Patent Application
20130135876
The present invention relates generally to the field of lighting systems and, more particularly, to apparatus for utilizing LED (light emitting diode) sources for illuminating areas with a predefined pattern of light intensity on a ground plane.
With a continuing quest for lighting apparatus which is low-cost and energy efficient, LEDs have proven to provide light sources which are inherently energy efficient and with advances in LED technology, continue to increase power efficiency as well as life. Further improvements in overall efficiency are sought by efforts to improve the utilization of light output being directed into a desired lighting area. Being that LEDs used as light sources are typically of a small size, there is an additional cost-efficiency and other benefits because the fixtures can be more compact, thereby, for example, reducing material usage, weight, and wind resistance for LED lighting apparatuses.
Lighting systems for various uses typically require the prevention of stray light entering areas not intended to be lit. For example, roadway and parking lot lighting systems are designed to have high levels of light distribution over areas which are to be lighted, while neighboring regions are as free of light as possible. For example, outdoor lighting should not emit light “upward” into the sky. That is, there is a need to be able to direct light in a desired downward and lateral direction onto a predetermined section of property while avoiding light distribution onto an adjacent property. Commonly used “predetermined sections of property” may be referenced according to IES standards for “large area” lighting patterns on a planar surface such as the “ground”. Well-known IES standards for “Type II, Type III, Type IV, and Type V” illuminance patterns are particularly relevant, wherein Type V is “straight-down” lighting with a square boundary (e.g., for parking lot lighting), and the other Types II-IV specify generally rectangular area boundaries that are laterally offset in a preferred direction. Satisfying such concerns can be difficult when LEDs are used as a light source because typically many LEDs are used in a fixture, so light output from an extended light source is particularly difficult to direct into a reasonably uniform level of illumination confined within the boundaries of a prescribed illuminance pattern.
It would be desirable to have an improved efficiency LED light fixture with directional features that improve the illuminance (lighting level) uniformity within a predetermined “large area” lighting pattern. It is further desirable to maximize the amount of light that is directed into the predetermined lighting pattern while minimizing light falling outside the boundaries of the pattern, most particularly for patterns that are offset in a preferential direction from the LED light fixture.
An LED lighting apparatus and method of operating the apparatus is disclosed for illumination toward a preferential side in a downward and forward direction.
According to the invention, a shaped lens is provided for use with a white light LED device to produce a light pattern on a surface; the lens being shaped to produce a substantially uniform color in the light pattern by compensating for color variation versus elevation angle produced by the LED device. The shaped lens has two-axis orthogonal symmetry and an outer surface divided into a top portion and a side portion separated by a circumferential boundary portion. The top portion and the side portion each have a generally vertically convex surface and the circumferential boundary portion has a discontinuity in curvature providing a substantially vertical portion between the top and side portions.
Further according to the invention:
Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent in light of the following description thereof.
Reference will be made in detail to preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawing figures. The figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in the context of these preferred embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the spirit and scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Certain elements in selected ones of the drawings may be illustrated not-to-scale, for illustrative clarity. The cross-sectional views, if any, presented herein may be in the form of “slices”, or “near-sighted” cross-sectional views, omitting certain background lines which would otherwise be visible in a true cross-sectional view, for illustrative clarity.
Elements of the figures can be numbered such that similar (including identical) elements may be referred to with similar numbers in a single drawing. For example, each of a plurality of elements collectively referred to as 199 may be separately referenced as 199a, 199b, 199c, etc. Or, related but modified elements may have the same number but are distinguished by primes. For example, 109, 109′, and 109″ are three different versions of an element 109 which are similar or related in some way but are separately referenced for the purpose of describing various modifications/embodiments of the parent element (109). Such relationships, if any, between similar elements in the same or different figures will become apparent throughout the specification, including, if applicable, in the claims and abstract.
The structure, operation, and advantages of the present preferred embodiment of the invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Note that some of the following references may not be used in the present application but will be used (illustrated and further described) in others of a set of co-pending related applications. The potentially unused references are included herein for consistency and overall understanding, and also because the series of related applications share significant portions of the detailed description and drawings.
In the detailed description that follows, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations of these specific details are possible while still achieving the results of the present invention. Well-known processing steps are generally not described in detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obfuscating the description of the present invention.
In the description that follows, exemplary dimensions may be presented for an illustrative embodiment of the invention. The dimensions should not be interpreted as limiting. They are included to provide a sense of proportion. Generally speaking, it is the relationship between various elements, where they are located, their contrasting compositions, and sometimes their relative sizes that is of significance.
In the drawings accompanying the description that follows, both reference numerals and legends (labels, text descriptions) may be used to identify elements. If legends are provided, they are intended merely as an aid to the reader, and should not in any way be interpreted as limiting.
The present disclosure most generally concerns an LED lighting apparatus designed for improved efficiency in illuminating large areas (e.g., streets and parking lots) with predefined patterns of light intensity such as the IES defined Types II, III, IV, and V illumination. The operative definition of efficiency herein includes utilization of total light energy output by the LED light source within the lighting apparatus. Utilization is reported as a percentage of the total output that falls within the predefined boundaries of the relevant type of lighting pattern, wherein any portion of the light that does not fall within the boundaries is counted as not utilized, i.e., is “wasted”.
More specifically, the present invention is directed to an LED lighting apparatus with reflectors for illuminating areas with a predefined pattern of light intensity toward a preferential side of the apparatus, particularly when it is mounted on a utility pole and positioned to point a light emitting portion (light source) generally downward toward the ground. The present invention is particularly concerned with IES Types II, III, and IV lighting, e.g., street lighting for streets having different widths to be illuminated by an apparatus located at one side of the street.
As referenced herein, the LED lighting apparatus comprises an assembly of an LED light source within a housing, which may also be known as a fixture or luminaire. In accordance with common practice, the entire LED lighting apparatus may also be referred to as the “fixture” or the “luminaire”, meaning the housing, with or without the LED light source, as can be determined from context.
The LED apparatus of an embodiment designed to produce Types II-IV illuminance patterns 150 incorporates a single row of LEDs, each covered by a secondary lens, all assembled as a module. A vertical reflector is disposed adjacent to the row of LEDs so that the front surface of the vertical reflector acts to help direct the light from the LEDs in the direction downward away from the LEDs and forward from the front surface of the vertical reflector.
Referring to
Even though this is actually an inverted or upside-down view (downward direction 148 is shown as an upward pointing arrow), the majority of this disclosure will be related to similar views because most of the elements being discussed are best seen this way. In effect, the disclosure will use a local coordinate system that is inverted from the global coordinates shown in
As shown in
The lower portion 18 of the LED lighting apparatus 10 includes a hinged light cover 22 that is secured at a front side (or end) 22a to the housing 12 by hinges 24a and 24b. The opposite side, back edge 22b of the hinged light cover 22 is aligned with and abuts the front edge 20a of the control cover 20.
Referring again to
Referring to
Within the light chamber 36 a module mounting platform 44 is disposed on the floor surface 38 (e.g., 38 and 44 molded or cast as a unitary object that also includes external heat sink fins 46). Adjacent either long side of the mounting platform 44 is disposed a rear box 48 and a forward box 50, which have covers with top surfaces 49 and 51, respectively.
The LED module 52 (see
Referring to
A horizontal reflector 70 is disposed across at least a portion of the top of the module 52, preferably over all of the top that is exposed to light that can be reflected out of the apparatus 10 in which it is mounted. One or more openings 71 in the horizontal reflector 70 allow the secondary lenses 56 to protrude up through the reflector 70. In
Referring also to
When the assembled LED module 52 is mounted on the mounting platform 44 in the fixture housing 12, recessed areas 76 accommodate the fasteners 76 where they protrude below. The module 52 is removably affixed to the platform 44 by a set of mounting fasteners 78 in through-holes 78 spaced around the module 52. Referring especially to the embodiment illustrated in
Referring particularly to
For reference in drawings such as
Referring to
The secondary lens 56 has a flange portion 64 and a body portion 63 distinguished by the optically designed shape/contour of its surface (also referenced as 63). The flange 64 is held down against the PCB 60 by the module cover 58 which has an opening 62 sized to accommodate the width and length of the secondary lens 56 (further discussed with reference to
The LED module 52 is designed to flexibly accommodate both types II-IV and type V lighting. First we will discuss designs for the forward-directed lighting patterns of types II-IV (offset to a preferential side).
