U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/844,007 filed on Mar. 15, 2013, entitled “Configurable Lamp Assembly”, by Wilkinson and Calvin is incorporated here by reference.
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The present invention relates to the field of lighting fixtures, and in particular to lenses and reflectors for lighting fixtures.
To achieve desired patterns of light emissions, lighting fixtures have used lenses and reflectors. Often, the area and volumetric constraints imposed on lighting fixtures preclude traditional arrangements of lenses or reflectors.
In one embodiment a lighting fixture has a light transmissive faceplate defining a perimeter or outline. One or more lenses are molded or placed into the faceplate. One or more clipped reverse parabolic reflectors referred to by the initials RPR or RPRs in the plural, fit into locations defined in the faceplate. The defined locations in the faceplate constrain the placement and angle of each clipped reverse parabolic reflector. This constraint permits the aiming of each reflector enabling a selected light emission pattern from the faceplate. The reverse parabolic reflectors are clipped in the sense that one or more are trimmed to fit within the perimeter of the faceplate. One or more light emitters, such as LEDs, (light emitting diodes) are centered in each lens and in each reverse parabolic reflector. In embodiments where the LEDs emit light in a substantially lambertian pattern, the lenses and reflectors are adapted to gather and redirect the light in the desired directions.
The molded lenses can be of the totally internal reflection type, or of the reflector type or a mix of the two. Other lens types are also possible. The totally internal reflection type of molded lenses are commonly referred to by the initials “TIR”. Molded reflective lenses also have a reflective coating applied to a portion of the lens.
In some embodiments, the clipped RPRs are clipped to increase the number of RPRs within the outline of the faceplate thus increasing the summation or total of the areas of the clipped RPRs within the outline of the faceplate. Clipped RPRs abbreviated as CRPR or CRPRs in the plural, are fixed together in some embodiments to form a cluster. The fixing to form a cluster can be accomplished in a number of ways including, adhesives, solvent welding and mechanical means. The faceplate can further seal against a lamp housing to seal the lenses, reflectors and light emitters from an outside environment. Thus the faceplate simultaneously performs several functions in that it has molded lenses, holds and orients lenses and parabolic reflectors, and seals against an external environment.
In one embodiment, the faceplate can be a single piece of polycarbonate or acrylic. Depending upon the embodiment and application, other material types are also applicable. For example, in critical applications a lens grade polycarbonate can be used while in less critical applications, an acrylic plastic might be suitable.
In other embodiments, the lighting fixture uses a faceplate that has a planar face. The planar faceplate has a closed perimeter. A number of molded lenses are molded into the faceplate within the perimeter of the faceplate. The faceplate further defines one or more locations for one or more CRPRs that fit into the locations for the CRPRs. In still other embodiments, some of the CRPRs are attached together forming a cluster prior to fitting into the defined locations in the faceplate. The CRPRs themselves have a defined planar area and are adapted to emit light along an axis perpendicular to this defined planar area. Within the faceplate each lens and RPR has a light emitter centered in each lens and in each CRPR.
In still other embodiments, the defined location for a CRPRs, aims light emitted from the CRPR at an angle other than perpendicular to the planar face of the faceplate. In yet other embodiments the molded lenses are adapted to emit light at an angle other than perpendicular to the planar face of the faceplate. This enables faceplates that aim the light from the reflectors in various desired directions. As discussed previously, the molded lenses can be of the totally internal reflection type, or of the reflector type or a mix of the two. Other lens types are also possible. Molded reflective lenses also have a reflective coating applied to a portion of the lens.
Building a light fixture, begins with the selection of the faceplate or planar fame, and the perimeter of the planar faceplate. Space constraints of the application may also dictate the perimeter shape and area of the planar faceplate. Space constraints may also dictate the depth of the entire lighting fixture. Further, the amount of light and light pattern can constrain the number of type of reflectors and lenses such as RPRs or CRPRs, TIR or molded reflective lenses. The desired light emission pattern can also determine the angle at which lenses and reflectors are molded into or placed in the faceplate.
To fit more surface area or light emitters into a given area, selectively clipping the edges on a RPR forms a clipped reveres parabolic reflector or CRPR. Clipped reverse parabolic reflectors enable more emitters and, in many cases, more reflector area within the planar faceplate. In other embodiments, CRPRs are fixed together to form a cluster prior to placement within the planar faceplate.
TIR and molded reflective lenses are molded into the planar faceplate along with locations for individual or clusters of RPRs or clusters of CRPRs. In embodiments where reflectors are molded into the planar faceplate, silvering or reflective coatings are added to selected areas.
Light emitters such as LEDs are placed behind or in the lenses and reflectors to illuminate the lighting fixture. Providing a lamp housing and sealing the faceplate or planar faceplate against a lamp housing provides further strength and seals against external contamination.
The summary above, and the following detailed description will be better understood in view of the enclosed drawings which depict details of preferred embodiments. Like reference numbers designate like elements. It should however be noted that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings. The features, functions and advantages can be achieved independently in various embodiments of the claimed invention or may be combined in yet other embodiments.
FIGS. 5AE-5DE show exploded views of various embodiments of a planar frame or faceplate having a combination of molded lenses and CRPRs.
FIGS. 5AP-5DP show plan views of various embodiments of a planar frame or faceplate having a combination of molded lenses and CRPRs.
In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part thereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that modification to the various disclosed embodiments may be made and other embodiments may be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
This decrease in light ray intensity means that areas of the front surface 140 of the RPR farther from the front mirrored reflective surface 120 contribute less overall illumination on a per area basis. Therefore, areas of the front surface 140 and the corresponding reflector surface 110 may be clipped or trimmed with a less loss of light output compared with areas closer to the front mirrored reflective surface 120 of the RPR 100. Thus it is possible to select a cluster of clipped reverse parabolic reflectors or CRPRs whose summation of defined areas within the perimeter of the faceplate emit more light than non-clipped reverse parabolic reflectors of the same area.
FIGS. 5AE-5DE show exploded views of embodiments of faceplates 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D with CRPR clusters 540A-540D made with CRPRs 510A-510D.
One or more CRPRs and/or RPRs 510A, 510B, 510C, 510D fit together to form a cluster of clipped RPRs 540A, 540B, 540C, 540D. Some embodiments have the RPRs of a cluster angled relative to each other to form a desired light emission pattern. The cluster 540A, 540B, 540C, 540D fit into the faceplate 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D. The faceplate 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D defines one or more locations 550A, 550B, 550C, 550D that act to orient the CRPRs or clusters. In some embodiments, these defined locations orient an individual CRPR while in other embodiments a defined location can orient a cluster. Depending upon the embodiment, the defined locations 550A, 550B, 550C, 550D can take the form of recesses, ridges, pegs or other features in the faceplate 500A, 500B, 500C, 500D to constraint the position, angle and orientation of the RPRs, CRPRs, or clusters. One or more light emitters 130 fit into each RPR, CRPR 510A-510D and molded lens 530A-530D.
Although this invention has been described in terms of certain preferred embodiments, other embodiments that are apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, including embodiments that do not provide all of the features and advantages set forth herein, are also within the scope of this invention. Rather, the scope of the present invention is defined only by reference to the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20150003074 A1 | Jan 2015 | US |