Patent Application
20090002997
This invention relates generally to the field of reflector lamps and more particularly to the field of reflector lamps comprising one or more light emitting diodes (LED) as the illumination source. Even more particularly, this invention relates to any such LED reflector lamps that project one or more controlled, directional light beams or patterns.
Reflector lamps comprising an illumination source and a reflective surface are well known, and are found in such devices as flashlights, spotlights, automobile headlights or the like. Various illumination sources may be used, such as for example an incandescent filament bulb, a high intensity discharge lamp, a florescent lamp or an LED. A shaped reflective surface surrounds the illumination source and directs the light photons emitted from the illumination source in a controlled manner to produce, for example, a circular beam pattern as found in a spotlight. Most commonly the shaped reflective surface is parabolic, although elliptical, segmented, polygonal or flat surfaces are known, and the surface is covered with a polished aluminum metal, such that the lamps are generally referred to as parabolic aluminized reflector (PAR) lamps. The position of the illumination source relative to the focal point of the parabolic reflector and the particular shape of the parabolic reflective surface determine the pattern or shape of the projected light beam. Often, the reflected light is passed through a refractive optical lens to refine the light beam pattern.
One shortcoming of these typical reflector lamps is that a significant portion of the light emitted from the illumination source is wasted, since only a portion of the emitted light falls on the desired area of the reflective surface. The remainder of the emitted light is either not reflected at all or is reflected in an undesirable manner outside of the desired light beam pattern. Another shortcoming is that an optical refractive lens is required for many applications, which raises the cost of manufacture and the expense of repair should the lens be damaged. Another shortcoming is that multiple lamps are often required when it is desired to project multiple or distinct beam patterns, such as on an automobile where low driving beams, high driving beams, turning signals, emergency flashers, etc. are required.
LED's require less lumens-per-watt of electrical power to produce light, have longer average life expectancy than other forms of incandescent lamps, are more resistant to damage from vibration and shock, offer much greater reliability, maximize the cost to lumens ratio for effective cost savings, and are environmentally friendly.
It is an object of this invention to provide an LED reflector lamp that solves the problems set forth above. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device wherein one or more LED's are mounted to one or more occluding faces of a pedestal extending into the interior of the reflector surface, the faces of the pedestal being disposed toward the interior or rear of the parabolic reflector at an angle to the central axis of from zero to approximately 30 degrees, whereby the combination of the location of the LED's, the shape of the reflective surface, the angles of the faces and the occlusion range of the faces determines the shape of the light beam projected from the lamp. It is a further object of this invention to provide such a device wherein a refractive optical lens is not required to control the projected light beam. These objects, along with other objects not expressly set forth above, will be apparent upon examination of the disclosure herein.
The present invention may be used for, among other things, highway vehicle headlights, backup lights, work lights, emergency lights, aircraft landing/taxing lights, aircraft guide way landing lights and on all forms of motorized vehicles; such as, but not limited to, automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, aircraft, farm equipment, construction equipment, off road vehicles, trains, other rail vehicles, railroad wayside signals, highway traffic control signals and replacement for any PAR type or light fixture with a reflective device for forming a beam pattern.
In general, the invention is a reflective lamp comprising a reflective surface of chosen configuration, typically a parabolic configuration, and one or more light emitting diodes (LED's) as the illuminating source. The LED's are mounted on one or more occluding faces of a pedestal member that extends into the interior of the reflective surface. The occluding faces are disposed at an acute angle from the central axis with the faces either parallel to the axis or rearward inclined toward the interior of the reflective surface. Each face defines the maximum area or angle of dispersion of the light from the LED, such that for a given face having a planar surface light from an LED is emitted at most over a hemispherical area and will be reflected by only a portion of the reflector surface, thereby maximizing the projected lumens and particularly defining the direction and shape light beam projected from the lamp.
In various embodiments, the pedestal may comprise two opposing faces, two pairs of opposing faces, four pairs of opposing faces, an odd number of faces, or the like. Single or multiple LED's, of the same or different colors, may be disposed on a chosen face. The LED's on a given face may be operable collectively or individually. The LED's on separate faces may also be operated individually or collectively. The pedestal comprises the primary heat sink for the LED's, and additional heat sink members for dispersion of the heat or for concentration of the heat near the transparent cover of the lamp for defogging or defrosting purposes may be provided on the pedestal. A non-reflected, forward-projecting LED may be positioned on the front of the pedestal. Preferably the pedestal base is configured such that the pedestal and its LED's may be received within standard reflector lamp housings. The control electronics and/or power source may be provided as a part of the pedestal base.
With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and preferred embodiments. In a most general sense, the invention is a reflector lamp using one or more light emitting diodes (LED's) as illumination sources.
As shown in
The operational components 10 comprise one or more LED's 11 mounted or disposed on a pedestal member 12—either on the surface of or recessed into occluding faces 14 of the pedestal member 12—with the LED's acting as single light point source. The operational components 10 are affixed to or mounted in the lamp housing 20 such that the pedestal 12 extends forward and into the interior of the reflective surface 21. In a typical structure as shown, the operational components 10 are mounted within an opening provided in the rear of the reflective surface 21 such that the pedestal 12 is positioned on the central axis of the reflective surface 21, with the LED's 11 disposed generally symmetrically about the central axis and at or near the focal point of the reflective surface 21. The operational components 10 may further comprise a power supply and/or controller base 13 extending to the rear of the pedestal member 12, such power supply/controllers 13 being known in the art for controlling illumination of single or multiple LED's, controlling colors, controlling brightness, etc. The pedestal 12 is most preferably composed of a material that enables the pedestal 12 to act as the primary heat sink for the LED's 11 by drawing and dissipating the heat produced, such as for example a polycarbonate or other plastic, a metal, a resin, a ceramic, etc.
The axially aligned pedestal 12 comprises at least one occluding face 14, and typically comprises a plurality of non-opposing or opposing faces 14. Opposing faces 14 are oriented generally at approximately 180 degrees relative to the central axis. The faces 14 are preferably planar, but other surface configurations may be utilized to optimize the functionality of the face 14 in given situations. Each face 14 is positioned on the pedestal 12 either parallel to or at an acute angle to the central axis of the reflective surface 21, and preferably at an angle between zero and 30 degrees. The angled faces 14 are rearward inclined, such that each face 14 is oriented toward the rear or interior of the reflective surface 21 and housing 20. Defined in another manner, the face 14 is angled from 60 to 90 degrees off a plane perpendicular to the central axis. Each face 14 occludes or blocks light emitted from the LED 11 mounted on the face 14, such that light emitted from the LED 11 strikes only a selected target portion of the reflective surface 21, the target portion being less than a 360 degree range and typically being approximately 180 degrees or less. Thus, a planar face 14 will, if the lateral dimensions of the face 14 relative to the height of the LED 11 are great enough, generally only allow light to spread in a hemispherical area about the LED 11, while preventing light from striking the reflective surface 14 to the sides or rear of the face 14.
In the embodiment of
As shown in
Alternatively, if the angles of the faces 14 and positioning of the LED's 11 are matched, a spotlight beam may be produced with all LED's 11 illuminated, the beam pattern being illustrated in
An alternative embodiment is shown in
Because the heat produced by the LED's 11 is detrimental to their longevity, secondary heat sink members 15 may be provided to assist in heat dispersion in addition to the pedestal member 12.
The examples set forth above are representational and are not meant to be limiting. It is contemplated and understood that equivalents and substitutions to certain elements set forth above may by obvious to those knowledgeable in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the following claims.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/932,434, filed May 31, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60932434 | May 2007 | US |
