Optics system for solid state lighting apparatus

• US 9,841,175 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 12/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: GE Lighting Solutions LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Kuenzler, Glenn Howard, Martins, Jeremias Anthony, Chinniah, Jeyachandrabose, Cai, Dengke, Mayer, Mark J., Yoder, Benjamin Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): May, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MACCHIAROLO, LEAH SIMONE
• Application Number:
  US14/398,887
• Publication Number:
  US 20150131294A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/232 specially adapted for generating an essentially omnidirectional light distribution, e.g. with a glass bulb
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/238 Arrangement or mounting of circuit elements integrated in the light source
• 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: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/009 the casing being inside the housing of the lighting device
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/507 of means for protecting lighting devices from damage, e.g. housings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/60 characterised by the use of a forced flow of gas, e.g. air
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/63 using electrically-powered vibrating means; using ionic wind
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• 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 29/75 with fins or blades having different shapes, thicknesses or spacing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/773 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 29/87 Organic material, e.g. filled polymer composites; Thermo-conductive additives or coatings therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/041 with conical or pyramidal surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/048 with facets structure
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/28 characterised by coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/00 : Planar light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 : comprising a two-dimensional 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 2115/10 : Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/15 : Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0972 : Prisms prisms per se G02B5/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 : Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

An optical element for transmission of light produced by a solid state emitter includes at least one diffuser element, and a reflector supported by the at least one diffuser element and paced-apart from the emitter, the reflector defining an annular lip having an aperture therein and an axis normal to a plane defined by the aperture. The reflector further includes a first frustoconical surface coupled with the annular lip and angling outwardly in a first direction at a first angle relative to the axis, a second frustoconical surface coupled to the first frustoconical surface and angled outwardly at a second angle in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a third surface coupled with the second frustoconical surface and angling outwardly at a third angle.

Claims

1. An optical element for transmission of light produced by a solid state emitter, comprising:

at least one diffuser element; and

a reflector supported by the at least one diffuser element and spaced-apart from the emitter;

the reflector defining an annular lip having an aperture therein and an axis normal to a plane defined by the aperture, the annular lip having a planar inner rim, the reflector comprising;

a first frustoconical surface coupled with the planar inner rim of the annular lip, the first frustoconical surface extending outwardly from the annular lip in a first direction and at a first angle relative to the axis;

a second frustoconical surface coupled to the first frustoconical surface and extending outwardly at a second angle relative to the first frustoconical surface in a second direction; and

a third frustoconical surface coupled with the second frustoconical surface and extending outwardly at a third angle relative to the second frustoconical surface, wherein the third frustoconical surface is disposed substantially horizontally relative to the axis and a surface of the third frustoconical surface is on a same horizontal plane with a surface of the annular lip.

2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the first angle is within a range of between about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.

3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the second angle is within a range of between about 115 degrees to about 125 degrees.

4. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the third angle is within a range of between about 180 degrees to about 185 degrees.

5. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the reflector defines an outer rim diameter D1, and the aperture of the reflector defines an inner rim diameter D2 and wherein the diameter ratio between the outer and inner rim diameters D1:

D2 is between about three to one (3;

1) to about three and one-half to one (3.5;

1).

6. The optical element according to claim 1, comprising wires for powering the emitter and a reflective cover disposed over the wires to prevent absorption of light energy.

7. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface and the third frustoconical surface is diffusive.

8. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface and the third frustoconical surface is specular.

9. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the first frustoconical surface is diffusive and the second frustoconical surface is specular.

10. A lighting apparatus, comprising:

an optical element;

an emitter for producing light for transmission by the optical element;

a heat sink in thermal communication with the emitter;

wherein the optical element includes a reflector spaced-apart from the emitter, the reflector defining an annular lip having an aperture therein and an axis normal to a plane of the aperture, the annular lip having a planar inner rim, the reflector defining a first frustoconical surface coupled with the planar rim of the annular lip and extending outwardly from the annular lip in a first direction and at a first angle relative to the axis, a second frustoconical surface coupled to the first frustoconical surface and extending outwardly at a second angle relative to the first frustoconical surface in a second direction; and

a third frustoconical surface coupled with the second frustoconical surface and extending outwardly at a third angle relative to the second frustoconical surface, wherein the third frustoconical surface is disposed substantially horizontally relative to the axis and a surface of the third frustoconical surface is on a same horizontal plane with a surface of the annular lip.

11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first angle is within a range of between about 30 degrees to about 50 degrees.

12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second angle is within a range of between about 115 degrees to about 125 degrees.

13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the third angle is within a range of between about 180 degrees to about 185 degrees.

14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the reflector defines an outer rim diameter D1, and the aperture of the reflector defines an inner rim diameter D2 and wherein the diameter ratio between the outer and inner rim diameters D1:

D2 is between about three to one (3;

1) to about three and one-half to one (3.5;

1).

15. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, comprising wires for powering the emitter and a reflective cover disposed over the wires to prevent absorption of light energy.

16. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface and the third frustoconical surface is diffusive.

17. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the first frustoconical surface, the second frustoconical surface and the third frustoconical surface is specular.

18. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the first frustoconical surface is diffusive and the second frustoconical surface is specular.

19. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a scattering sheet disposed over the aperture.

20. The lighting apparatus according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of nozzles for directing a flow of air across the heat sink, and a synthetic jet actuator for producing the flow of air through the nozzles.

21. The lighting apparatus according to claim 20, comprising a first and second plurality of nozzles, and wherein the synthetic jet actuator cyclically ingests and expels air through the first and second nozzles.