For example, the assembled module 52 illustrated at the bottom of
An example of a suitable material for the horizontal reflector 70 is used in an embodiment wherein a PET plastic sheet having a “micro cellular” structure makes a good diffuse reflector due to open cells that create many pores in the white surface, which is thus roughened.
Furthermore, for LED lighting apparatuses 10 that may not have a shield (e.g., backlight shield 30) covering part of the cover lens 26, or if a vertical reflector 72 is not being used, then additional reflective surfaces may be desirable according to the presently disclosed design principles. For example, a type V LED lighting apparatus 10 will not have a vertical minor 72 or a backlight shield 30, so that the entire light cover opening 22c will be used. In such a fixture, then, the horizontal reflector 70 covers the entire top of the LED module 52, and the rear box 48 (see
In general, all of the horizontal reflectors 70, 68, 51 and 49 are designed to diffusely reflect because the stray light that they handle most likely comes from Fresnel reflections (in cover lens 26 or secondary lens 56), or possibly reflection from various inside surfaces of the light chamber 36. Most likely such reflected light “rays” will be directed at a low angle toward enclosed side portions of the light chamber 36 or under the module cover 58, so specular reflection off of a horizontal reflector would lead to trapping such light rays, thereby wasting their light. A diffuse reflection, however, will redirect the light rays to a variety of directions that are much less affected by the incident angle, resulting in a much higher percentage of the reflected light being passed back out through the cover lens 26 in the opening 22c of the light chamber 36.
Referring to
The reflective front surface 72e of the vertical reflector 72 is disposed adjacent to the row 53 of LEDs 54 to reflect backlight from the LEDs towards the forward 149 and downward 148 directions away from the LEDs, i.e., downward 148 towards the cover lens 26 and forward 149 from the front surface 72e of the vertical reflector 72. Furthermore, it can be seen that the curved end sections 72a and 72b will help to appropriately redirect light emitted at low angles from the ends of the line 53 of LEDs 54. The action of the vertical reflector 72 will be discussed in detail hereinbelow with particular reference to
Some light from the LEDs 54 may be refracted and/or reflected back toward the LED module 52 (e.g., Fresnel reflection by the cover lens 26), therefor the horizontal flat diffuse reflector 70 across the top of the module cover 58 works in combination with the vertical reflector 72 to direct as much as possible of the light from the LEDs 54 into the desired downward direction 148 away from the LEDs 54 and horizontal reflector 70, and into the forward direction 149 away from the front surface 72e of the vertical reflector, i.e., toward the preferred side (front 136) of the LED apparatus 10.
As seen in
A horizontal PCB reflector 68 is placed between the secondary lenses 56 and the PCB 60 to reflect any light that bounces downward (e.g., by Fresnel reflections in the primary lens 55 and/or the secondary lens 56). The PCB reflector 68 should be a diffuse reflector, but a non-diffuse reflective material may be thinner and less expensive, therefore the underside surface 66 of the secondary lens 56 is roughened (see
Referring again to
Referring to FIGS. 8 and 10A-10B, the vertical reflector 72 is disposed in parallel alignment with the backlight shield 30, and either directly under it or preferably forward of it a distance labeled shield setback SB2. With this structural arrangement, most light from the row 53 of LEDs 54 is directed downward 148 and forward 149 (toward the front end 22a, street side 136 of the LED apparatus 10). Except for a limited portion of the emitted light that passes over a top edge 30f of the backlight shield 30, the backward-directed light 91 from the LEDs 54 is re-directed forward 149 (and downward 148) by a reflective surface 72e of the vertical reflector 72 inside the cover lens 26, and by a reflective surface 30e of the backlight shield 30 outside of the cover lens 26.
As shown in
Referring to
The light beams/rays 90, 91 are individually referenced using lower case letter suffixes, starting at “a” (90a, 91a) for the lowest elevation angle and increasing with elevation angle to “j” (90j, 91j being emitted at close to a 90 degree elevation angle). The rays 90 which are emitted in the forward direction 149 are refracted at the “front half” surface 63fh of the secondary lens 56 but generally continue in the forward direction 149. The rays 91 which are emitted in the backward direction 147 are refracted at the “back half” surface 63bh of the secondary lens 56 and continue toward the vertical reflector 72, where most of the rays 91 reflect off of the reflective surface 72e (a specular reflection) to be re-directed in the forward direction 149.
Because of the geometry, including a limited overall height to the top 30f of the backlight shield and a setback distance SB1+SB2 (for the top edge 30f), plus a reflector 72 height to top edge 72fthat is limited by the cover lens 26, some of the backward directed light rays 91 escape without reflection. First considering the vertical reflector 72,
It can be seen that, like increasing setback distance SB1, reducing the height (to 72f) of the vertical reflector 72 has the same effect in terms of decreasing the portion of LED light output that is reflected. Since the cover lens 26 is curved, the height of the reflector 72f behind an LED 54 is necessarily lower for LEDs that are located further from the center of the line 53 of LEDs. Our design compensates for this by adding a second vertical reflector (reflective surface 30e of backlight shield 30) above the cover lens 26 and shaping it to effectively maintain a constant reflector height (to 30f) for all of the LEDs 54. Referring to
It should be noted that generally speaking, a backlight shield on a street lighting fixture is not a new concept. They may be given a diffusely reflecting, or even a non-reflecting surface, because the main concern is to shield the back, house side 138 from excessive light levels. Especially in fixtures having a large spread-out light source such as an HID lamp, a specular reflection outside the fixture should be avoided due to glare and hot spots that would occur in many different directions depending upon a light beam's source location (the large source is not controlled by close-in lenses, so it comes out at many different angles).
In our new design the backlight shield concept has been adapted to take advantage of the better-controlled light source (the light hitting our shield 30 is all coming from a very narrow line at a known angle predetermined by the lens design.) Thus glare is much less of a concern for our design. The scope of our invention includes both diffuse and specular reflective surfaces 30e on the vertical wall portions of the backlight shield 30. A specular reflection is illustrated and described herein, however it can be seen that a diffuse reflector 30e would produce similar effects but would spread out the reflected rays somewhat, thereby diffusing (defocusing) their contributions to different spots in the lighting pattern 150. Notably, the diffusely reflected rays will not significantly go outside of the pattern boundaries because they are still limited by the top edge 30f of the backlight shield 30 and of the shield ring 28 (which also may have a specular or diffusely reflective surface).
It can also be seen that, unlike ray 91f in
As a practical matter, the shield setback SB2 may be set to approximate the ideal by using a single distance for all lens variations II-IV, for example using an average value or the maximum value.
With this structural arrangement, most light from the row 53 of LEDs 54 is directed downward 148 and forward 149 (toward the front end 22a, street side 136 of the LED apparatus 10). The light that remains backward directed is “backlight” within a back angle AB, the amount of which is controlled by the combined height of reflector 72 and backlight shield 30 to the shield's top edge 30f. The back angle AB is thus controlled to restrict the area of backlighting to be within the pattern boundaries of the designed-for illumination type (II, III, or IV).
In addition, since the backlight shield setback SB2 is relative to the reflector 72 position at a setback SB1, there may be correspondingly different backlight shields 30 used.
Although the reflector setback SB1 optimum distance may be different for different lenses 56, the vertical reflector 72 can be given a single fixed location SB1 for the sake of manufacturing convenience and efficiency (e.g., by locating a through-hole instead of an adjustment slot in the bracket 72g which is held by module assembly fastener 76 (compare
For example, to accomplish this, the fixed reflector setback SB1 may be an average of the setback SB1 values determined for a range of lens types; and there may be a single shield 30 which has been optimized to provide the most benefit to the most-used secondary lens 56 types.
Other criteria may be used for determining the setback distances SB1 and SB2. For example, the vertical reflector 72 may be positioned/shaped/angled to produce a particular pattern of light intensity 150 on the ground plane below.
Type II-IV distributions require most of the light to be projected on the front side 136 of the LED lighting apparatus 10 on a pole 122. The present design uses a back reflector to reflect nearly half of the emitted LED light forward. As detailed above, the position of our back reflector (72 and 30) is optimized to maximize reflection of near vertical rays (e.g., 91a-91g) but not too close as to have rays reflect back into the secondary lens (e.g., ray 91a which just meets this criterion).
