Optical system

• US 9,759,402 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amerlux, LLC (Delta Electronics Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amerlux, LLC (Delta Electronics Incorporated)
• Inventors: Zhao, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Coughlin, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dunay, Christopher E
• Application Number:
  US14/709,618
• Publication Number:
  US 20160116139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 854 Days
• Field of Search: 36229601, 36229605, 3622961, 362299, 362306, 362307, 362309, 362310, 36231102, 36231106, 362326-329, 362311, 362332, 362336, 362337, 359642
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/002 with provision for interchangeability, i.e. component parts being especially adapted to be replaced by another part with the same or a different function F21V17/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/002 using microoptical elements for redirecting or diffusing light
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an optical system including a TIR mother lens and a secondary output lens, preferably for efficiently distributing light out of an LED track lighting system. The optical system of the present disclosure is configured to create variant beam angles from a lens assembly using the same TIR lens. Preferably, by altering the dimensions and focal lengths of the secondary output lens in a single TIR lens, the optical system can create a variety of beam angles, including, but not limited to, Spot (“SP”), Narrow Flood (“NFL”), Flood (“FL”), or Wide Flood (“WFL”) beam angles.

Claims

1. An optical system, comprising:

a) a TIR lens having a first end having a first diameter, a second planar end wall opposite the first end that is annularly shaped and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens, the second planar end wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, an outer tapering peripheral wall connecting the first end and the second planar end wall, and an inner peripheral wall defining a cavity through a central region of the TIR lens from the first end to the second planar end wall and defining a first opening in the first end of the TIR lens and a second opening in the second planar end wall of the TIR lens, the TIR lens being configured to refract light from a light source near the first end of the TIR lens and direct light from the light source through the second planar annularly shaped end wall along an orientation that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens; and

b) a secondary lens removably disposed at least partially over the second planar end wall of the TIR lens and attached to the TIR lens, the secondary lens being configured to redirect the light passing through the secondary lens originating from the second planar end wall of the TIR lens;

wherein the secondary lens is removably attached to the second planar end wall of the TIR lens by a plurality of studs extending orthogonally to a plane defined by the secondary lens.

2. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the secondary lens is coaxially co-located with the TIR lens.

3. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the secondary lens covers the second opening in the second planar end wall

of the TIR lens.

4. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the secondary lens is a Fresnel lens.

5. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the secondary lens is a micro lens.

6. The optical system of claim 1, wherein the secondary lens is removably attached to the second planar end wall of the TIR lens.

7. A light fixture comprising the optical system of claim 1 disposed in a housing, the light fixture further comprising an operable LED light source disposed proximate a central region of the first end of the TIR lens.

8. An optical system, comprising:

a) a TIR lens having a first end having a first diameter, a second planar end wall opposite the first end that is annularly shaped and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens, the second planar end wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, an outer tapering peripheral wall connecting the first end and the second planar end wall, and an inner peripheral wall defining a cavity through a central region of the TIR lens, the inner peripheral wall having a length from the first end of the TIR lens to the second planar end wall of the TIR lens and surrounding a central cavity inside the TIR lens, the inner peripheral wall further defining a first opening in the first end of the TIR lens and a second opening in the second planar end wall of the TIR lens, wherein the inner peripheral wall is defined at least in part by a plurality of tapering generally conically shaped walls that taper radially outwardly along a direction from the first end of the TIR lens toward the second planar end wall of the TIR lens, the TIR lens being configured to refract light from a light source near the first end of the TIR lens and direct light from the light source through the second planar annularly shaped end wall along an orientation that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens; and

b) a secondary lens attached proximate the second planar end wall of the TIR lens, the secondary lens being configured to redirect the light passing through the secondary lens;

wherein the secondary lens is removably attached to the second planar end wall of the TIR lens by a plurality of studs extending orthogonally to a plane defined by the secondary lens.

9. The optical system of claim 8, wherein two of the tapering generally conically shaped walls that define the inner peripheral wall are separated along the length of the inner peripheral wall by an annularly shaped shoulder, wherein a distal end of one of the generally conically shaped walls adjoins a radially inward periphery of the shoulder, and a proximal end of a second one of the generally conically shaped walls adjoins a radially outward periphery of the shoulder.

10. The optical system of claim 8, wherein a first tapering generally conically shaped wall that defines the inner peripheral wall defines an inwardly facing surface.

11. The optical system of claim 10, wherein a proximal end of the first tapering generally conically shaped wall adjoins the first end of the TIR lens.

12. The optical system of claim 11, wherein second and third tapering generally conically shaped walls that define the inner peripheral wall are separated along the length of the inner peripheral wall by an annularly shaped shoulder, wherein a distal end of the second generally conically shaped wall adjoins a radially inward periphery of the shoulder, and a proximal end of the third generally conically shaped wall adjoins a radially outward periphery of the shoulder.

13. The optical system of claim 12, wherein a distal end of the first tapering generally conically shaped wall adjoins a proximal end of the second tapering generally conically shaped wall.

14. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the secondary lens is coaxially co-located with the TIR lens.

15. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the secondary lens covers an opening formed in the second planar end wall of the TIR lens defined by a distal end of the inner peripheral wall.

16. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the secondary lens is a Fresnel lens.

17. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the secondary lens is a micro lens.

18. The optical system of claim 8, wherein the secondary lens is removably attached to the TIR lens.

19. A light fixture comprising the optical system of claim 8 disposed in a housing, the light fixture further comprising an operable LED light source disposed proximate a central region of the first end of the TIR lens.

20. A kit for assembling an optical system capable of producing a plurality of different beam patterns, comprising:

a) a TIR lens having a first end having a first diameter, a second planar end wall opposite the first end that is annularly shaped and perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens, the second planar end wall having a second diameter larger than the first diameter, an outer tapering peripheral wall connecting the first end and the second planar end wall, and an inner peripheral wall defining a cavity through a central region of the TIR lens from the first end to the second planar end wall, the TIR lens being configured to refract light from a light source near the first end of the TIR lens and direct light from the light source through the second planar annularly shaped end wall along an orientation that is parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the TIR lens; and

b) a plurality of secondary lenses having different focal lengths from each other, each of the secondary lenses being configured to be removably attached to the TIR lens near the second planar end wall of the TIR lens, wherein each combination of the TIR lens and each secondary lens creates a unique beam pattern;

wherein the secondary lens is removably attached to the second planar end wall of the TIR lens by a plurality of studs extending orthogonally to a plane defined by the secondary lens.

21. The optical system of claim 20, wherein each secondary lens is coaxially co-located with the TIR lens when removably attached to the TIR lens.

22. The optical system of claim 20, wherein the secondary lens covers an opening formed in the second planar end wall of the TIR lens defined by a distal end of the inner peripheral wall.

23. The optical system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the secondary lenses is a Fresnel lens.

24. The optical system of claim 20, wherein at least one of the secondary lenses is a micro lens.

25. A light fixture comprising the optical system of claim 20 disposed in a housing, the light fixture further comprising an operable LED light source disposed proximate a central region of the first end of the TIR lens.