EP1929339A1

EP1929339A1 - Optical device for led light sources

Info

Publication number: EP1929339A1
Application number: EP06790926A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric ZWEIG; Thomas Bührer
Original assignee: Radical Form GmbH; RADICAL FORM LIGHTING Ltd CO
Current assignee: RADICAL FORM LIGHTING Ltd CO
Priority date: 2005-09-30
Filing date: 2006-10-02
Publication date: 2008-06-11
Also published as: AU2006297010A1; CA2624146A1; US20090052193A1; IL190427A0; ZA200802770B; TR200802094T1; WO2007036064A1; NZ567102A; CN101389988B; BRPI0616626A2; US7942558B2; RU2427012C2; CN101389988A; RU2008111349A; KR20080063373A; JP2009510677A

Abstract

Optical device and optical component part for the targeted reproduction of light emitted by LED light sources (6). The optical device comprises at least two component parts, a first optical component part (10) in the form of a solid waveguide and another component part for connection to the LED light source (6). In a system of Cartesian co-ordinates, the first optical component part (10) has a length in the y direction shorter than or equal to its length in the z direction and shorter than or equal to its length in the x direction. An envelope of the first optical component part (10) projected in an x-y plane forms essentially a rectangle. Proceeding from an x-y plane, the optical component part (10, 10') tapers in the z direction to maximum ¼ of the largest width measured along y (By, max), with any design of the y-z flanks of the optical component part (10, 10').

Description

Optical device for LED light sources

LED light sources emit light in very wide solid angles. As a result, they are virtually unusable without optics for lighting tasks or decoration tasks.

Different optics for LED light sources are known, which set the bundling of the widely scattered LED light or a deflection of the light in certain solid angles to the goal. An example of this is given in US Pat. No. 5,349,504, in which a light-conducting solid body is placed in a housing, which enables the redirection of light from two parallelly arranged LED light sources to two separate light exit surfaces via a special beam path.

The present invention is an optical device according to the features of the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to provide an optical device for LED light sources that produces collimated light that is within a half-angle of max. 60 ° around a defined main axis has a well-defined intensity distribution curve, with multiple major axes can be defined.

This object is achieved by an optical device according to the features of claim 1. Such an optical device comprises two or more individual parts, wherein an individual part of the connection with the LED light source is used and it is connectable to at least a first optical item. The at least one first optical component is a light-conducting solid whose length in the y-direction is smaller than in the z-direction, wherein the longitudinal extent of the body in the z-direction is less than or equal to the extension in the x-direction and one in the xy Layer projected envelope is essentially a rectangle, and the body tapers in z-direction from the xy plane at most to VA of the greatest width in the y-direction (B _y , _ma χ), with any configuration of the yz flanks of the body. The optical device serves the purpose of focusing light from LED sources by means of a body having a substantially rectangular plan. This is also advantageous, among other things, because a large part of the luminaires used today are rectangular.

The first optical component - and thus also the optical device, which comprises in its optically active part at least one such first optical component - has a refractive index which differs at least by +/- 0.1 from 1. The first optical part, as well as the optical device, have an xy edge and a (-x) - (- y) edge, an xz edge and a (-x) - (- z) edge, and a yz edge and (- y) - (- z) edge, where the (-x) - (- y) edge and possibly also the yz edge or (-y) - (- z) edge serve as main exit surfaces for the light. In this way, for illumination tasks, for example, only one major axis can be defined (exit surface on the (- x) - (- y) flank of the first optical component or optical device), and ideally the light is within a half angle of 4 ° 40 ° have a distribution which is as rectangular as possible, a broad maximum with an intensity of more than 80% of the light emerging from the optics, steepest possible flanks and a smallest possible minimum with less than 10% of the light emerging from the optics being outside the desired angle the main axis is aimed around. For decorative purposes, however, several main axes of the light exit are often desired, which can be located either on the xy flank of the optical device by the configuration of the beam path in the device or the first optical item or on the (-x) - (- y) Flank and the yz flank or (-y) - (- z) flank of the same, in which case all these flanks form main exit surfaces for the light. Both the first optical part and the optical device are limited by a plurality of outer surfaces, which preferably each perform an optical function, for example as a reflector and / or as a lens and / or beam splitter etc.

