This invention relates to lighting fixtures. More particularly, this invention relates to lighting fixtures using light emitting diodes.
It is known to use fluorescent and neon tubes to provide accent or strip lighting wherein a substantially uniform elongated light output or bar of light is desired. However, fluorescent and neon tubes are relatively expensive to manufacture, and require special power supplies for their operation.
It is also known to use fluorescent and neon tubes, or liquid crystal displays as segments in a seven or fourteen segment alphanumerical character for scoreboards, signs and the like. Again, such displays are relatively expensive and complex.
A primary feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a light fixture having reduced cost that provides a highly uniform, elongated light output or bar of light. The present invention uses a minimum number of light emitting diodes to achieve such an elongated output or light bar. The use of low cost light emitting diodes, translucent light guides, and novel reflective surfaces enables a uniform, elongated light output to be achieved at a relatively low cost.
The present invention comprises a lighting fixture having a translucent member or light guide that has an output surface, a curved back surface having a first reflector thereon, first and second side surfaces, an end surface, and at least one light emitting diode (“LED”) interconnected with the first end surface. In one embodiment, the first and second side surfaces are substantially planar and parallel to each other, although in another embodiment they are non-parallel and generally diverging so that the output surface is substantially wider than the back surface.
In one embodiment, the lighting fixture is modular in nature, so that lighting fixtures may be placed end to end to create an elongated light bar of any desired length. The modular unit preferably includes a first end surface having a first section and a recessed second section, with at least one light emitting diode being interconnected with the second section. The first section may be placed adjacent to a second end surface from another module so that the modules are placed end to end and thus form an elongated light bar.
A modular unit may also include several sections, each with one or more light emitting diodes and a curved back surface. Each light emitting section has a focal area toward which all light rays reflected off of the respective curve surface are directed before they proceed out of the output surface. Each light emitting section or module preferably has a blocking surface adjacent to a light emitting diode to prevent light emitted from the side of the LED from directly reaching the output surface without being reflected. This arrangement avoids non-uniform output or “hot spots”, which are areas of excessive brightness visible to the observer.
In another configuration, the invention includes two or even three adjacent LEDs on the first end surface, which are controlled by a preprogrammed controller. This enables the LEDs to be sequenced, flashed, faded or mixed to achieve a wide variety of colors and lighting effects.
In other embodiments, the light guide is formed with an air gap therein. In yet another embodiment, light diffusing particles are dispersed throughout the light guide.
It is a feature and advantage of the present invention to evenly distribute a point source of light on a predetermined output surface using a minimum number of LEDs.
Other features and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description of the invention and the drawings.
In
Fixture 10 is primarily comprised of a translucent wave guide 20 made from acrylic, glass, a gel, a liquid, air, or other translucent material. It has a high total internal reflection such that there is a large difference of the index of refraction between light guide's boundaries and the surrounding medium (which is typically air). Wave guide 20 is preferably transparent at the wavelength of the output of the light emitting diode 22. Therefore, if LED 22 is a red LED, the light guide could be transparent or it could be made from a translucent red material.
Back surface 16 and second end surface 18 have respective reflectors 24 and 26 thereon. It is preferred that reflective surfaces 24 and 26 comprise specular reflectors, which act like mirrors to reflect incident light. The use of specular reflectors is preferred since scattering is reduced and thus more of the incident light will be reflected out of output surface 12 instead of out of parallel side surfaces 28 and 30. To prevent such light loss out of surfaces 28 and 30, surfaces 28 and 30 could also be formed with respective reflectors thereon.
First end surface 14 is preferably comprised of a first section 14a and a recessed second section 14b, with an intermediate section 14c therebetween. LED 22 is interconnected with recessed section 14b, preferably using an epoxy whose index of refraction is matched to the index of the light guide material to minimize refractive losses. An epoxy with a refractive index of 1.5 is preferred for use with an acrylic light guide. The purpose of recessing section 14b is to provide space for LED lead wires 22a and 22b so that lighting fixture 10 may be placed adjacent to a similar lighting fixture.
