
Specification