Embodiments of the technology relate generally to illumination systems and more particularly to an optic that couples light from light emitting diodes into lightguides.
As compared to incandescent and fluorescent light sources, light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer substantial potential benefit associated with their energy efficiency, light quality, and compact size. However, to realize the full potential benefits offered by light emitting diodes, new technologies are needed.
For instance, there are needs in the art for technology to utilize light emitting diodes for illumination. Need exists for light-emitting-diode-based systems that can evenly distribute light produced by one or more light emitting diodes. Need further exists for technology to mix or homogenize light from one or more light emitting diodes to provide illumination. Need exists for technology to couple light from light emitting diodes into edgelit lightguides for illumination. A capability addressing one or more such needs, or some other related deficiency in the art, would support improved illumination and more widespread utilization of light emitting diodes in lighting applications.
In an aspect of the disclosure, a lighting system can comprise one or more lightguides, one or more light emitting diodes (“LEDs”), and an optic. The optic can couple light from the light emitting diode(s) to the lightguide(s).
In some aspects of the disclosure, the optic can mix or otherwise manage light emitted from the light emitting diode or diodes so that light enters each lightguide uniformly along edges of the lightguide, thereby eliminating or reducing any bright spots or visual inconsistencies in the lightguide. The optic can further allocate or apportion the light appropriately between or among multiple lightguides, for example even when the light emitting diodes are not well centered between two or more lightguides. Thus, the optic can compensate for misalignment between a light emitting diode and one or more lightguides.
In some aspects of the disclosure, the optic can further homogenize the light emitted from one or more light emitting diodes, so that color or chromaticity of coupled light and the resulting illumination is spatially uniform. Thus, the optic can compensate for a light emitting diode that emits a pattern of light having different colors in different areas of the pattern.
The foregoing discussion 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.
Reference will be made below to the accompanying drawings.
The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the embodiments described, as other equally effective embodiments are within the scope and spirit of this disclosure. 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.
A lightguide can comprise a panel, slab, plate, or related form that comprises two major faces that are internally reflective. Light can be introduced into the lightguide from a first edge of the lightguide, so that the major faces guide the light towards a second edge. The major faces can provide a controlled release of light flowing through the lightguide, to illuminate an area. Light can thus propagate in the lightguide via internal reflection from the two major faces, traveling from the light-source edge towards an opposing edge, and illumination light can escape from the lightguide through the major faces and the opposing edge.
A light source can be positioned adjacent the first edge of the lightguide, so that the light source emits light into the lightguide via the first edge. An optic disposed between the light source and the first edge of the lightguide can couple light into the lightguide. The optic can diffuse, mix, spread, homogenize, allocate, apportion, or otherwise manage the light, to improve transfer of the light between the light source and the lightguide.
Some representative embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with example reference to the accompanying drawings that illustrate embodiments of the technology. 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.
Referring now to
In the example lighting system 100 illustrated in
The major faces 115 of the lightguide 110 can be patterned with microlenses that promote controlled release of light internally incident on those faces 115. The resulting light can provide beneficial illumination for an area 175 that may be occupied by one or more people, for example.
In some embodiments, only the upper major faces 115 are so patterned. In some embodiments, only the lower major faces 115 are so patterned. In some example embodiments, all the major faces 115 are so patterned. The microlenses can comprise conical features, truncated cones, convex shapes, or other appropriate features, for example. In some embodiments, the major faces 115 of the lightguide 110 are unpatterned so that, relative to a microlensed embodiment, less light escapes through the major faces 115, and thus more light reaches the lightguide edges 118.
In the illustrated embodiment of
In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises an exit face 105 having a surface pattern or patterned surface that diffuses light as the light transmits through that surface. The exit face 105 can be roughed up via sand paper, embossing, molding, or bead blasting, for example. The side faces 106 of the optic 150 can be polished to promote total internal reflection of light propagating between the entrance face 104 and the exit face 105. The side faces 106 of the optic 150 can comprise totally internally reflective surfaces.
In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises one or more refractive surfaces that spreads, concentrates, focuses, diverges, or otherwise manipulates light. In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises embedded particles or materials that scatter light propagating through the optic 150. Such particles can be concentrated or layered at the exit face 105, for example.
