VARIABLE-BEAM LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20160123560A1
• Filed: 11/03/2015
• Published: 05/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LEDVANCE LLC (MLS Co. Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TerraLUX Incorporated
• Inventors: Catalano, Anthony W.
• Granted Patent: US 10,036,535 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/04 by movement of reflectors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/675
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0058 adapted to cooperate with light sources of shapes different from point-like or linear, e.g. circular light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0066 specially adapted to cooperate with point like light sources; specially adapted to cooperate with light sources the shape of which is unspecified F21V7/16 - F21V7/30 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/06 with parabolic curvature
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

A method and device for variable-beam illumination are disclosed. The device has a light source, a first reflector segment, and a second reflector segment. The first segment has a first parabolic cross section to produce a first light distribution having a wide-angle light distribution. The second segment has a second parabolic cross section to produce a second light distribution that is narrower than the first light distribution. At least one of the first and second segments is movable between first and second positions. At least a portion of the light is reflected to effectuate the first light distribution when the at least one of the first and second segments is in the first position. At least a portion of the light is reflected to effectuate the second light distribution when the at least one of the first and second segments is in the second position.

Claims

1. A variable-beam illumination device comprising:

at least one light source that produces an output of light;

a first discrete reflector segment at least partially surrounding the at least one light source, the first discrete reflector segment having a first parabolic cross section and shaped to produce a first light distribution having a wide-angle light distribution from at least a portion of the output; and

a second discrete reflector segment at least partially surrounding the at least one light source, the second discrete reflector segment having a second parabolic cross section and shaped to produce a second light distribution from at least a portion of the output, the second light distribution from the second discrete reflector segment being narrower than the light distribution from the first discrete reflector segment;

wherein at least one of the first and second segments is movable relative to the other one of the first and second segments between a first position and a second position, wherein

(a) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the first light distribution when the at least one of the first and second segments is in the first position, and

(b) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the second light distribution when the at least one of the first and second segments is in the second position.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the output does not encounter the second reflector segment when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the first position.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the output encounters both the first and second reflector segments when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the second position.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the first and second reflector segments mate to form a substantially continuous reflective surface when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the second position.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the second reflector segment is movable relative to the first reflector segment.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is translatable relative to an optical axis of the at least one light source.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises or consists of an array of light sources.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the light sources are actuable such that the outer light sources of the array of light sources are preferentially actuated when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the first position.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the light sources are actuable such that the inner light sources of the array of light sources are preferentially actuated when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the second position.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein

the first reflector segment comprises a first concave reflector surface defined by a first paraboloid function;

and

the second reflector segment comprises a second concave reflector surface defined by a second paraboloid function, the second paraboloid function different from the first paraboloid function.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein

the second segment is configured to collimate a majority of the light that is intercepted by the second segment.

12. A reflector assembly for a variable-beam illumination device comprising:

at least one light source that produces an output of light;

a first discrete concave reflector segment at least partially surrounding the at least one light source and shaped to produce a first light distribution, the first light distribution having a wide-angle light distribution from the output; and

a second discrete concave reflector segment at least partially surrounding the at least one light source and shaped to produce a second light distribution, wherein the second light distribution from the output is narrower than the first light distribution;

wherein at least one of the first and second concave reflector segments is movable relative to the other one of the first and second concave reflector segments between a first position and a second position, wherein

(a) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the first light distribution when the at least one of the first and second concave reflector segments is in the first position, and

(b) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the second light distribution when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the second position.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising

a third discrete concave reflector segment at least partially surrounding the at least one light source and movable relative to the first and second concave reflector segments between a first position and a second position, wherein at least a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate a third light distribution when the third reflector segment is in the second position.

14. The reflector assembly of claim 12, wherein

the first discrete concave reflector segment comprises a first reflector surface having a cross-section profile defined by a first parabolic function;

and

the second discrete concave reflector segment comprises a second reflector surface having a cross-section profile defined by a second parabolic function, the second parabolic function different from the first parabolic function.

15. The reflector assembly of claim 14, wherein

the first and second reflector segments comprise a common axis of symmetry;

the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is configured to translate along the common axis of symmetry; and

the reflector assembly is configured and shaped to couple to a light source wherein an optical axis of the light source is substantially coincident with the common axis of symmetry.

16. The reflector assembly of claim 14, wherein

the light source comprises an elongated light source, and each of the first and second concrete reflector segments are elongated;

or

each of the first and second reflector surfaces comprises an elliptic paraboloid reflective surface.

17. The reflector assembly of claim 12, wherein

the first and second reflector segments comprise a common axis of symmetry;

the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is configured to translate along the common axis of symmetry; and

the reflector assembly is configured and shaped to couple to a light source whereby an optical axis of the light source is substantially coincident with the common axis of symmetry.

18. The reflector assembly of claim 12, wherein

the first light distribution is uncollimated;

and

a majority of the second light distribution is collimated.

19. A method of variably illuminating an object, the method comprising:

outputting light from at least one light source;

producing a first light distribution having a wide-angle light distribution from the light output using a first discrete concave reflector segment, wherein the wide-angle light distribution is not collimated;

producing a second light distribution from the light output using a second discrete concave reflector segment, the second light distribution being narrower than the first light distribution;

moving at least one of the first discrete concave reflector segment and the second discrete concave reflector segment between a first position and a second position, wherein

(a) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the first distribution when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the first position, and

(b) a portion of the output is intercepted and reflected to effectuate the second light distribution when the at least one of the first and second reflector segments is in the second position.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

providing the first discrete concave reflector segment, wherein the first discrete concave reflector segment comprises a first reflector surface defined by a first parabolic cross section function or paraboloid function; and

providing the second discrete concave reflector segment, wherein the second discrete concave reflector segment comprises a second reflector surface defined by a second parabolic cross section function or paraboloid function, the second function different from the first function.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

translating the at least one of the first and second discrete concave reflector segments along an axis of symmetry common to the first and second discrete concave reflector segments; and

wherein

emitting an output of light comprises emitting an output of light having an optical axis that is substantially coincident with the axis of symmetry.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein

the first and second discrete concave reflector segments comprise a common axis of symmetry;

and wherein the method comprises

translating the at least one of the first and second discrete concave reflector segments along the common axis of symmetry; and

emitting an output of light comprises emitting an output of light having an optical axis that is substantially coincident with the common axis of symmetry.