By adding a vertical back reflector 72 (and 30) to an LED and secondary lens, we are able to make the present LED lighting apparatus embodiment 10, which produces a desired asymmetric light distribution pattern 150, while using symmetrical freeform secondary lens shapes 63 which are much less complicated than asymmetric freeform lenses. In particular, the lens 63 has two-axis orthogonal symmetry, meaning that any quadrant is perpendicularly reflected across the x-z and also the y-z planes of the orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system. (This kind of symmetry is a subset of 180 degree rotational symmetry about the z-axis.) As a result of this symmetry, which is matched by the symmetry of the (square) extended area LED light source, our lens shape is repeated in every x-y quadrant and therefor the entire secondary lens is designed by copying the design process performed for all of the light from the source that passes through just one quarter (one quadrant) of the lens' surface 63. (Every quadrant is repeated in an adjacent quadrant by being reflected across the x-z plane or y-z plane that lies between them. This also means that diagonally-opposed quadrants are “repeated” by simply rotating 180 degrees around the z-axis.)
Prior art typically uses an array of asymmetrical lenses to direct most of the light forward, and/or may add a short shield or reflector behind or around each LED to assist. It must be short to avoid blocking light from other LEDs in their array. Our back (vertical) reflector 72 is much taller so that it can re-direct light forward by reflection instead of by asymmetric refraction. An asymmetrical distribution could also be formed with multiple rows of LEDs with symmetrical lenses, but the tall mirror (back reflector) from one row would block light from an adjacent row unless the rows were widely spaced apart, yielding a larger fixture.
Referring again to
The center z-axis of the LED 54 (and secondary lens 56) is shown in the center of the drawing, and as described hereinabove (see
The forward directed rays 90a-90f proceed from the front half surface 63fh in various elevation angle directions as determined by the shape (surface contour) of the secondary lens body 63 and will strike the ground plane at the same angles to form an illuminance pattern 150 determined by the density of rays 90 striking each unit area. The pattern along a single widthwise line is illustrated on the two 147-149 widthwise lines where the density in one dimension shows as relative spacing of the points where the rays intersect the lines. Ray 90a intersects the lower line at point 90a indicated by a circle. The ray 90b intersection is a square, 90c a triangle, and 90d a diamond. On the upper line rays 90e and 90f intersect at a filled diamond and a filled square, respectively. The horizontal spacing of these intersection points as illustrated is non-uniform and therefore represents a non-uniform distribution of light intensity (illuminance, brightness) in the pattern along that line. (This pattern of intensity distribution is according to the arbitrary lens shape 63 used in the drawing to illustrate general concepts. A properly shaped secondary lens 56 will most likely produce a uniform distribution.)
The rearward directed rays 91a-91f proceed from the back half lens surface 63bh in various elevation angle directions as determined by the shape (surface contour) of the secondary lens body 63, are reflected by the specular reflective surface 72e to the same elevation angle but headed in the forward direction 149, and will strike the ground plane at the same angles with an illuminance pattern determined by the density of rays 91 striking each unit area. The pattern along a single line is illustrated on the two 147-149 widthwise lines where the density shows as relative spacing of the points where the rays intersect the lines. Ray 91a intersects the lower line at point 91a indicated by a circle. The ray 91b intersection is a square, 91c a triangle, and 91d a diamond. On the upper line rays 91e and 91f intersect at a filled diamond and a filled square, respectively.
Since the drawing illustrates rays leaving the center point of the emitter 86 at the same elevation angles for the front half rays 90 and back half rays 91, and further given that the lens 56 is shown as being orthogonally symmetric (i.e., a minor image) across the central x-z plane, then simple trigonometry dictates that each of the rearward directed rays 91a-91f leaving the surface 63bh will likewise be minor images of the corresponding forward directed rays 90a-90f, until the rays 91 hit the reflector surface 72e. Furthermore, assuming a perfect specular surface reflection at 72e, then the rays 91a-91f after reflection will be forward-directed and parallel to their corresponding forward-directed rays 90a-90f. This fact is illustrated by the horizontal intersection points wherein it can be seen that each 90 ray intersection is the same distance forward from its corresponding reflected 91 ray intersection (distance between circles=distance between squares=distance between triangles=etc. to . . . =distance between filled squares.) The trigonometry also dictates that this constant front ray 90-to-reflected-back-ray 91 horizontal spacing is equal to twice the reflector setback distance SB1. This means that whatever widthwise illuminance pattern is created on the ground plane X-Y by the front rays 90 emanating from the lens front half surface 63fh, will be replicated by the reflected back rays 91 emanating from the lens back half surface 63bh but shifted widthwise backward (147) on the ground by a distance of two times the reflector setback SB1. Since the magnitude of the setback SB1 is around 20 mm compared to a typical pattern width W of at least 17,500 mm (pole height PH=10 meters), the overlapping shift of the two equal light intensity patterns will be imperceptible, and will even help by slightly smoothing out intensity changes in the combined light distribution pattern 150.
It can be seen that the same principles apply to the effect on the pattern 150 due to row 53 of lengthwise (x) spaced-apart LEDs with secondary lenses 56. For example, a row of nine lenses spaced 25 mm on center will have one centered pattern extending +/−(L/2) distance from a lengthwise pattern center X=0, overlapped by 4 duplicated patterns in each +/−lengthwise (X) direction, and each overlapping pattern will be shifted 25 mm on the ground relative to the pattern that it overlaps. The cumulative effect is that the overall combined illuminance pattern 150 will be extended in length by 4×25=100 mm on each lengthwise end to make the pattern length=L+2×100 mm. Given that the Type II-IV patterns are all specified to have 6PH length, then for a 10 m pole height PH, the overall pattern length will in effect be uniformly stretched from 60,000 mm to 60,200 mm long. Again the effect will not be perceptible other than a small amount of smoothing of light intensity transitions.
Finally, since the back half body shape 63bh and front half body shape 63fh of the secondary lenses 56 are orthogonally symmetric across the x-z plane (i.e., front to back), then whatever shape the lens front surface 63fh is given as it wraps around (into the page) from the y-z plane (of the paper), will be mirrored for the lens back surface 63bh. Furthermore, since we also make our secondary lens 56 orthogonally symmetric across the y-z plane (e.g., into, versus out-of the plane of the page) then if we designate the x direction into the page as “to the right”, then the “left” half of the lens surface 63 will be a lengthwise mirror image of the right half. Due to our symmetry then, a “front side” ray 90 having any azimuth angle in the “front” 180 degree range will have a corresponding back-to-front mirrored and forward-reflected “back-side” ray 91 that is parallel and offset widthwise by a fixed distance of twice the reflector setback distance SB1. Since the rays 90 and reflected-91 are parallel, their horizontal separation distance will be constant for any plane normal to the z-axis, regardless of z-value distance (i.e., height above the ground), even though the length L and width W of the pattern 150 on the ground increases as the height increases. In other words, comparing ray 90e to ray 90f we can easily see that they radiate at different forward angles A (noting that the angle A(e) is illustrated and angle A(f) for ray 90f is obviously a smaller angle). This means that the two rays are diverging as can be seen by comparing the separation of their intersections with the lower horizontal line 147-149 versus the separation of their intersections with the upper horizontal line.
Consider a rectangular target portion of a Type II-IV lighting pattern 150 (see
So it can be seen that our LED light source module 52 which includes a vertical back reflector 72 enables us to use a single row of one or more LEDs 54 covered by secondary lenses 56, each of which has two-axis (x and y) orthogonal symmetry and a center vertical axis z which is aimed straight downward 148 to the widthwise back edge 152-152 of an illuminance pattern 150; and even though the pattern is specified to be offset to a preferential side (front 136) of the lens covered LED(s) 54 in the light source module 52, we attain a high degree of uniformity in illuminance (light intensity, brightness) throughout the offset pattern area.
According to the present embodiment, a benefit is achieved from a single row 53 of LEDs 54. It is enabled by the unique design of the free form optics of the secondary lenses 56 to allow tight spacing and the use of the single back reflector 72 (and 30) separate from the lens 56 but still placed relatively close to the lens for efficiently redirecting the backlight forward.
