EP2423566A1

EP2423566A1 - Antiglare assembly for luminaires

Info

Publication number: EP2423566A1
Application number: EP11178923A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Morgan Govoni
Original assignee: Schneider Electric Industrie Italia SpA
Current assignee: Schneider Electric Industrie Italia SpA
Priority date: 2010-08-30
Filing date: 2011-08-25
Publication date: 2012-02-29
Also published as: CN102563529A; ITBO20100528A1; IT1401653B1; EP2423566A8

Abstract

An antiglare assembly (1) for luminaires of the type comprising at least one translucent and transparent lamina (2), which substantially faces the light source (3) and is proximate thereto.

The assembly (1) furthermore comprises a main body (4), which has a substantially curved cross-section and is provided with selective locking means (5) for a plate (6) for accommodating at least one light source (3).

The translucent lamina (2) is comprised along the main body (4), arranged longitudinally, substantially at its central portion, and comprises adapted raised portions (7), recesses (8) and shaped portions (9) of at least one of its faces for the diffusion and redirection of the incident light radiation, subsequently transmitted through the lamina (2).

Description

The present invention relates to an antiglare assembly for luminaires, particularly suitable for luminaires and lamps in general that use as light sources light emitting diodes known as LEDs.
The application of the present invention is particularly suitable for emergency lamps.
It is known to resort to the use of screens that are intended to reduce the glare effect of light sources whose emitted radiation is particularly intense: these screens are based on the adoption of transparent plates provided with distributed prisms in relief.
They are particularly suitable in the case of sources of the type of incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, fluorescent lamps, and metallic vapor lamps.
In many of these cases, the power of the lamp is in fact such as to easily tolerate the reduction in optical transmission performance introduced by inserting an additional dedicated assembly intended to avoid glare.
If the light sources are instead LEDs, plates of the known type would have the drawback of reducing excessively the transmission performance, penalizing the lighting level of the lighting assembly.
Moreover, the distribution of the optical prisms might not be suitable for a correct diffusion of the light radiation emitted by the LEDs.
It should be noted that LEDs are currently installed in emergency lamps without the adoption of additional protective screens. In this configuration, if the light emitted by the LEDs were to be viewed directly by a user, potential damage to his sight (of a substantially temporary type, but it is not possible to exclude more severe consequences) might occur.
As an alternative, it is known to adopt light reflecting apparatuses, which however cause a loss of emitted luminous flux of up to 50% of the luminous output of the sources.
It is noted that the IEC EN 62471 standard of 2008 (Photobiological safety of lamps and lamp systems) transposes publication IEC 62471:2006/CIE, drafted on the basis of the agreement with CIE (International Commission on Illumination) aimed at establishing the necessary indications for assessing the photobiological safety of lamps and lamps systems, including luminaires.
This standard requires the use of means designed to protect the eyes of users: all luminaires must therefore comply with the requirements set by this standard.
For luminaires provided with light sources constituted by LEDs, the application of the prescriptions of the standard determines, with screens of the known type, a great reduction in the power of the emitted beam and consequently of the performance of the luminaire.
The aim of the present invention is to solve the problems described above, proposing an antiglare assembly for luminaires that is suitable to eliminate the risks of glare for people who are present in the room where the luminaire is installed.
Within this aim, an object of the invention is to propose an antiglare assembly for luminaires that is adapted to maximize the luminous performance and efficiency of the apparatus by reducing luminous output losses.
Another object of the invention is to propose an antiglare assembly for luminaires that is constituted by a minimal number of components so as to reduce production, assembly and storage costs.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an antiglare assembly for luminaires that has low costs, is relatively simple to provide in practice and safe in application.
This aim and these objects are achieved by an antiglare assembly for luminaires of the type comprising at least one translucent and transparent lamina, which substantially faces the light source and is proximate thereto, characterized in that it comprises a main body, which has a substantially curved cross-section and is provided with selective locking means for a plate for accommodating at least one light source, said translucent lamina being comprised along said main body, arranged longitudinally, substantially at its central portion, said lamina comprising adapted raised portions, recesses and shaped portions of at least one of its faces for the diffusion and redirection of the incident light radiation, subsequently transmitted through said lamina.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the antiglare assembly for luminaires according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an antiglare assembly for luminaires according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of an antiglare assembly for luminaires according to the invention;
Figure 3 is an enlarged-scale view of a portion of an antiglare assembly for luminaires according to the invention;
Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken along the plane IV-IV of Figure 2;
Figure 5 is a side view of an antiglare assembly for luminaires according to the invention;
Figure 6 is a sectional view, taken along the plane VI-VI of Figure 5;
Figure 7 is an enlarged-scale view of a portion of the sectional view of Figure 6.

