Patent Application
20230313957
The present invention relates to a lighting device including an array of LEDs mounted on a strip substrate. Such a lighting device may be useful in applications for providing a natural lighting effect.
An example of a natural lighting effect is the shadow dynamics of tree leaves moving in the wind which can be observed on projection surfaces (e.g. the ground) during a bright sunny day. It is important to note that even when the leaves are not observed directly, their dynamics is maintained in the movement of the shadows. Hence the observed shadows feel natural, comfortable and safe (at moderate to low wind speeds) even when the fine features and true colors of the leaves are not observed directly at the same time. So, on outdoor surfaces a natural feeling lighting effect may be observed, which lighting effect may be described as a combination of a larger group of less bright areas (the overlapping shadows of the individuals leaves) moving within a brighter field of diffuse and directional (sun)light.
Another example of a natural lighting effect comprising a different set of dynamics, colors and speed of change is an open fire. Similar to the previous, even when the fireplace is not observed directly, the resulting light experience presented via reflection on surfaces in the vicinity of the fire, feels familiar, comfortable, relaxing and natural.
Yet another example of a natural lighting effect are sparkles, for example arising from the reflection of the sun's rays at the wave peaks of water set in motion. Again, when the deflected light falls onto a surface, the light experience feels natural and calming although the sun and the waves are not observed directly. In other words, a light experience can already feel natural and comfortable without the need for an actual observation of the cause.
In some situations, it is desirable to (artificially) provide the positive effects of such natural lighting effects, also indoors and when no outdoor light is present. One option is to use conventional high-resolution displays and/or beamer devices, by which natural content (e.g. a fireplace) is displayed. However, if such a device or its projected image is not or is no longer observed directly, the feeling of a natural experience is rapidly lost. This is because the information retained in the far field only comprises of an average light intensity, colour and frequency of change. On the other hand, in case that the content is observed directly, the cognitive part of the human brain is immediately triggered to analyze that content (e.g. the fire) in further detail, therewith distracting for example office workers from their main tasks. On top of that, rich content can be subject to personal and cultural preferences, thereby potentially resulting in even larger distractions. The underlying natural dynamics and their beneficial effects, however, are typically universal and not bound to culture and/or religion.
Obviously, the challenges in avoiding cognitive image processing can be solved technically, for example by providing non-looped content based on the principles of nature, yet at sufficiently low-resolution. And, to enhance the experience even further, it may be provided as an immersive light experience rather than a (single) framed execution thereof. A challenge in immersive natural light experiences is that multiple large-sized (elongated) light areas may be required to yield an omnidirectional, 360 natural light, experience.
A further challenge in large-sized, pixelated light-areas is cost of pixelation. That is, the cost of addressable light nodes such as pixelated LED strips or matrix panels are relatively high and furthermore, cost of control components to drive these is also high. Moreover, when a large-sized (elongated) light-area is formed using a plurality of e.g. pixelated LED strips, for example, to at least provide an acceptable device resolution, the costs per unit area already skyrocket, in particular when medium to high-power, multi-colour light nodes are also to compete with ambient (day) light.
For the sake of clarity and reference, also note that although costs do not necessarily pose a barrier to the application of matrix addressable lighting devices, for example in the entertainment industry (e.g. high budget TV shows), similar devices are not deployed in office and hospitality areas simply because they are unaffordable.
Note, however, that as indicated above, high resolution images are not required to provide a natural lighting effect. What is required is that the lighting effect feels natural, comfortable and relaxing, i.e. the created content represents an abstract light experience comprising the appropriate set of dynamics, correct colour(s), resolution, intensity, relative intensity (ratios), frequency and frequency of change (ramp-up, ramp-down and hold, colour transition), etc. One known method to generate such (random) content is the use of Markov chains and mapping the generated image towards the matrix addressable light area.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a cost efficient and easily manufactured light engine suitable for creating a low-cost, large-area, pixelated light-area that can provide a natural lighting effect.
According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are achieved by a folded light engine comprising an array of LEDs mounted on a strip substrate, wherein
By the design and folding according to the invention, an elongated light engine can be cost efficiently manufactured from a strip substrate by means of relatively simple processes, including single-sided circuit patterning and LED mounting. The substrate may be made of a relatively low cost foil-type material. Due to the double folding, the resulting light engine will possess sufficient stiffness for most applications. The folding will also serve to shield and mechanically protect the LEDs and patterned circuits.
The LEDs connected by the different electrically conducting tracks form different LED-chains, which may be driven by a suitable drive signal to create a desired lighting effect. This makes the folded light engine very suitable to form part of a larger light area to be driven as discussed in the patent application titled “Lighting device for providing a natural lighting effect” filed on the same date as the present application.
