CA1200537A - Translucent light control panel - Google Patents
Translucent light control panelInfo
- Publication number
- CA1200537A CA1200537A CA000479687A CA479687A CA1200537A CA 1200537 A CA1200537 A CA 1200537A CA 000479687 A CA000479687 A CA 000479687A CA 479687 A CA479687 A CA 479687A CA 1200537 A CA1200537 A CA 1200537A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- pattern
- inch
- panel according
- light panel
- lenticular elements
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V5/00—Refractors for light sources
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Optical Elements Other Than Lenses (AREA)
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A translucent light control panel has a first surface intended to face a light source and a second sur-face. The first surface has a facetted pattern minimizing reflection and refracting incident light towards the normal of the general plane of the first surface, and the second surface has a pattern of parallel linear lenticular ele-ments. The pattern of lenticular elements on the second surface repeats at least twice compared to each repeat of the facetted pattern on the first surface.
A translucent light control panel has a first surface intended to face a light source and a second sur-face. The first surface has a facetted pattern minimizing reflection and refracting incident light towards the normal of the general plane of the first surface, and the second surface has a pattern of parallel linear lenticular ele-ments. The pattern of lenticular elements on the second surface repeats at least twice compared to each repeat of the facetted pattern on the first surface.
Description
~.~n~3 ~
1'his invention relates to translucent light con-trol panels for controlling light emitted from a source towards a target area.
Such light control panels are usually fitted in a ceiling or suspended lighting unit to reduce glare and to mask the light source and also to adequately illuminate the intended area. It is known to provide one or both surfaces of a light control panel with various predetermined configura-tions for this purpose. However, known light control panels are for various reasons not as satisfactory as desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved light control panel, and more parti-cularly to provide a light control panel which is especially suitable for use with elongated light sources such as a tubular fluorescent light.
According to the present invention, a translucent light control panel has a first surface intended to face a light source and a second surface, said first surface having a facetted pattern minimizing reflection and refracting in-cident light towards -the normal of the general plane of the first surface, said second surface having a pa-ttern of parallel linear lenticular elements, and the pattern of lenticular ele-ments on the second surface repeating at least twice compared to each repeat of the facetted pattern on the first surface.
The first surface is designed to reduce reflection to a minimum and to refract incident light toward the nor-mal of the general plane of the first surface. Any number of surface designs can be used to accomplish this and indeed many first surfaces used in prior art are sui-table.
The lenticular elements of the second surface are designed - 1- "~
i3~7 to receive the refracted light from the first surface and to further refract the light such that each lenticular element will distribute irradiance over as much of the target area as possible. To reduce brightness variations across the lighting panel, any spacial periodicities in the first or second surface are designed such that the cross-correlations between said surfaces axe a minimum.
The lenticular elements of the second surface generally refract light in a plane perpendicular to their long axis.
Thus, to reduce -the brightness from elongated light sources, the long axis of the source should make as small an angle as possible with the axis of the lenticular elements.
With angles of about 45 degrees or less, the brightness variation is generally acceptable.
The width of a single lenticular element on the second surface would normally be such that ! when observed from a typical viewing distance of three feet or greater, the high brightness portion of the lenticular element would not easily be resolved for an observer with normal eyesight. Further, periodici-ty in the pattern of the first surface repeats after at least two periods of the lenticular elements on the second surface.
The linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may have a width to height ratio in the range of from about one to about ten relative to a lowest second surface portion. The lenticular elements on the second surface may have a height of about 0.15 inch rela-tive to its lowest second surface portion.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may repeat after a distance in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.10 inch. The pattern oE
1'his invention relates to translucent light con-trol panels for controlling light emitted from a source towards a target area.
Such light control panels are usually fitted in a ceiling or suspended lighting unit to reduce glare and to mask the light source and also to adequately illuminate the intended area. It is known to provide one or both surfaces of a light control panel with various predetermined configura-tions for this purpose. However, known light control panels are for various reasons not as satisfactory as desired.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved light control panel, and more parti-cularly to provide a light control panel which is especially suitable for use with elongated light sources such as a tubular fluorescent light.
According to the present invention, a translucent light control panel has a first surface intended to face a light source and a second surface, said first surface having a facetted pattern minimizing reflection and refracting in-cident light towards -the normal of the general plane of the first surface, said second surface having a pa-ttern of parallel linear lenticular elements, and the pattern of lenticular ele-ments on the second surface repeating at least twice compared to each repeat of the facetted pattern on the first surface.
The first surface is designed to reduce reflection to a minimum and to refract incident light toward the nor-mal of the general plane of the first surface. Any number of surface designs can be used to accomplish this and indeed many first surfaces used in prior art are sui-table.
The lenticular elements of the second surface are designed - 1- "~
i3~7 to receive the refracted light from the first surface and to further refract the light such that each lenticular element will distribute irradiance over as much of the target area as possible. To reduce brightness variations across the lighting panel, any spacial periodicities in the first or second surface are designed such that the cross-correlations between said surfaces axe a minimum.
