Patent Application
20050068770
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to perimeter or border lighting and more particularly to perimeter or border lighting for curved surfaces using light emitting diodes as the light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Perimeter or border lights (“perimeter lighting”) are commonly used on buildings to accentuate the structure, to draw customer attention to the building, and to provide safety lighting. Most conventional perimeter lights use neon bulbs for the light source. Some of the disadvantages of neon lighting is that neon bulbs have a relatively short life, are fragile and can consume a relatively large amount of power. Also, neon bulbs can experience difficulty with cold starting, which can lead to the bulb's failure.
Advancements in light emitting diode (“LED”) technology has resulted in devices that are brighter, more efficient and more reliable. LEDs are now being used in many different applications that were previously the realm of incandescent bulbs, some of which include displays, automobile taillights and traffic signals. As the efficiency of LEDs improve it is expected that they will be used in most lighting applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,818 to Scheib discloses a lighting strip that utilizes LEDs as the light source. The strip is flexible in three dimensions and is useful in forming characters and is capable of providing uniform illumination regardless of the characters selected for display. The strip comprises a flexible multi-layered pressure sensitive adhesive tape that has a plurality of triangle cutout sections on each side of the tape to allow the tape to bend. LEDs are connected in a series with a resister along the tape. One disadvantage of this strip is that it cannot be cut to match the different lengths of a particular feature to be illuminated, and still be connected in a series with other LED strips. Light from the LEDs is also not diffused so the tape does not give the appearance of neon light. This arrangement is also not durable enough to withstand the conditions for outdoor use because the flexible tape and its adhesive can easily deteriorate when continually exposed to the elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,681 to Duarte, discloses a flexible, self adhesive, light emissive material that can be cut into at least two pieces. The light emissive material includes a plurality of electrically coupled light emissive devices such as light emitting diodes. The material also includes electric conductors for conducting electric power from the source of electric power to each of the light emissive devices. While this lighting arrangement is cuttable to different lengths, the light it emits is not dispersed to appear as a neon light source. This arrangement is also not durable enough to withstand the conditions for outdoor use.
PCT International Application Number PCT/AU98/00602 discloses perimeter light that uses LEDs as its light source and includes a light tube structure in which multiple LEDs are arranged within an elongated translucent tube that diffuses or disperses the light from the LEDs. The perimeter light is used to highlight or decorate one or more features of a structure, such as a roof edge, window, door or corner between a wall or roof section.
One of the disadvantages of this perimeter light is that it cannot be cut to match the length of a building's structural features. Instead, it must be custom ordered or it is mounted without fully covering the structural feature. Also, the connectors between adjacent sections of lighting are bulky and result in a visible junction between the sections. The light's tube significantly attenuates the light emitted by its LEDs, significantly reducing the light's brightness. Further, the light does not include a mechanism for compensating for the expansion and contraction between adjacent lights. There is also no apparatus or method for providing perimeter lighting that can be bent to match a curved structural feature of a building.
The present invention provides a method and system for bending perimeter lights to match curved surfaces, such as a curved feature of a structure. The present invention also provides a rugged bent perimeter light and perimeter lighting system wherein the perimeter lights can be cut in the field to match the structural features.
One method for bending a perimeter light according to the present invention comprises heating a perimeter light a first time to make it pliable. A radius tool is then provided having a curved surface with a shape and radius for the desired bend in the perimeter light. The heated perimeter light is mounted to the radius tool's curved surface. The perimeter light is then cooled and removed from the radius tool.
One embodiment of system for bending a perimeter light according to the present invention comprises a heater for heating a perimeter light to make it pliable and a radius tool having a curved surface. The radius tool further comprises a mechanism for holding the heated perimeter light to the curved surface while it cools.
One embodiment of a bent elongated perimeter light according to the present invention comprises an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power and an elongated tube bent to match a curve or shape. The array of light sources is disposed within the tube with the tube transmitting and dispersing the light from the array allowing the tube to give the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources can be cut at intervals to shorten the array while allowing the remaining light sources in the array to emit light. The tube is also cuttable to match the length of the array.
One embodiment of a system for mounting perimeter lights to a body having straight and curved surfaces according to the present invention comprises a plurality of straight and bent elongated perimeter lights. Each of the perimeter lights comprises an array of light sources that are illuminated by electric power, an elongated transparent tube with the array of light sources disposed within the tube. The tube transmits and disperses the light from the array giving the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources can be cut at intervals to shorten the array while allowing the remaining light sources in the array to emit light. The tube can also be cut to match the length of the array. The system further comprises a longitudinal anchoring slot running along the tube. The plurality of perimeter lights are electrically coupled in a daisy-chain with the electrical power at each of the plurality of perimeter lights transmitted to the successive of the plurality of perimeter lights. A plurality of anchoring buttons are included that are mounted to the body in a line along the surfaces to be illuminated. The anchoring slot of each of said plurality of perimeter lights is mated to the anchoring buttons. Each of the plurality of straight perimeter lights is anchored to a straight portion of the body and each of the plurality of bent perimeter lights anchored to a curved portion of the body.
