Billboard and lighting assembly with heat sink and three-part lens

• US 9,542,870 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2016
• Issued: 01/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ultravision Technologies, LLC (Ultravision International Inc.)
• Inventors: Auyeung, David Siucheong, Hall, William Y., Magarill, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Coughlin, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): GARLEN, ALEXANDER K
• Application Number:
  US15/216,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20160329005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 173 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 6/006 for direct lighting only, e.g. task lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/003 Fastening of light source holders, e.g. of circuit boards or substrates holding light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 21/26 Pivoted arms
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/002 Arrangements of cables or conductors inside a lighting device, e.g. means for guiding along parts of the housing or in a pivoting arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/00 Protecting lighting devices from thermal damage; Cooling or heating arrangements specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air-treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/15 Thermal insulation
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/503 of light sources cooling arrangements structurally associated with gas-discharge or vapour-discharge lamps H01J61/52; cooling arrangements structurally associated with electric incandescent lamps H01K1/58; cooling arrangements structurally associated with light-emitting diodes H01L33/64
• 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 29/745 the fins or blades being planar and inclined with respect to the joining surface from which the fins or blades extend
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/76 with essentially identical parallel planar fins or blades, e.g. with comb-like cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/83 the elements having apertures, ducts or channels, e.g. heat radiation holes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/00 Gas-tight or water-tight arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 31/005 Sealing arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/00 Structural combinations of lighting devices with other articles, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/007 Array of lenses or refractors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. for arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more refractors F21V5/008
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/40 : Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 : comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 : characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/16 : square or rectangular, e.g. for light panels
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0014 : at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 : refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0061 : the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 : in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/02 : Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 : electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/00 : Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/0037 : supported by a post
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 15/005 : for orientation or public information
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 : with LEDs

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes a substantially planar substrate and a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in rows on a first surface of the substrate. The rows extend along a longitudinal axis of the substrate. The lighting assembly also includes a number of optical elements, each including a three-part lens. Each optical element is proximate an associated LED such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element. A heat sink is thermally coupled to a second surface of the substrate that is opposite the first surface. The heat sink has a first section substantially parallel to the substrate and a number of fins extending away from the first section and substantially perpendicular thereto. A longitudinal axis of each fin is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the substrate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising a lighting assembly for illumination of an area, the lighting assembly comprising:

a substantially planar substrate;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of rows on a first surface of the substrate, the rows extending along a longitudinal axis in a plane of the first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is proximate an associated LED of the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element, each optical element comprising a first part, a second part and a third part, wherein the first part comprises a first curved surface, wherein the second part comprises a second curved surface that intersects with the first curved surface at a region between the first part and the second part, wherein the first part and the second part each have a peak relative to the substrate, the peak being spaced from the region between the first part and the second part, and wherein the third part extends beyond the region between the first part and the second part in a direction away from the associated LED; and

a heat sink thermally coupled to a second surface of the substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface, the heat sink comprising a first section substantially parallel to the substrate so that each and every LED is separated from the heat sink by the substrate, the heat sink further comprising a plurality of fins extending away from the first section and substantially perpendicular thereto, each fin extending along an axis in the plane of the first surface of the substrate, the axis for each fin being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first surface of the substrate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein substantially planar substrate comprises a single substrate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is separate from other optical elements of the plurality of optical elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises a discrete heat sink.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heat sink comprises an aluminum heat sink.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the LEDs are arranged in only two rows.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply that is separated from the substrate.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a billboard comprising the area, wherein the lighting assembly is located adjacent the billboard to illuminate the area, the fins extending in a direction away from the billboard.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a billboard comprising the area, wherein the lighting assembly is located adjacent the billboard to illuminate all of the area when a subset of the LEDs is not generating any light.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a billboard comprising the area, wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting assembly will cause an illumination level of light impinging the area to decrease while a uniformity of the light impinging the area remains substantially the same as compared to when all LEDs are operational.

12. An apparatus comprising a lighting assembly for illumination of an area, the lighting assembly comprising:

a substantially planar substrate;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of rows on a first surface of the substrate, wherein the LEDs are arranged in only two rows, the rows extending along a longitudinal axis in a plane of the first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of optical elements attached to the substrate by threaded fasteners, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is separate from other optical elements of the plurality of optical elements, and wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is proximate an associated LED of the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element, wherein each optical element includes a first part, a second part and a third part, wherein the first part comprises a first curved surface, wherein the second part comprises a second curved surface that intersects with the first curved surface at a region between the first part and the second part, wherein the first part and the second part each have a peak relative to the substrate, the peak being spaced from the region between the first part and the second part, and wherein the third part extends beyond the region between the first part and the second part in a direction away from the associated LED;

a heat sink thermally coupled to a second surface of the substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface, the heat sink comprising a first section substantially parallel to the substrate so that each and every LED is separated from the heat sink by the substrate, the heat sink further comprising a plurality of fins extending away from the first section and substantially perpendicular thereto, each fin extending along an axis in the plane of the first surface of the substrate, the axis for each fin being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first surface of the substrate, and wherein the first section of the heat sink includes a portion that extends past the substrate in a direction away from the fins; and

a power supply that is separated from the substrate.