The lenticular elements of the second surface generally refract light in a plane perpendicular to their long axis.
Thus, to reduce -the brightness from elongated light sources, the long axis of the source should make as small an angle as possible with the axis of the lenticular elements.
With angles of about 45 degrees or less, the brightness variation is generally acceptable.
The width of a single lenticular element on the second surface would normally be such that ! when observed from a typical viewing distance of three feet or greater, the high brightness portion of the lenticular element would not easily be resolved for an observer with normal eyesight. Further, periodici-ty in the pattern of the first surface repeats after at least two periods of the lenticular elements on the second surface.
The linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may have a width to height ratio in the range of from about one to about ten relative to a lowest second surface portion. The lenticular elements on the second surface may have a height of about 0.15 inch rela-tive to its lowest second surface portion.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may repeat after a distance in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.10 inch. The pattern oE
- 2 5~37 linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may repeat after a distance of about 0.04 inch.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may comprise prisms of outwardly pro-jecting partial pseudo-sinusoidal section. Each lenticular element may be separated from an adjacent prism by a narrow surface portion parallel to the plane on the panel. Each narrow surface portion may have a width less than about 0.01 inch. Each narrow surface portion may have a width of about 0.003 inch.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the seocnd surface may repeat about seven times compared to each repeat of the pattern of segments on the first face.
The pattern on the first surface may comprise seg-ments having a height in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.25 inch relative to a lowest first surface portion~
The segments on the first surface may have a height of about 0.06 inch relative to its lowest first surface portion.
The pattern on the first surfacè may repeat after a distance in the range from about 0.1 to about 1.0 inch.
The pattern on the first surface may repeat after a distance of about 0.26 inch in a direction perpendicular to the linear , parallel lenticular elements on the second surface and after a distance of about 0.29 inch in a direction parallel to the linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface.
The panel may have a thickness between lowest por tions of the first and second surfaces in the range of from about 0.01 ~o abou~ 0.50 inch.
The panel may have a thickness be~ween lowest por-tions of the first and second surfaces of about 0.05 inch.
Embodiments of the inveniton will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from about of a light control panel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panel of Figure 1 in an upside down orientation, i.e. showing the bottom surface uppermost, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing the cross sectional shape of the pattern on the upper surface.
Referring to the drawings, a rectantular trans-lucent control panel of suitable material, such as a clear acrylic, has an upper first surface with a repeating pattern or a ray of flat or contoured segments 12 spaced by 0.26 inch in a longitudinal direction and by 0.28 inch in a transverse direction. A lower second surface has a repeat-ing pattern of -transversely-extending linear parallel lenti-cular elements 14 of partial psuedo-sinusoidal sectional shape separated by narrow flat strip portion 16. The seg-ments 14 have a maximum height above the flat portions 16 of about 0.0153 inch, and a lateral extent of about 0.0383 inch with each flat portion 16 having a width of about 0.0032 inch. The thickness of the panel between lowes-t portions of the upper and lower surfaces is about 0.05 inch.
It will be noted that the pattern of lenticular elements 14 on the lower surface repeat seven times for each repeat of the pattern of segments on the upper sur-face.
.~r~(~537 The panel is specifically intended for use with fluorescent tubular lights, and should preferably be used in such a way that the angle formed between the linear lenti-cular elements 14 on the lower surface and the fluorescent tube or tubes of a lighting unit is a minimum.
It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that the light control panel can be made by extrusion between two appropriately shaped rollers or by compression molding.
If desired, the cross sectional shape of the lower surface may alternatively be psuedo-sinusoidal, instead of the spaced partial psuedo-sinusoidal configuration referred to above. Other embodiments will also be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface may comprise prisms of outwardly pro-jecting partial pseudo-sinusoidal section. Each lenticular element may be separated from an adjacent prism by a narrow surface portion parallel to the plane on the panel. Each narrow surface portion may have a width less than about 0.01 inch. Each narrow surface portion may have a width of about 0.003 inch.
The pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the seocnd surface may repeat about seven times compared to each repeat of the pattern of segments on the first face.
The pattern on the first surface may comprise seg-ments having a height in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.25 inch relative to a lowest first surface portion~
The segments on the first surface may have a height of about 0.06 inch relative to its lowest first surface portion.
The pattern on the first surfacè may repeat after a distance in the range from about 0.1 to about 1.0 inch.
The pattern on the first surface may repeat after a distance of about 0.26 inch in a direction perpendicular to the linear , parallel lenticular elements on the second surface and after a distance of about 0.29 inch in a direction parallel to the linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface.
The panel may have a thickness between lowest por tions of the first and second surfaces in the range of from about 0.01 ~o abou~ 0.50 inch.
The panel may have a thickness be~ween lowest por-tions of the first and second surfaces of about 0.05 inch.
