Angled elliptical axial lighting device

• US 5,894,196 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 04/13/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Phantom Products Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mcdermott
• Inventors: McDermott, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAYNES, MACK NELSON
• Application Number:
  US08/647,461
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 313/110, 313/112, 313/113, 313/512, 313/493, 313/634, 362/311, 362/339, 362/800
• US Class Current: 313/512
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01J 61/025 Associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/54 having a particular shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 Reflective elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

A compact lighting device including a light concentrating reflector directing light emitted by a light source towards a curved light refracting surface where it is refracted and thereby redirected. The light reflecting surface is contoured to direct the reflected light to converge towards one or more points not coincident with a reference axis. The light is, through reflection, additionally directed to converge towards the reference axis. The light refracting surface is contoured and positioned to cooperate with the contour of the light concentrating reflector such that after passing through the refracting surface the emerging light forms a light beam concentrated about the reference plane. An optional light refracting lens can be included to compliment the reflector and refractor combination by redirecting forward light emitted by the light source to further increase the intensity of the concentrated light beam.

Claims

1. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

a reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said reflective surface comprising a substantially elliptical line, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting said reference axis, said reflective surface including a reflecting means for forming a reflected light having a convergence about said reference axis; and

a refractive surface connected to sand reflective surface disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface including a refracting means for bringing said reflected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.

7. The lighting device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6 which further includes:

a lens surface;

said light emitting diode element further emitting a forward light having a forward divergence about said reference axis;

said forward divergence less than said side divergence; and

said lens surface formed of a light transmitting medium connected to said light source and disposed about said light source intersecting said forward light, said lens surface including a lens means for refracting said forward light and reducing said forward divergence of said forward light about said reference axis.

8. The lighting device according to any of claims 1, 2, 4 or 6 which further includes:

a sleeve means formed of a sleeve light transmitting medium; and

said sleeve means comprising said refractive surface and said reflective surface, said sleeve means further comprising a wall forming a hollow portion, said hollow portion receiving said light source.

9. The lighting device according to any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 6 which further includes:

a lens surface;

said light emitting diode element further emitting a forward light having a forward divergence about said reference axis;

said forward divergence smaller than said side divergence;

said lens surface formed of a light transmitting medium coupled to said light source and disposed intersecting said forward light, said lens surface including a lens means for refracting said forward light and reducing said forward divergence about said reference axis;

a sleeve means formed of a sleeve light transmitting medium;

said sleeve means comprising said refractive surface and said reflective surface, said sleeve means further comprising a wall forming a hollow portion, said hollow portion receiving said light source; and

,

a wall light transmitting medium with an index of refraction exceeding 1.1 between said wall and said light source.

10. The lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 5 which further includes:

said reflective surface formed of a rotary movement of said substantially elliptical line about said reference axis.

11. The lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 5 which further includes:

said reflective means comprising said substantially elliptical line having a focal point and said light emitting diode element located substantially at said focal point.

12. The lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 6 which further includes:

said refractive means additionally for bringing said reflected light approximately to parallelism.

13. A lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 6 which further includes:

said refractive means comprising said refractive surface having a concave contour.

14. A lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 6 which further includes:

said refractive surface formed of a rotary movement of a line about said reference axis, said line intersecting said reference axis forming an acute angle.

15. A lighting device according to any of claims 1 thru 6 which further includes:

said refractive means comprises said refractive surface formed of a rotary movement of a curved line approximately about said light emitting diode element.

16. A lighting device according to any of claims 1, 2 or 4 which further includes:

said reflective surface and said refractive surface formed of a light transmitting medium having an index of refraction exceeding 1.1.

2. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

said light emitting diode element encapsulated in a lamp light transmitting medium, said lamp light transmitting medium comprising a resin having an index of refraction exceeding 1.1;

a reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said reflective surface comprising a substantially elliptical line, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting said reference axis, said reflective surface including a reflective means for forming a reflected light having a convergence about said reference axis; and

a refractive surface connected to said reflective surface disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface Including a refracting means for bringing said reelected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.

3. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

said light emitting diode element encapsulated in a lamp light transmitting medium, said lamp light transmitting medium comprising a resin having an index of refraction exceeding 1.1;

a refractive surface;

a reflective surface;

said lamp light transmitting medium forming said reflective surface and said refractive surface;

said reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said reflective surface comprising a substantially elliptical line, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting to said reference axis, said reflective surface including a reflective means for forming a reflected light having a convergence about said reference axis; and

said refractive surface connected to said reflective surface disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface including a refractive means for bringing said reflected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.

4. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis and emitting a forward light having a forward divergence about said reference axis;

said light emitting diode element encapsulated in a lamp light transmitting medium, said lamp light transmitting medium comprising a resin having an index of refraction exceeding 1.1;

a lens surface;

said lens surface formed of said lamp light transmitting medium and disposed about said light source intersecting said forward light, said lens surface including a lens means for refracting and bringing said forward light towards parallelism with said reference axis;

said light emitting diode element further emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

said side divergence larger than said forward divergence;

a reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said reflective surface comprising a substantially elliptical line, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting said reference axis, said reflective surface including a reflective means for forming a reflected light having a convergence about said reference axis; and

a refractive surface connected to said reflective surface and disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface including a refractive means for bringing said reflected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.

17. A lighting device according to claim 4 which further includes:

said lens means comprising said lens surface having a substantially aspheric contour.

5. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

said light emitting diode element encapsulated in a lamp light transmitting medium, said lamp light transmitting medium comprising a resin having an index of refraction exceeding 1.1;

a refractive surface;

a reflective surface;

a sleeve means formed of a sleeve light transmitting medium;

said sleeve means comprising said refractive surface and said reflective surface, said sleeve means further comprising a wall forming a hollow portion, said hollow portion receiving said light source;

said reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said reflective surface comprising a substantially elliptical line, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting said reference axis, said reflective surface including a reflective means for forming a reflected light having a convergence about said reference axis; and

said refractive surface connected to said reflective surface disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface including a refractive means for bringing said reflected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.

6. A lighting device including:

a light source;

a source of electrical power;

said light source further including a light emitting diode element;

said light emitting diode element coincident with a reference axis;

a connecting means for connecting said source of electrical power to said light source;

said light emitting diode element emitting a side light having a side divergence about said reference axis;

a reflective surface formed of a rotary movement of a substantially elliptical line about said reference axis;

said reflective surface connected to said light source disposed intersecting said side light, said substantially elliptical line having an elliptical line axis, said elliptical line axis substantially intersecting said reference axis, said substantially elliptical line having a focal point, said light emitting diode element located substantially at said focal point; and

a refractive surface connected to said reflective surface disposed intersecting said reflected light, said refractive surface including a refractive means for bringing said reflected light towards parallelism with said reference axis.