EP2843301A1 - Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage - Google Patents

Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP2843301A1
EP2843301A1 EP13182309.8A EP13182309A EP2843301A1 EP 2843301 A1 EP2843301 A1 EP 2843301A1 EP 13182309 A EP13182309 A EP 13182309A EP 2843301 A1 EP2843301 A1 EP 2843301A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
light engine
reflector
towards
engine according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13182309.8A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Henrik Chresten Pedersen
Thomas Brockmann
Carsten Dam-Hansen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Danmarks Tekniskie Universitet
Original Assignee
Danmarks Tekniskie Universitet
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Danmarks Tekniskie Universitet filed Critical Danmarks Tekniskie Universitet
Priority to EP13182309.8A priority Critical patent/EP2843301A1/fr
Publication of EP2843301A1 publication Critical patent/EP2843301A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

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
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0058—Reflectors for light sources adapted to cooperate with light sources of shapes different from point-like or linear, e.g. circular light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/24—Light guides
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/20—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters
    • F21S41/25—Projection lenses
    • F21S41/255—Lenses with a front view of circular or truncated circular outline
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/30—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by reflectors
    • F21S41/32—Optical layout thereof
    • F21S41/321—Optical layout thereof the reflector being a surface of revolution or a planar surface, e.g. truncated
    • 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
    • F21V13/00—Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
    • F21V13/02—Combinations of only two kinds of elements
    • F21V13/04—Combinations of only two kinds of elements the elements being reflectors and refractors
    • 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
    • F21V13/00—Producing particular characteristics or distribution of the light emitted by means of a combination of elements specified in two or more of main groups F21V1/00 - F21V11/00
    • F21V13/12—Combinations of only three kinds of elements
    • F21V13/14—Combinations of only three kinds of elements the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements, reflectors and refractors
    • 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
    • F21V5/008—Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
    • 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
    • F21V5/04—Refractors for light sources of lens shape
    • F21V5/045—Refractors for light sources of lens shape the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
    • 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
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0008—Reflectors for light sources providing for indirect lighting
    • 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
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/04—Optical design
    • F21V7/06—Optical design with parabolic curvature
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21S—NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
    • F21S41/00—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps
    • F21S41/10—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source
    • F21S41/14—Illuminating devices specially adapted for vehicle exteriors, e.g. headlamps characterised by the light source characterised by the type of light source
    • F21S41/141—Light emitting diodes [LED]
    • F21S41/143—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device
    • F21S41/145—Light emitting diodes [LED] the main emission direction of the LED being parallel to the optical axis of the illuminating device the main emission direction of the LED being opposite to the main emission direction of the illuminating device
    • 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
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0008—Reflectors for light sources providing for indirect lighting
    • F21V7/0016—Reflectors for light sources providing for indirect lighting on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes
    • 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
    • F21V7/00—Reflectors for light sources
    • F21V7/0091—Reflectors for light sources using total internal reflection
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2107/00—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles
    • F21W2107/10—Use or application of lighting devices on or in particular types of vehicles for land vehicles
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/10—Outdoor lighting
    • F21W2131/107—Outdoor lighting of the exterior of buildings
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21W—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
    • F21W2131/00—Use or application of lighting devices or systems not provided for in codes F21W2102/00-F21W2121/00
    • F21W2131/40—Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use
    • F21W2131/406—Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use for theatres, stages or film studios
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2113/00—Combination of light sources
    • F21Y2113/10—Combination of light sources of different colours
    • F21Y2113/13—Combination of light sources of different colours comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21Y—INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
    • F21Y2115/00—Light-generating elements of semiconductor light sources
    • F21Y2115/10—Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a light engine for an illumination device, in particular an illumination device for stage lighting, studio lighting of TV studios or other studios, architectural lighting, museum lighting, internal lighting, external illumination of buildings, monuments or the like, head lamps for automobiles, bicycles or the like.
  • Illumination devices such as spotlights are widely used for stage lighting, studio lighting etc. It is generally desirable that such illumination devices are energy efficient, i.e. they have a high efficiency. Moreover, it is generally desirable that the area to be illuminated may be delimited by masking elements, often also referred to as "barn doors,” such that the effective illuminated area has well-defined boundaries between illuminated and dark areas, i.e. without or with only very limited transitional areas of decreasing illumination along the edge of the illuminated area.