With particular reference to the figures cited above, the reference numeral 1 generally designates an antiglare assembly for luminaires.
The assembly 1 comprises at least one transparent and translucent lamina 2, which substantially faces the light source 3 and is proximate thereto.
According to the invention, the assembly 1 comprises a main body 4, which has a substantially curved cross-section and is provided with means 5 for selective locking for a plate 6 for accommodating the at least one light source 3.
It should be noted conveniently that the translucent lamina 2 (which is substantially transparent so that it can be crossed easily by the light radiation emitted by the source 3) is comprised along the main body 4: in particular, it is arranged longitudinally with respect to it and is substantially located at its central portion.
Said lamina 2 comprises adapted raised portions 7, recesses 8 and shaped portions 9 of at least one of its faces for the diffusion and redirection of the incident luminous radiation subsequently transmitted through said lamina 2.
The assembly 1 according to the invention is particularly effective if one uses, as a light source 3 (accommodated on the plate 6), a light emitting diode known as LED (Light Emitting Diode).
In particular, a plurality of LEDs is normally used, arranged according to a distribution dictated by lighting technology requirements; for example, with specific reference to the constructive solutions shown in the accompanying figures, the LEDs are arranged on a single row and equidistant along said plate 6.
Of course, the LEDs are distributed along the surface of the plate 6 that faces the internal face of the translucent lamina 2 of the main body 4.
For optimum diffusion of the luminous radiation emitted by the LEDs (sources 3) and to avoid dazzling the people that are present in the space where the luminaire provided with the assembly 1 is installed, the lamina 2 comprises a longitudinally shaped portion 9, substantially at its center line, which is substantially V-shaped.
The vertex of the V-shape protrudes from the internal face of the body 4 and is proximate to the top of the at least one light source 3 accommodated on the respective plate 6.
In particular, with reference to the constructive solution shown in the accompanying figures, the vertex of the V-shaped portion 9 is aligned with the top of the LEDs aligned along the plate 6.
More specifically, the lamina 2 comprises a plurality of prism-shaped raised portions 7 which are distributed on its outward-facing face (their provision also on its inward-facing face is not excluded).
The raised portions 7 can be shaped like irregular prisms but also like pyramids (for example with a square base): in any case, the provision of raised portions 7 having a hemispherical or hemiellipsoidal shape, depending on the specific requirements of application, is not excluded.
According to a specific constructive solution that is of unquestionable interest in practice and in application, since it makes it possible to minimize the number of components required for the correct operation of the assembly 1, the locking means 5 comprise, on corresponding and facing internal edges 10 of the main body 4, respective shoulder frames 11 for the resting of corresponding perimetric portions of the plate 6 (designed to accommodate at least one light source 3).
According to this constructive solution, the mounting of the plate 6 on the main body 4, thus arranging its perimetric portions on the shoulder frames 11, occurs as a consequence of an elastic deformation (widening with consequent increase in the mutual distance between the internal edges 10 of the body 4) of the main body 4.
It is extremely important to point out that the main body 4 comprises elastic protruding elements 12, provided with end teeth 13, which are designed for removable elastic coupling with respective seats of the fixed casing of the luminaire in which it will be installed. The fixed casing normally also comprises the reflective parabola intended to convey the light radiation toward the space to be lit.
In particular, the luminaire comprises a casing for fixing to the installation surface, optionally with the interposition of adapted coupling elements (for example suspension units or mounting brackets), said at least one light source 3, connected to a respective electric power supply circuit, and at least one screen, which is at least partially transparent and can be associated functionally with the casing, faces the at least one light source 3 and is proximate thereto.
According to the invention, the luminaire furthermore comprises a plate 6 for supporting, in the ideal alignment configuration, the at least one light source 3.
The screen is constituted by a main body 4 that has a substantially curved cross-section.
The main body 4 is provided with selective locking means 5 for the plate 6 for accommodating the at least one light source 3.
The at least partially transparent area of the screen is comprised along the main body 4, arranged longitudinally, substantially at its central portion, and comprises adapted protrusions 7, recesses 8 and shaped portions 9 of at least one of its faces, for the diffusion and redirection of the incident luminous radiation subsequently transmitted through said area.
Even in the case of a dedicated apparatus, it is convenient to specify that the invention is particularly efficient if the at least one light source 3 accommodated on the plate 6 is a light emitting diode known as LED (Light Emitting Diode). If multiple LEDs are present, they are suitably coupled and distributed over the plate 6.
The main body 4 of the luminaire according to the invention must comprise respective shoulder frames 11 for the resting of corresponding perimetric portions of the plate 6 (for accommodating the at least one light source 3) at its corresponding and facing internal edges 10.
In this case also, the mounting of the plate 6 with its perimetric portions engaged and rested on the shoulder frames 11 occurs by elastic deformation of said main body 4.
What is proposed with the present invention is an assembly 1 that is assembled on the reflective parabola and cannot be disassembled in any way. This assembly 1 diffuses the luminous beam of the individual LEDs, minimizing (no more than 5%) the loss of luminous output and ensuring safety for sight in accordance and compliance with the specific statutory provisions in force (IEC 6247 1:2006-EN A62471:2008).