Another benefit of the present embodiment of a single row of LEDs 54, as compared to LEDs in multiple rows, is that it allows for a more compact fixture 10 because multiple rows would need to be spaced quite far apart to assure that one row's reflector did not impede the light path of another row.
In an embodiment, the benefit of additional efficiency is provided by extending the vertical plane of the single back reflector 72 outside of the cover lens 26, using a backlight shield 30 having a reflective vertical front surface 30e. The cover lens thickness is compensated by setting back the backlight shield 30 relative to the back reflector 72. Thus even a simple but strong convex domed cover lens 26 can be accommodated and still provide a straight-line edge at a fixed back angle AB for a controlled amount of backlight on the ground toward the house side 138 of fixture 10. As shown in
Type II-IV distributions require most of the light to be projected on the front side 136 of the LED lighting apparatus 10 on a pole 122. The present design uses a back reflector to reflect nearly half of the emitted LED light forward. The position of this back reflector is chosen to maximize reflection of near vertical rays, but not too close as to have rays reflect back into the secondary lens (see ray 91a which just meets this criterion).
By adding a vertical back reflector 72 (and 30) to an LED and secondary lens, we are able to make the present LED lighting apparatus embodiment 10, which produces a specified offset light distribution pattern 150 with a high degree of illuminance uniformity, while using symmetrical freeform secondary lens shapes 63 which are much less complicated than asymmetric freeform lenses. In an optimized embodiment, the lens 63 has two-axis orthogonal symmetry, meaning that any lens quadrant is perpendicularly reflected across both the x-z and the y-z planes of the orthogonal x-y-z coordinate system. As a result, our lens shape is repeated in every x-y quadrant and only needs to be designed for the light passing through one quarter of the lens' surface 63.
Prior art typically uses an array of asymmetrical lenses to direct most of the light forward, and/or may add a short shield or reflector behind or around each individual LED to assist. It must be short to avoid blocking light from other LEDs in their array, whereas our back (vertical) reflector 72 used with symmetric lenses 56 can be (and is) much taller so that it can re-direct light forward while minimizing back light and lost light.
The above description has been mainly concerned with LED apparatus 10 embodiments having an LED module 52 with a single row 53 of LEDs 54. As mentioned, this is optimized for providing light distributions according to IES Types II-IV (2, 3, and 4). The Type V embodiment(s) of the apparatus 10 and LED module 52 are disclosed in more detail in the following description.
There are several papers describing creating free form lenses for LED illumination optics, but they are all based on calculations that treat the LED emitter primarily as a point source, and furthermore the design calculations are simplified by striving to create generally round (circle or oval) light distributions (illuminance patterns 150). Their designs may be adjusted to try for a more uniform distribution of light intensity within the overall pattern.
In contrast, the secondary lens 56 designs disclosed herein are based on calculations that use light emitted from the entire two dimensional emitting surface 86 of a high power, and therefor large LED (e.g., 3 mm square), i.e., an “extended source”. Among other advantages, this design method produces more efficient and effective lenses, thereby enabling production of lenses small enough so that only one row 53 is necessary to create the desired illuminance pattern.
Our calculations are made possible by the shape of the secondary lens 56 (profile of its refracting outer surface 63) that exhibits “two-fold (180 degree) rotational symmetry about a z-axis”. This means that a circumferential profile (taken at a constant z-value/height while varying azimuth angle) will repeat the radius value every 180 degrees around (two-fold). This is true for each z-value, therefore a vertical profile (a line at constant azimuth angle and varying height) will also repeat. Although this is like a “mirror image” of each single point perpendicularly across the z-axis line, or even a mirror of each vertical profile, it is not necessarily the same as a “mirror image” perpendicularly across a plane including the z-axis. That is a different kind of symmetry, i.e., “orthogonal symmetry”. The 3-D surface 63 of our secondary lens 56 exhibits both two-fold rotational symmetry and two-axis orthogonal symmetry about the z axis (i.e., mirrored across two orthogonal planes containing the z axis: the x-z plane and the y-z plane). In fact, having two-axis orthogonal symmetry means that a shape will also have two-fold rotational symmetry.
The two-axis orthogonal symmetry of our lenses is uniquely advantageous because it means that the secondary lens 56 has four quadrants (or 90 degree sectors) bounded by the two orthogonal planes, and the quadrants replicate each other in a symmetric, and thus simple known way. Each quadrant (e.g., Q1 of quadrants sequentially labeled Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) is exactly the same as the 180 degree diagonally opposite quadrant (e.g., Q3), and is a minor image across the plane separating it from the adjacent two quadrants (e.g., Q2 and Q4). Or a more useful consideration is that any “first” point on a quadrant's surface is a duplicate of a “second” point on any of the other quadrants' surfaces 63 providing that the second point is located the same number of azimuth degrees from the same boundary plane (x-z or y-z) as the first point. By “duplicate” I mean having the same elevation angle and distance (spherical radius) from the origin. Furthermore, the surface contour for “movement” in any direction away from the first point is duplicated for the same movement relative to the duplicate point. This in turn means that any line (e.g., a light ray) passing from a first source point through the surface at the first surface point will have the same angle of approach to the point (measured with respect to the surrounding surface) as a ray passing from a second source point through the surface at the second surface point, providing that the second source point is located the same number of azimuth degrees from the same boundary plane (x-z or y-z) as the first source point (and is also constrained to the same elevation angle and radius). Since the square LED emitter surface exhibits the same symmetries as the lens body/surface 63, given alignment to the same x-y-z axes centered on the same origin, then ray tracing done from all points of the emitter surface through a matrix of first points covering the outer surface of one of the quadrants will provide all of the information needed to determine the entire illuminance pattern produced by the full lens. (Because the rays passing through the three “duplicate second points” in the remaining three quadrants will pass through in the same way relative to the surface point.)
Background Regarding Illuminance Patterns
The IES types II-IV patterns are asymmetrical relative to the center of the lens 56 and LED 54, i.e., mostly on the street side 136, but ignoring the permitted backlighting, the pattern 150 is a symmetrical rectangle, albeit offset to one side.
Referring to
IES Illuminance Pattern Definitions (L×W Dimensions):
The type V distribution is much more extensive in area (L×W) and also is not limited to a forward 149 direction, rather it is generally expected to extend the same distance (W/2) backward 147 as forward 149, therefor the luminaire 10 does not need a backlight shield 30, a vertical reflector 72, or asymmetric lens optics. For a variety of reasons, including efficiency and cost reductions in many different areas of production, distribution, marketing, sales, and performance; we have designed our LED lighting apparatus 10 for universal application to a widest possible range of lighting levels and luminance types (especially in the range of type II to type V), and such that a minimum number of parts and other changes are sufficient to switch from production of one luminaire embodiment 10 to any other one of the luminaire embodiments 10.
Referring to
Overall Design Process for Secondary Lenses
Design Assumptions and Parameter Boundaries (Design Constraints)
A typical prior art LED lighting apparatus 10 has used a large number of LEDs arrayed within the fixture in order to supply enough light to cover large areas as in type II-V lighting. Given a distributed light source such as this, groups of, or even individual, LEDs are aimed and/or focused in different directions such that an individual LED is expected to light only a portion of the overall lighting pattern. In this way, the shape of the pattern can be controlled by the aim of individual small beams of light, for instance filling in corners of the rectangular pattern by directing proportionally more LEDs toward the corners versus towards the nearby edges of the pattern.
For the present invention, a newer approach is taken by using recently available very high output LEDs 54 such that a small number of them is sufficient to produce the desired lighting levels (total lumens) and intensity (light/surface area), given other changes in design that are disclosed herein. For example, present design specs can be met with only 4 to 9 LEDs 54 in a fixture 10 according to the present disclosure. This makes smaller and less expensive apparatuses 10 possible. Given this, the present design calls for a compact array of LEDs 54, each one having a secondary lens 56 that will direct the individual LED's light output to fill the entire L×W area 150 as defined by the IES type. Thus the lighting level in the entire area 150 can be adjusted by varying the number of LEDs that are turned on, or the number populated in the LED module 52, without significantly changing the overall shape of the lighting distribution pattern 150. Also, if an individual LED 54 fails in use, the overall light level will decrease proportionally, but the uniformity of illuminance (light intensity) throughout the pattern will not change (no “holes” or sudden dark spots). This also gives more design and manufacturing flexibility because the overall lighting level can also be changed by selecting different power LEDs. It is even possible to achieve a desired lighting level or other performance characteristic by selecting a suitable combination of different LED types. For example, heat sinking may be made easier by using lower power LEDs in the center of an array of higher powered ones. For example, color effects may be achieved by selecting a suitable combination of different color LEDs, which will produce a uniform color mixture in the illuminance pattern because each LED (color) provides its output to the entire lighted area 150.