Embodiments of the inveniton will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view from about of a light control panel in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the panel of Figure 1 in an upside down orientation, i.e. showing the bottom surface uppermost, and Figure 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale showing the cross sectional shape of the pattern on the upper surface.
Referring to the drawings, a rectantular trans-lucent control panel of suitable material, such as a clear acrylic, has an upper first surface with a repeating pattern or a ray of flat or contoured segments 12 spaced by 0.26 inch in a longitudinal direction and by 0.28 inch in a transverse direction. A lower second surface has a repeat-ing pattern of -transversely-extending linear parallel lenti-cular elements 14 of partial psuedo-sinusoidal sectional shape separated by narrow flat strip portion 16. The seg-ments 14 have a maximum height above the flat portions 16 of about 0.0153 inch, and a lateral extent of about 0.0383 inch with each flat portion 16 having a width of about 0.0032 inch. The thickness of the panel between lowes-t portions of the upper and lower surfaces is about 0.05 inch.
It will be noted that the pattern of lenticular elements 14 on the lower surface repeat seven times for each repeat of the pattern of segments on the upper sur-face.
.~r~(~537 The panel is specifically intended for use with fluorescent tubular lights, and should preferably be used in such a way that the angle formed between the linear lenti-cular elements 14 on the lower surface and the fluorescent tube or tubes of a lighting unit is a minimum.
It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art that the light control panel can be made by extrusion between two appropriately shaped rollers or by compression molding.
If desired, the cross sectional shape of the lower surface may alternatively be psuedo-sinusoidal, instead of the spaced partial psuedo-sinusoidal configuration referred to above. Other embodiments will also be apparent to a person skilled in the art, the scope of the invention being defined in the appended claims.
Claims (16)
1. A translucent light control panel having a first surface intended to face a light source and a second sur-face, said first surface having a facetted pattern minimizing reflection and refracting incident light towards the normal of the general plane of the first surface, said second surface having a pattern of parallel linear lenticular elements, and the pattern of lenticular elements on the second surface repeating at least twice compared to each repeat of the facetted pattern on the first surface.
2. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the linear parallel lenticular elements on the second sur-face having a width to height ratio in the range of from about one to about ten relative to a lowest second surface portion.
3. A light panel according to claim 2 wherein the lenticular elements on the second surface have a height of about 0.15 inch relative to its lowest second surface por-tion.
4. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface repeats after a distance in the range of about 0.01 to about 0.10 inch.
5. A light panel according to claim 4 wherein the pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface repeats after a distance of about 0.04 inch.
6. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface comprises prisms of outwardly projecting partial pseudo-sinusoidal section.
7. A light panel according to claim 6 wherein each lenticular element is separated from an adjacent prism by a narrow surface portion parallel to the plane of the panel.
8. A light panel according to claim 7 where each nar-row surface portion has a width less than about 0.01 inch.
9. A light panel according to claim 8 wherein each narrow surface portion has a width of about 0.003 inch.
10. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the pattern of linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface repeats about seven times compared to each repeat of the pattern of segments on the first face.
11. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the pattern on the first surface comprises segments having a height in the range of from about 0.01 to about 0.25 inch relative to a lowest first surface portion.
12. A light panel according to claim 11 wherein the segments on the first surface have a height of about 0.06 inch relative to its lowest first surface portion.
13. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the pattern on the first surface repeats after a distance in the range from about 0.1 to about 1.0 inch.
14. A light panel according to claim 13 wherein the pattern on the first surface repeats after a distance of about 0.26 inch in a direction perpendicular to the linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface and after a distance of about 0.29 inch in a direction parallel to the linear parallel lenticular elements on the second surface.
15. A light panel according to claim 1 wherein the panel has a thickness between lowest portions of the first and second surfaces in the range from about 0.01 to about 0.50 inch.
16. A light panel according to claim 15 wherein the panel has a thickness between lowest portions of the first and second surfaces of about 0.05 inch.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000479687A CA1200537A (en) | 1985-04-22 | 1985-04-22 | Translucent light control panel |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000479687A CA1200537A (en) | 1985-04-22 | 1985-04-22 | Translucent light control panel |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1200537A true CA1200537A (en) | 1986-02-11 |
Family
ID=4130323
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000479687A Expired CA1200537A (en) | 1985-04-22 | 1985-04-22 | Translucent light control panel |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1200537A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001046013A1 (en) * | 1999-12-22 | 2001-06-28 | Advanced Light As | Lighting device for installation in plane surface |
-
1985
- 1985-04-22 CA CA000479687A patent/CA1200537A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2001046013A1 (en) * | 1999-12-22 | 2001-06-28 | Advanced Light As | Lighting device for installation in plane surface |
| US6752519B2 (en) | 1999-12-22 | 2004-06-22 | Advanced Light As | Lighting device for installation in plane surface |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |