1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure is directed to a device for directing light from light emitting diode sources, and, more particularly to a device for capturing and directing light from light emitting diode sources for beacon lights.
2. Related Art
Many beacon lights or obstruction lights are constructed utilizing incandescent bulbs. The incandescent bulb provides an even light distribution. However, because beacon lights are typically very bright, the incandescent bulbs have a tendency to have a shorter life. This is problematic when the beacon light is arranged at the top of a tall building or tower. Accordingly, maintenance personnel must climb to the top of the tower or building in order to replace the incandescent bulb.
Other beacon lights have been constructed using light emitting diodes. Light emitting diodes lights are beneficial in that they have a much longer life and do not typically need to be replaced as often as incandescent bulbs. However, the point source nature of light emitting diodes results in a light distribution which is overly bright or overly dim depending on the position in which the light is observed. More specifically, the beacon light must typically provide light across an essentially 360° range horizontally around the light. Similarly, the beacon light must provide a vertical spread of light having an even distribution. These requirements allow the beacon light to provide the obstruction warning they are designed for such as aircraft coming from any direction and flying at an altitude close to the beacon light itself. The prior art approaches have used mirrors to spread and distribute the light. However, the mirrors or other distribution approaches are complex and costly.
Accordingly, a beacon light is needed that provides the benefits of light emitting diodes and provides an even distribution of light in a cost-effective manner.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, a beacon light and lens system is provided. The beacon light and lens system includes a base, a light emitting diode assembly, a lens and a driver board. The base is configured to attach the beacon light to a structure. The light emitting diode assembly includes at least one light emitting diode secured to the base. The lens has optics configured to capture and direct light horizontally from the light emitting diode. The lens is mounted on the base and has at least one mounting tab configured to mechanically fasten the lens to the base by cooperating with a slot arranged in the base. The driver board is configured to power the light emitting diode.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a beacon light and lens system is provided. The beacon light and lens system includes a base, a light emitting diode assembly, and a lens. The base is configured to attach the beacon light to a structure and includes at least one mounting tab configured to mechanically fasten the lens to the base by cooperating with a slot arranged in the base. The light emitting diode assembly includes at least one light emitting diode secured to the base. The lens has a Fresnel lens configuration and has optics configured to capture and direct light from the at least one light emitting diode.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, drawings, and claims. Moreover, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following detailed description are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.
The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:
The embodiments of the disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure, which is defined solely by the appended claims and applicable law. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The base 120 may be constructed of a metallic or other material to provide weather resistance or protection from the environment to the internal components of the beacon light 100. In a particular aspect, the base 120 may be cast metal material. Metals such as aluminum may be used to form the base 120. Of course other constructions are contemplated as well. Polymers and injection plastics such as ABS, polyethylene or other synthetic materials may be used. The base 120 may be cast as a single piece and/or machined. Additionally, three-dimensional printing is also contemplated for the manufacturing of the base 120 and may further include machining. The base 120 may be painted or coated for added environmental protection and for marking identification. The base 120 may be etched with markings and/or labeled.
The base 120 may also include a ring portion 122 that is configured to increase the surface area of the base 120 and provide heat dissipation generated by the internal components. The base 120 also includes a circular mating area 124 that is configured to receive the lens 110. The circular mating area 124 is indented such that the lens 110 may fit securely into the circular mating area 124 of the base 120. The lens 110 may be mounted over the LED assembly 130 as explained in detail below.
A detailed view of the lens 110 is shown in
The lens 110 may be formed from acrylic, glass or a plastic material. A single lens 110 may be used to form the beacon light 100 or multiple lenses may be used. The lens 110 may be cast as a single piece and/or machined. Additionally, three-dimensional printing is also contemplated for the manufacturing of the lens 110 and may further include machining.
