Lighting apparatus

• US 9,354,448 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Issued: 05/31/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Hikmet, Rifat Ataa Mustafa, Van Bommel, Ties
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALLEN, DANIELLE NICOLE
• Application Number:
  US12/993,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20110122627A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/84, 296/187.03, 296/187.11, 296/203.04
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/645 by electro-optic means, e.g. liquid crystal or electrochromic devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/00 Lighting devices intended for fixed installation F21S9/00, F21S10/00 take precedence; using a string or strip of light sources F21S4/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/14 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/00 Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements reflectors with provision for adjusting the curvature F21V7/16; light filters or the like with provision for controlling the colour or intensity F21V9/40; screens using adjustable parallel laminae or strips F21V11/04; screens using iris-type diaphragms F21V11/10; screens using movable sheets without apertures F21V11/18; adjustable mountings for lighting devices F21V21/14
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/20 Dichroic filters, i.e. devices operating on the principle of wave interference to pass specific ranges of wavelengths while cancelling others
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 9/30 Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source shades F21V1/17; globes, bowls or cover glasses F21V3/08, F21V3/12; refractors F21V5/10; reflectors F21V7/26, F21V7/30; elements with provision for controlling the spectral properties or intensity F21V9/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/30 Semiconductor lasers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0905 Dividing and/or superposing multiple light beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0938 Using specific optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/095 Refractive optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0977 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/144 using partially transparent surfaces without spectral selectivity G02B27/147 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/145 having sequential partially reflecting surfaces

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting apparatus comprising a laser source (2) for emitting laser light (3). The lighting apparatus further comprises a first laser light modification unit (7) for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, which first laser light modification unit (7) is situated at a first location, and a second laser light modification unit (8) for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, which second laser light modification unit (8) is situated at a second location. The lighting apparatus further comprises a laser light distribution modification unit (4) for modifying a laser light distribution (5, 6) directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units (7, 8) from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a laser source for emitting laser light,

a first laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said first laser light modification unit being situated at a first location,

a second laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said second laser light modification unit being situated at a second location, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are adapted to modify the optical characteristic of the laser light differently, such that a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the first laser light modification unit is different from a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the second laser light modification unit;

a laser light distribution modification unit for modifying a laser light distribution directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution, wherein the laser light distribution modification unit comprises at least one beam-splitting unit for splitting the laser light into a first beam directed onto the first laser light modification unit and a second beam directed onto the second laser light modification unit, the at least one beam-splitting unit being adapted in such a way that an intensity of at least one of the first beam and the second beam is modifiable;

a person presence sensor for determining whether a person is present in the vicinity of the lighting apparatus, and

a control unit for controlling the lighting apparatus in dependence on the determination whether a person is present in the vicinity of the lighting apparatus.

2. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second laser light modification units comprises a luminescent material for emitting luminescent light if the laser light is directed onto the luminescent material.

3. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the first laser light modification unit comprises a first luminescent material for emitting first luminescent light if the laser light is directed onto the first luminescent material, the second laser light modification unit comprises a second luminescent material for emitting second luminescent light if the laser light is directed onto the second luminescent material, and the spectral distribution of the first and the second luminescent light is different.

4. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first laser light distribution comprises an intensity distribution of the laser light directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units, which is different from the intensity distribution of the laser light directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units of the second laser light distribution.

5. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the laser light distribution modification unit comprises several beam-splitting units for splitting the laser light into a first beam and a second beam, wherein at least one of the first and second laser light modification units is assigned to at least one of the beam-splitting units, said beam-splitting units being adapted to direct the first beam of at least one of the beam-splitting units to the at least one of the first and second laser light modification units assigned to the at least one beam-splitting unit and to direct the second beam of the at least one beam-splitting unit to another beam-splitting unit, said at least one beam-splitting unit being adapted in such a way that an intensity of at least one of the first beam and the second beam is modifiable.

6. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second laser light modification units comprises a beam-shaping unit for beam-shaping light directed onto the beam-shaping unit.

7. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the first laser light modification unit comprises a first beam-shaping unit for beam-shaping light directed onto the first beam-shaping unit, and the second laser light modification unit comprises a second beam-shaping unit for beam-shaping light directed onto the second beam-shaping unit, said first beam-shaping unit and second beam-shaping unit being adapted to beam-shape light differently.

8. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and second laser light modification units comprises a redirection unit for redirecting light directed onto the at least one of said first and second laser light modification units.

9. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the first laser light modification unit comprises a first redirection unit for redirecting light directed onto the first laser light modification unit, and the second laser light modification unit comprises a second redirection unit for redirecting light directed onto the second laser light modification unit, said first redirection unit and second redirection unit being adapted to redirect light in different directions.

10. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a laser light modification unit sensor for determining the position of at least one of the first and second laser light modification units, and

a control unit for controlling the laser light distribution modification unit in such a way that laser light of the first and second laser light distributions meets at least one of the first and second laser light modification units, using the determined position.

11. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are arranged adjacent to one another.

12. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein the distance between the first and second laser light modification units is smaller than 1 cm.

13. The lighting apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein the distance between the first and second laser light modification units is smaller than 1 mm.

14. A lighting method comprising the steps of:

emitting laser light from a laser source,

directing the laser light onto at least one of a first laser light modification unit and a second laser light modification unit, said first laser light modification unit being situated at a first location and adapted to modify an optical characteristic of the laser light, said second laser light modification unit being situated at a second location and adapted to modify an optical characteristic of the laser light, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are adapted to modify the optical characteristic of the laser light differently, such that a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the first laser light modification unit is different from a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the second laser light modification unit;

modifying, by means of a laser light distribution modification unit, a laser light distribution directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution, wherein the laser light distribution modification unit comprises several beam-splitting units for splitting the laser light into a first beam and a second beam, wherein at least one of the first and second laser light modification units is assigned to at least one of the beam-splitting units, said beam-splitting units being adapted to direct the first beam of at least one of the beam-splitting units to the at least one of the first and second laser light modification units assigned to the at least one beam-splitting unit and to direct the second beam of the at least one beam-splitting unit to another beam-splitting unit, said at least one beam-splitting unit being adapted in such a way that an intensity of at least one of the first beam and the second beam is modifiable;

determining whether a person is present in the vicinity of the lighting apparatus, and

controlling the lighting apparatus in dependence on the determination whether a person is present in the vicinity of the lighting apparatus.

15. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a laser source for emitting laser light,

a first laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said first laser light modification unit being situated at a first location,

a second laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said second laser light modification unit being situated at a second location, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are adapted to modify the optical characteristic of the laser light differently, such that a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the first laser light modification unit is different from a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the second laser light modification unit;

a laser light distribution modification unit for modifying a laser light distribution directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution.

16. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a laser source for emitting laser light,

a first laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said first laser light modification unit being situated at a first location,

a second laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said second laser light modification unit being situated at a second location,

a laser light distribution modification unit for modifying a laser light distribution directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution, wherein the laser light distribution modification unit comprises at least one beam-splitting unit for splitting the laser light into a first beam directed onto the first laser light modification unit and a second beam directed onto the second laser light modification unit, the at least one beam-splitting unit being adapted in such a way that an intensity of at least one of the first beam and the second beam is modifiable, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are adapted to modify the optical characteristic of the laser light differently, such that one of the first or second laser light modification units comprises a luminescent material for emitting luminescent light if the laser light is directed onto the luminescent material.

17. A lighting apparatus comprising:

a laser source for emitting laser light,

a first laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said first laser light modification unit being situated at a first location,

a second laser light modification unit for modifying an optical characteristic of the laser light, said second laser light modification unit being situated at a second location, wherein the first and second laser light modification units are adapted to modify the optical characteristic of the laser light differently, such that a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the first laser light modification unit is different from a spectral distribution of the laser light modified by the second laser light modification unit;

a laser light distribution modification unit for modifying a laser light distribution directed onto at least one of the first and second laser light modification units from a first to a second laser light distribution which is different from the first laser light distribution, wherein the laser light distribution modification unit comprises at least one beam-splitting unit for splitting the laser light into a first beam directed onto the first laser light modification unit and a second beam directed onto the second laser light modification unit, the at least one beam-splitting unit being adapted in such a way that an intensity of at least one of the first beam and the second beam is modifiable, wherein the first laser light distribution corresponds to the laser light directed only onto the first laser light modification unit, and wherein the second laser light distribution corresponds to the laser light directed only onto the second laser light modification unit.