The present invention is a soft light fixture. In particular, it is an LED soft light fixture.
Generally, various light fixtures that use light from a combination of light sources are known including U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,280,171, 4,831,755, and 6,149,283.
Often, prior art devices that rely on the light from a combination of light sources show “hot spots.” In particular, prior art light fixtures using light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) use a large number of LEDs to generate the desired amount and color of light. However, typically, the points at which each individual LED are mounted are usually markedly visible as “hot spots” rather than the light of all the LEDs blending together to form a uniform glow.
Thus, a light fixture that uses a minimum of LEDs to generate a single light source without “hot spots” is desired. Moreover, a light fixture that blends light from different color LEDs into a single blended light source, e.g. of a new color, is desirable as well.
The present invention is a soft light fixture. In particular, it is an LED soft light fixture. The preferred embodiment of the soft light fixture has a plurality of light emitting diodes mounted on a printed circuit board ring and seated on a perimeter ring. The LEDs are aimed to emit light into a light mixing chamber. The perimeter ring supports a light deflection cap with a lens, preferably translucent. The perimeter ring, deflection cap and lens define the light mixing chamber which blends light from the plurality of light emitting diodes into a single light source. The lens preferably has a skirt that contains the printed circuit board ring, perimeter ring, and deflection cap.
The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.
a is an exploded perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
b is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
a is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the perimeter ring.
b is a side cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the perimeter ring.
c is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the perimeter ring.
a is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the deflection cap.
b is a side cross-sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the deflection cap.
a is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the lens.
b is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the lens.
c is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the lens.
d is a side view of an alternate embodiment of the lens.
a, 5b, and 5c are graphs of light intensity, beam diameter as a function of distance from the lens of the present invention.
[1] The following description is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modes contemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Various modifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled in the art, since the general principles of the present invention have been defined herein specifically to provide a soft light fixture.
[2] Referring now to
[3] Preferably, each PCB ring 60 has a separate circuit for different sets of LEDs. For example, in
[4] By using separate circuits on the PCB ring 60, the PCB ring can have a set of leads 65 for each circuit. Thus, each circuit and set of LEDs can be controlled separately, e.g. dimming or powered higher using a simple dimmer or more sophisticated DMX controller.
[5] The perimeter ring 20 supports a deflection ring 30. The perimeter ring 20 and deflection ring 30 are preferably made of white polycarbonate plastic. Referring to
[6] The perimeter ring 20 preferably has at least one post 27. Referring now to
[7] A lens 40 tops the deflection ring 30. As shown in
[8] As shown in
[9] Referring to
[10] Conversely, the interior diameter 35 is less than a lower diameter 37. This progression from the lower diameter 37 to the interior diameter 35 shown in
[11] It should be noted that the present invention generates consistent lighting out to the outer edge of the fixture 10. The fixture 10, in general, does not have, what is commonly called a “trim ring,” namely a dark ring along the edge of the lens 40. Thus, the fastener ring 50 is not used to hide a dark ring at the edge of the lens 40 but, instead, is used for mounting purposes and other reasons described above.
[12] Referring now to
[13] One preferred embodiment of the invention as described above uses three sets of three LEDs. Thus, combinations of LEDs are preferably based on multiples of three, e.g. three red LEDs and six white LEDs or six red LEDs and three white LEDs. The different circuits on the PCB ring 60 can also vary the color of light emitted by the fixture 10. For example, two sets of three LEDs could run at 20 milliamps while a third set runs at 40 milliamps. The resistors for each circuit could also be changed to vary the power, brightness and intensity of the LEDs as well.
[14] The present invention provides an improved color consistency over the prior art as well. Typically, when dies of LEDs are produced, the LEDs are sorted into bins by a number of criteria including a large range of “acceptable” colors, or wavelengths, intensity and forward voltage. The LEDs, depending on tolerance for color variation, can be sorted several more times to isolated colors within ranges of 1-3 nanometers in wavelength. However, isolating LEDs of a color with 1 nanometer of wavelength can be very expensive. The present invention allows LEDs of a wider variation in wavelength to be used and their light mixed to produce a single color light and thus hide slight variations in color between LEDs.
[15] Thus, a soft light fixture is described above that uses a minimum of LEDs to generate a single light source without “hot spots” is described. Moreover, a light fixture that blends light from different color LEDs into a single blended light source of a new color is described as well. In each of the above embodiments, the different positions and structures of the present invention are described separately in each of the embodiments. However, it is the full intention of the inventors of the present invention that the separate aspects of each embodiment described herein may be combined with the other embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that adaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodiment can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.