Illumination systems providing direct and indirect illumination

• US 8,833,996 B2
• Filed: 12/24/2013
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
• Original Assignee: Quarkstar LLC
• Inventors: Dau, Wilson, Lerman, Louis, Speier, Ingo
• Primary Examiner(s): NEILS, PEGGY A
• Application Number:
  US14/140,327
• Publication Number:
  US 20140192558A1
• Time in Patent Office: 266 Days
• Field of Search: 362/249.02, 362/240, 362/551, 362/555, 362/558, 362/404, 362/408
• US Class Current: 362/558
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/036 by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/06 by suspension
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/763 the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/10 comprising photoluminescent material
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/00 Reflectors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/505
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0008 providing for indirect lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0016 on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
• 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: G02B 6/00 Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/001 the light being emitted along at least a portion of the lateral surface of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0045 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/12004 Combinations of two or more optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 : Optical field-shaping elements

Abstract

Illumination devices are described for illuminating a target area, e.g., floors of a room, using solid-state light sources. In general, an illumination device includes a first light guide extending along a first plane, the first light guide to receive light from first light emitting elements (LEEs) and guide the light in a first direction in the first plane; a second light guide extending along the first plane, the second light guide to receive light from second LEEs and guide the light in a second direction in the first plane opposite to the first direction; a first redirecting optic to receive light from the first light guide and direct the light in first and second angular ranges; and a second redirecting optic to receive light from the second light guide and direct the light in third and fourth angular ranges, where the first, second, third and fourth angular ranges are different.

Claims

1. An illumination system comprising:

multiple light emitting elements (LEEs);

a first light guide extending along a first plane, the first light guide being positioned and arranged to receive light from at least some of the LEEs and guide the light in a first direction in the first plane;

a second light guide extending along the first plane, the second light guide being positioned and arranged to receive light from at least some other of the LEEs and guide the light in a second direction in the first plane opposite to the first direction;

a first redirecting optic positioned and arranged to receive light from the first light guide and direct the light in a first angular range and a second angular range; and

a second redirecting optic positioned and arranged to receive light from the second light guide and direct the light in a third angular range and a fourth angular range,

wherein each of the light guides and the redirecting optics has a longitudinal dimension that is (i) parallel to the first plane and (ii) orthogonal to the first and second directions,

wherein the LEEs are distributed along the longitudinal dimension, and

wherein the first, second, third and fourth angular ranges are different, such that

each of prevalent propagation directions of the first angular range and the second angular range has a component that is opposite the first direction, and

each of prevalent propagation directions of the third angular range and the fourth angular range has a component that is opposite the second direction.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein

the first angular range and the second angular range are symmetrical with respect to the first plane, and

the third angular range and the fourth angular range are symmetrical with respect to the first plane.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein

the first angular range and the third angular range are symmetrical with respect to a second plane that (i) is orthogonal to the first plane and (ii) contains the longitudinal dimension, and

the second angular range and the fourth angular range are symmetrical with respect to the second plane.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a power controller arranged and configured to power the multiple LEEs dependently or independently.

5. The illumination system of claim 4, wherein the at least some of the multiple LEEs from which the first light guide receives the light are controlled independently from the at least some other of the multiple LEEs from which the second light guide receives the light.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the multiple LEEs comprise light-emitting diodes.