Troffer luminaire system having total internal reflection lens

• US 9,765,944 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2012
• Issued: 09/19/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Dureiko, Rick
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US13/710,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20140160755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• 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: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/043 the lens having cylindrical faces, e.g. rod lenses, toric lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/08 producing an asymmetric light distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/10 comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/17 forming a single encapsulated light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A troffer luminaire that includes a plurality of solid state lighting devices, and a first lens and a second lens having total internal reflection (TIR) to collect light from the lighting devices and produce a light output with good luminance uniformity; and to control the distribution profile of the light output through the first lens and the second lens as desired for particular lighting applications.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising:

a lighting strip including a plurality of light sources;

a first lens and a second lens each being in optical communication with the plurality of light sources such that substantially all of the light emitted by the plurality of light sources is transmitted through the first and second lenses;

wherein the first and second lenses are disposed adjacent to the lighting strip at a position characterized by (i) a top of the first lens and a top of the second lens not touching one another and by (ii) the top of the first lens and the top of the second lens each having a distance of separation relative to the lighting strip; and

wherein the top of the first lens and the top of the second lens are disposed less than about 0.5 inch apart.

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting system further includes a troffer housing the plurality of light sources.

3. The lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a reflector being in optical communication with the plurality of light sources.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a diffuser being in optical communication with the plurality of light sources.

5. The lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the diffuser is a light shaping diffuser.

6. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first lens and the second lens each include a semi-cylindrical lens.

7. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first lens and second lens are formed of an acrylic rod.

8. A troffer luminaire system, comprising:

a plurality of light emitting diodes; and

a first lens and a second, each being in optical communication with the plurality of light emitting diodes,

wherein the first lens and the second lens are disposed adjacent to the plurality of light emitting diodes in a position providing total internal reflection such that substantially all of the light emitted by the plurality of light emitting diodes is transmitted through the first and second lenses;

wherein the position is characterized by (i) a top of the first lens and a top of the second lens not touching one another and by (ii) the top of the first lens and the top of the second lens each having a distance of separation from the plurality of light emitting diodes; and

wherein the top of the first lens and the top of the second lens are disposed less than about 0.5 inch apart.

9. The troffer luminaire system according to claim 8, wherein the position is further characterized by the first and second lenses being disposed at an angle with respect to one another.

10. The troffer luminaire system according to claim 8, further comprising a reflector in optical communication with the plurality of light emitting diodes.

11. The troffer luminaire system according to claim 10, further comprising a diffuser in optical communication with the plurality of light emitting diodes.

12. A lighting method, comprising:

mounting a linear array of light sources in a fixture housing for emitting light;

disposing a first lens and a second lens operatively coupled to at least one light source of the light sources and being semi-cylindrical and having total internal reflection in optical communication with the light sources such that substantially all of the light emitted by the light sources is transmitted through the first lens and the second lens and onto an item or area to be illuminated; and

adjusting a position of the first lens and the second lens to direct transmission of light to be reflected internally, and change the distribution of light output by the first lens and the second lens.

13. The lighting method according to claim 12, wherein the light is transmitted through the first lens and the second lens are based on at least one from the group consisting of the distance of the first lens or the second lens from the lighting source, the distance of the first lens from the second lens, an angle of the first lens or the second lens with respect to an optical axis of the lighting source, and the distance of a surface of the lighting source from the top of the fixture housing.

14. The lighting method according to claim 12, wherein the light sources are light emitting diodes.