In a specific embodiment, in the at least first optical item - and thus also in the optical device - a cavity or more hollows of arbitrary

Form provided. Each cavity has cavity limiting cavity interfaces which act as mirrors and / or lenses and / or beam splitters within the item or optical device. Due to the specific design and arrangement of the cavities or the beam path can be adapted to the respective requirements. The cavities preferably extend in their longitudinal extension parallel to the y-direction, wherein they are in particular configured as cavities extending from the x-z flank to the (-x) - (- z) flank. The latter allows a particularly simple production of the cavities.

The cavities can currently be produced particularly economically by laser cutting, the laser preferably acting in the normal to the x-z or ~ (-x) - (- y) plane. In a special embodiment, the mirror-smooth boundary surfaces of the cavities act in such a way that light is transmitted almost undeflected or almost totally reflected.

It is particularly simple to assemble several individual parts if they are configured in such a way that several of these individual parts can be assembled in a force-fitting manner or glued together. The interlocking individual parts complement each other in their optical functionalities in such a way that a targeted final result arises in the form of a precisely describable and planned distribution of the radiation in place, direction and intensity. Furthermore, the parts complement each other mechanically so that, when put together, they produce an overall picture planned by the engineer / designer, which represents a single part from the visual impression. Many variations in the design of the optical device can be achieved if several individual parts are combined to form such an optical device and the individual parts are in particular twisted together so that their axes x, y, z appear to be interchanged in the finished optical device. In this way, for example, for decorative purposes or special solutions also "beam splitter lights", which have several major axes of radiation, around which within a certain angle, the light radiates in a defined intensity curve. For such requirements, there are critical angles outside which no light is desired. Since zero radiation is physically impossible, it is limited to the feasible minimum. The technology described here allows particularly pronounced flat optics and optics of 3-Dimensional highly complex shape - eg as a snowflake, or as quartz-faux, or in any other crystal forms and other forms (hedgehogs, sea urchins, trees, leaves ...) each adapted to the smallness of the light source.

The optical device has a single part that serves to connect to the LED. Preferably, this is designed so that the item can be easily screwed onto the board with the LED or otherwise positively or positively connected to the board. Further, the item is preferably configured so that the one or more optically active parts of the optical device can be connected to the item by simple pressing, for example. In a further specific embodiment, the individual part serving for the connection with the LED light source is designed as an optical individual part and can be integrated into the optical device so that the beam path can also be passed through this individual part.

The item used to connect to the LED light source is designed to fix the light source exactly in the place provided so that it moves only within the given tolerances, ie in the range of, for example, 5/100 to 1/10 mm can, and thus ensures that the light radiates very specifically in the optical device and thus in the desired manner in the environment.

Further embodiments of the optical device or the optical component are described in the further dependent claims.

In the following the invention will be explained by way of example by way of example. Identical objects are generally denoted by the same reference symbols in the figures. The figures show purely schematically:

1 shows a first inventive single optical part in side view with a view of the x-z flank;

FIG. 2 shows a second optical component according to the invention in a side view looking onto the y-z flank; FIG.

3 shows an optical device according to the invention, composed of three optical individual parts according to the invention, mounted on a circuit board with an LED light source in side view, with a view of the y-x flank; and

Fig. 4, the optical device of Fig. 3 in a perspective view

1 shows a first optical individual part 10 according to the invention in a side view with a view of the xz flank, which in this case has an essentially flat outer surface 14 lying in an xz plane of a Cartesian coordinate system. This flat outer surface 14 is penetrated in the xz plane through openings to cavities 1, 2, which extend in the y direction and are continuous from the xz flank to the (-x) - (- z) flank. The (-x) - (- z) flank of the item 10 has the same dimensions as the xz Flank and is also formed as a substantially planar lying in an xz plane outer surface with the corresponding openings to the cavities 1, 2. The first optical element 10 has a longitudinal extent in the y-direction, which is smaller than its length in the z-direction, where its length extension in the z-direction is less than or equal to its length extension in the x-direction In the optical system shown here, the aspect ratios are, for example, x = 35mm, y = 17.8mm, z = 27mm. However, an embodiment in which the outer dimensions yield a cube would also be conceivable, ie the length ratios x: y: z = 1: 1: 1.

