Embodiments of the technology relate generally to light modules, and more particularly to a light module that is rotatable about an axis and that directs light off the axis according to rotational angle to provide directional illumination, for example from one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Interest in adoption of light emitting diode technology for illumination is escalating, as light emitting diodes offer advantages over incandescent lighting and other approaches to converting electrical energy into luminous energy. Representative advantages can include longevity and efficiency. Light emitting diodes often come in compact packages that are quite different from conventional incandescent light bulbs or fluorescent bulbs. Additionally, light emitting diodes typically emit light in a quite different geometry than most other conventional illumination sources.
Improved technologies for utilizing light emitting diodes to generate illumination are needed. For example, new technology is needed for configurable, adjustable, or flexible illumination patterns. Need exists for improved luminaires and light modules that can leverage the potential advantages of light emitting diodes. A capability addressing one or more such needs, or some other related deficiency in the art, would support improved illumination systems, better economics, and/or wider use of light emitting diodes.
A light module can comprise a light emitting diode that generates light and an optic that manipulates the generated light. The optic can direct the generated light off axis, resulting in an illumination pattern that is biased towards one side of the light module, for example in a desired direction. The optic can comprise a light-blocking shield to suppress light that would otherwise emanate from the opposing side of the light module, for example opposite the desired direction.
The foregoing discussion of light modules is for illustrative purposes only. Various aspects of the present technology may be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following text and by reference to the associated drawings and the claims that follow. Other aspects, systems, methods, features, advantages, and objects of the present technology will become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and text. It is intended that all such aspects, systems, methods, features, advantages, and objects are to be included within this description and covered by this application and by the appended claims of the application.
Many aspects of the technology can be better understood with reference to the above drawings. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of exemplary embodiments of the present technology. Moreover, certain dimensions may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles.
A rotatable light module can be mounted at an enclosure, for example of a luminaire. The rotatable light module can emit light along one axis and rotate about another axis. The two axes can be skewed relative to one another, for example so that the two axes are oriented other than parallel to one another. In some example embodiments, the rotatable light module comprises a stationary light emitting diode and a rotating optic. In some example embodiments, the rotatable light module comprises a light emitting diode and an optic that rotate together.
Some representative embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with example reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate some representative embodiments of the disclosure.
The technology may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the technology to those appropriately skilled in the art. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating principles of the embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or positionings may be exaggerated to help visually convey certain principles. In the drawings, similar reference numerals among different figures designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements across the various views.
Referring now to the drawings,
In some embodiments, the luminaire 100, 200, 300 can be mounted to an eave of a building or other appropriate structure, for example a residential home or a commercial business. In many such embodiments, the luminaire 100, 200, 300 would typically be installed so that the front or light emitting side (as illustrated in
In some embodiments, the luminaire 100, 200, 300 can be mounted to a wall or other vertically oriented structure or surface, and further to structures and surfaces that are slanted relative to horizontal. Various embodiments may be deployed in other indoor and outdoor applications, for example.
Each of the illustrated luminaires 100, 200, 300 comprises a respective housing 105 that comprises a platform 115. The term “platform,” as used herein, generally refers to a raised surface or structure. Rotatable light modules 150 are set in respective apertures of the platform 115. Four rotatable light modules 150 are recessed in the platform 115 of the luminaire 100 illustrated in
As will be discussed in further detail below, each light module 150 comprises a light emitting diode that can be a chip-on-board light emitting diode or one or more discrete light emitting diodes, for example.
As illustrated in
In the illustrated embodiments of
With the illumination pattern of each rotatable light module 150 diverging from its respective axis 191 of rotation, the overall illumination of the luminaire 100, 200, 300 can be readily configured via adjusting the rotational positions of the individual light modules 150. For example, when mounted above an area having three picnic tables, the three rotatable light modules 150 of the luminaire 200 could be individually rotated so that each illuminates one of the tables. The three rotatable light modules 150 of the luminaire 200 could also be individually rotated so that all three emit light in a common direction, for example to concentrate illumination on a single picnic table or on a work area, temporarily, for a task.