This sets a self-imposed constraint (boundary condition) on the secondary lens 56 design, such that each lens 56 must be able to direct its corresponding LED's light in a way that fills the entire shape and area of the illuminance pattern 150 as uniformly as possible (uniform light intensity). Thus there is a specific secondary lens design (embodiment) for each of the pattern types (see
Our secondary lens 56 design objectives, assumptions, conventions and constraints can be summarized as follows:
*Types II-V rectangular target patterns respectively have an L:W aspect ratio of 6:1.75, of 6:2.75, of 6:4.00, and of 8:8 (in units of PH)
**The LED's central axis z is directed at the center of the pattern length L, and somewhere along the width W. (z from center of line or array of LEDs).
Note that prior art had to aim the module z axis outward into the pattern in order to use the backward directed light. They also made asym lenses and added little minors right at the LEDs, but those don't work as well.
*** A typical pole height PH being 10 meters (10,000 mm), and a secondary lens smaller than 50 mm in length or width calculates to PH being at least 200 times the max lens dimension (10k=200×50).
Either here or elsewhere in this disclosure, the means for achieving the stated objective(s) will be made clear by the description. The LED 54 is shown in detail along with the lens 56 alignment and positioning means in
It must be noted that even with an azimuthally symmetric primary lens shape (the hemisphere is the same at any angle of rotation around the z axis), the 3 mm square noncircular extended area emitter will produce a light output that varies with azimuth angle rather than being constant as from a point source, and also that varies with elevation angle much differently than light from a point source (which is constant versus elevation angle) or even light from a relatively smaller emitting surface such as the 1 mm square emitter used in recently published theoretical work (discussed below). Therefor, compared to theoretical calculated “test” results of a lens that was designed assuming a small or single-point light source, actual physical test measurements with a 3 mm square emitter LED will show a decreased efficiency in gathering LED light into the target pattern 150 and also decreased illuminance uniformity over the area of the target pattern. (The term efficiency is used loosely here to mean the ratio of total light energy received within the target area 150 divided by the total light energy of the LED device 54 that is output in all directions from the primary lens of the LED.)
Because of this, an objective of the hereindisclosed lens design method(s) is to adjust the secondary lens 56 shape in a way that reduces, if not eliminates, the losses in efficiency and uniformity caused by ignoring the noncircular extended area LED light source. Also, the shape determination procedure must be practical (not requiring an inordinate amount of work and a supercomputer); the resulting lens must be manufacturable at reasonable cost, and assembly of the module with LED and properly positioned lens must be achievable by manual labor or uncomplicated manufacturing equipment, preferably suitable for large to relatively small production runs at low cost.
Accurately Positioning The Secondary Lens
The
In the present embodiment of the preassembled LED device 54 the primary lens 55 is surrounded by a dam that has rounded lobes (alignment pegs 80) diagonally adjacent to the corners 89 of the emitter surface 86 (and die 87). They are uniformly rounded and equidistant from the respective corners so that a straightedge placed against any two of them will be aligned with a side of the square emitter 86. The secondary lens 56 has an alignment recess 84 cut into its underside. It can be circular with a radius around the z axis that closely fits around the outside of all four alignment pegs 80 (as seen at the bottom and top of
Next, to “clock” the secondary lens x-y (L-W) directions to match the LED′S x-y directions, at least one portion of the circular recess 84 can be interrupted by a chord making a straight side 84a to align against two of the pegs 80. Optionally the entire recess can be square as shown in
Other lens design decisions are distinct to two categories of secondary lens types:
For Types II-IV:
Rather than using a multi-row array of LEDs, each with an individual secondary lens and/or shields or reflectors, our approach is to minimize luminaire/fixture 10 size and bulk by designing an LED module 52 with a single row 53 of closely spaced LEDs 54, each with a secondary lens 56 designed to work with a single vertical reflector 72 (and 30) that is close, and parallel, to the back (rearward 147) side of the row 53 of secondary lenses 56. We determined that acceptable lighting could be provided by using a single row 53 of nine or less commercially available LEDs 54. The design objectives for type II-IV illumination are as follows:
For Type V:
This will not need a vertical minor or backlight shield, therefor the LEDs 54 and secondary lenses 56 can be laid out in a 2D grid-array, such as 3 rows by 3 columns=9 LEDs. This allows use of a larger lens 56 over LEDs that are spaced further apart. This is desirable because the type V secondary lens must spread the light over the greatest area. Design objectives for type V include:
Other Work
Regarding secondary lens design for use with LEDs, it may be noted that some papers published recently by researchers at several Chinese universities disclose calculation methods and resulting theoretical calculated freeform lens shapes for LED light sources. Their work is directed toward using the LED light that, by itself, projects a circular spot (luminance pattern) on a perpendicular plane, and transforming it by lens refraction into a rectangular luminance pattern (target).
In 2008 Yi Ding, et al. published their work on such a lens, with an objective of producing very high uniformity of luminance (light intensity) over the entire target rectangle. They used a simplified transfer function derived from theory and solved simultaneous first order partial differential equations by numerical means. They then “tested” the calculated lens shape by using simulation software. Some very significant parameter differences and system simplifications make their results of limited usefulness for the current application.
By comparison to our list of objectives and constraints, Yi Ding, et al:
Resultant lens shape (shown here as our Prior Art
In 2010 Yi Luo, et al. published their work on a “compact and smooth free-form lens”, with an objective of producing very high uniformity of luminance (light intensity) over the entire target rectangle. They used a feedback modification method starting with a lens shape derived from theoretical point source calculations. Using simulation software, they calculated a pattern that would result from a theoretical test using the present lens with a 1 mm “extended source”, compared it to an ideal uniformity pattern in the target area, then applied a feedback equation to modify the lens shape according to the differences (errors) between the two, resulting in a new lens to “test” in the next iteration. The lens shaping method used is a “variable separation mapping method” that requires a known surface shape to start with and then adjusts it to correct for the errors. The process was iterated a number of times. The feedback calculation required upper and lower limits to keep the calculation under control. Some very significant parameter differences and system simplifications make their results of limited usefulness for the current application.
By comparison to our list of objectives and constraints, Yi Luo, et al:
Referring to our Prior Art
In addition to the problems noted above, another is the starting lens shape, which was selected with a constraint that it be smoothly curved, without discontinuities which they view as a problem due to causing Fresnel losses. (It will be seen that we take care of that problem in a novel way.) The design process they describe produces only a slight change in outside dimensions of length and width, but no change in height which may have been held constant as a simplification. The selected shape is severely undercut and appears to be impractical to manufacture.
Another deficiency is their use of a 1 mm extended light source with a lens that is comparable in size to ours. This is much smaller than the 3 mm square we need to use for a high output LED—probably proportionally small enough that the corners of the square shape can be ignored without much consequence. There is no indication in their report that they accounted for azimuthal changes in light output from this extended source. It appears that they approximated it as a 1 mm circle. Our design method specifically compensates for the corners as will be seen.
In 2010 Kai Wang, et al. published a paper in Optics Letters about a freeform lens designed to improve color uniformity in the light pattern of a white LED. As noted elsewhere in the present disclosure (with reference to
Kai Wang's solution is to make his lens surface change abruptly near the 40° elevation angle to create two discontinuous refracting surfaces (facets): a top surface and a side surface separated by a relatively sharp downturned “corner”, like a tuna fish can. This will cause rays passing through the side surface to bend upward, while those passing through the top surface will bend toward the horizontal. Thus the yellowish light will be mixed with the bluish light to create a more uniform “average” color where they overlap.
The light intensity distribution versus angle is also plotted in
Furthermore, his theoretical calculations ignore both the square shape and the extended surface area of the LED emitter. Although he claims to use a 1 mm square LED, his calculations treat it as a point source at the origin, surrounded by 3 mm diameter round, domed cap of phosphor. This is very different from our situation.