In the example shown here, the first optical component 10 is formed of PMMA and the cavities 1, 2 are produced by laser cutting, wherein the laser has acted for the generation of the cavities 1, 2 in the surface normal to the x-z plane.

The yz flank and (-y) - (- z) flank of the item 10 are formed symmetrically to one another as substantially convexly curved outer surfaces 7. Its convex radius of curvature decreases from the xy flank to the (-x) - (- y) flank and finally merges into a flat, non-curved surface. In the first third of these flanks, which faces the xy flank, a projection 5 extending over the entire length in the y-direction is provided by means of which the individual part 10 can be connected via a snap mechanism to a further individual part 10 ", as shown in FIG 4, however, such a connection could of course also be realized by a different type of snap or clamp connection, by a screw connection or, if the connection need not be detachable, also by means of an adhesive connection in the direction (-x) - (- y Depending on the configuration of the cavities 1, 2 and the design of the remaining geometry of the first optical component 10, portions of the outer surfaces 7 can serve as targeted exit surfaces for light., However, if this is not the case, only a minimal amount passes through the entire outer surface 7 Proportion of stray light off. The (-x) - (- y) flank is designed as a substantially flat outer surface 16 lying in the xy plane. It has slot-shaped openings 18 extending in the y direction, via which openings the cavities 2 are opened in the direction of the (-x) - (- y) flank. If one thinks of a virtual outer surface, which is called envelope in the following, which comprises the outer surface 16 with its openings 18, this envelope results in the projection in an xy plane a rectangle, as can be seen also in FIG. The xy flank opposite the (-x) - (- y) flank has an outer surface 20 whose envelope, when projected into an xy plane, also gives a rectangle. The expansion of this rectangle in the x direction, however, corresponding to the curvature of the outer surfaces 7 is less than that of the outer surface 16. The outer surface 20 is slightly convex and has in the middle a recess 22 for receiving a second optical item 10 'and / or a LED light source 6 on. Here, as an example, an LED light source is shown. The recess 22 extends over about two-thirds of the first optical component 10 in the z direction and over the entire y-extension of the first optical component 10. It has a bottom 3 and side walls 23, which meet the requirements of refraction, reflection and Light diffraction are configured. In this example, the side walls 23 recede from the center, so that the recess 22 widens from the outer surface 20 into the interior of the body of the first optical item. The bottom 3 is formed barrel-like arched in the recess 22 in this example.

On the right side in FIG. 1, by way of example, some light beams 8 with their beam path starting from the LED light source 6 are shown. As can be seen from the hollow spaces with their boundary surfaces or the opening with its side walls 23 and the bottom 3 to the light beams 8 partially transmissive, refractive, diffractive or totally reflective act. But also mixtures of these effects can be generated at these interfaces, so that it comes to a partial transmission and a partial reflection, etc. Light beams 8i and 8 ₂ , for example, largely transmitted at the bottom 3, so that they emerge as directed, almost parallel light beams 8i, 8 ₂ from the outer surface 16. A reflected portion of the beams 8i, 8 ₂ formed in accordance with the optical laws enters the body of the first optical part 10 via the side wall 23. The light beam 8i finally penetrates the cavity 1 and emerges as scattered light 8 / at the projection 5 from the body of the first optical component 10. Such scattered rays can be eliminated if necessary by means of special and known coatings (optical compensation). In the example shown here, this light scattering is desired and used purposefully. Light beam 8 ₂ is reflected at the boundary surfaces of the cavity 2 and emerges approximately parallel to the beams 8 i, 8 ₂ via the outer surface 16. Light beams 8 ₃ , 8 ₄ enter directly into the body of the first optical component 10 via the side wall 23, with light beam 8 ₃ reflecting from the inside on the side wall 23 and on the boundary surface of the cavity 2, so that it finally approaches as a directed beam 83 emerges parallel to the beams 8 _{1 (} 8 _2, 8 ₂ 'from the outer surface 16. Light beam 8 ₄ is reflected after entering the body of the first optical component 10 at the boundary surface of the cavity 1 and also occurs approximately parallel to the 8 ₁ , 8 ₂ , 8 ₂ ', 8 ₃ from the outer surface 16. This shows that the cavities 1, 2 with their boundary surfaces, opening 22 with its bottom 3 and the side walls 23 and all outer surfaces 16, 7, 20 exert an optical function and with a corresponding embodiment both reflective and transmissive and can also have a refractive and / or diffractive effect.

