Lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance

• US 20050180135A1
• Filed: 02/18/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Mayer, Mark J., Southard, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,237,925 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 27/00 Cable-stowing arrangements structurally associated with lighting devices, e.g. reels storing lengths of cable in general B65H; the lighting devices being vehicle headlamps F21S41/192; the lighting devices being vehicle lights F21S43/195
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/24 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/30 the coatings comprising photoluminescent substances
• 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]

Abstract

A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus is provided. The lighting apparatus includes an elongated envelope, an LED mounted in the elongated envelope, and a reflector. The elongated envelope includes a translucent portion. The reflector is positioned in relation to the LED such that the light emitted from the LED is directed toward the translucent portion of the elongated envelope and dispersed along the length of the lighting apparatus.

Claims

1. A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope including a translucent portion, wherein said envelope defines a first axis along its length;

an LED mounted in said elongated envelope; and

a reflector positioned in relation to said LED such that light emitted from said LED is directed from said reflector toward the translucent portion of said elongated envelope, said reflector adapted to focus light in a second axis that is at least substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

2. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a channel support attached to said elongated envelope opposite the translucent portion, wherein said LED mounts to said channel support and said channel support includes engagement members adapted to receive associated connecting members.

3. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflector is adapted to spread light emitted from said LED along the first axis.

5. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflector comprises a material having greater light diffusing properties along a first axis than along a second axis.

8. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said reflector is arcuate in a cross-section taken substantially normal to the first axis.

10. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said LED faces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the translucent portion of said elongated envelope.

11. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second LED, wherein said LEDs are positioned greater than 0.5 inches away from one another.

12. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a flexible power cord, wherein said LED attaches to said flexible power cord.

13. The lighting apparatus of claim 1, wherein said elongated envelope includes a first opaque leg and a second opaque leg interconnected by said translucent portion, and said reflector is adapted to direct light toward said translucent portion such that the light does not strike at least one of the first and second opaque legs.

4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

25. A lighting apparatus for creating a substantially homogenous lit appearance along the length of the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope defining a first axis along its length and having a general U-shape or V-shape configuration in a cross-section taken normal to the first axis, said envelope including a translucent portion running at least substantially parallel to the first axis and an opaque portion adjacent the translucent portion;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said elongated envelope aligned with the first axis; and

a reflector disposed adjacent said LEDs, said reflector being shaped and positioned in relation to said LEDs such that light emitted from said LEDs is directed from said reflector towards the translucent portion of said elongated envelope and dispersed along the translucent portion.

26. The lighting apparatus of claim 25, wherein said opaque portion comprises first and second opaque legs and said translucent portion is disposed between that the opaque legs.

27. A lighting apparatus comprising:

an elongated envelope including a first opaque leg and a second opaque leg interconnected by a translucent portion, the envelope defining a first axis along its greatest dimension and a second axis transverse to the first axis;

a plurality of LEDs mounted in said elongated envelope; and

a reflector positioned in relation to said LEDs such that light emitted from said LEDs is directed from said reflector toward the translucent portion of said elongated envelope.

15. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, wherein said reflector is shaped such that it focuses light along the second axis and disperses light along the first axis.

16. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, wherein said reflector comprises a material that diffuses more light along the first than along the second axis.

17. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, wherein said reflector is adapted to direct light such that light emitted from adjacent LEDs overlaps.

18. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, wherein said reflector is curved in a cross section that is taken substantially normal to the first axis.

19. The lighting apparatus of claim 18, wherein said reflector is parallel to the first axis in a cross section that is taken substantially normal to the second axis.

20. The lighting apparatus of claim 19, wherein said LEDs are spaced greater than 0.5 inches away from one another.

21. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, further comprising

a phosphor portion positioned in relation to said LED such that light emitted from said LED either reflects off and/or passes through said phosphor portion.

22. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein said phosphor portion is affixed to or embedded in said translucent portion.

23. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein said phosphor portion is affixed to or embedded in said reflector.

24. The lighting apparatus of claim 21, wherein said phosphor portion comprises a phosphor insert interposed between said reflector and said translucent portion.

28. The lighting apparatus of claim 27, further comprising a support connected to said elongated envelope opposite the translucent portion, said LEDs being mounted on said channel support.

29. The lighting apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a flexible power cord disposed in a channel defined by said support, wherein said LEDs mounts to said flexible power cord.