  • illumination devices comprise a light engine which combines light from a number of light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
  • LEDs light-emitting diodes
  • LED-based illumination devices have an improved light efficiency, they provide illuminated areas having less well-defined edges, as the individual LED's are not point-like sources but rather emit light from light-emitting surfaces.
  • a light engine for an illumination device the light engine defining an output gate and being configured to output light from said output gate; wherein the light engine comprises:
  • an embodiment of the light engine described herein functions as a localized virtual light source that emits light from a small beam spot which defines the virtual light source.
  • the light engine combines light from one or more individual light sources that together define a light-emitting area.
  • the concave reflector of the light engine directs a combined, converging beam to the beam spot where light from different portions of the light-emitting area is concentrated into the localized beam spot.
  • a concave reflector allows for an improved focusing of the light from different parts of an extended light-emitting area to a small beam spot. Moreover, it has turned out that, when each light source emits light from a light-emitting surface rather than a point-like source, a concave reflector provides a more efficient focusing of the light from each light source into a smaller beam spot than a transmissive element like a lens or Fresnel lens. It will be appreciated that the converging beam is generally not focused into an ideal focal point, in particular not when the individual light sources deviate from point sources and emit light from light emitting surfaces having certain finite areas.
  • the term beam spot is intended to refer to a beam cross section, e.g. at a beam waist of the converging beam.
  • the size of the beam spot may e.g. be defined as the size of the beam cross section at the beam waist including a predetermined fraction of the total beam energy.
  • the spot size may be expressed as an area or a diameter of the beam spot.
  • the light engine may be arranged to operate as a virtual localized light source that may at least approximately be considered as a virtual point like light source that emits light from a localized output gate.
  • Embodiments of the light engine thus provide light that can illuminate a target area having well-defined boundaries while allowing the use of light sources having a high light efficiency. Furthermore, embodiments of the light engine provide light that can be collimated (or at least quasi-collimated) to form a collimated or quasi-collimated beam having a low divergence, so as to allow well-defined illumination of areas or objects from large distances. Moreover, embodiments of the light engine described herein are suitable for use in illumination devices that are to be configured to provide a well-defined light intensity distribution.
  • the output gate may be defined by an aperture, a diffuser plate, a microlens array and/or other optical element. Alternatively, the output gate may merely be defined by a beam waist of the reflected beam from the concave reflector. The output gate may be defined by a focal plane of the reflector.
  • the concave reflector may be configured to direct the converging beam to converge in a beam spot in a plane defined by an optical element such as an aperture, a diffuser plate or a microlens.
  • the light-emitting area is an annular area defining a central aperture; and the concave reflector is arranged to combine the light from the light sources to direct the converging beam through the aperture.
  • This arrangement provides a particularly uniform and well-defined output beam and a particular efficient and uniform utilization of light from the entire light-emitting area.
  • the concave reflector is reflective at least in respect of light of a predetermined wavelength range. It will be appreciated that the concave reflector may be reflective in respect of a first wavelength range while being transmissive or otherwise non-reflective in respect of light of a second wavelength range.
  • the concave reflector comprises an annular portion and a central portion surrounded by the annular portion.
  • the annular portion is formed by, or comprises, a reflective surface of the concave reflector, which reflective surface is reflective at least in respect of light of a predetermined wavelength range, in particular a wavelength range comprised in the light emitted by the annular light emitting area, preferably a wavelength range covering a major part of the light emitted by the annular-light emitting surface.
  • the central portion may be a central opening defined by an inner rim of the annular portion. Alternatively, the central portion may be a non-reflective, partially reflective and partially transmissive, or a transmissive portion.
  • the light from the light sources, e.g. from the annular light-emitting area is directed by one or more optical elements to, preferably only or at least predominantly, the annular, reflective portion of the reflector.
  • the light engine may further comprise one or more additional light sources operable to direct light towards the central aperture defined by the annular light-emitting area, thereby increasing the total light emitting area of the light engine.
  • the additional light sources thus face the central aperture and emit light in a direction generally opposite of the light emitted by the annular light-emitting area, i.e. away from the reflective surface of the reflector.
  • the light from the additional light sources may be directed by one or more additional optical elements as a converging beam towards the output gate.
  • the additional optical element(s) may comprise a collimating and a focussing lens or merely a focussing lens.
  • the lenses may be implemented as separate components or combined to a single lens structure.
  • the lens may be formed by a TIR lens having a collimating light-receiving face facing at least one of the one or more additional light sources and a focussing, light-emitting surface facing the central aperture defined by the annular light-emitting area.
  • the light-emitting surface of the lens may e.g. be formed as a Fresnel lens.
  • the additional light source(s) and, optionally, the additional optical element(s) may be mounted behind (with respect to the aperture) a partially transmissive portion of the concave reflector, e.g. an annular portion of the reflector.
  • the additional light sources may be arranged aligned with the central portion of the reflector (e.g.
  • the additional light source(s) and the additional optical element(s) may be positioned behind or in front of the central portion of the reflector which central portion may thus be left non-reflective.
  • the additional light source(s) or the additional optical element(s) may be mounted flush with a central opening of the reflector.
  • the annular portion of the reflector may be partially reflective and partially transmissive.
  • the annular portion may be transmissive in a first spectral range and reflective in a second, different spectral range.
  • the annular portion is transmissive at wavelengths above a threshold wavelength and reflective at wavelengths below the threshold wavelength.
  • the annular portion may be formed as a colour interference filter, e.g. a dichroic filter.
  • the light sources of the annular light-emitting area may be operable to at least predominantly emit light within the second spectral range, e.g. predominantly below the threshold wavelength of the central portion (e.g.
  • the additional light sources may be mounted behind (seen from the annular light emitting area) the annular portion of the reflector and operable to at least predominantly emit light in the first spectral range e.g. predominantly above the threshold wavelength (e.g. predominantly red light).
  • the light from the additional light sources may thus be directed from the additional light sources through the partially transmissive reflector towards the output gate.
  • the light engine comprises at least one optical element configured to direct light from at least one of the one or more light sources towards the reflector and wherein the reflector is arranged to reflect the light as a converging beam towards said beam spot at said output gate.
  • the optical element may be a collimator that at least partially collimates the light or even provide a converging light beam.
  • the light engine comprises at least one collimator configured to direct light from at least one of the one or more light sources as collimated light towards the reflector and wherein the reflector is arranged to reflect the collimated light as a converging beam towards said beam spot at said output gate.
  • the light engine may comprise a plurality of light sources and a plurality of collimators each adapted to receive light from one of the light sources and to direct a collimated (or quasi-collimated) beam towards the reflector.
  • the collimator is a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) lens, comprising a light-receiving input surface, a light-emitting output surface and a lateral surface; the input surface has a central portion and an annular portion; the central portion is configured to at least partially collimate received light and to direct the received light towards the output surface, and the annular portion is operable to direct received light towards the lateral surface for total internal reflection of the light towards the output surface.
  • TIR Total Internal Reflection
  • the output surfaces of the collimators may be planar
  • other embodiments of the light engine may comprise collimators having a light-emitting output surface with a central portion and an annular portion that surrounds the central portion; the central and annular portions may have respective radius of curvatures, e.g. the central portion may have a smaller radius of curvature than the annular portion.
  • curvature of a surface refers to the curvature of a cross-section of the surface and may be quantified by a radius of curvature. Consequently, the shaping of the beam towards the reflector may be performed both by the light-receiving input surface of the collimator and by the light-emitting output surface.
  • one of the central and the annular portions of the input or output surface may have a very large or even infinite radius of curvature, i.e. be planar, while the other portion of said input or output surface has a convex or concave shape.
  • the concave reflector is a parabolic reflector
  • a particularly accurate convergence of the reflected light beam into a small beam spot is provided.
  • the light engine when the light engine is operable to generate a small beam spot into which a major portion of the light from the light sources is converged, the light engine operates as a localized or even point-like virtual light source. Consequently, the light generated by the light engine may be accurately shaped by one or more suitable optical elements to form a collimated beam of low convergence/divergence and/or to illuminate an area such that the boundaries between the illuminated area and the surrounding of the illuminated area may accurately be defined with no or only minimal transitional boundary zones.
  • the light engine comprises a plurality of light sources distributed across the light-emitting area, thus allowing a high light efficiency while still functioning as a localized virtual light source.
  • each light source and, optionally, each additional light source comprises one or more Light-emitting Diodes (LEDs), thus providing a particularly energy-efficient illumination while allowing an accurate delimiting of the illuminated area. LEDs are typically small light sources thus allowing an accurate shaping and directing of the resulting emitted light.