By comparison to our list of objectives and constraints, Kai Wang, et al:
In U.S. Pat. No. 7,674,018 (Holder et al., Mar. 9, 2010), a lens design for an “LED Device for Wide Beam Generation” is disclosed. With reference to their figures copied into the present
It is important to note that Holder's description and his
Our Design
In contrast with the prior art, we used a 3 mm×3 mm square extended source LED for our high power light source, and we produced actual freeform secondary lenses 56 that are manufacturable at a reasonable cost, particularly because of their symmetry.
In addition to designing an efficient secondary lens, the other elements of the overall LED lighting apparatus 10 are designed to augment the lens efficiency such that the apparatus as a whole forms a lighting system that synergistically works together to maximize the total energy efficiency of utilizing the energy input to the combined LED light sources and converting that into light of uniform intensity distribution concentrated within the desired IES Type target pattern 150. This means that elements such as shields and reflectors are designed to work with the lenses to achieve, as close as possible, BUG ratings of zero—i.e., zero wasted light. (BUG stands for Backlight, Uplight, and Glare; and includes specs for various regions of each type of unwanted lighting).
Terminology
In the following description of lens shapes, naming conventions illustrated in
Thus the surface contour shown at the flange intersection is a two dimensional (2D) profile in the x-y plane viewed from above (plan view), and any angles, slopes, curves etc. characterizing portions of that profile line are to be considered as 2D lines in the horizontal plane at constant z value. For example, “slope” in this context means dy/dx, and may be referenced as “horizontal slope”. Further in the plan view context, lines drawn within the outermost periphery are to be understood as vertical projections onto the base plane, i.e., in x-y-z coordinates, x and y held constant while z is collapsed to zero. These internal lines are shown as markers for significant surface features. For example, what is shown as a radial line (e.g., 96) extending out to an inflection (e.g., A) indicates that a similar inflection profile (type A) occurs at all of the points along that line (96)—in this case being a horizontal slope change across the line 96. The 3D surface shape 63 will be known if the z values for those points are known, so vertical cross-section views are also illustrated (e.g., in
The relative curvature (profile) 63 shown at the z=0 periphery can be assumed to be similar along the radial lines but will gradually change to accommodate a shrinking distance between radial lines. Furthermore, since we are dealing with distance between points on a rounded surface, the rounded surface profile needs to be accounted for. Therefor we must consider both horizontal and vertical profiles of the surface. For our lens designs, our vertical profile (at constant azimuth angle) generally arcs steeply upward and radially inward to an apex 106 that is somewhat distant from the center z-axis. At the apex the profile curve levels off and then smoothly transitions to a shallow arc downward as it continues inward to the center. Ideally the vertical profiles may all end at a downward pointing cusp on the z-axis, however that is not practical for manufacturing so instead the profiles generally end with a more rounded (cup-like) intersection. The vertical cross section drawings and perspective views showing shapes and contours for the body 63 of each type II-V of secondary lens 56 are shown in various figures, especially
Another aid to visualization of the outer lens surface 63 comes from remembering that our lenses 56 are designed to have “two-axis orthogonal symmetry” as defined hereinabove. Another definition of our secondary lens' symmetry is: Any point (x1, y1, z1) on the lens surface at a horizontal distance r1 from the z axis and azimuth angle θ1 (theta) will have the same z value (z1) for the point (x2, y2, z2) that is 180 degrees around, i.e., at (r1, θ1+180)=(x2, y2, z1). In spherical coordinates, with elevation angle φ (phi) and radius p (rho) from the origin, (x1, y1, z1)=(ρ1, θ1, φ1) and (x2, y2, z2)=(ρ2, θ2, φ2)=(ρ1, θ1+180, φ1)=(x2, y2, z1).
When referring to a vertical cross-section view, the profile (of the outer surface) 63 is usually shown by the outermost line(s) and may be referenced as the “vertical profile”. The profile of the inner surface (cavity) 82 may also be shown and will be the innermost lines. In some cross-section views there may be other lens surface edges “behind” the cross-section plane that would be visible “around the edges” of the cross-section profile, so they are shown as lines farther outward than the actual cross-section profile lines. Cross-section shading may not be used, in which case the description, the context of the view, and other related views (e.g., a perspective view) will identify the various lines. Extra peripheral lines like this are assumed to be horizontal projections that collapse y-value to the single constant value of the cross-section plane. Vertical profile lines are 2D curves in an x-z plane at a constant y value relative to the overall 3D shape (arbitrarily labeling the horizontal axis in the plane as the x-axis). Similarly, the “slope” in this context is dz/dx (or dρ/dφ at a constant azimuth angle θ, sloping as the angle of elevation φ changes versus radius ρ relative to the origin (x=y=z=0), which is arbitrarily located in the plane if 2D polar coordinates are used). The slope in this context may be referenced as the “vertical slope” or “elevational slope”.
Inflections
Referring especially to
Generally the inflections occur in a continuous line of the same type of inflection points, wherein the line is substantially orthogonal to the slope change at each inflection point in the line. For convenience, the inflection lines are given reference numbers as indicated on representative ones of the inflection lines in
The inflection lines or features (e.g., 96, 97, 98, 99) occur in two main forms: radial, and rotational. They are named according to appearance in plan view, and ignoring the elevation changes along the line that are necessary to follow along the surface of the lens.
Lines 96, 97, and 99 are radial features because they extend radially relative to the center z-axis, i.e., changing radius but constant rotational (azimuth) angle. Polar coordinates are most convenient with these lines. Generally the radial inflection lines extend substantially all the way from axis to perimeter of the lens body 63.
Inflection line 98 (J type inflection) is a rotational inflection line characterized by a path with a constantly changing azimuth angle, i.e., it “rotates” around the center z-axis but not necessarily at a constant radius or elevation. For example, the line 98 illustrated is somewhat oval (elongated circle) in keeping with the overall elongated shape of the lens. Generally we use a rotational inflection line that is a closed curve bounding a top facet (e.g., 100) versus a bottom or side facet (e.g., 102).
The type A inflections are the most apparent inflection type for the present set of lens designs. Inflection A is a primary “radial line” feature 96 which is a relatively sharp “corner” where the surface 63 changes between a generally widthwise extending side and a generally lengthwise extending side (or face) of the lens, thereby defining the generally rectangular/square overall lens shape 63. This inflection has a substantially infinite rate of change wherein the line 96 is a vertex for an angle that may be as small as 90°. We define a radial line on the surface 63 as a line in a vertical plane (constant azimuth angle θ) that contains the 3D origin of the secondary lens 56. Thus it appears to be a radially extending line in plan view, although the radial line generally also has vertical slope and curvature (changing slope) in the vertical plane. For a radial inflection line (e.g., type A inflection line 96) the inflection is a significant slope change from one lateral side to the other lateral side of the inflection line (“lateral” in this context meaning at a different azimuth angle). This is easiest to visualize as a horizontal (dy/dx) slope change at constant z value, although the azimuthal (dρ/dθ) slope change at a constant elevational angle φ may be more relevant when considering light rays emanating from a source point near the lens origin (0,0,0).
The inflection line 98 is labeled a type “J” Inflection. It is the only non-radial (“rotational”) inflection line being disclosed herein. The line 98 is a generally horizontal, oval-like curve that roughly follows the apex 106 around the top of the lens, however it is modified by surface contour changes such as those caused by the radial inflection lines where they cross the line 98. The inflection J at the line 98 is a significant slope change from one radial side to the other radial side of the inflection line 98. This is easiest to visualize as a vertical slope change dz/dx or dr/dφ relative to a 2D origin in a vertical cross-section plane that is normal to the inflection line 98, however the elevational (dρ/dφ) slope change at a constant azimuth angle θ in a vertical plane that contains the 3D origin of the lens may be more relevant when considering light rays emanating from a source point near the lens origin (0,0,0).
In addition to being affected by them, the J inflection may in turn affect the shape of the radial inflections when they cross it. In fact, on the type II lens shown with a line 98, all of the radial inflection lines become inverted when they cross.