These and other further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
a,
5
b and 5c show perspective views of one embodiment of a radial bent perimeter light according to the present invention;
a, and 6b show perspective views of one embodiment of a flat bent perimeter light according to the present invention;
The tube 32 should be made of a material that transmits light and is impact resistant and UV stable, with one of the preferred materials being acrylic. Acrylic generally cannot be bent when it is at room temperature and generally requires heating to allow it to bend.
In step 14, the perimeter light is heated to make it pliable. Many different heating methods can be used according to the invention, with the preferred method utilizing an environmental chamber that is large enough and can maintain a high enough temperature. One suitable environmental chamber is the commercially available model number T20C, provided by Tenney Engineering, Inc.
The perimeter light 30 is placed in the environment chamber to soak for a desired amount of time to achieve the desired level of pliability. The soak times can vary depending on the type of tube material, as well as its thickness, and the temperature of the environmental chamber. For a perimeter light having an acrylic tube that is 0.85 inches thick, a suitable temperature for the environmental chamber is approximately 95° C. A sufficient amount of time for the perimeter light to soak so that it becomes pliable is approximately 10 minutes. The perimeter light can be soaked with or without the LEDs mounted within the tube 32. In those embodiments where the perimeter light is bent without the LEDs, the LEDs are inserted after the bending process.
In step 16 a radius tool is provided that includes a curved surface with a shape and radius that matches the shape and radius of a curved feature, such as a building's curved architectural feature. Many different radius tools can be used according to the invention.
In step 18, the heated perimeter light 30 is mounted to the curved section of the radius tool. In the embodiment where the perimeter light is heated in an environmental chamber, the light is removed from the chamber and as soon as possible is mounted to the radius tool. When using the radius tool 40 the perimeter light should be bent longitudinally along the tool's curved section 42. This can be done by one person holding the light 30 against the curved section while another person closes the straps 47 tightly over the light 10. The straps 47 can be held closed around the perimeter lighting using many different mechanisms including but not limited to hooks, snaps, buttons or zippers, with the preferred mechanism being hook and loop mechanism commonly known as Velcro. When the straps 47 are closed the perimeter light is held against the tool's curved section 42 by the straps 47.
Depending on the complexity of the curved section of a radius tool, the perimeter light 30 can be bent in many different shapes and in many different planes. For a simple radial bent light the tube is bent along the vertical plane, so the bottom surface of the tube 32 is held against the edge of the curved section 42 during bending. For a flat bent light the tube is bent along the horizontal plane so one of the side surfaces of the tube is held against the edge of the curved section during bending, depending on the desired direction of curvature.
If the perimeter light 30 were now allowed to cool and is removed from the curved section 42 after cooling, there is a danger that the perimeter light would not hold the curve, but would instead partially or fully “spring back” to its straightened condition. To reduce this danger, in step 20 the perimeter light 30 is heated a second time while it is strapped to the curved section with the heating time being sufficient to relieve the stresses that exist in the tube material from the initial bending to the curved surface. By relieving these stresses, the bend in the tube 32 takes better hold and spring back is reduced or eliminated. The tube 32 can be reheated using many different methods, with a preferred method being placing the tool 40 with the perimeter light 30 in an environmental chamber similar to the one used in step 14 above. The perimeter light soaks for the desired amount of time and for an acrylic tube being approximately 0.85 inches thick and using an environmental chamber at 95° C., a suitable soak time is approximately 10 minutes.
In step 22 the perimeter light is cooled, with a preferred cooling method being removing the perimeter light 30 and radius tool 40 combination from the environmental chamber and directing a standard fan on the perimeter light 30 for approximately 10 minutes. In step 24, the perimeter light 30 is then removed from the tool 40 by opening straps 47. The bent perimeter light should substantially retain the bend that matches the shape and radius of the curved section 42.
a,
5
b, and 5c show different views of a bent perimeter light 50 according to the present invention. The bent light 50 has a radial bend along the light's vertical plane, i.e. along the plane that passes through the top and bottom of the tube light. This results in the inside surface of the bend being the light's bottom surface or track 51. The light could also be bent in the opposite direction such that the top of the light is the inside surface of the bend.
a and 6b show views of a flat bent perimeter light 60 having a flat bend along the lights horizontal plane, i.e. along the plane that passes through the side surfaces of the light. Light 60 is bent such that one of its side surfaces is the inside surface of the bend. Light 60 can also be bent in the opposite direction of curvature such that opposite side surfaces is the inside surface of the bend.
The perimeter lights 50 and 60 have similar features and the same reference numerals will be used in each of
The tube 52 can be made of many different light transmitting materials, but is preferably made of a material that is light transmitting, as well as impact resistant and UV stable, which helps the light withstand the environmental conditions when used outside. One of the preferred materials for the tube 52 is acrylic, which is relatively rugged and UV stable and can be provided in many different colors. To provide the maximum light emission from the LEDs, the tube 52 should have filter characteristics that transmit primarily the wavelength of light emitted from the LEDs, while having the opacity to diffuse but not over-attenuate the emitting light.
The perimeter lights 50 and 60 can also comprise male and female connectors 54, 55 with a male connector 54 extending out one end of the tube 52 and the female connector 55 extending out the opposite end. This allows the lights to be connected in a daisy chain with other straight or bent perimeter lights, with power from the lights being transmitted from light to light through the male and female connectors in the daisy chain.
The perimeter lights 50 and 60 can also comprise end bumpers 56 (end caps) that keep water and dirt out of the interior of the tube 52 and are also arranged to compensate for expansion and contraction between adjacent lights. One or more perimeter lights can be connected in a daisy chain with the ends of the lights abutting the end of the adjacent light, with the bumpers 56 between the ends of the lights. The tube 52 and internal component of each light can expand and contract from the heat of the LEDs or from the ambient temperature, and the different materials comprising the tube 52 and the internal components can expand and contract at different rates. For instance, the LEDs can be arranged on a PCB that can expand more than the tube 52 for a given temperature, which can result in the PCB extending from the end of the tube 52. The bumpers 56 compensates for this expansion while not being forced from the end of the tube 52. The bumpers also compensate for the expansion of adjacent tubes by being compressible. The preferred bumper 56 is made of a flexible and durable material such as silicone, although other materials can also be used.
The perimeter lights can be mounted to a structural feature using many different mounting methods, with a preferred method being mounting buttons. Referring to
As described above, LEDs can be arranged within the tubes in many different orientations using many different mounting methods.
The LED array 70 can be arranged in many different ways according to the present invention but as shown comprises a serially connected PCBs 72, with each PCB having LEDs 73 and passive components such as a resistor 74 and a capacitor 75 mounted to it. Each PCB also comprises conductive traces that interconnect the LEDs 73, resistor 74 and capacitor 75. Wires 76 and 77 run between each of the adjacent PCBs and is used to apply a bias to at on end of each PCB 72 and to conduct the bias to the next serially connected PBC at the other end of the PCB 72.
One advantage of the lights 50 and 60 is that they can be cut at different lengths to match the length of a particular structural feature and the perimeter light tube can also be cut. Different lengths of bent lights do not need to be special ordered but can be cut in the field.
The PCB LED array 90 comprises additional parallel LED sub-arrays 94b-h, with each having the same or a different number of LEDs as array 94a. Each of the sub-arrays 94b-h is included on a separate PCB and the LEDs on each sub-array 94b-h are arranged in parallel to the LEDs on the first sub-array 94a. The DC power applied across each of the sub-arrays 94a-h along conductors 100 and 102, and each of the sub-arrays 94a-h has a respective current limiting resistor 95a-h.
The LED array 90 transfers the 24V AC power from the one end of the array to the other along first and second AC conductors 96 and 97, which are connected to an LED array output 98. The conductors 96 and 97 carry the 24V AC power from the array input 91 to the array output 98. The AC power can then be transferred to the next perimeter light in the array through the mated male and female connectors (described above) that connect adjacent perimeter lights in a perimeter light daisy-chain. A conventional step down transformer (not shown) can provide a 24V AC power supply to power up to 100 feet of daisy chained perimeter lights. Other transformers can power greater lengths of lights and the use of different electronic components can increase or decrease the length of lighting that can be powered.
The DC conductors 100 and 102 run between each of the PCBs in the LED array 90 and conductor DC power from the bridge rectifier 92 and the sub-arrays 94a-94h. The conductors 100 and 102 are shown in
The conductors 97 and 98 can remain uncut when the sub-arrays are cut to shorten the LED array, which allows conductors 97 and 98 to be connected to the next perimeter light. This provides the ability to custom cut the perimeter lights in the field to match various structural features while still allowing the cut light to be connected in a daisy chain. Different lengths of perimeter lights do not need to be special ordered to match the length of the structural feature, which reduces the cost, time and inconvenience involved in installing perimeter lights.
By providing the LED array as a series of PCBs 72 with washers 104 (instead of one long PCB) LED array can be more easily bent to match the bend in the tube 42, particularly for flat bend perimeter lights. The bend in the tubes of lights 50 and 60 in
In other embodiments of the LED array according to the present invention, the sub-arrays can be mounted to a flexible circuit board material with the DC conductors being traces on the circuit board. One such flexible circuit board material is known in the art as Kapton® flex circuit provided by Dupont, Inc. The resulting LED array circuit would contain similar electronics to the LED arrays described above but instead of being cuttable between PCBs, the tube of the light would contain markings at the locations where a cut through the tube would also result in a cut between LED sub-arrays. This type of flexible circuit could be mounted within the tube in many different ways and in many different orientations. Each of the LED arrays could also include voltage or current control devices at each of the sub-arrays, such as a LM317L 3-Terminal Adjustor Regulator provided by National Semiconductor Corporation. The devices could compensate for potential voltage drops along the sub-arrays by providing a more uniform current or voltage at each of the sub-arrays. The perimeter light could then emit a more uniform intensity of light along its length.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Many different steps can be used in methods according to the present invention and the steps can be taken in a different order. Other materials and devices can be used in perimeter lights according to the present invention. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to the preferred versions described above.