13. A billboard comprising:

a support structure;

a display surface mounted on the support structure; and

a lighting assembly located so as to be able to illuminate a portion of the display surface during operation, wherein the lighting assembly comprises;

a substantially planar substrate;

a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of rows on a first surface of the substrate;

a plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is proximate an associated LED of the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element, wherein each optical element includes a first part, a second part and a third part, wherein the first part comprises a first curved surface, wherein the second part comprises a second curved surface that intersects with the first curved surface at a region between the first part and the second part, wherein the first part and the second part each have a peak relative to the substrate, the peak being spaced from the region between the first part and the second part, and wherein the third part extends beyond the region between the first part and the second part in a direction away from the associated LED; and

a heat sink thermally coupled to a second surface of the substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface, the heat sink comprising a first section substantially parallel to the substrate so that each and every LED of the plurality of LEDs is separated from the heat sink by the substrate, the heat sink further comprising a plurality of fins extending away from the first section and substantially perpendicular thereto, wherein the first section of the heat sink includes a portion that extends past the substrate in a direction away from the fins.

14. The billboard of claim 13, wherein the rows of LEDs extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of the first surface of the substrate, and wherein each fin extends along an axis in the plane of the first surface of the substrate, the axis for each fin being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first surface of the substrate.

15. The billboard of claim 13, wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting assembly will cause an illumination level of light impinging the portion of the display surface to decrease while uniformity of the light impinging the portion of the display surface remains substantially the same as compared to when all LEDs are operational.

16. The billboard of claim 13, wherein the lighting assembly further comprises a second planar substrate with LEDs arranged thereon, the second substrate arranged in a common orientation with the substrate so that all of the LEDs of the substrate and the second substrate are arranged in a common orientation, wherein all of the substrate and the second substrate are mounted in a single assembly.

17. The billboard of claim 16, wherein the heat sink extends across both the substrate and the second substrate.

18. The billboard of claim 13, further comprising a second lighting assembly located adjacent the lighting assembly and located so as to be able to illuminate a second portion of the display surface during operation, wherein the second lighting assembly comprises:

a second substantially planar substrate;

a second plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged in a plurality of rows on a first surface of the second substrate, wherein the rows of the second plurality of LEDs extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of the first surface of the second substrate;

a second plurality of optical elements, wherein each optical element of the second plurality of optical elements is proximate an associated LED of the second plurality of LEDs such that each optical element of the second plurality overlies a single LED and each LED of the second plurality underlies a single optical element; and

a second heat sink thermally coupled to a second surface of the second substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface, the second heat sink comprising a first section substantially parallel to the second substrate so that each and every LED of the second plurality of LEDs is separated from the second heat sink by the second substrate, the second heat sink further comprising a second plurality of fins extending away from the first section of the second heat sink and substantially perpendicular thereto, wherein the first section of the second heat sink includes a portion that extends past the second substrate in a direction away from the second plurality of fins, wherein each fin extends along an axis in the plane of the first surface of the second substrate, the axis for each fin being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first surface of the second substrate.

19. The billboard of claim 18, wherein the display surface has visual media content displayed thereon, the visual media content comprising a picture and/or text;

wherein the display surface has a width of forty-eight feet along each of an upper edge and a lower edge of the display surface and a height of fourteen feet along each of a left side edge and a right side edge of the display surface;

wherein the portion of the display surface extends from the lower edge to the upper edge adjacent the left side edge and the second portion extends from the lower edge to the upper edge adjacent the right side edge, the portion and the second portion together extending from the left side edge to the right side edge;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to illuminate the portion of the display surface; and

wherein the second lighting assembly is configured to illuminate the second portion of the display surface.

20. The billboard of claim 19, wherein the display surface can be illuminated using only the lighting assembly and the second lighting assembly so that the visual media content can be viewed without additional light.

21. A method of illuminating visual media content on a billboard display surface using a lighting assembly that comprises a power supply and a lighting unit that includes a substrate, a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) arranged on the substrate, a plurality of optical elements, and a heat sink, the method comprising:

directing light from the LEDs toward a portion of the billboard display surface such that the light from the lighting unit illuminates the visual media content on the portion of the billboard display surface with an illumination level and a uniformity; and

directing heat generated by the LEDs away from the optical elements using the heat sink;

wherein the plurality of LEDs are arranged in a plurality of rows on a first surface of the substrate, the rows extending along a longitudinal axis in a plane of the first surface of the substrate;

wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is proximate an associated LED of the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element;

wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements is separate from other optical elements of the plurality of optical elements;

wherein each optical element includes a first part, a second part and a third part;

wherein the first part comprises a first curved surface;

wherein the second part comprises a second curved surface that intersects with the first curved surface at a region between the first part and the second part, wherein the first part and the second part each have a peak relative to the substrate, the peak being spaced from the region between the first part and the second part;

wherein the third part extends beyond the region between the first part and the second part in a direction away from the associated LED;

wherein the heat sink is thermally coupled to a second surface of the substrate, the second surface opposite the first surface;

wherein each and every LED of the plurality of LEDs is separated from the heat sink by the substrate;

wherein the heat sink comprises a first section substantially parallel to the substrate and a plurality of fins extending away from the first section and substantially perpendicular thereto; and

wherein each fin extends along an axis in the plane of the first surface of the substrate, the axis for each fin being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first surface of the substrate.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein directing light from the LEDs comprises providing power to the LEDs from the power supply, wherein the power supply is separated from the substrate so that the heat sink does not dissipate heat from the power supply to the same extent as if the power supply was mounted directly to the substrate.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising directing light from a second lighting unit toward the portion of the billboard display surface at the same time as directing light from the LEDs toward the portion of the billboard display surface.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising directing light from a second lighting unit toward a second portion of the billboard display surface at the same time as directing light from the LEDs toward the portion of the billboard display surface, wherein the visual media content can be viewed using only the light directed from the lighting unit and the second lighting unit.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein directing light from the LEDs comprises illuminating the visual media content on the portion of the billboard display surface with the illumination level and the uniformity, wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting unit will cause the illumination level of the light impinging the portion of the billboard display surface to decrease while the uniformity of the light impinging the portion of the billboard display surface remains substantially the same.