LED luminous element for illuminating a light box having homogeneous light distribution

• US 8,833,964 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2010
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tridonic Jennersdorf GMBH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tridonic Jennersdorf GMBH (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Inventors: Maglica, Jure, Derkits, Christian
• Primary Examiner(s): Ward, John A
• Application Number:
  US13/496,407
• Publication Number:
  US 20120188755A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 362/235, 362/244, 362/246, 362/249.02, 362/404, 362/249.01, 362/217.01, 362/219, 362/223, 362/224, 362/225, 362/217.02
• US Class Current: 362/217.02
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/20 with light sources held by or within elongate supports
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 4/28 rigid, e.g. LED bars
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/02 Combinations of only two kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/013 the housing being an extrusion
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/16 for access to memory bus G06F13/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/18 based on priority control G06F13/1605 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/16 Signs formed of or incorporating reflecting elements or surfaces, e.g. warning signs having triangular or other geometrical shape
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/22 electroluminescent electroluminescent light sources per se H05B33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1831 using more than one light source
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1854 Light diffusing layer
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/222 with LEDs

Abstract

The invention relates to an elongated luminous element (1) having a plurality of approximately point-shaped light sources (2) disposed along a line and having light diffusion means (3) deflecting at least one part of the light rays (12) sent out by the light sources (2) in a desired direction. The light diffusion means (3) are disposed lateral to the main emitting direction of the light sources. The elongated luminous element (1) is particularly suitable for installation in a light box (13) for advertising or demonstration purposes. The light box has a transparent or partially transparent front side (7) and a reflective back side (8). The elongated luminous element (1) or a plurality thereof is or are applied to at least one of the side areas (11, 14), such that the light rays (12) emitted by the light sources (2) and deflected by the light diffusing means (3) are aimed between or on the back side (8) and/or the front side (7) of the light box (13).

Claims

1. An elongate luminaire element (1) with a plurality of approximately punctiform light sources (2) comprising LEDs arranged along a longitudinal direction, with a lens (6) which covers a plurality of or all of the light sources (2), wherein an exit angle of the light sources is focused by the lens, and one or more planar light diffusion means having a form of a wall (3), which extend in a longitudinal axis of the luminaire element (1) on one side or on both sides and parallel to an axis of symmetry of a light exit cone of the light sources (2).

2. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 1, in which each light diffusion means (3) is configured to act as a diffuse radiator on a rear side, which is the side remote from the light exit cone of the light sources (2).

3. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 1, in which the one or more planar light diffusion means include a plurality of planar light diffusion means (3), which have the same or else different heights, and the plurality of planar light diffusion means are arranged on one side or on both sides of the axis of symmetry of the light exit cone.

4. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 1, wherein scattered particles are provided in at least one planar light diffusion means (3).

5. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 3, wherein a distance between the plurality of light diffusion means (3) and a mid-axis of the light exit cone or a distance between the plurality of light diffusion means (3) when provided on both sides, is selected in interaction with the height thereof such that a main cone of light, expressed by a full width at half maximum, is directed past the plurality of planar light diffusion means (3), without any interaction therewith, and only light outside the full width at half maximum is scattered diffusely by the plurality of planar light diffusion means (3).

6. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diffuse scattering provided by the light diffusion means (3) results in backscattering of some of the light in an opposite direction to an emission direction, but outside the light diffusion means (3).

7. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of light diffusion means (3) form a first wall and a second wall, which extend tangentially to a main emission direction of the light sources (2).

8. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the first wall and the second wall run along the longitudinal direction on two opposite sides of the punctiform light sources (2).

9. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more light diffusion means (3) have a structured surface.

10. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more light diffusion means (3) and the lens (6) are formed integrally.

11. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more light diffusion means (3) and the lens (6) are produced by an injection molding method.

12. The elongate luminaire element (1) as in claim 1, characterized in that the lens (6) has a full width at half maximum of less than or equal to 30°

, wherein full width at half maximum relates to a main cone of light.

13. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the one or more planar light diffusion means (3) consist of glass or a polymer.

14. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that a second lens (9) is arranged above the one or more planar light diffusion means (3).

15. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the light sources are fitted on a top-hat rail (5).

16. A light box (13), with a transparent or partially transparent front side (7), and with a reflecting rear side (8), having at least one elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, which is fitted peripherally on the light box (13).

17. The light box (13) as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the partially transparent front side (7) is formed from a diffuser disc.

18. The elongate luminaire element (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the lens (6) is in the form of an approximately half-round bar.

19. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 15, wherein the top-hat rail consists of aluminum and is a heat sink

20. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 16, wherein the front side of the light box comprises embedded diffuser particles that cause light passing through the front side to be scattered.

21. The elongate luminaire element as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one planar light diffusion means of the one or more planar light diffusion means comprises scattered particles disposed in a matrix to provide a light-scattering effect.

22. An elongate luminaire element (1) with a plurality of approximately point-like light sources (2), wherein the plurality of approximately point-like light sources comprise light emitting diodes arranged along a longitudinal direction, with a lens (6) which covers a plurality of or all of the light sources (2), wherein an exit angle of the light sources is focused by the lens, and one or more planar light diffusion means having a form of a wall (3), which extend in a longitudinal axis of the luminaire element (1) on one side or on both sides and parallel to an axis of symmetry of a light exit cone of the light sources (2).