From the corner A inflections, there is generally a gradually changing horizontal slope extending to the middle of a side, which is marked with the label C or G for inflections at the middle of the widthwise or lengthwise sides, respectively (noting that “lens length” is defined to be parallel to the length L of the lighting pattern 150, which happens to be across the narrow dimension of the flange for types II-IV, as shown in
Referring particularly to
The B and F inflections only occur on the relatively longer sides of a non-square lens 63, generally near to the A inflection lines 96. The B or F inflections mark a “secondary” radial line feature 97 where the inflection is a horizontal slope change like A, and may even be a discontinuity, but the degree of slope change across line 97 is much less than across line 96—thus the titles “primary” (96) and “secondary” (97). The B type labels an inflection line 97 when it is on the widthwise sides of the lens; the F type is for the lengthwise sides. The primary and secondary inflection lines combine to form what looks like a “wedge or triangle” feature. As a combined feature, the inflection lines 96 and 97 work together to blend the light from a square extended area source to form a uniform rectangular distribution. Each “triangle” is bounded by a primary (obvious corner) inflection line 96 and a secondary inflection line 97 (much less of a transition and occurs along a side rather than a corner of the lens). It is always on the long side of a lens. Type V doesn't have this because it can produce a square distribution pattern using just the primary inflection line 96.
It can be seen in various drawings that the inflections are shown as being more pronounced in some embodiments compared to other drawings that show a different embodiment of the same lens type (e.g.,
Lens Design Method
Referring to
Step 1—Determine A Freeform Secondary Lens Starting Shape
(a) This starting shape can be a rough, first order approximation determined intuitively or empirically based on prior knowledge, or based on a previous design that needs improvement or modification for a changed design objective, etc. The starting shape is determined for a pre-selected LED device 54 (as defined above) but initially idealizing its total light output as coming from a single point at the origin (geometric center) of the LED emitter 86.
(b) The initial lens shape should be intended to refract the point source idealized light output uniformly into a square illuminance pattern 150, i.e., a rectangle with L=W, with one of the L or W dimensions being equal to the corresponding dimension in the design's target pattern area 150. Our method initially assumes that there is no net refracting interface between the emitter surface and the secondary lens surface. (Either no primary lens, or the LED has a hemispherical primary lens 55 surrounded by a co-axial hemispherical cavity in the secondary lens). Also assumed: a base plane 81 for the secondary lens (and primary lens) is fixed co-planar to an immersed LED emitter surface 86 (i.e., the x-y plane at z=0) and with the lens center axis (z-axis) origin (z=zero) positioned at the geometric center point (x=y=0) of the emitter 86. (Later steps will accommodate an extended area LED emitter, as well as a square-shaped extended area emitter (e.g., 3 mm square for our selected LED 54 which is described in full elsewhere.)
(c) We selected a starting secondary lens 56 that has a hemispheric shaped inner surface (cavity) 82 with uniform air gap around the primary lens 55 (and same hemisphere base plane and radial origin at x=y=z=0). This allows light rays emitted from the origin point to pass out of primary and into secondary lens with theoretically no refraction, due to perpendicular angles of incidence. (refer to
(d) Based on prior knowledge, and referring particularly to
(e) Also referring to
Step 2—Horizontally Elongate the Lens to Elongate the Target Pattern (but Compensate for Use of Reflector)
(a) The amount of lens elongation is generally proportional to that of the target pattern 150, but for lighting patterns 150 wherein the target area is substantially on a preferential side of the light source (i.e., types II, III, and IV but not type V), we adapt the proportionality for our use of a vertical reflector 72 as follows: given target length L and width W; we horizontally elongate the lens to a freeform oval with lens length L1 and width W1 that are determined by using the following
L1=pL (p times L), and
W1=2pW
where “p” is a fractional constant of proportionality.
(b) The reason for the factor of two can be seen in
(c) In effect, our secondary lens 56 is made to function as if it had been cut in half widthwise.
IMPORTANT . . . Like the rectangular target the secondary lens is orthogonally symmetric across the y-z plane at x=zero. If a lens is required to uniformly fill the rectangle that is offset entirely in positive y (widthwise) direction, then without using a vertical reflector the lens must be orthogonally asymmetric across the x-Z plane at y=zero (the front half will do what is wanted, but the back half must be shaped to refract backward directed light to forward direction; OR the base plane 81 of the LEDs must be tilted to direct the z-axis toward the widthwise center of the target area which would cause the distance traveled (rho in polar coordinates) by each forward ray 90 to be greater than that of a corresponding rearward directed ray 91. Because of this asymmetric widthwise variation of distances (rho) the light intensity for rays from a symmetric lens would be greatest at the near edge y=−W/2, and least at the far edge y=+W/2. To correct this, the rear half of lens must be different than the front half.
(a) Rather than create a dog-bone shaped lens, we add four ridge-like primary radial line features 96 to draw light away from the sides and into the corners of the pattern. The line 96 of type A inflections makes the lens have sharp “corners” that are a discontinuity in horizontal surface contour. (See
(b) The corner ridge lines 96 should be aligned with the corners of the target pattern 150, i.e., positioned at the same azimuth angles θ (theta). Thus for a square pattern (e.g., type V) the corners are at 45°, 135°, 225°, 315° (assuming that θ=0° is oriented as shown in
(c) The alignment of lens-corner to target-corner can be determined by using the above “Lens Proportion Equations”, however since the lens 56 may bulge out between corners A, we adapt the proportionality equations so that they use the length L2 and width W2 lens dimensions that are defined by the corners A instead of the less representative bulged side dimensions L1, W1.
Step 4—Add Mid-Side Inflections C and/or G to Spread Out Rays Between Corners
(a) The line 96 of “corner” inflections A take care of adding light to corners in the target area 150, but may produce an irregular shaped iso-candela pattern in the rectangular target area. In other words, the light intensity may be non-uniform (unacceptably variable) along the sides of the pattern. Thus we add C and/or G inflections as needed to uniformly spread the rays along straight sides of the target area, the amount of spreading being determined by the depth and width of the inflections C or G along the center side lines 99 (if present). The depth and width of the inflection can vary along the line 99, as shown by the dashed lines surrounding it in
(a) Refine design to account for a square extended area LED source with corners (e.g., 3×3 mm emitter surface 86) which make the LED light radiation distribution azimuthally variable, a factor which has not been considered by the prior art. (see notes about Holder patent above) Note that orthogonal symmetry helps reduce the effort of dealing with this, to:
(b) The calculation work may be reduced by first determining the results for an extended area source that is azimuthally uniform (e.g., a 3 mm diameter circle), then adding in the effects of the corners beyond the circle. For example, instead of individual point sources, the effect of a fixed length radial line source could be determined and integrated for θ=0-360°. For example, the effect of a fixed radius annular part of the source area (or quadrant of the source area) could be determined for min and max radii, interpolated between, and then integrated or averaged.
(c) As shown in
a) This is an important part of our design method wherein luminaire lighting efficiency is improved by our design method that accounts for light emitted from different points of the extended area LED emitter surface 86. This has not been done in the prior art. We recognize that, for any given point on the secondary lens surface 63 (or 82), that light rays received at the given point coming from geometrically different points of the emitter surface 86 will impinge at different angles of incidence, and therefor will be refracted at correspondingly different refraction angles. Because of this, the output from the lens will be more spread out and lower intensity than expected if a point source emitter is assumed, i.e., the output illumination pattern or intensity distribution is effectively “smeared”. Of course, the larger the emitter area is, the greater the smearing effect will be. Our optimization process adjusts the lens contour at a first point or set of points to compensate for the smearing effect at another point (or set of points) and iterates this process to achieve an optimum balance of these interacting point contour adjustments, optimum being the highest efficiency and best uniformity possible for a reasonable effort.
b) Optimization can be done at several stages of design, depending upon whether you want to do it after all major shape changes are made, or do it in between for smaller step changes. For example, for rectangular target areas, it may be best to do after the secondary inflection lines are added, or probably as a part of that design step but after placing the primary inflection lines. (Step 5 above describes an embodiment of this form of optimizing.) In another example, if another lens feature is added (like the color mixing facets described elsewhere) then it may be best to determine the shape and location of the new feature according to the optimization method.
c)
d) Therefore, one form of our optimizing method is to separately determine the lens' surface shape 63 (or a representative portion of it, like a quadrant, or such as a matrix of points within the quadrant or along the line of an added feature) for refraction of rays from each of a plurality (e.g., number ‘n’) of point light sources (e.g., 86a, 86b, 86c . . . 86n), with the source points 86n selected to represent a matrix/array of points uniformly distributed over the entire extended area LED emitting surface 86. Alternatively, a representative portion (e.g., a quadrant) of the extended area LED emitting surface 86 can be used as a source for all quadrants of the secondary lens. Either way, the result will be a plurality (n) of determined surface contour shapes at each selected surface point. The final shape is determined for each of those surface points by taking a weighted average of the plurality n of surface point contours. The weighting factor may be determined by: for example, location of the refracted ray within the target area (e.g., proximity to a desired location); or for example, the amount of energy being refracted to a given direction; or for example, the amount of energy incident on the surface point from a 3D angle of incidence; or other determinations.
e) In an embodiment of our method, the lens outer surface shapes 63 were determined by an iterative spline curve-fitting procedure, iterated for different ray source points 86n distributed about the whole LED emitter surface 86, then the iterations were combined to get an optimized shape using a weighted average of the iteration results.