Fig. 2 shows a second inventive element 10 'in side view on his yz flank. In principle, the second optical component 10 'has the same structure as the first optical component 10. Its longitudinal extension in the z-direction is smaller than its longitudinal extension in the y-direction, and its longitudinal extension in the y-direction is less than or equal to its longitudinal extension in the x-direction is. In the example shown here, the lengths for the item 10 ', for example, x = 27mm, y = l 0.9mm, z = 8.9mm. His (-y) - (- z) flank and his yz Flank are formed as substantially flat, located in a yz plane of a Cartesian coordinate system outer surfaces 14 which are pierced by openings of continuous, extending in the x-direction cavities 2 and recesses 22. The cavities 2 are in turn opened by means of slot-shaped openings 18 to the (-x) - (- y) flank. Cavities 1, which are open only to the (-x) - (- z) and / or the xz flank, are not provided.

If a virtual envelope of a (-x) - (- y) flank 16 of the second optical item 10 'is projected into an x-y plane, the result is again a rectangle. The same applies to the opposite x-y flank and its envelope, the resulting rectangle again having a shorter extension in the y direction. The configuration of the xy flank and the (-x) - (- y) flank 16 is otherwise adapted to the requirements for the optical functions, in which case the (-x) - (- y) flank 16 in the middle in FIG Essentially barrel-shaped arched outwards.

The outer surfaces 7 of the (-y) - (- z) and y-z flanks are again symmetrical to each other and in such a way that the body of the second optical component 10 'of the (-x) - (- y)

Flank in z-direction until the xy flank is tapered. Although the taper on the example shown here is much smaller, it is still conceivable to design the body of an individual part according to the invention in such a way that a taper starts from an (-x) - (- y) flank in the z-direction up to the xy edge of up to a quarter of the largest measured over x width (B _x , _max ) results. The (-x) - (- y) edge again has one

Recess 22 for receiving an LED light source 6 on the recess 22 extends in this case in (-z) direction but only about a quarter in the body of the second optical component 10 'into it. The bottom 3 is again formed barrel-like arched into the recess 22. The side walls 23 first narrow the recess 22 in order to then expand it towards the bottom 3 again. The geometry of the recess 22 or the configuration of its side walls 23 and its bottom 3 is selected according to the requirements for the optical functions.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show an optical device 30 according to the invention which comprises two optical individual parts, a first and a second optical 10 and 10 '. The individual parts 10, 10 'are formed analogously to those in FIGS. 1 and 2. The optical items 10, 10 'are frictionally interlocked with each other, wherein the x, y, z axes of the second item 10' relative to the x, y, z axes of the optical item 10 are rotated, so that the z - Axes are aligned the same, the x and y axes of the two items 10, 10 'but rotated by 90 ° to each other are perpendicular. The first optical component 10 is also connected via its projections 5 by a snap-action mechanism to a further individual component 10 ", which is substantially C-shaped." The C-shaped component 10 "is, like the two optical components 10, 10 ' optical component made of PMMA. With its two free ends 31, the C-shaped further item includes the first optical item 10 and engages behind with the arranged in the end of the free ends 31 lugs 32, the projections 5. Since the free ends 31 slightly feathers with the lugs 32, forming together with the likewise slightly resilient projections 5 a snap closure over which the item 10 with the item used therein 10 'easily connected to the item 10 "but can also be separated from this again.

