Patent Grant
11852333
The present technology relates to light fixtures, and more particularly to light fixtures that include at least one panel to redirect high angle light emitted from light sources within the light fixture.
Light fixtures are often positioned on the outer walls of buildings or on the walls within tunnels and underpasses to illuminate desired areas, such as parking lots, roadways or pathways. In the tunnel or underpass situation, these light fixtures cast light downwardly and outwardly to illuminate the road for vehicles traveling under the underpass or within the tunnel. However, the light fixtures tend to emit high angle light rays that create glare and reduce visibility for drivers approaching the underpass or tunnel.
The terms “invention,” “the invention,” “this invention” and “the present invention” used in this patent are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this patent and the patent claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described therein or to limit the meaning or scope of the patent claims below. Embodiments of the invention covered by this patent are defined by the below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the invention and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this patent, any or all drawings and each claim.
An embodiment of the present invention relates to a light fixture having a front and opposing lateral sides, the light fixture includes at least one light source configured to emit a plurality of light rays towards the front and opposing lateral sides, each light ray is emitted at a first angle relative to an optical axis of the at least one light source, and at least one panel extending adjacent to the at least one light source is configured to refract the light rays emitted towards the opposing lateral sides such that light rays exit the at least one panel at a second angle relative to the optical axis that is less than the first angle.
The disclosure will be readily understood by following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The subject matter of embodiments of the present invention is described here with specificity to meet statutory requirements, but this description is not intended to limit the scope of the claims. The claimed subject matter may be embodied in other ways, may include different elements or steps, and may be used in conjunction with other existing or future technologies. This description should not be interpreted as implying any particular order or arrangement among or between various steps or elements except when the order of individual steps or arrangement of elements is explicitly described. Each example is provided by way of illustration and/or explanation, and not as a limitation. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a further embodiment. Upon reading and comprehending the present disclosure, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily conceive many equivalents, extensions, and alternatives to the specific, disclosed luminaire types, all of which are within the scope of embodiments herein.
In the following description, positional terms like “above,” “below,” “vertical,”“horizontal,” “bottom,” “top,” and the like are sometimes used to aid in explaining and specifying features illustrated in the drawings as presented, that is, in the orientation in which labels of the drawings read normally. These meanings are adhered to, notwithstanding that the luminaires herein may be mounted to surfaces that are not horizontal. When light is said to be emitted “downwardly” at least most of such light is emitted across one or more angles that are below horizontal when a luminaire is oriented as shown in the drawings; such angles include nadir but are not limited to nadir. Similarly, when light is said to be emitted “upwardly” at least most of such light is emitted across one or more angles that are above horizontal when a luminaire is oriented as shown in the drawings; such angles include zenith but are not limited to zenith.
Embodiments are directed to light fixtures provided with one or more glare reduction panels that reduce the amount of high angle light emitted from the light fixture. While the figures and the description below illustrate and describe embodiments of the light fixture contemplated herein, the shape and configuration of the components of the light fixtures shown in the figures is merely exemplary and are not limiting. Rather, the light fixture may be shaped differently, be formed from different components, and/or configured to emit light in other directions than what is described herein. It some embodiments, it is envisioned that the light fixtures be positioned adjacent a roadway (such, as a tunnel, underpass, etc.) or a walkway but such is not a requirement. Rather, the light fixtures may be positioned at or coupled to any surface where surrounding light is desired. Furthermore, embodiments of the glare reduction panels disclosed herein may be incorporated into any type of light fixture, particularly (but not necessarily) ones where reduction of high angle light is beneficial.
With reference to
The base 108 is shown in isolation in
A mounting platform 122 extends outwardly from the front plane of the base body 120 and includes a mounting surface 124 and optional heat dissipation fins 126. The mounting surface 124 may extend at any angle relative to the front plane of the base body 120. In some embodiments, the mounting surface 124 extends substantially perpendicularly relative to front plane of the base body 120 and provides a surface to which the light engine 104 may be mounted. The reflector 109 is provided to ensure emitted light is reflected outwardly from the light fixture 100.
Fins 126 are shown as being generally triangularly shaped, with a first edge extending along the base body 120 and an adjacent second edge extending along a surface of the mounting platform 122 opposite the mounting surface 124. The one or more fins 126 may provide structural support to the mounting surface 124 and the light engine 104 while also providing additional surface area as to more efficiently dissipate heat produced by the light engine 104. Still referring to
The front plate 110 is positioned in front of the base 108 and, as best seen in
The back plate 112 is positioned behind the base 108 and supports the electronic components of the light fixture 100 while also providing a coupling point for the light fixture 100 to be affixed to an external surface such as those discussed above.
