In various lighting applications, it is desirable to distribute light from a light source according to a predetermined illumination pattern. The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) has designated several standard types of lighting fixtures (e.g., for roadway and area lighting applications) in terms of their light distribution patterns. For example, IESNA has specified illumination types I, II, III, IV, and V that are known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Details regarding these standard light distribution patterns are provided in
A luminaire is a complete lighting unit that typically includes a light source (e.g., provided by a lamp), elements (e.g., optics) for controlling lighting and/or brightness, a housing (assembly), and auxiliary equipment such as a ballast or transformer. An optical element referred to as an optic modifies the pattern and/or direction of emitted light into a desired pattern or shape. In conventional lighting systems, the optic is part of a luminaire assembly, and the lamp is a separate component. For example,
For roadway luminaires, the term “nadir” refers to the point on the ground directly below the light source. Luminaires that reduce luminous intensity (candlepower) in the portion of the light beam above the nadir (e.g., for reduced glare or for efficiency) are called full-cutoff, cutoff, or semi-cutoff luminaires based on the following classification. Full-cutoff luminaires provide 0% of total candlepower at 90° from nadir (i.e., horizontal) and no more than 10% of total candlepower at 80° from nadir. Cutoff luminaires provide no more than 2.5% of total candlepower at 90° from nadir, and no more than 10% of total candlepower at 80° from nadir. Semi-cutoff luminaires provide no more than 5% of total candlepower at 90° from nadir, and no more than 20% of total candlepower at 80° from nadir. A non-cutoff luminaire does not have such limitations in either zone (90° or 80° from nadir). Typically, a luminaire is fixed in terms of being full-cutoff, cutoff, or semi-cutoff.
In some embodiments, a method of relamping a luminaire is provided. The luminaire includes a housing enclosing a removable first light source and a fixed reflector. The first light source is removed from the housing. A removable integrated optic lamp assembly is installed into the housing. The integrated optic lamp assembly includes a second light source and an assembly reflector. The luminaire provides light in a standard light distribution pattern after installing the removable integrated optic lamp assembly.
In some embodiments, an integrated optic lamp assembly includes a rigid mounting structure, a base, a light source, and a reflector. The base, light source, and reflector are supported by the mounting structure. The base is configured to operationally connect to a light source socket. The reflector is configured and positioned relative to the light source to distribute light emitted from said light source in a predetermined light distribution pattern.
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a reflector configured to be clamped to a socket of a luminaire and reflect light from a light source according to a standard light distribution pattern. The light source is within a bulb, and the reflector is configured to surround a portion of the bulb.
In some embodiments, a reflector is positioned to surround a portion of a bulb. The bulb is secured to a socket. The reflector is secured to the socket. The reflector is configured to reflect light from the bulb according to a standard light distribution pattern.
In some embodiments, a method of relamping a luminaire is provided. The luminaire comprises a housing enclosing a removable first light source and a fixed reflector, and the luminaire provides light in a standard light distribution pattern. A first socket, which is connected to the first light source, is removed from the luminaire. A second socket is installed in the luminaire. An integrated optic lamp assembly is secured to the second socket. The integrated optic lamp assembly comprises a second light source and an assembly reflector. The assembly reflector surrounds a portion of the second light source and is configured to reflect light from the second light source according to a standard light distribution pattern.
In some embodiments, a method is performed in a luminaire comprising a housing enclosing a light source and a first fixed reflector. A second reflector is positioned to reflect light from the light source. The second reflector is secured relative to the light source. The second reflector is configured to reflect light from the light source according to a standard light distribution pattern.
In some embodiments, a method of relamping is provided. A luminaire includes a socket, a first bulb connected to the socket, and a first reflector. The first bulb has a longitudinal axis of elongation and has a first maximum dimension in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. The first bulb is removed from the luminaire. A second bulb and a second reflector are installed in the luminaire. A second maximum dimension of the second bulb and the second reflector considered together in the installed position, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, is less than or equal to the first maximum dimension.