In some embodiments, the rotation is toothless. In some example embodiments, the rotation is infinitely adjustable. In some example embodiments, the rotation is by designated increments.
In some embodiments each rotatable light module 150 comprises a pointer that serves as a directional indicator of its illumination pattern. With such pointers, a user can conveniently rotate the rotatable light modules 150 to deliver illumination in one or multiple desired directions. For example, with the rotatable light modules 150 set to the rotational orientations shown in
In some example embodiments, a luminaire can incorporate light modules and/or luminaire technology in accordance with the teachings of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/829,014, entitled Three Axis Adjustment for Emergency Lights Emitting an Asymmetric Beam Patterns to Illustrate a Path of Egress and filed Mar. 14, 2013 in the name of Westly Davis Hetrick and Christopher Ladewig, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. Thus, some embodiments of one or more of the luminaires 100, 200, 300 can incorporate one or more elements, features, teachings, or technologies disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/829,014.
In addition to the rotatable light modules 150, the example luminaire 100 illustrated in
The example luminaire 200 illustrated in
The example luminaire 300 illustrated in
Turning now to
As illustrated, a light emitting diode holder 410 mounts the light emitting diode 175 against a heat sink 406, which may be formed of metal or other thermally conductive material and may comprise fins in some embodiments. The rear, non-emitting side of the light emitting diode 175 faces and is in thermal communication with the heat sink 406. Heat thus flows from the light emitting diode 175 into the heat sink 406, with the resulting thermal path leading away from the optic 150, which is shown in
The light emitting diode holder 410 comprises an opening through which light from the light emitting diode 175 passes. A screw 413 fastens the light emitting diode holder 410 to the heat sink 406. The heat sink 406, the light emitting diode 175, and the light emitting diode holder 410 are thus in fixed positions relative to one another, with rotation coming from the associated optical element. A notch 405 in the light emitting diode holder 410 provides passage of an electrical supply lead to the light emitting diode 175.
Turning now to
In the illustrated embodiment, an optic 180 that is rotatable covers the light emitting diode 175 and provides environmental/moisture protection in addition to light manipulation. In the illustrated embodiment, the light emitting diode 175 faces and emits light into a cavity 181 of the optic 180. The light emitting diode holder 410 retains the light emitting diode 175 against the heat sink 406 (not illustrated in
The optic 180 comprises an internally reflective reflector 185 that redirects light. The light emitting diode 175 emits light along an axis 192, and the internally reflective reflector 185 reflects across the light emitting diode axis 192 light that is incident on the reflector 185. In some example embodiments, the internally reflective reflector 185 can comprise a prism jutting from an outer surface of the optic 180. As illustrated, the internally reflective reflector 185 comprises a totally internally reflective surface 29. Via reflection and refraction, the illustrated optic 180 produces an illumination pattern that is skewed or biased relative to the optical axis 192 of the light emitting diode 175. The illumination pattern may further be skewed or biased relative to the axis of rotation 191 of the associated rotatable light module 150. In operation, the totally internally reflective surface 29 reflects light across the optical axis 192 of the light emitting diode 175 and across the axis of rotation 191 (shown on
As will be discussed in further detail below, the optic 180 has an associated light-blocking shield 5 that is adjacent but separated from the totally internally reflective surface 29 by an air gap 28. The air gap 28 facilitates total internal reflection at the totally internally reflective surface 29.
In the illustrated embodiment, the light emitting diode 175 is stationary with respect to the optic 180 that rotates and thus may be characterized as a rotatable optic. In other words, the position of the light emitting diode 175 is fixed within the housing 105 of the luminaire 300 while the optic 180 rotates. Thus, the rotatable light module 150 may comprise a stationary light emitting diode 175 and a rotating optic. The optic 180 is set in an aperture 116 of the platform 115 and is rotatable about a central portion of the aperture 116, which is circular in the illustrated embodiment. In some embodiments, coupling a stationary light emitting diode 175 to a rotatable optic 180 provides an opportunity to utilize the luminaire housing 105 for thermal management, for example as a sink for heat generated by LED operation.