In the illustrated embodiment, mounting tabs 137 may extend from the outer frame 134 to a height that is greater than the thickness of base 108. In this way, the mounting tabs 137 with associated coupling means, such as an aperture, may be used to secure the front plate 110 to the back plate 112 using fasteners, adhesives, or other methods known in the art, thus sandwiching the base 108 between the front plate 110 and the back plate 112. When the back plate 112 is coupled to the base 108, a cavity 136 is defined therebetween. The cavity 136 may be used to house electronics that control and/or power the light fixture 100. One or more hinge knuckles 139 extend from the back plate 110 and are configured to engage the hinge pins 128 of base 108 to form one or more hinge joints between the back plate 110 and base 108 to facilitate access to the contents of the cavity 136.
The lens 106 serves both as an aesthetic cover and to functionally direct or diffuse light emitted by the light engine 104. The lens 106 may be formed of glass or plastic (e.g., acrylic, polycarbonate, silicone, etc.), typically but not necessarily by molding. In some embodiments (see
In the illustrated embodiment, the lens 106 generally has a side profile whereby the front 101 of the lens 106 tapers inwardly from the top to the bottom of the light fixture 100, but such is not a requirement. The lens 106 covers opening 118 of the front plate 110. In one, non-limiting embodiment, the lens 106 includes at least one flange that extends outwardly around at least a portion of the perimeter of the lens 106 and that is sandwiched between the base 108 and the front plate 110 to retain the lens 106 on the light fixture 100. The lens 106 as depicted in the figures is merely exemplary; a wide variety of shapes and configurations of lenses are envisioned to be within the scope of this disclosure.
As seen in
In some embodiments, the light engine 104 is mounted on the mounting surface 124 of the mounting platform 122. Any type of mechanical and/or chemical attachment methods can be used, such as, but not limited to, brackets, screws, or adhesives. Regardless, the light engine 104 is positioned within the light fixture 100 such that light emitted by the light sources 142 is directed in a generally outward and downward direction. In some embodiments where the light sources 142 are LEDs, the optical axis x (see
In some situations, the high angle light emitted by the light fixture 100 can be undesirable. For example, a light fixture 100 positioned under an underpass will emit light downwardly and outwardly from the fixture. Light emitted from the front of the light fixture 100 (such as via the front 101 of the lens 106) will generally be perpendicular to the direction of travel along the roadway and thus will not generally cause glare to a driver entering the underpass. Rather, the driver is most affected by high angle light that is emitted from the sides of the light fixture 100, such as via the opposing sides 103 of the lens 106. This high angle light can cause glare that obstructs a driver's visibility as s/he enters the underpass or tunnel.
To address and better control this high angle light, at least one glare reduction panel 146 is provided within the light fixture 100. In the illustrated embodiment, three glare reduction panels 146 extend downwardly from the mounting surface 124 proximate the light sources 142. However, any number of glare reduction panels 146 may be used. While in some embodiments, the glare reduction panels 146 extend substantially perpendicular to the mounting surface 124 and/or optical axes x of the light sources 142, the angular orientation of the glare reduction panels 146 can vary depending on the desired light output.
The glare reduction panels 146 redirect incoming light, reducing the angle at which the light exits the panel 146 and thus the light fixture 100. In some embodiments, the glare reduction panels 146 refract light emitted by the light sources 142. More specifically, the glare reduction panels 146 are designed to refract the light such that the angle of the light rays as they enter a panel 146 (the “entrance angle”) is greater than the angle of the light rays as they exit the panel 146 (the “exit angle”). All angles referenced herein, unless otherwise mentioned, are measured from an axis extending perpendicularly downwardly from the mounting surface 124 and/or optical axes x, which in many situations will be nadir. The glare reduction panels 146 may be made of a transparent material, a semi-transparent (i.e., translucent) material, or semi-opaque material, including, but not limited to, glass, silicone, acrylic, polycarbonate, and the like.