In some embodiments, a luminaire encloses a space suitable for housing a first standard outer lamp jacket. The luminaire includes a first fixed reflector, a lamp socket, a second standard outer lamp jacket within said space and attached to the socket, a light source within the second standard outer lamp jacket, and a second reflector mounted within said space. The luminaire provides light in a standard light distribution pattern. The second standard outer lamp jacket and the second reflector together fit within said space.
In some embodiments, a method of relamping is provided. A luminaire includes a first bulb and a first fixed reflector. The first bulb is connected to a socket. The first bulb is removed from the socket. After the first bulb is removed, the luminaire defines a space available for installing another bulb. A second bulb and a second reflector are installed within the available space.
In some embodiments, a luminaire includes a housing defining a cavity, a fixed reflector, a light source, and a second reflector. The fixed reflector has a reflecting surface mounted within the cavity. The reflecting surface forms a partial boundary of an illumination space within the cavity. The light source is mounted within the illumination space. The second reflector is mounted within the illumination space, for reflecting light emitted from the light source in a desired light distribution pattern.
The following will be apparent from elements of the figures, which are provided for illustrative purposes and are not necessarily to scale.
This description of the exemplary embodiments is intended to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be considered part of the entire written description. In the description, relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “vertically,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation.
Various embodiments of the present disclosure improve upon prior art lighting techniques by integrating an optic directly into the lamp assembly, to provide an integrated optic lamp. An integrated optic lamp enables retrofitting of existing light fixtures, e.g., “shoebox” fixtures commonly used in parking lot lighting applications (which may be used for 400 W metal halide lamps), and “cobra head” fixtures commonly used in street lighting applications (which may be used for, e.g., 150 W, 250 W, 400 W, or 1000 W lamps).
An optic 315 (e.g., a reflector) is supported by and integrated with the mounting structure 310. Optic 315 is configured and positioned relative to the light source 302 to distribute light emitted from light source 302 in a predetermined light distribution pattern (e.g. any of the standard light distribution patterns specified as IESNA illumination types I, II, II, IV, V). Various light sources may be used with the integrated optic 315. For example, any of the following non-exhaustive list of lamps types may be used: incandescent; halogen; IR halogen; mercury; low pressure sodium; high pressure sodium; ultra high pressure mercury; metal halide; xenon; induction; fluorescent; compact fluorescent; light emitting diodes (LED); light emitting plasma (LEP). In the example of
The integrated optic 315 is specially designed to match the light source 302 to achieve a desired distribution pattern, e.g., any of the IESNA type I, II, III, IV, and V patterns used for general commercial lighting, or any other desired distribution pattern. The integrated optic 315 may be manufactured according to known techniques for manufacturing an optic. For example, the optic may or may not have a multifaceted glass surface which may be coated with a chemical coating. The optic may be manufactured from a variety of materials including glass, various grades of aluminum, ceramic, plastic, other metals or reflective surfaces. In addition to enabling a desired distribution type, a desired luminous intensity (e.g., minimum number of foot-candles) may be achieved with the specially designed integrated optic 315. Providing an integrated optic lamp 300 also enables increased efficiency. For example, in some embodiments, wattage of 150 W-200 W for an integrated optic lamp provides as much light output (intensity) as 400 W provides for a conventional lamp in which the optic is conventionally part of a luminaire assembly that is separate from the lamp. In some embodiments, provision of the same light intensity while using a lower wattage bulb is made possible because the integrated optic 315 is designed for a specific, relatively narrow, range of wattages, e.g., corresponding to a specific bulb, whereas in conventional luminaires the conventional fixed reflector (optic) is required to accommodate a relatively wide range of wattages.
Similarly,
Thus, integrated optic lamp 300 may be mounted in existing luminaires and may be used to change the light distribution pattern of an existing luminaire This has not been possible previously with conventional luminaires in which a lamp is separate from an optic having a given light distribution pattern. Because a lamp in accordance with various embodiments has an integrated optic, replacement of the integrated optic lamp can coincide with modification of the light distribution pattern, e.g., to accommodate changing lighting requirements.