Even in case of the execution of functional tests of the luminaire, the assembly can be opened without causing any glare problem: during maintenance, therefore, even the operator is protected against glare, since in order to access the sources 3 it is necessary to remove the entire assembly 1, to which the sources 3 are coupled by means of the plate 6.
The advantages offered by this invention with respect to the preceding approaches are many.
First of all, it in fact ensures an increase in safety for the operator assigned to maintenance of the luminaires, since it constitutes a fixed protection system against glare.
Moreover, the adoption of the assembly 1 ensures refraction of the light within the lamina 2, with a consequent increase in the breadth of the emitted luminous beam, which, with particular reference to LEDs, would be normally comprised between 60° and 120°.
It should not be ignored that the adoption of the assembly 1 also minimizes the aesthetic impact on the luminaire: traditional screens are generally superimposed on the standard screens of the apparatus itself and compromise its appearance.
Advantageously, the present invention solves the problems described above, proposing an antiglare assembly 1 for luminaires that is suitable to eliminate the risks of glare for people who are present in the room where the apparatus is installed.
Positively, the antiglare assembly 1 for luminaires is adapted to maximize the luminous performance and efficiency of the luminaire, reducing luminous output losses.
Usefully, the antiglare assembly 1 for luminaires is constituted by a minimal number of components for reducing production, assembly and storage costs.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In the examples of embodiment shown, individual characteristics, given in relation to specific examples, may actually be interchanged with other different characteristics that exist in other examples of embodiment.
Moreover, it is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.
In practice, the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. BO2010A000528 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An antiglare assembly for luminaires of the type comprising at least one translucent and transparent lamina (2), which substantially faces the light source (3) and is proximate thereto, characterized in that it comprises a main body (4), which has a substantially curved cross-section and is provided with selective locking means (5) for a plate (6) for accommodating at least one light source (3), said translucent lamina (2) being comprised along said main body (4), arranged longitudinally, substantially at its central portion, said lamina (2) comprising adapted raised portions (7), recesses (8) and shaped portions (9) of at least one of its faces for the diffusion and redirection of the incident light radiation, subsequently transmitted through said lamina (2).
The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one light source (3) accommodated on said plate (6) is a light-emitting diode.
The assembly according to claim 2, characterized in that each plate (6) comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes, distributed along its surface that faces the inner surface of said translucent lamina (2) of said main body (4).
The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said lamina (2) comprises a longitudinally shaped portion (9), substantially at its center line, which is substantially V-shaped, the vertex of said V-shape protruding from the inner face of said body (4) and being proximate to the top of the at least one light source (3) accommodated on the respective plate (6).
The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said lamina (2) comprises a plurality of prism-like raised portions (7) distributed on its outward face.
The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said locking means (5) comprise, on corresponding and facing internal edges (10) of said main body (4), respective shoulder frames (11) for the resting of corresponding perimetric portions of said plate (6) for accommodating at least one light source (3), the mounting of said plate (6) with its perimetric portions rested and stably accommodated on said shoulder frames (11) occurring by elastic deformation of said main body (4).
The assembly according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said main body (4) comprises elastic protruding elements (12), which are provided with end teeth (13) and are designed for detachable elastic coupling with respective seats of the fixed casing of said luminaire.
A luminaire of the type comprising a casing for fixing to the installation surface, even with the interposition of adapted coupling elements, at least one light source (3) which is connected to a respective electric power supply circuit and at least one at least partially transparent screen, which can be functionally associated with said casing and faces said at least one light source (3) and is proximate thereto, characterized in that it comprises a plate (6) for supporting, in the ideal alignment configuration, said at least one light source (3), said screen being constituted by a main body (4) that has a substantially curved cross-section, said main body (4) being provided with selective locking means (5) for said plate (6) for accommodating at least one light source (3), the at least partially transparent area of said screen being comprised along said main body (4) and arranged longitudinally, substantially at its central portion, and comprising adapted raised portions (7), recesses (8) and shaped portions (9) of at least one face thereof for the diffusion and redirection of the incident light radiation, subsequently transmitted through said area.
The luminaire according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one light source (3) accommodated on said plate (6) is a light-emitting diode known as LED (Light Emitting Diode) diode, said LEDs being coupled and distributed over said plate (6).
The luminaire according to claim 8, characterized in that said main body (4) comprises respective shoulder frames (11) for resting corresponding perimetric portions of said plate (6), for accommodating at least one light source (3), at its corresponding and facing internal edges (10), the mounting of said plate (6) with its perimetric portions rested and accommodated stably on said shoulder frames (11) occurring by elastic deformation of said main body (4).