The glare reduction panels 146 may be retained in the light fixture in any suitable manner (e.g., snap-fit, form fit, mechanical fasteners, or chemical fasteners). As shown in
The glare reduction panels 146 have a proximal end 170 (more proximate the light sources 142 when in situ), a distal end 172 (more distal the light sources when in situ), a height h measured from the proximal end 170 to the distal end 172, a first side edge 174, a second side edge 176, a length/measured from the first side edge 174 to the second side edge 176, a first lateral side 178, an opposing second lateral side 180, and a thickness t measured between the first lateral side 178 and the second lateral side 180.
The height h of each glare reduction panel 146 may be selected to ensure that as much emitted high angle light as desired is directed into the glare reduction panel 146. In some embodiments, the height h of a glare reduction panel 146 is determined by calculating the maximum desirable angle of light—i.e., the maximum angle of light desired in a particular application to exit directly from the side of the light fixture 100 without interaction with a glare reduction panel 146—emitted by the light source 142 positioned furthest from a glare reduction panel 146, and setting the panel height h of that glare reduction panel 146 to ensure that any light that is emitted above the maximum allowable angle is directed into and refracted by the panel 146. In some embodiments, the maximum desirable angle of light is between 55° to 80°, inclusive; between 60° to 75°, inclusive; between 65° to 75°, inclusive; between 65° to 70°, inclusive. In some embodiments, light emitted at or below 80 °, 75°, 70°, 65°, and/or 60° exits the light fixture 100 without passing through a glare reduction panel 146. In some embodiments, the height h of the panels 146 is between .5 inches and 7.5 inches, inclusive; between 1 inch and 7 inches, inclusive; between 1 inch and 6 inches, inclusive; between 2 inches and 5 inches, inclusive; and/or between 2 inches and 4 inches, inclusive. In some embodiments, the height h of the panels 146 is approximately 1 inch, 2 inches, 3, inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 6 inches, and/or 7 inches.
In some embodiments, the glare reduction panels 146 have a length/such that the first side edge 174 is located abutting or adjacent the base 108 and the opposing second side edge 176 is located abutting or adjacent the lens 106. In this way, all of the high angle light emitted toward the sides 103 of the lens 106 will pass through and be refracted downwardly by the glare reduction panels 146. The first and/or second side edges 174, 176 may be shaped or contoured to match the shape of the component adjacent to which they are positioned. For example, the second side edge 176 of the glare reduction panels 146 may include a cut-out or taper 140 to allow the panels 146 to be positioned flush with the lens 106 to ensure that the panel 146 captures as much as possible of the undesirable high angle light. In some embodiments, the length/of the panels 146 is between 2 inches and 15 inches., inclusive; between 3 inches and 14 inches, inclusive; between 3 inches and 10 inches, inclusive; between 5 and 14 inches, inclusive; and/or between 5 inches and 10 inches, inclusive. In some embodiments, the length/of the panels 146 is approximately 2 inches, 3 inches, 4 inches, 5 inches, 6 inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 9 inches, 10 inches, 11 inches, 12 inches, 13 inches, and/or 14 inches.
The thickness t of each glare reduction panel 146 may remain constant or vary along the height h of the panels 146. In some embodiments, the panel 146 may gradually taper from a wider proximal end 170 to a narrower distal end 172. In some embodiments, the thickness t of the panel 146 is between .01 inches and .5 inches, inclusive; between .05 inches and .4 inches, inclusive; between .1 inches and .4 inches, inclusive; between .05 inches and .25 inches, inclusive; and/or between .2 inches and .3 inches, inclusive. In some embodiments, the thickness t of the panel 146 is approximately .01 inches, .05 inches, .1 inches, .15 inches, .2 inches, .25 inches, .3 inches, .35 inches, .4 inches, .45 inches, and/or .5 inches.
In some embodiments, the ratio of the thickness of the proximal end 170 to the distal end is 172 is 2:1; however, this number is merely exemplary and other thickness ratios are within the scope of this disclosure. One of skill in the art will recognize that the height h, length l, thickness t, and degree of taper of the panels 146 can be controlled and adjusted to achieve the desired light output.
