Lighting system with improved illumination distribution

• US 9,658,385 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Meyers, Mark Marshall, Hayashi, Steven Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Raleigh, Donald
• Application Number:
  US14/726,058
• Publication Number:
  US 20150260902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/04 intended only for mounting on a ceiling or the like overhead structures F21S8/02 takes precedence; details of ceiling bases F21V21/03
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0058 varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0063 for extracting light out both the major surfaces of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]

Abstract

Optically patterned waveguides and systems employing optically patterned waveguides are provided. The optically patterned waveguide is configured for use in a lighting system and arranged perpendicular to an overhead structure, such as a ceiling. The optically patterned waveguide includes major surfaces that are patterned with a plurality of elongated facets formed into the major surfaces and extending in a direction parallel to the length of the waveguide. The optically patterned waveguide provides illumination patterns having increased uniformity.

Claims

1. A waveguide comprising:

an optically patterned waveguide configured to be vertically oriented from an overhead region and aligned to illuminate an area of interest by directing light to targeted areas, wherein the optically patterned waveguide comprises a first major surface configured to distribute light received from a light source to the targeted areas, wherein the first major surface comprises a pattern of elongated facets extending into the first major surface and through the entire length of the waveguide, and wherein the pattern of elongated facets comprises more than two segments, each having a unique segment type with respect to one another.

2. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the unique segment types are chosen from a group of segment types comprising ramp segments, cylindrical segments, planar horizontal segments and planar vertical segments.

3. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein each of the more than two segments comprises a vertical distance in a range of 0.10-1.0 mm.

4. The waveguide of claim 1, comprising a second major surface arranged opposite the first major surface.

5. The waveguide of claim 4, wherein the second major surface is a mirror image of the first major surface.

6. The waveguide of claim 1, further comprising a secondary pattern formed through the length of the waveguide and extending through the entire height of the waveguide.

7. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein each of the elongated facets extends into the major surface at a depth of less than 0.10 mm.

8. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the length of the waveguide is in a range of 0.5-0.75 meters.

9. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the height of the waveguide is in a range of 0.10-0.20 meters.

10. The waveguide of claim 1, wherein the width of the waveguide is in a range of 0.003-0.005 meters.

11. A waveguide comprising:

an optically patterned waveguide configured to be vertically oriented from an overhead region and aligned to illuminate an area of interest by directing light to targeted areas, wherein the optically patterned waveguide comprises a first major surface configured to distribute light received from a light source to the targeted areas, wherein the first major surface comprises a pattern of elongated facets extending into the first major surface and through the entire length of the waveguide, and wherein the pattern of elongated facets comprises;

a cylindrical segment;

a first ramp segment extending into the first major surface at a first angle; and

a second ramp segment extending into the first major surface at a second angle, different from the first angle.

12. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the first angle is in a range of approximately 2.25°

-2.7°

.

13. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the second angle is in a range of approximately 3.9°

-4.3°

.

14. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein a vertical distance corresponding to the first ramp segment is in a range of approximately 0.6 mm-0.8 mm.

15. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein a vertical distance corresponding to the second ramp segment is in a range of approximately 0.6 mm-0.8 mm.

16. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the pattern of elongated facets further includes at least one planar vertical segment.

17. The waveguide of claim 16, wherein a vertical distance of the at least one planar vertical segment is in a range of approximately 0.10 mm-0.30 mm.

18. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical segment has a radius of curvature in the range of approximately 1.65 mm-1.85 mm.

19. The waveguide of claim 11, wherein a vertical distance of the cylindrical segment is in a range of approximately 0.10 mm-0.30 mm.

20. The waveguide of claim 11, further comprising a secondary pattern formed through the length and extending through the entire height of the waveguide, wherein the secondary pattern comprises curved segments.

21. The waveguide of claim 20, wherein each of the curved segments extends a distance along the length of approximately 600 mm.

22. A system comprising:

a light source; and

an optically patterned waveguide arranged to receive light from the light source at a top surface and distribute the light through a first major surface and a second major surface, wherein each of the first major surface and the second major surface are generally perpendicular to the top surface, wherein each of the first major surface and the second major surface comprises a plurality of elongated facets extending into the first major surface and through the entire length of the waveguide, and wherein the pattern of elongated facets comprises more than two segments, each having a unique segment type with respect to one another.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the plurality of elongated facets extends the entire length of the waveguide.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the light source comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

25. The system of claim 22, further comprising a mounting mechanism configured to couple the light source to an overhead structure.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the optically patterned waveguide is arranged perpendicular to a ceiling after installation of the system for usage.