Illumination systems providing direct and indirect illumination

• US 9,846,272 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2013
• Issued: 12/19/2017
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): Harris, William N
• Application Number:
  US14/427,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20150219833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,559 Days
• Field of Search: 362606, 362607
• 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 for illuminating a target surface comprising:

an illumination device comprising

a mount having a first mount surface and a second mount surface opposing the first mount surface, the mount elongated along a first direction,

a first illumination module comprising first light emitting elements (first LEEs) distributed on the first mount surface along the first direction, and

a second illumination module comprising second light emitting elements (second LEEs) distributed on the second mount surface along the first direction; and

a support to hold the illumination device, when the illumination system is installed,

wherein each of the first illumination module and the second illumination module comprises

collimating optics distributed along the first direction and optically coupled with corresponding ones of the first LEEs or the second LEEs;

a light guide having an input end and an output end spaced apart from the input end along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the light guide comprising a pair of side surfaces that are parallel to a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction and extend between the input end and the output end, the input end being optically coupled with the collimating optics, and

an optical extractor optically coupled to the output end of the light guide, the optical extractor comprising

(i) a v-groove, the v-groove being elongated and extending along the first direction, and the v-groove being arranged distal to the output end of the light guide,

(ii) a first cylindrical surface, the first cylindrical surface being a portion of a side surface of a first cylinder that has a first cylindrical axis oriented along the first direction, the first cylindrical surface extending between a first side of the v-groove and a first one of the pair of side surfaces of the light guide at the output end of the light guide, and

(iii) a second cylindrical surface, the second cylindrical surface being a portion of a side surface of a second cylinder that has a second cylindrical axis oriented along the first direction, the second cylindrical surface extending between a second side of the v-groove and a second one of the pair of side surfaces of the light guide at the output end of the light guide.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first and second LEEs comprise light-emitting diodes.

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

4. The illumination system of claim 3, wherein the mount comprises the power controller.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first LEEs are powered independently from the second LEEs.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the support extends along a direction orthogonal to both the first and second directions.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the support extends along the second direction and orthogonal to the first direction.

8. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the optical extractor is symmetrical relative a plane that includes the first direction and the second direction.

9. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cylindrical surfaces have a constant radius.

10. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the first cylindrical surface on the first side of the v-groove has a first radius and the second cylindrical surface on the second side of the v-groove has a second radius.