While in some of the embodiments the first lateral side 178 and the second lateral side 180 can be flat or smooth, in other embodiments surface enhancements are provided on at least one of the first lateral side 178 or the second lateral side 180. For example,
Each prism 147 includes an active surface 190 upon which light rays will impinge and a generally inactive surface 192 that connects active surface 190 of one prism 147 to the active surface 190 of an adjacent prism 147. Each active surface 190 is positioned at a prism slope angle θ relative to a central axis y that extends along the height h of the panel 146. The prism slope angle(s) θ of the active surfaces 190 controls the degree of refraction of the lights rays that impinge upon the active surface 190 of the prisms 147. Generally, the larger the prism slope angle θ, the larger extent to which a light ray is refracted downwardly. Conversely, the smaller the prism slope angle θ, the lesser extent to which a light ray is refracted downwardly. Therefore, the prism slope angles θ of each prism 147 may be tailored to control the refraction of any incoming light rays. In some embodiments, the prism slope angle θ of at least some or each prism is greater than 0° and less than 60°; less than 55°; less than 50°; less than 45°; less than 40°; less than 35°; less than 30°; less than 25°; and/or less than 20°. In some embodiments, the prism slope angle θ of at least some or each prism is between 5°-40°, inclusive; 10°-30°, inclusive; 10°-35°, inclusive; 10°-30°, inclusive; 15°-30°, inclusive; 15°-25°, inclusive; and/or 10°-20°, inclusive.
While all of active surfaces 190 may extend at the same prism slope angle θ, in other embodiments the prism slope angles θ of the active surfaces 190 vary along the height h of the glare reduction panel 146. For example, in
Tapering of the glare reduction panels 146 along their height h and/or reducing the prism slope angles θ at which the prisms 147 are oriented from the proximal end 170 to the distal end 172 of the panels 146 helps to blend the light emitted from the panels 146 and prevent the creation of hot spots that result when the light rays leave the panels 146 at the same or similar exit angles such that they are concentrated on the same area.
In some embodiments (see, e.g.,
A comparison of
Each light ray may be refracted twice by a glare reduction panel 146, as illustrated in
Veiling luminance (VL) is a measure of disability glare and is measured and calculated pursuant to ANSI/IES RP-8-21: Design of Roadway Facility Lighting (2021 edition), incorporated herein by reference. A higher VL value indicates a higher degree of disability glare whereas a lower LV value indicates a lower degree of disability glare. The glare reduction panels 146 are configured to reduce glare, which in turn reduces the VL of a light fixture. In some embodiments, the panels 146 reduce the maximum VL of a light fixture by between 15% to 25%, or by at least 20%, compared to identical light fixtures devoid of glare reduction panels 146.
While the glare reduction panels 146 have been described as refractors, in other embodiments they could be reflectors that redirect high angle light. In such embodiments, the panels 146 may be formed of opaque or reflective materials that block and/or reflect the high angle light instead of bending it.
The light fixture 100 as described herein may be used in various situations and be placed on a variety of surfaces including, but not limited to: roads, highways, underpasses, tunnels, bridges retaining walls, commercial buildings, residential buildings, pedestrian walkways, and pathways. Additionally, the panels 146 be retrofitted into existing light fixtures 100, reducing the costs of manufacturing and replacing existing light fixtures with the light fixture 100 described above.
The various aspects, embodiments, implementations, or features of the described embodiments can be used separately or in any combination. In particular, it should be appreciated that the various elements of concepts from
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, or gradients thereof, unless otherwise indicated herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate embodiments of the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.
As used herein, the term “substantially” refers to the complete or nearly complete extent or degree of an action, characteristic, property, state, structure, item, or result. For example, an object that is “substantially” enclosed would mean that the object is either completely enclosed or nearly completely enclosed. The exact allowable degree of deviation from absolute completeness may in some cases depend on the specific context. However, generally speaking the nearness of completion will be so as to have the same overall results as if absolute and total completion were obtained.
Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. The invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, and certain shown exemplary embodiments there are shown in the drawings and have been described above in detail. Variations of those preferred embodiments, within the spirit of the present invention, may become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, it should be understood that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form or forms disclosed, but on the contrary, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claim appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above- described elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the described embodiments. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the described embodiments to the precise forms disclosed. It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications and variations are possible in view of the above teachings.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10379278 | Wilcox et al. | Aug 2019 | B2 |
| 20230194068 | Lim | Jun 2023 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 102006047689 | Oct 2007 | DE |
| 102010046082 | Mar 2012 | DE |
| 202019105265 | Feb 2021 | DE |
| 1679470 | Jul 2006 | EP |
| 2360353 | Sep 2001 | GB |
| WO-2018065364 | Apr 2018 | WO |
| WO-2022180298 | Sep 2022 | WO |