In an embodiment of our method, the lens outer surface shapes 63 were determined by an iterative ray tracing procedure which is repeated for rays emitted from a plurality of points selected to approximate the entire area of the extended area LED emitter 86.
The aspheric secondary lens inner surface shapes 82 are determined by a similar iterative process, but the curve fitting is done to an aspheric polynomial equation. Result is shown in
Optional Improvement Steps
Step—Smooth Out Color Transition Due To Phosphor Thickness (ELI-111)
The reason for the problem is illustrated in
The design solution is to create a top, ridge-like feature 98 (inflection type J) that divides the lens outer surface 63 into two distinct facets (a top facet 100 being within the oval (oblong or elongated circle) line of inflection 98; and a side/bottom facet 102 outside of the oval). As illustrated in
The J-type inflection is a rounded discontinuity producing a rapid change in vertical surface slope rather than an A-type corner-like discontinuity producing an abrupt change as shown in the cross section views of the type II lens (e.g.,
Prior work has provided color correction surface features for an effectively point source emitter and an azimuthally uniform, circular horizontal profile. As a result their surface feature is also circular and horizontally level. We have designed a feature for an oblong, even rectangular, square-cornered lens 56 such as we describe herein. Our surface feature 98 is a complex non-circular feature that accommodates and works with all the other of our design features.
As discussed hereinabove with reference to
Even further, we optimize the lens shape to accommodate emission from all points of an extended area source (e.g., a square 3×3 mm LED emitting surface 86). This is detailed above in step 6c of the design method.
The inner curve was profiled as an asphere to improve uniformity and efficiency for each distribution type. (raises all points in pattern to be closer to average, by redistributing excess “wasted” light in hot spots). Curve is determined by iterative spline curve fitting calculations using an aspheric polynomial.
The curve can be optimized for light from the entire LED emitter surface as described above.
Wikipedia Definition:
An aspheric lens or asphere or aspherical lens is a lens whose surfaces have a profile that is rotationally symmetric, but is not a portion of a sphere. The asphere's more complex surface profile can reduce or eliminate spherical aberration and also reduce other optical aberrations compared to a simple lens. A single aspheric lens can often replace a much more complex multi-lens system.
Referring to
The aspheric (domed) inner curve has the effect of spreading out the irradiance of the near normal flux from the source. For example, the third and fourth rays (k and l) are bent outward more in the asphere
The problem this causes is shown in the
The result is shown in
Both irradiance photos show a +/−12,000 mm (i.e., 24 meter L×W) square ground surface area, with light source at 2,995 mm height above ground. (˜10 foot pole height PH?? seems short?) “Horizontal” is left-right 0 degree X-axis; “Vertical” is bottom-top 90 degree Y-axis of pattern on ground. (Due to symmetry of the lens and source X and Y profiles are substantially the same.) Likewise, a diagonal profile corner to corner should be the same for either pair of corners.
Refine previous designs to minimize Fresnel losses due to internal reflection. Result is aspheric inner surface (spread outward from hemispheric shape at base). Most important for types II-IV, but may also be done for type V (probably not needed—not enough benefit to justify the effort because the wider dimension of the outer surface makes a given elevation angle ray hit higher on the side of the lens). Note that, as described above (e.g., with
The aspheric inner curve 82 is unchanged (i.e., left as hemispheric) except for the bottom portion where it spreads out (less curvature than the hemisphere). This could be combined with the “domed” aspheric shape used for the top portion of type V lenses, if desirable. We haven't combined the curves for our types II-IV lenses because they don't have room (not enough top thickness) due to smaller outside dimensions compared to type V. The inner curve used for types II, III, and IV can be described by the aspheric polynomial curve equation:
where the variables are:
z=vertical axis height
r=radius from polar center (at z=zero)
and the constants are:
c=curvature=1/(radius of curvature)
cc=“conic constant”
a#=polynomial coefficients
For example, our inner curve has the following values for the aspheric curve constants:
c=−0.25
cc=−0.6
and a ray tracing polynomial curve fitting process, optimized by iterating for all ray source points, yields:
a4=−0.002
The inside curve could have been re-optimized for the outside dimensions that vary as rotate about the z axis, but it was not deemed to be worth the effort, so inner curve was left rotationally symmetric.
This detailed description is focused on providing support for claims regarding certain aspects of a newly designed LED Lighting Apparatus that incorporates many improvements on the prior art in order to meet the “desires” and objectives stated hereinabove, especially in the Background section. The following table (copied from the Docket ELI-113 provisional application benefiting the present utility application) provides the reader with an overview that summarizes the more notable aspects, i.e., the features presently believed to have the most potential for claims of novel and non-obvious inventions. Although this table is also “incorporated by reference” it is literally presented here as a readily available aid to further clarify the reader's understanding of the present claims to a specific feature, given that individual features function synergistically with other features within the context of the entire newly designed LED Lighting Apparatus. It may be noted that the features being claimed in a particular Docket's application are listed according to the plans in place at the time this table was presented in the provisional application, therefor the utility applications may implement them in differently labeled Dockets. For example, the utility applications for Dockets ELI-109 and 113 are filed with some of the listed features being switched between the Dockets.
Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character—it being understood that the embodiments shown and described have been selected as representative examples including presently preferred embodiments plus others indicative of the nature of changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention(s) being disclosed and within the scope of invention(s) as claimed in this and any other applications that incorporate relevant portions of the present disclosure for support of those claims. Undoubtedly, other “variations” based on the teachings set forth herein will occur to one having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention most nearly pertains, and such variations are intended to be within the scope of the present disclosure and of any claims to invention supported by said disclosure.
This application is a Continuation In Part of U.S. application Ser. No. 13/483,045 filed May 29, 2012 by William E. Phillips, et al. and entitled REFLECTORS OPTIMIZED FOR LED LIGHTING FIXTURE (Attorney Docket No. ELI-113); and which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/490,265 filed May 26, 2011 by William E. Phillips, and entitled LED LIGHTING APPARATUS WITH REFLECTORS (Attorney Docket No. ELI-109prv); and of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/490,278 filed May 26, 2011 by William E. Phillips, and entitled BACK REFLECTOR OPTIMIZED FOR LED LIGHTING FIXTURE (Attorney Docket No. ELI-113prv). This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/511,085 filed Jul. 24, 2011 by William E. Phillips, et al., and entitled LED LIGHTING APPARATUS, OPTICS, AND DESIGN METHODS (Attorney Docket No. ELI-110,111,112prv). All of the applications listed hereinabove have at least one applicant in common, and all are incorporated in their entirety herein by reference. This application relates to other non-provisional Utility Patent Applications that may be co-pending when all are filed: US Patent application entitled LED LIGHTING APPARATUS WITH REFLECTORS, Attorney Docket No. ELI-109;US Patent application entitled EXTENDED LED LIGHT SOURCE WITH OPTIMIZED FREE-FORM OPTICS, Attorney Docket No. ELI-110; andUS Patent application entitled ASPHERICAL INNER SURFACE FOR LED SECONDARY LENS, Attorney Docket No. ELI-112.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61490265 | May 2011 | US | |
| 61490278 | May 2011 | US | |
| 61511085 | Jul 2011 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 13483045 | May 2012 | US |
| Child | 13557207 | US |