The potting assembly 140 and driver board 142 is shown in
The potting assembly 140 may be formed to encapsulate the driver board 142 and protect it from moisture and any mechanical damage. Furthermore, the potting assembly 140 provides heat dispersion. As shown in
The potting assembly 140 may be rigid or soft. The potting assembly 140 may be potted within a cylindrical plastic tube which is open at each end and which is formed using insulating, plastic material such as PVC. The tube has slots to accommodate external wiring 144, 146. Alternatively, the potting assembly 140 may be formed without a housing. For example, the potting assembly 140 may be formed using a potting mold. The driver board 142 is placed into the potting mold and a potting compound such as a polymeric resin is poured into the mold such that all the electronic components are covered. The potting compound may then be cured such that the driver board 142 is formed as integral part of the potting assembly 140.
A gasket 118 may be used to further seal the connection between the lens 110 and the base 120 and protect the internal components of the beacon light 100 from the environment. As shown in
The base 120 may be attached to a tower, tall building, or like structure. In order to provide the attachment to such a structure, the base 120 may include a mounting structure either inside the base 120 or external to the base 120. The base may also include slots 128 such that tie straps may be used to fasten the beacon light 100 to a structure. Other types of mechanical fastening of the base 120 to a structure are contemplated as well. For example, metal clamps may be used. There may also be one or more threaded holes 126 positioned vertically along the base 120 such that beacon light 100 may be secured to a structure using bolts and/or screws.
Additionally, a surface 152 of the beacon light 100 may be curved in order for the beacon light 100 to mate with a cylindrical shaped structure. Finally, the base 120 may include an offset portion that includes the slots 128 to offset the beacon light 100 from the structure to which it attaches.
The lens 110 may be mounted on the base 120. The base 120 may include various electrical connections to the beacon light 100. In particular, within the base 120 may be located a space 200 (shown in
The base may further include a strain relief 300. The strain relief 300 may be configured to receive the electrical and/or data lines or a conduit containing the same. The construction of the strain relief 300 may limit intrusion of water or other environmental contaminants to the beacon light 100, conduit, or the like. Additionally, the beacon light 100 may include other features to limit intrusion of water including an inclined surface 148 that helps guide rainwater and the like away from the beacon light 100.
Individual LEDs 132 may be arranged on each light emitting diode PCB 136. The motherboard 138 is mounted onto the core 134. The core 134 serves to mechanically support the light emitting diode PCBs 136 and also acts as a heat sink. This is useful because the light emitting diode PCBs 136 may generate a significant amount of heat and the heat may need to dissipate. The core may be constructed of a metallic material to ensure that there is adequate heat transfer. In this implementation, the individual LEDs 132 are connected in series.
The mother board 138 and/or the light emitting diode PCB 136 may include one or more sensors. In particular, the mother board 138 and/or the light emitting diode PCB 136 may include a temperature sensor to sense a temperature and control operation based on the temperature. The mother board 138 and/or the light emitting diode PCB 136 may include a light sensor to sense the amount of light output by the beacon light 100 and/or sense the ambient light and control operation based on the light sensed.
In particular,
Each of the light emitting diode PCBs 136 may have at least one light emitting diode 132. There may be white light emitting diodes 132 and/or red light emitting diodes 132. The white light emitting diode 132 may be operated during certain hours of the day; and the red light emitting diode 132 being operated during certain other hours of the day. Alternatively, the beacon light 100 may operate with only white light emitting diodes 132; or the beacon light may operate with only red light emitting diodes 132. Furthermore, the lens 110 may be tinted to achieve a desired emission color. A white light emission diode 132 may be used with a red tinted lens 110 to achieve emission of a red light. Additionally, the beacon light 100 may operate with one or more infrared light emitting diodes 132 to allow for visibility utilizing night vision goggles.
Accordingly, the beacon light constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention includes optics for the beacon light that are configured to capture and direct light from multiple light emitting diode sources into a 360° horizontal beam pattern and further configured to capture and direct light from the multiple light emitting diode sources into approximately 3° vertical beam pattern. The optics provide a substantially even light distribution over the 360° horizontal beam pattern and substantially even light distribution over the 3° vertical beam pattern.
While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples given above are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure.