LIGHTING DEVICE AND LIGHTING METHOD

• US 20080130281A1
• Filed: 12/03/2007
• Published: 06/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: LED Lighting Fixtures, Inc. (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: NEGLEY, Gerald H.
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,045 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/246
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/00 Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A lighting device which comprises at least a first solid state lighting device; and at least a first patterned diffuser which comprises a plurality of optical features. If the first solid state lighting device is illuminated, at least some of the light emitted by the first solid state lighting device enters the first patterned diffuser and exits the patterned diffuser. In some embodiments, the patterned diffuser emits light in a specific shape (e.g., substantially square, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal). In some embodiments, optical features are positioned on the first surface of the side of the first patterned diffuser that the emitted light enters. Also, a method of lighting which comprises illuminating one (or more) solid state lighting device which emits light which enters a patterned diffuser which comprises a plurality of optical features, and exits the patterned diffuser.

Claims

1. A lighting device, comprising:

at least a first solid state lighting device; and

at least a first patterned diffuser, said first solid state lighting device being positioned relative to said first patterned diffuser such that if said first solid state lighting device is illuminated so that said first solid state lighting device emits light, at least some of said light emitted by said first solid state lighting device enters said first patterned diffuser and exits said patterned diffuser, said patterned diffuser comprising a plurality of optical features.

2. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a substantially square shape.

3. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a substantially rectangular shape.

4. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a substantially hexagonal shape.

5. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lighting device comprises a plurality of solid state lighting devices and a plurality of patterned diffusers.

6. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of patterned diffusers comprises a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially hexagonal shape.

7. A lighting device as recited in claim 5, wherein said plurality of patterned diffusers comprises a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially octagonal shape and a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially square shape.

8. A lighting device as recited in claim 1, wherein said light emitted by said first solid state lighting device enters said first patterned diffuser through a first surface of said first patterned diffuser and exits said first patterned diffuser through a second surface of said first patterned diffuser.

9. A lighting device as recited in claim 8, wherein at least some of said optical features are positioned on said first surface of said first patterned diffuser.

10. A method of lighting, comprising:

illuminating at least a first solid state lighting device so that said first solid state lighting device emits light, such that at least some of said light emitted by said first solid state lighting device enters a patterned diffuser and exits said patterned diffuser, said patterned diffuser comprising a plurality of optical features.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a hexagonal shape.

12. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said lighting device comprises a plurality of solid state lighting devices and a plurality of patterned diffusers.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of patterned diffusers comprises a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially hexagonal shape.

14. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein said plurality of patterned diffusers comprises a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially octagonal shape and a plurality of patterned diffusers which emit light in a substantially square shape.

15. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a substantially square shape.

16. A method as recited in claim 10, wherein said patterned diffuser emits light in a substantially rectangular shape.

17. A lighting device, comprising:

at least a first solid state lighting device; and

at least a first optical element, said first solid state lighting device being positioned relative to said first optical element such that if said first solid state lighting device is illuminated so that said first solid state lighting device emits light, at least some of said light emitted by said first solid state lighting device enters said first optical element through a first surface of said first optical element and exits said optical element through a second surface of said first optical element, said optical element comprising a plurality of optical features, at least some of said optical features being positioned on said first surface of said first optical element.