As illustrated, the optic 180 comprises a lip 13 that extends around a periphery of the optic 180 and has a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the aperture 116. Thus, the lip 13 captures the optic 180 in the aperture 116, keeping the optic 180 on the underside of the platform 115.
An anti-friction washer 6, which is an example of a ring, circumscribes the aperture 116 and is located between the lip 13 and the underside of the platform 115. A carrier tray 2 is fastened to the underside of the platform 115 with fasteners 77 so that the lip 13 is sandwiched between the carrier tray 2 and the underside of the platform 115. The carrier tray 2 includes an aperture 78 that is aligned with the aperture 116 in the platform. Thus, the optic 180 is aligned with both apertures 116, 78.
A gasket 3 is sandwiched between the lip 13 and the carrier tray 2 to provide a sealing surface 79 that blocks incursion of moisture, dust, and debris. The illustrated gasket 3 is one example embodiment of a ring. The carrier tray 2 and the underside of the platform 115 comprise a system of grooves and protrusions 76 that fit together so that the carrier tray 2 and the underside of the platform 115 are aligned and seated with one another.
In some example embodiments, the optic 180 comprises an optic available from Cooper Lighting (Peachtree City, Ga.) of Eaton Corporation under the trademark ACCULED OPTICS.
Turning now to
In accordance with some embodiments of the disclosure,
As illustrated, the optic 180 comprises a clear element, which may be formed from optical plastic for example, installed over the light emitting diode 175 as illustrated in
As illustrated, the optic 180 is free to rotate a full 360 degrees so that a user can aim the beam toward a desired direction. A user may further rotate the optic 180 multiple revolutions clockwise or counterclockwise, for example. Light that the light emitting diode 175 emits opposite the desired direction is largely managed and redirected through total internal reflection of the optic 180.
To address spill light that bypasses the total internal reflection of the optic 180, the optic 180 comprises the light-blocking shield 5. The light-blocking shield 5 may be attached to the main, clear body of the optic 180 by fusion, welding, epoxy, fasteners, or other appropriate technology, for example. In an example embodiment, the light-blocking shield 5 comprises a high-reflectance diffuse material that avoids excessive light loss due to absorption. The light-blocking shield 5 can comprise opaque material. In some example embodiments, the light-blocking shield 5 comprises a molded plastic that is loaded with light-scattering material. In some example embodiments, the light-blocking shield 5 comprises a textured metal surface that diffusely reflects incident light.
As illustrated in
In addition to its optical function, the light-blocking shield 5 provides an ergonomic grip for a user to rotate the optic 180 is as desired. In the illustrated embodiment, the light-blocking shield 5 comprises three indentations 11 that are sized to receive a user's fingertips to facilitate manual rotation. Thus in some embodiments, the indentations 11 can be characterized as finger receptacles.
Turning now to
Each of the recessed light modules 901, 902, 903 comprises a light emitting diode mounted at the rear of a reflective cavity. The reflective cavities can be formed from reflective panels mounted to a frame 905, for example.
In an example embodiment, the reflective panels are formed so that the cavities emit light in a preferential lateral direction, resulting in an overall illumination pattern 913 that is biased to one side of the luminaire 900. As illustrated, one edge 911 of the illumination pattern 913 is directed more toward the ground than the other edge 912. That is, the edge 912 spreads horizontally more than the edge 911. The edge 911 may face the house, while the edge 912 is projects towards a yard to extend illumination coverage into the yard.
Turning now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the light module 1050 is flat and recessed within the platform 115 of the luminaire 1000. The recessed light modules 1050 are typically fixed in position in the platform 115. In an example embodiment, light emits from each light module 1050 in a pattern that is substantially rotationally symmetric about an optical axis.
In an example embodiment, each light module 1050 comprises one or more light emitting diodes 175 (not visible in
As illustrated in
Many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosures set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these disclosures pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the disclosures are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of this application. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,719 filed Apr. 8, 2014 in the name of Christopher Michael Bryant, Westly Davis Hetrick, and Christopher Gerard Ladewig and entitled “Adjustable Luminaire,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to U.S. Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/580,011, filed concurrently with the present application, having an overlapping inventor list, and entitled “Adjustable Luminaire,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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