Embodiments of the present disclosure allow the optic to be placed in any spatial configuration independent of the light source. Existing luminaires of various types (e.g., mogul fixtures) may be retrofitted with integrated optic lamps without changing the existing optic (e.g., fixed reflector) within the housing (luminaire assembly) and may be functional in a standard single or double ended lamp housing. Such retrofitting promotes efficiency (e.g., reduced wattage to provide a given light output, as described above) and reduced cost (e.g., in terms of energy costs and maintenance/upgrade costs). Relamping may include removing a light source from an existing socket and installing an integrated optic lamp assembly into that socket. Alternatively, relamping may include removing the existing socket (and light source connected thereto) itself and installing an integrated optic lamp assembly, which includes a different socket, into the housing.
For example,
An integrated optic lamp may be retrofitted into an existing horizontal lamp socket, e.g., in the cases of
Alternatively, an integrated optic lamp may be retrofitted into an existing vertical lamp socket, e.g., in the cases of
Wires 642a, 642b may electrically couple the light source and the base; similar wires are shown as wires 643a, 643b in
A horizontally oriented light source may be integrated with a vertically operated lamp, e.g., as in
In some embodiments, the light source is spherical. Alternatively, the light source may be hemispherical or have an oblong shape in the case of a light emitting diode (LED) or light emitting plasma (LEP). The LED or LEP light source may be positioned at the apex of an optic as in
In some embodiments, electrical power is conveyed to the light source not through the base but rather through an electrical cable that is external to the base.
In some embodiments, reflector 810 may be used to support relamping. For example, a light source may be within a bulb 850 (an outline of which is shown in
Alternatively, the existing bulb 850 may originally be connected to a first socket, and that existing first socket may be removed from the luminaire housing (e.g., without removing the bulb 850 from the first socket), and a new socket 820 may be installed, e.g., with the new socket 820 already having bulb 840 attached thereto and with reflector 810 secured in place relative to the new light source. Changing the first socket (which has bulb 850 connected thereto) in the field without removing bulb 850 from the first socket may reduce maintenance costs. Also, using optic 810 may reduce maintenance costs, as the lamp can be retrofitted (e.g., to change the light distribution pattern) without having to change the existing fixed reflector(s) of the luminaire housing.
In some embodiments, the new bulb 840 is smaller (has lower volume) and has lower wattage than the old bulb 850 and yet provides the same light intensity, e.g., due to increased efficiency provided by optic 810 relative to the existing fixed reflector. Reflector 810 may be dimensioned so that when secured relative to the light source, the reflector fits in the same three-dimensional footprint as the old bulb 850. For example, in
The components shown in
In some embodiments, bulb 850 is removed from socket 820, and after this removal, the luminaire defines a space available for installing another bulb. Then, bulb 840 and reflector 810 are installed within the available space.
In some embodiments, a luminaire includes a housing defining a cavity, a fixed reflector (e.g., reflector 430 or 530), a light source (e.g., light source 302), and a second reflector (e.g., reflector 810). The first fixed reflector has a reflecting surface mounted within the cavity. The reflecting surface forms a partial boundary of an illumination space within the cavity. The light source is mounted within the illumination space. The second reflector is mounted within the illumination space. The second reflector is for reflecting light emitted from the light source in a desired light distribution pattern, e.g., a standard light distribution pattern. The illumination space may be dimensioned to house a light source having a first standard outer lamp jacket with no second reflector mounted within the space. The illumination space may be dimensioned to house a light source having a second standard outer lamp jacket and the second reflector.
Thus, various embodiments provide flexibility regarding the use of a lamp having an integrated optic in various spatial configurations. In addition, an integrated optic lamp 613 may have an adjustable base, as in
Furthermore, an integrated optic lamp may change an existing luminaire of the non-cutoff, semi-cutoff, or cutoff types into a full-cutoff luminaire, thereby providing flexibility that has not been possible before with an optic fixed to a luminaire assembly separate from the lamp.
Unlike conventional approaches, the optic in an integrated optic lamp may be adjusted independently of the light source, so that the optic may be oriented horizontally, vertically, or at an angle with respect to the axis of the light source. Furthermore, the light source can be rotated around its axis independent of the optic, thereby enabling installation of the integrated optic lamp inside luminaries with limited space which would inhibit rotational movement.
Although examples are illustrated and described herein, embodiments are nevertheless not limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein by those of ordinary skill within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/584,068 filed Jan. 6, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.