Lighting assembly with multiple lighting units

• US 9,732,932 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2017
• Issued: 08/15/2017
• 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: Magarill, Simon, Auyeung, David Siucheong, Hall, William Y.
• Primary Examiner(s): GARLEN, ALEXANDER K
• Application Number:
  US15/413,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20170130931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• 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 an assembly body. A first lighting unit is attached to the assembly body. The first lighting unit includes a number of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and optical elements arranged over the LEDs such that each optical element overlies only one associated LED. The first lighting unit is configured to illuminate a substantially rectangular region. A second lighting unit is attached to the assembly body and spaced from the first lighting unit. The second lighting unit includes a number of LEDs and optical elements arranged over the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies only one associated LED. The lighting assembly is configured to illuminate the region so that the region can be illuminated without additional lighting and so that areas beyond edges of the region of the substantially rectangular region receive minimum illumination.

Claims

1. A lighting assembly comprising:

an assembly body;

a first lighting unit attached to the assembly body, the first lighting unit including a first plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a first plurality of optical elements arranged over the first plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies only one associated LED, wherein the first lighting unit is configured to illuminate a substantially rectangular region; and

a second lighting unit attached to the assembly body and spaced from the first lighting unit, the second lighting unit including a second plurality of LEDs and a second plurality of optical elements arranged over the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies only one associated LED, wherein the second lighting unit is configured to illuminate the substantially rectangular region so that the lighting assembly can illuminate substantially all of the substantially rectangular region so that the region can be illuminated without additional lighting and so that areas beyond edges of the substantially rectangular region receive minimum illumination;

wherein the optical elements are configured so that light emitted from the first and second lighting units illuminates the substantially rectangular area in a manner that does not create hot spots or result in dead spots on the area regardless of whether all of the LEDs of the first and second pluralities of LEDs are functional or only some of the LEDs of the first and second pluralities of LEDs.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more of the LEDs will cause an illumination level of light emitted from the lighting assembly to decrease while a uniformity of the light emitted from the lighting assembly remains substantially the same.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements of the first and the second lighting units comprises 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 that is 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.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 3, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first surface of the substrate so that each and every LED of the first 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, 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 5, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

7. The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

8. The lighting assembly of claim 7, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first surface of the substrate so that each and every LED of the first 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, 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

9. The lighting assembly of claim 2, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first surface of the substrate so that each and every LED of the first 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, 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

10. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements of the first and the second lighting units comprises 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 that is 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.

11. The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

12. The lighting assembly of claim 11, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first surface of the substrate so that each and every LED of the first 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, 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

13. The lighting assembly of claim 10, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first surface of the substrate so that each and every LED of the first 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, 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

14. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

15. The lighting assembly of claim 14, wherein the LEDs of the first plurality of LEDs are arranged in rows on a substrate and extend along a longitudinal axis in a plane of a first surface of the substrate, the lighting assembly further comprising 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 first plurality of LEDs is separated from the heat sink by the first surface of 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, wherein the fins are substantially flat.

16. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements of the first and the second lighting units comprises:

a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a third side perpendicular to the first side and the second side;

a first element comprising a first curved surface disposed at the first side;

a second element comprising a second curved surface disposed at the second side, wherein the second curved surface intersects with the first curved surface at an acute angle in a region between the first element and the second element; and

a third element disposed at the third side, wherein the third element extends beyond the region between the first element and the second element in a direction away from the associated LED.

17. The lighting assembly of claim 16, wherein the substantially rectangular region has a length of twenty-four feet.

18. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements of the first and the second lighting units comprises:

a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a third side perpendicular to the first side and the second side;

a first element disposed at the first side;

a second element disposed at the second side;

a third element disposed at the third side;

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

wherein the first element includes a first outer surface and a first inner surface facing the associated LED and the second element includes a second outer surface and a second inner surface facing the associated LED;

wherein the first inner surface is located at a first nearest distance from the associated LED and the second inner surface is located at a second nearest distance from the associated LED; and

wherein the first inner surface and the second inner surface connect at a connection region that is at a third nearest distance from the associated LED, wherein the third nearest distance is shorter than either the first nearest distance or the second nearest distance.

19. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a third lighting unit attached to the assembly body and spaced from the first lighting unit, the third lighting unit including a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of optical elements arranged over the plurality of LEDs such that each optical element overlies only one associated LED.

20. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein the LEDs of the first lighting unit are arranged in only a first row and a second row on a first substrate, and wherein the LEDs of the second lighting unit are arranged in only a first row and a second row on a second substrate.

21. A lighting assembly comprising:

a first lighting unit that includes a first circuit board, a first plurality of LEDs arranged on the first circuit board, and a first plurality of optical elements; and

a second lighting unit that includes a second circuit board, a second plurality of LEDs arranged on the second circuit board, and a second plurality of optical elements;

wherein each optical element of the first plurality of optical elements and the second plurality of optical elements overlies a respective one of the LEDs, each optical element being configured to redirect light from the respective one of the LEDs;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to simultaneously direct light from the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit toward a substantially rectangular surface;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured so that the light is directed so that areas beyond edges of the substantially rectangular surface receive minimum illumination from the lighting assembly;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to direct the light toward the substantially rectangular surface such that the light from the first lighting unit and from the second lighting unit illuminates substantially all of the substantially rectangular surface with an illumination level and a uniformity; and

wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting assembly will cause the illumination level of light impinging the substantially rectangular surface to decrease while the uniformity of light impinging the substantially rectangular surface remains substantially the same.

22. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein the lighting assembly further comprises a third lighting unit that includes a third circuit board, a third plurality of LEDs arranged on the third circuit board, and a third plurality of optical elements;

wherein each optical element of the third plurality of optical elements overlies a respective one of the LEDs of the third plurality of LEDs;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to simultaneously direct light from the first lighting unit, the second lighting unit and the third lighting unit toward the substantially rectangular surface; and

wherein the lighting assembly is configured so that if one or more LEDs of the third plurality of LEDs fails, the uniformity of the light impinging the substantially rectangular surface remains substantially the same.

23. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein a distance along a top boundary of the substantially rectangular surface from a left boundary to a right boundary is twenty-four feet.

24. The lighting assembly of claim 23, wherein a distance along the right boundary of the substantially rectangular surface from the top boundary to a bottom boundary is fourteen feet.

25. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein the first and the second lighting units are configured to avoid hot spots on the substantially rectangular surface.

26. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein each optical element of the first plurality and the second plurality of optical elements comprises 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 that is 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.

27. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein each optical element of the first plurality and the second plurality of optical elements comprises:

a first outer boundary, a second outer boundary opposite the first outer boundary, a third outer boundary connecting the first outer boundary and the second outer boundary, a fourth outer boundary opposite the third outer boundary, and a central region halfway between the first outer boundary and the second outer boundary;

a first element with a convex outer surface extending from the first outer boundary toward the central region and having a peak located between the central region and the first outer boundary, the peak being spaced from the central region;

a second element with a convex outer surface extending from the second outer boundary toward the central region and having a peak located between the central region and the second outer boundary, the peak being spaced from the central region; and

a third element disposed between the third outer boundary and a region halfway between the third outer boundary and the fourth outer boundary.

28. The lighting assembly of claim 21, wherein each optical element of the first plurality and the second plurality of optical elements comprises:

a first outer boundary, a second outer boundary opposite the first outer boundary, a third outer boundary connecting the first outer boundary and the second outer boundary, a fourth outer boundary opposite the third outer boundary, and a central region halfway between the first outer boundary and the second outer boundary;

a first element with a convex outer surface extending from the first outer boundary toward the central region and having a peak located between the central region and the first outer boundary, the peak being spaced from the central region;

a second element with a convex outer surface extending from the second outer boundary toward the central region and having a peak located between the central region and the second outer boundary, the peak being spaced from the central region;

a third element disposed between the third outer boundary and a region halfway between the third outer boundary and the fourth outer boundary; and

a fourth element disposed between the respective circuit board and the first, the second, and the third elements, wherein the first, the second, and the third elements join the fourth element at an interface, wherein the fourth element has a curved surface above the LED.

29. A lighting assembly designed to illuminate a substantially rectangular surface having visual media content located thereon, the substantially rectangular surface being at least a portion of a display surface of a billboard, the lighting assembly comprising:

a first lighting unit that includes a first circuit board, a first plurality of LEDs arranged on the first circuit board, and a first plurality of optical elements; and

a second lighting unit that includes a second circuit board, a second plurality of LEDs arranged on the second circuit board, and a second plurality of optical elements;

wherein each optical element of the first plurality of optical elements and the second plurality of optical elements overlies a respective one of the LEDs, each optical element being configured to redirect light from the respective one of the LEDs;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to simultaneously direct light from the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit toward the substantially rectangular surface so that the light is directed so that areas beyond edges of the substantially rectangular surface receive minimum illumination from the lighting assembly;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured so that the light from the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit has a substantially rectangular wavefront and illuminates the visual media content of the substantially rectangular surface so that the visual media content on the substantially rectangular surface is visible even without additional lighting;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured so that if one or more LEDs of the first plurality or the second plurality of LEDs fails, remaining LEDs of the first plurality or the second plurality of LEDs still illuminate the substantially rectangular surface so that the visual media content on the substantially rectangular surface remains visible even without additional lighting;

wherein the lighting assembly is configured to direct the light toward the substantially rectangular surface such that the light from the first lighting unit and the second lighting unit illuminates the visual media content on the substantially rectangular surface with an illumination level and a uniformity;

wherein the optical elements are configured so that failure of one or more LEDs of the lighting assembly will cause the illumination level of light impinging the substantially rectangular surface to decrease while the uniformity of light impinging the substantially rectangular surface remains substantially the same;

wherein a distance along a top edge of the portion of the display surface from a left edge to a right edge is twenty-four feet and wherein a distance along the right edge of the display surface from the top edge to a bottom edge is fourteen feet; and

wherein each optical element of the first plurality and the second plurality of optical elements comprises 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 that is 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.