Opposite to first end surface 14 is a second end surface 18 having a corresponding shape. Again, this enables second end surface 18 to be placed adjacent to a first end surface of an adjacent lighting fixture, to create an elongated light bar having a relatively uniform light output.
The embodiment depicted in
Also, lighting fixture 10 is designed such that approximately one-half of the total height of the lighting fixture is comprised of second end surface 18, with the remainder of the height being due to the curvature of curved surface 16. The height of fixture 10 is defined as the shortest distance between output surface 12 and the intersection 15 of first end surface 14 with curved surface 16. The LED is positioned and the curved surface 16 is designed so that light incident on the curved surface 16 has a long focal length.
Curved surface 16 could be parabolic in shape, or as shown in
A power supply 33 converts line power to the low voltage DC power needed to operate controller 35. LEDs typically require 1.5 to 4.5 VDC, 20 to 25 mA current, although some LEDs require up to 350 mA current. Controller 35 in turn provides power to LED 22. Controller 35 may also be programmed to flash, fade or pulse the LED. One suitable controller is a model no. 600/8010 made by Everbrite, Inc. of Greenfield, Wis.
Each lighting segment fixture 10 has a LED with an output of up typically three lumens, which results in an output on surfaces 12 of up to approximately 100 candelas per square meter.
Lighting fixture 50 also has a first end surface 58 and an opposite corresponding end surface 60. First end surface 58 has a first section 58a, a recessed second section 58b to which is interconnected a LED 52, and an intermediate section 58c. Similarly, end surface 60 has a first section 60a whose shape and configuration corresponds to that of section 58a, a recessed section 60b to which is interconnected a LED 52, and an intermediate section 60c. The uses of surfaces 58a and 60a that have corresponding shapes and configurations enables a plurality of modules 50 to be placed end to end to achieve an elongated light bar having a substantially uniform output.
As shown in
Each of light emitting sections 50a and 50b has a respective focal point 68, 70. As with the embodiment depicted in
The embodiment depicted in
Second, the embodiment in
Blocking surfaces 102 are also provided to prevent light emitted from the upper sides of LEDs 92 from directly being output through output surface 100, thereby avoiding visible bright or hot spots. Output surface 100 could be clear, but it preferably has a diffuser layer or diffuser formed integral therewith to achieve a more uniform output.
Lighting fixture 90 also includes a first end surface 104 and a second, opposite end surface 106 having a corresponding shape and configuration. As discussed above in connection with
The lighting fixture depicted in
A key feature of the lighting fixture 116 in
Unlike the embodiment depicted in
The advantage of using an acrylic light guide material with light diffusive, or otherwise reflective particles is that superior light diffusion is achieved in a smaller light guide. As a result, the overall size of the light guide may be reduced, thereby reducing its cost.
One suitable material for the light guide of
While several embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the claims.
This patent application claims priority from the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/332,702 filed Nov. 16, 2001, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
4835661 | Fogleberg et al. | May 1989 | A |
4959759 | Kohler | Sep 1990 | A |
5239450 | Wall | Aug 1993 | A |
5271077 | Brockman et al. | Dec 1993 | A |
5502623 | Brotz | Mar 1996 | A |
5539623 | Gurz et al. | Jul 1996 | A |
5590945 | Simms | Jan 1997 | A |
5678913 | Ishimaru et al. | Oct 1997 | A |
6102559 | Nold et al. | Aug 2000 | A |
6139163 | Satoh et al. | Oct 2000 | A |
6151166 | Matsushita et al. | Nov 2000 | A |
6155692 | Ohkawa | Dec 2000 | A |
6185356 | Parker et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
6196691 | Ochiai | Mar 2001 | B1 |
6238076 | Pascale et al. | May 2001 | B1 |
6257737 | Marshall et al. | Jul 2001 | B1 |
6272269 | Naum | Aug 2001 | B1 |
6283602 | Kawaguchi et al. | Sep 2001 | B1 |
6464367 | Ito et al. | Oct 2002 | B2 |
6637924 | Pelka et al. | Oct 2003 | B2 |
6663262 | Boyd et al. | Dec 2003 | B2 |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20030095399 A1 | May 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
60332702 | Nov 2001 | US |