In the middle of its back region 9, the C-shaped further individual part 10 "has an opening 34 for receiving the housing of the LED light source 6. Furthermore, openings 36 for the reception of openings 9 are spaced from the opening 34 in the back region 9

Screw 38 provided. With the aid of these screws, the further item 10 "can be fixed with a board 40 on which the LED light sources are fastened.) Figure 3 shows on the right side again different light beams 8 from the LED light source , the C-shaped item 10 "is also optically active. The beam 8a passes through the further individual part 10 'and impinges on the floor 3 of the first individual optical part 10. There is ^~ he partially diffracted by the body of the first ^"transmits individual optical part 10, so it that in the outer surface 16 of the optical device 30 exit. The other part of the beam 8a is reflected at the bottom 3 of the first optical part 10 and, after passing through the second optical part 10 'again, enters the body of the first optical part 10 through the side wall 23. He passes through the cavity 1 and exits the body of the first optical item 10 again to enter the C-shaped further item, after repeated reflection on the free end 31 of the other item 10 "again emerge from this and after another passage Finally, through the first optical part 10 and various of its cavities 1, 2 also exit via the outer surface 16 of the optical device 30.

As shown by this example of a beam path, the design of the C-shaped component 10 "as an optical component makes it possible to reduce the losses due to stray light, but in the example shown here, the resulting light no longer exists is directed so homogeneously, since the beam 8a 'does not emerge from the surface 16 parallel to the other rays.

The embodiments shown in the figures clearly serve to illustrate the invention by way of example. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that there are further possibilities for the embodiment of the invention. The way in which the elements shown in the various figures can be meaningfully combined is clear to those skilled in the art, so that the examples shown in the figures have no limiting effect.

Claims

claims

1 Optical device for the targeted reproduction of light emitted from LED light sources comprising at least two individual parts, one of which is a first optical item (10) in the form of a light-conducting solid and another item (TO ") of the connection to the LED light source Serves, characterized in that in a Cartesian coordinate system, the first optical component (10) has a longitudinal extent in the y-direction, which is less than or equal to its longitudinal extent in the z-direction and less than or equal to its longitudinal extent in the x-direction and wherein a in an xy-plane projected envelope of the first optical component (10) essentially gives a rectangle, and the first optical component (10), starting from an xy plane in the z-direction, is maximally at Va, the greatest width measured over y (By.max ) rejuvenated.

2 Optical device according to claim 1, characterized in that a

(-x) - (- y) edge and a y-z edge or (-y) - (- z) edge of the first optical part (10) are main exit surfaces for the light.

Optical device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a second optical component (10 ') in the form of a light-conducting solid in a recess (22) of the first optical component (10) is arranged, wherein the second optical component (10'; ) in the Cartesian coordinate system has a z-directional length which is less than or equal to its longitudinal extension in the y-direction and less than or equal to its longitudinal extension in the x-direction and where an envelope of the second optical component (10 ') projected into an xy plane ) substantially gives a rectangle, and the second optical component (10 '), starting from an xy plane in the z-direction, tapers to a maximum of V _{4 of} the greatest width measured over x (Bx, max). 4 optical device according to claim 3, characterized in that the first and / or the second-optical item (10, 10 ') by a plurality of outer surfaces (7, 14, 16, 20) are limited, each of which exert an optical function.

Optical device according to one of claims 3 or 4, characterized in that the first and second optical parts (10, 10 ') are twisted together so that their axes x, y appear to be interchanged.

Optical device according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the first and second optical parts (10, 10 ') are twisted together so that their axes x, y, z are at any desired angle.

7 Optical device according to one of the claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the first and the second optical items (10, 10 ') are frictionally assembled and / or glued together.

Optical device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the further individual part (10 ") which serves to connect to the LED light source (6) is likewise an optically conductive solid which is incorporated in the optical device (30 ) is integrated as an optical item.

9. Optical device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that in the at least one optical component (10, 10 ', 10 ") one or more hollows (1, 2) of arbitrary shape are provided whose cavity boundary surfaces as Mirror and / or lens and / or beam splitter within the item (10, 10 ', 10 ") act, the longitudinal extent of the cavities (1, 2) parallel to the y-direction or to x-

Extends direction, and preferably as from the xz flank to the (-x) - (- z) Flank, or from the yz edge to the (-y) - (- z) flank continuous cavities (1, 2) are configured.

Optical device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and second optical component (10, 10 ') and the further individual part (10 ") has a refractive index which differs at least by +/- 0.1 from 1.