Patent Application
20130016507
This invention relates to a light fixture. In particular, it pertains to a light fixture that utilizes an induction lamp.
Large facilities such as warehouses, gyms, assembly areas, food processing plants, and hangers require special lighting applications to illuminate the facility. These facilities typically have very high ceilings, and thus the light fixtures are typically very high off the ground. Depending on the height of the light fixtures, there two general styles of light fixtures: low bay and high bay.
Low bay fixtures are typically used in areas where the bottom of the luminaire is less than twenty feet above the floor. These low bay fixtures conventionally utilize a dome reflector shape and HID for light output. The dome reflector for a low bay fixture is usually 20″-28″ in diameter, to allow the light to spread evenly. Traditional fluorescent fixtures may also be good for low bay lighting due to the low lumen requirement.
High bay fixtures are typically used where the bottom of the luminaire is more than twenty feet above the floor. Commonly, high bay fixtures also have a dome shaped reflector and HID for light output. The high bay dome shaped reflector differs from low bay dome shaped reflector in order to achieve better concentration of light output, and create a higher luminance. A high wattage lighting source is also required to achieve an adequate level of luminance to properly illuminate the space below.
HID lamps are a popular application with low bay and high bay lighting fixtures due to their high output per size, making them a compact and powerful. Some examples of HID lamps include mercury-vapor lamps, metal halide lamps, ceramic discharge metal halide lamps, sodium vapor lamps, xenon arc lamps, and UHP (Ultra-High Performance). For example, a high output metal halide lamp can be 400-watts and produce 41,000 lumens. In addition, 1000 watt and 1500 watt HID lamps are also available for general use. HID lamps do have some disadvantages, such as their lifespan, lumen depreciation over time, restrike time, flicker, glare, high operating temperature, and high mercury content.
Conventional fluorescent lamps are generally not a good alternative to HID for high bay use due to their relatively low lumen output. A fluorescent lamp known as T5 HO (high output) has gained some popularity due to its ability to output at a higher lumen relative to conventional T8 and T12 fluorescent lamps. A typical 54-watt T5HO produces 5000 lumens. These fluorescent lamps are linear tubes, and use a rectangular box style reflector. One of the most powerful T5HO luminaire is a 6 bulb fixture, which outputs 30,000 lumens at 360-watts.
An induction lamp is another alternative to HID and fluorescent lamps. Induction lamp is also known as electrodeless lamp. An induction lamp is a light source in which the power required to generate light is transferred from the outside of the lamp envelope by means of electromagnetic field. In contrast, a typical electrical lamp uses electrical connections through the lamp envelope to transfer power. Induction lamps have the advantage of a much higher life, and typically have a rated lamp life of 100,000 hours. HID lamps and T5HO typically have a rated lamp life around 20,000 hours. This means induction lamps can usually go 10 years without having to be changed out. The energy efficiency of induction lamp is typically about 140 lumens per watt. In contracts, the energy efficiency of a Metal Halide (HID) is about 110 lumens per watt and T5HO is about 90 lumens per watt. Induction lighting has an instant on capability (allowing for use with photocell and motion sensors), and does not flicker, strobe, or generate noise. The higher energy efficiency of an induction lamp typically results in lower operating temperatures. An induction lamp generally operates at less than 80 degrees F. Generally, a Metal Halide operates at over 300 degrees F., compact fluorescent operates at over 150 degrees F., and LED operates around 75-120 degrees F.
Light generated by different methods produce light of different qualities, and the human eye perceives this light differently. Scotopic vision is the human visual perception in low-light (night-vision), directed by the rod cells in human eyes. Photopic vision is the human color vision under normal conditions, during the day, directed by cone cells in the human eye. Mesopic vision is the combination between Photopic and Scotopic vision, taking into account the total sensitivity of the rod cells in the eye for blue range, with the color perception of the cone cells. Research has been conducted to better understand Mesopic vision, and more specifically, how Scotopic vision stimulates the photoreceptors, rods, in the human eye to cause pupil contraction and increase visual acuity. It was found that scotopically enhanced light appeared brighter even when light levels were reduced. The ratio of Scotopic light vs. Photopic light in a lamp is called P/S (or S/P) ratio. This ratio determines the apparent visual brightness of a light source. Induction lighting produces a high S/P ratio and this is why an 85 w induction lamp may appear as bright or brighter to the human eye than a sodium vapor or metal halide of twice the wattage. Visual Effective Lumens (VEL) is a key factor in vision and many traditional lumen meters will not measure this conversion factor accurately. The “pupil lumens” is encouraged to be used which factors in the P/S ratio. By using the pupil lumens of various lamp types, a more representative effective lumens perceived by the human eye can be measured. The general pupil lumen per watt for a Metal Halide is about 110, compact fluorescent is about 85, LED is about 75-120, and induction lamp is about 130-150.
As mentioned above, HID light fixtures have been and are a popular application for high bay and low bay lighting. There is a need for these HID light fixtures to be easily and economically upgraded to more efficient and higher quality lighting.
HID high bay and low bay light fixtures have long been and are still a popular lighting application. Herein is disclosed a retrofit system for a conventional HID light fixture to utilize a more efficient induction lamp, while preserving the desired effects of the light fixture. The HID bulb is replaced with two D-shaped induction bulbs held in place within the dome via brackets, and the HID ballasts are replaced with the appropriate induction lamp ballasts, and may continue to use the original ballast housing of the HID light fixture. This is designed to provide an economical and efficient means for replacing a HID lighting system with induction lighting.
A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
a is a front view of an embodiment of a D shaped induction lamp.
b is a top plan of an embodiment of a D shaped induction lamp.
c is a rear plan view of an embodiment of a D shaped induction lamp.
d is a perspective view of an embodiment of a D shaped induction lamp.
The exact curvature of the dome 110 and diameter at the base varies based on the particular reflective and light distribution needs. For example, a HID light fixture intended for high bay use will have a more focused light distribution with a smaller diameter at the base than a HID light fixture intended for low bay use. The dome expects the HID bulb to be located generally in a central location of the dome so that the light source will achieve even light output within the internal walls of the symmetric reflective dome. The light source can be said to have a generally even or uniform light distribution within the internal walls of the dome. Each dome has its own photometric data characteristics, which is typically measured in candelas. The photometric data characteristics show the candelas at varying angles from the luminaire. Typically, the highest measured candela is directly underneath the luminaire, or at 0 degrees. There is typically little to no measurable candela at 90 degrees and above.
a through 2d are diagrams of a novel D shaped induction lamp. An induction lamp is also known as a magnetic induction lamp or electrodeless lamp. An induction lamp is typically comprised of a tube 220, filled with inert gas and a phosphor coating. There is an electromagnets 210 wrapped around a section of the lamp tube. High frequency energy from the electronic ballast (generator) is sent through wires, which are wrapped in a coil around a ferrite inductor, creating a powerful magnet. The induction coils 210 produce a very strong magnetic field which travel through the tube and excite the mercury atoms in the interior which are provided by a pellet of amalgam (solid mercury). The discharge path induced by the induction coils 210 forms a closed loop causing the acceleration of free electrons. The collision of the free electrons and mercury atoms result in the emission of UV light and, just as in a fluorescent tube, the UV light is up-converted to visible light by the phosphor coating on the inside of the tube. The typical induction lamp setups are a circular donut shape for use with an external ballast, racetrack (rectangular) shaped for use with an external ballast, and an exposed U shaped tube with a ballast base for screw in applications.
The D-shaped induction bulb has two mounting points 230, attached to each induction coil. This allows for the induction bulb to be screwed down to a stable base.
There is a desire to be able to retrofit a conventional HID light fixture with an induction lamp. However, there are a number of challenges in achieving a good solution for such a retrofit. Induction lamps generally do not achieve a wattage output to match a conventional HID lamp. For example, many HID lamps produce 400 W output, as well as 1000 W and 1500 W. Induction lamps typically achieve up to 300 W. Beyond 300 W, an induction lamp's coil tends to get unacceptably hot during normal operation. In addition, the electrical components in the ballast for an induction luminaire will typically overheat at a wattage beyond 300 W. This creates a challenge for retrofitting a HID light fixture with an induction lamp while producing a similar brightness.
Fortunately, induction lamps produce a higher pupil lumen per watt, which helps considerably. A 300 W induction lamp at 150 pupil lumens/watt will produce 300 W×150 pupil lumens/watt=45,000 pupil lumens. A 400 W metal halide lamp at 90 pupil lumens/watt will produce 400 W×90 pupil lumens/watt=36,000 pupil lumens. This translates to a single 300 W induction lamp being able to produce superior brightness (measured in pupil lumens) to a 400 W metal halide. A 1000 W metal halide at 90 pupil lumens/watt will produce 1000 W×90 pupil lumens/watt=90,000 pupil lumens. Thus, a single 300 W induction lamp will produce approximately half the pupil lumens of a 1000 W metal halide. Doubling the number of 300 W induction lamps will produce a comparable brightness (measured in pupil lumens) to a 1000 W metal halide.
If two induction lamps are to be used as a retrofit solution for a HID light fixture, a number of conditions need to be considered, including heat, size, and reflective qualities. When considering heat, it is feasible to use two induction lamps within a HID light fixture due to the significantly lower operating temperature of each induction lamp. The HID light fixture is generally designed to handle a heat tolerance high enough from two induction bulbs and two induction ballasts.
The next consideration is the size of the bulb. The induction bulb should fit within the dome of the HID light fixture. Fortunately, the dome of a HID light fixture is generally large enough to fit most curved induction bulbs. For example, it would be possible to use two racetrack or two donut shaped induction bulbs, stacked on top of one another, within a dome. The size of the ballast must also be considered, and will be discussed separately.
The third consideration is more complex and important as it affects the quality of the light output from the fixture. This third consideration is the reflective qualities. As discussed above, the dome of each HID light fixture has a particular photometric data characteristic. It is desirable to preserve these photometric data characteristics while producing the highest overall brightness possible. One option is stacking two donut shaped induction bulbs and placing them central within the dome to achieve generally even or uniform light distribution within the internal walls of the dome. However, this option has the disadvantage of the light output from the top of the lower induction bulb being blocked by the upper induction bulb. Similarly, the light output from the bottom of the upper induction bulb is blocked by the lower induction bulb.
A novel and advantageous solution is to place two D-shaped induction bulbs 310320 side by side, where the two D-shaped induction bulbs are essentially back to back at the elongated portions are back to back, with the curvature of each D-shaped induction bulb outward from one another.
The HID ballast within the ballast housing 440, as seen in
With two D-shaped induction lamps, this lighting setup has the ability to turn each D-shaped induction lamp on individually. It is possible to turn on only one as opposed to both in order to conserve power and provide a limited brightness. A motion sensor can also be incorporated such that one D-shaped induction lamp is on regardless of the motion sensor, while the other D-shaped induction lamp is activated by the motion sensor. The D-shaped induction lamps may also be dimmable. Thus each of the two D-shaped induction lamps may be independently dimmed to the desired brightness.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. While there have been described herein, what are considered to be preferred and exemplary embodiments of the present invention, other modifications of the invention shall be apparent to those skilled in the art from the teachings herein and, it is, therefore, desired to be secured in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