In some embodiments, the optic 150 can be fabricated by co-extrusion of two optical materials, one having more scattering agent than the other. For example, the optic 150 can comprise a main body of clear optical material and one or more strips of diffusing material extending lengthwise, for example along the exit face 105 of the optic 150.
In some embodiments, a layer of diffuser material is added along the exit face 105 by means other than co-extrusion. For example, one or more diffusion layers can be bonded to a main body utilizing heat, welding, adhesive, or other appropriate bonding or fusion means.
In some embodiments, the optic 150 comprises a scattering agent that is homogenously distributed throughout the optic 150.
In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises a plastic optical material such as PMMA acrylic, polystyrene, or optical grade polycarbonate, to mention a few representative examples without limitation. In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises silicone or another appropriate elastomer. In some example embodiments, such optical materials may be clear. In some example embodiments, such optical materials may comprise scattering additives, fine particles, or a diffusion agent. In some example embodiments, the optic 150 comprises a mixture or blend of multiple polymers, such as 85% acrylic and 15% high impact acrylic.
In some example embodiments, an air gap exists between the exit face 105 of the optic 150 and the lightguide edges 130. In some example embodiments, the optic 150 can be fixed to the lightguide edges 130 via adhesive, heat-induced fusion, welding, or other appropriate bonding technology.
In the illustrated embodiment of
While the illustrated embodiment of the lighting system 100 has two lightguides 110, other embodiments may have a single lightguide. As discussed in further detail below with reference to
As illustrated in
In some embodiments, each of the light emitting diodes 125 has a surface that emits light with a chromaticity that varies across the emission pattern. For example, peripheral areas of the emitted light (and thus of the LED surface as light is emitted) can exhibit a yellow hue, even though the overall emission is white. The optic 150 can blend or mix the overall emission pattern to provide an output light having a more consistent or uniform chromaticity.
In some embodiments, the light emitting diodes 125 can produce optical hotspots if coupled directly to the edges 130 of the lightguides 110. In other words, without the optic 150, a person looking at a major face 115 may see bright spots in a lightguide 100 or in illumination emitted by a lightguide 110. The optic 150 can distribute and combine the light from the row of light emitting diodes 125 to soften or eliminate such bright spots, thereby increasing illumination quality.
Turning now to
The optical system 100B illustrated in
The optical system 100C illustrated in
The optical system 100D illustrated in
The optical system 100E illustrated in
The optical system 100F illustrated in
The optical system 100G illustrated in
The embodiments illustrated in
Turning now to
In the example luminaire 300, the edges 118 of the lightguides 110 are bent upward. In this configuration, any residual light that propagates to the edges 118 of the lightguides 110 without being emitted from the major faces 115 of the lightguides 110 is directed upward. This feature can avoid visibility of glare or bright light to any persons present in the area 175 below the luminaire 300. In other words, light emitted from the edges 118 is cast upward and thus not directly visible to people occupying the area 175.
As illustrated, the frame 305 is in two pieces 305A, 305 that extend lengthwise along with the circuit board 126 and associated row of light emitting diodes 125, the optic 150, and the lightguides 110. The two pieces 305A, 305B can be joined together via one or more screws, rivets, brads, clamps, or other appropriate fasteners or via gluing, bonding, etc.
A lengthwise-extending recess in one side 305A of the frame 305 accommodates light emitting diode driver circuitry 415. The circuit board 126 is mounted to a horizontal platform 411 formed in the side 305A of the frame 305.
An end cap 405 is located below the bifurcation of the two lightguides 110. The frame 305 includes recessed areas that provide a gap 410 between the lightguides 110 and the frame sides 305A, 305B to avoid or control frame-to-lightguide contact that might interfere with total internal reflection of light flowing in the lightguides 110.
Turning now to
In the illustrated embodiment, the luminaire 500 comprises two end caps 405 at opposing ends of the lightguides 110. A top cap 510 and a bottom cap 406 extend between the end caps 405 and may be composed of plastic or other appropriate material. An internal frame 505, which is best seen 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.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/121,285 filed Feb. 26, 2015 in the name of Adam Moore Foy, Eric T. DiFelice, and Alexander James Ross and entitled “Apparatus for Coupling Light into Lightguides,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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