More specifically, the LEDs of the folded light engine, which may belong to two, three or more separate LED chains, may be distributed randomly along the length of the substrate. By connecting one driver to each LED-chain, and controlling the drivers to provide different and dynamically changing drive signals, the desired lighting effect may be achieved. Preferably, several folded light engines, each with a random LED distribution, are arranged in parallel to form a larger light area, where LEDs belonging to at least three LED-chains are substantially evenly and non-symmetrically distributed.
The expression “substantially evenly distributed” is intended to mean that the LED light sources of each of the at least three LED chains are spread out across the entire light area and not e.g. gathered in a small portion of the light area.
The expression “non-symmetrically distributed” is intended to mean that the LED light sources of the at least three LED chains are distributed and mixed (between the different chains) together in a seemingly random pattern, and not e.g. in a regular pattern.
By distributing the LEDs of the three LED chains in a substantially even and non-symmetrical manner across the light area, three groups of more or less randomly distributed LEDs may be controlled independently of each other. By applying different, and dynamically changing drive signals to the three groups, lighting effects resembling those occurring in nature can be accomplished, at a fraction of the costs of a pixelated and addressable device. The invention thus provides a lighting experience which is similar to that caused by a natural lighting effect as discussed above, in a cost-efficient manner.
In order to even better shield and protect the LEDs (and electrically conductive circuit tracks) the substrate portions may, in the folded state, be attached, and optionally sealed, to each other.
The light engine may further include an additional peripheral portion, outside the second peripheral portion, said additional peripheral portion being configured to be folded onto the backside of the central portion.
Optionally, a protecting sleeve may be arranged to enclose the folded substrate, to provide even more sealing and protection. The space between such an outer sleeve and the folded substrate may be filled with a curable filler. The filler may be configured to form a mechanical barrier or an optical component. For example, the filler may be optically transparent. The sleeve may be a separate component, arranged around the substrate after it has been folded (and optionally sealed).
Alternatively, the protective sleeve is formed by a light transparent foil, wrapped around the folded light engine.
Several identical folded light engines (possibly with different distribution of LEDs) can advantageously be formed in one common substrate. The central portions of each such light engine may then be connected by a transversal portion of the substrate. The transversal portion may be provided with electrically conductive tracks, which connect the conductive tracks of the respective light engines in parallel. Such a multi-light-engine device will thus include several elongated light engines and may advantageously serve a (part of) a larger light area.
A second aspect of the invention relates to a lighting device comprising at least one folded light engine according to the first aspect, and at least two drivers connected in parallel to respective conducting tracks of each folded light engine. Such a lighting device may further comprise a controller configured to apply a different drive signal to each drive signal line, wherein each drive signal is time varying so as to cause a time variation of at least one property of light emitted from the LED light sources.
The properties of emitted light that change over time as a result of the varying drive signals may include color and/or intensity. Color changes may include changing non-white colors, but may also be restricted to varying the shade(s) (color temperature) of white.
The waveforms (i.e. patterns of change) of the different drive signals may be continuous, i.e. without discrete change, or involve step-wise change (e.g. sparkle). The waveforms of the drive signals may further have varying rate of change, and/or include linear ramps. The waveforms may be regular and periodic, or may change over time.
Each drive signal may have a common waveform but with a different offset in time. As a simple example, three sine-shaped drive signals can be phase-shifted to produce three different drive signals with the same waveform (sine-shaped).
The drive signals may include variations on a relatively shorter time scale and variations on a relatively longer time scale variation. Variations on different time scales (i.e. with different time constants) may be used to represent e.g. the long rhythm of a day and the faster rhythm of tree leaves moving in the wind.
It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims.
This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention.
The distribution of pixels (i.e. possible locations of light nodes) may be regular (e.g. a rectangular grid) or irregular (e.g. Voronoi, polygonal or hexagonal arrays). The distribution may further exhibit gradients and/or local variation in density (the number of light nodes per area temporarily increases and/or decreases) with the local density variation being either uniform and/or non-uniform in nature (e.g. mix of coarse and fine meshes).
The drivers 13a, 13b, 13c are in turn connected to a controller 14 arranged to control the light emission of all LED chains in the light engine 10. The controller 14 may be a microcontroller running a suitable control program. The controller 14 (e.g. the computer program running on a microcontroller) and the drivers are together capable of providing a well-controlled natural light effect, comprising transitions between different intensities, colors, hue, frame rate, etc. The randomized assignment of light source location enables change of scene and content while maintaining a natural and non-looped experience.
Each driver 13a-c may be controlled to provide a unique waveform, Alternatively, the output from one single driver (waveform generator) is time shifted to provide a set of different drive signals for driving a set of LED chains differently.
By arranging a plurality of light engines 10 in parallel (each with a unique random nesting of LED chains), a larger light area as shown in
The center portion 20b is further provided with a first set of through-holes 22. In the illustrated example, the through holes 22, 22′ are equidistantly distributed along the portion 20b. The function of the through-holes 22, 22′ will be discussed in more detail below. However, in addition to their function in the light engine 10, the through holes 22, 22′ may also be useful in the manufacturing process, and may serve to allow a chain-paper-type controlled guidance of the substrate.
The first peripheral portions, here portion 20a, is provided with a second set of through-holes 23, fewer in number than the through holes 22. In the illustrated case, the first set includes four through holes 22, 22′, while the second set includes only one through-hole 23.
A first group of LEDs 24a, 24b are mounted on the first peripheral portion, and connected by electrically conducting tracks 25a, 25b. In the illustrated case, the first group of LEDs includes two sub-groups of LEDs 24a and 24b, each connected by separate tracks 25a and 25b. The two sub-groups thus form two LED-chains which may be individually controllable by different drive signals.
In a similar manner, a second group of LEDs 26 are mounted on the second peripheral portion 20c, and connected by electrically conducting tracks 27. This second group of LEDs 26 forms a third LED-chain, individually controllable by a different drive signal than the first group of LEDs 24a, 24b.
In practice, it may be advantageous to first provide the circuit tracks 25a, 25b and 27 in a circuit patterning process. The tracks preferably include connection pads (solder pads) in the location where the LEDs 24a, 24b and 26 are to be mounted. Then, when the tracks have been printed, the LEDs 24a, 24b, 26 are mounted in a surface mounting process. It is noted that the circuit patterning and surface mounting processes are facilitated by the fact that all tracks and LEDs are located on the same side of the substrate 20.
The holes 23 and LEDs 24a, 24b in the first peripheral portion 20b are aligned with the holes 22, 22′ in the center portion, such that, when the first peripheral portion 20a is folded over the center portion 20b, as shown in
When both peripheral portions 20a, 20c have been folded over the central portion 20b, all LEDs 24a, 24b, 26 will thus be visible from the other side of the light engine 10, as shown in
In the folded state of the light engine 10, the LEDs 24a, 24b, 26 will be protected by the folded portions 20a, 20b, 20c of the substrate, preventing electrical and mechanical access. To even further enhance this effect, the substrate portions 20a-c are preferably attached and sealed to each other, at least locally. Sealing may be achieved in various ways, including adhesive or spot-welding. Alternatively, the substrate is formed of a heat-sealable foil, allowing the folded light engine 10 to be heat-sealed.
Although not shown in
Another alternative is to form this sealing portion of a light transparent foil, in which it can extend over the through holes and the LEDs thereunder, so as to shield the LEDs from direct/mechanical access, to prevent debris and contaminants to reach the LEDs and circuit tracks, or simply to provide a water tight barrier/envelope. Such a transparent foil may be co-extruded and form part of the substrate 20, or be formed as a separate piece.
The transparent foil may be wide enough to extend fully around the folded light engine, thus providing a fully sealed envelope around the light engine. In fact, such a transparent foil may extend more than one turn around the light engine, to even further increase the protective effect. In this case, however, the foil is preferably provided with through holes matching the holes 22, 22′, 23 in each layer except the final layer. This is because each layer causes some Fresnel reflection at the foil's surface, resulting in a reduced light output when compared to no covering foil.
The total number of LEDs 24a, 24b, 26 corresponds to the number of holes 22, 22′ in the first set of through-holes, so four in this case. In reality, there would typically be a larger number of holes 22, 22′, e.g. more than 10, more than 20, or even more than 50, and a corresponding number of LEDs 24a, 24b, 26.
Each separate LED-chain preferably includes roughly the same number of LEDs. In the illustrated example, where the first peripheral portion 20a comprises two separate chains of LEDs 24a, 24b, the number of holes 23 in the first peripheral portion 20a, and thus the number of LEDs 26 on the second peripheral portion 20c, is preferably around one third of the number of holes 22, 22′ (or, put differently, around half of the number of LEDs 24a, 24b on the first peripheral portion 20a).
In
With reference to
When the light engine 10 is intended to be used in a lighting device as discussed in the application titled “Lighting device for providing a natural lighting effect” filed on the same date as the present application, the distribution of LEDs, i.e. the nesting of the separate LED-chains, is irregular, or randomized. In other words, each light engines 10 in
The substrate 40 is further provided with flaps 47, extending from the transversal portion 41, and located opposite of each central portion 40b. As shown in
The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, the appropriate number of LED chains in each group may be different. Further, the density of the LED chain or group of LED chains may be either uniform or non-uniform for a portion of a light area.
Additionally, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled person in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20196680.1 | Sep 2020 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/075241 | 9/14/2021 | WO |