  • embodiments of a light engine may comprise one or more other light sources and/or, optionally, additional light source(s), such as lasers, VCSELs, quantum dots, etc.
  • the light engine comprises light sources emitting light having different respective spectral distributions, e.g. light of different chromaticity.
  • the light engine may comprise red, green and blue light sources e.g. LEDs.
  • the concave reflector thus combines light of different color to a mixed converging beam.
  • the light engine may be operated as a light mixer operable to output light of different chromaticity.
  • the light engine may mix light from a plurality of light sources so as to control one or more other parameters of the mixed output light.
  • the present invention relates to different aspects including the light engine described above and in the following, a corresponding illumination device and other apparatus, systems, methods, and/or products, each yielding one or more of the benefits and advantages described in connection with the first mentioned aspects, and each having one or more embodiments corresponding to the embodiments described in connection with the first mentioned aspects and/or disclosed in the appended claims.
  • an illumination device for illuminating a target area
  • the illumination device comprising a light engine as described herein and one or more optical device configured to receive light from the output gate of the light engine and to direct the received light towards the target area.
  • the optical device may include one or more reflective elements and/or one or more transmittive elements.
  • the optical device may include an optical lens or lens system and/or one or more reflectors.
  • the optical device comprises a collimating or a focusing lens.
  • the illumination device further comprises shaping elements, such as masking elements, for selectively delimiting the illuminated area.
  • the shaping elements may be movably arranged so as to block a portion of the light from the illumination device and to adjust the shape of the illuminated area.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an example of a light engine, generally designated 100.
  • the light engine comprises a plurality of light sources 101, a plurality of collimators 102, a concave reflector 104 and a diffuser plate 106.
  • the reflector faces the light sources, and the light sources are configured to direct light towards the reflector and into the open end of the reflector.
  • the light sources are light-emitting diodes (LEDs) each having a light-emitting surface facing the reflector 104. It will be appreciated that other embodiments may use other types of light sources.
  • the light sources are annularly arranged on a support plate 113 around a central aperture defined by the inner edge 114 of the support plate 113.
  • the support plate may e.g. be a printed circuit board on which the LEDs are mounted.
  • the central aperture is covered by the diffuser plate 106.
  • the light sources together define an annular light emitting surface that directs light towards the reflector.
  • Each of the collimators 102 is positioned in front of one of the light sources 101 and configured to receive light from the respective light source and to direct a collimated beam 103 towards the concave reflector 104.
  • the collimators 102 are total internal reflection lenses, but other types of collimating optical elements may be used instead.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the support plate 113 with the light sources 191 and collimators 102 arranged around the central aperture.
  • a light engine may comprise tens or even more than hundred LEDs. It will be appreciated that other embodiments may comprise a different number and/or a different arrangement of light sources.
  • the collimators 102 are shown as separate elements, it will be appreciated that some or all of the collimators may be combined into a single component, e.g. a moulded plastic component.
  • the concave reflector 104 may e.g. be a metal-coated plastic or glass reflector, a dielectric mirror, or another form of reflector.
  • the concave reflector 104 is a parabolic reflector configured to receive the respective collimated beams 103 from the collimators 102 and to converge all received light beams into a converging beam 105 which converges onto a beam spot 107 on the diffuser plate 106.
  • the light 108 output by the light engine through the diffuser plate 106 appears to originate from a virtual point-like source at the beam spot 107.
  • embodiments of the light engine described herein provide a very small, well-localised beam spot 107, even if the light sources 101 emit light over a relatively large area, e.g. an area of the order of 1 mm 2 .
  • the parabolic shape of the reflector is believed to be particularly well-suited for producing a small beam spot. Simulations performed by the inventors indicate that the embodiment a light engine shown in FIG.
  • the support plate may be a circular plate having a diameter of 15 cm with a central, circular hole of 4 cm.
  • the central aperture takes up only approximately 6.5 % of the mounting area that would otherwise be available in the absence of the central hole.
  • the collimators may direct respective parallel, collimated light beams towards a parabolic reflector such that the light beams are parallel with the optical axis of the parabolic reflector and the reflector may focus the incoming parallel beams into a beam spot on the optical axis.
  • the concave reflector may have a different geometric shape and the beams from the collimators may not necessarily be all parallel with each other or not parallel with the optical axis.
  • the collimated beams may further be partially collimated, i.e. slightly divergent or convergent.
  • the diffuser plate 106 is arranged in the same plane as the output surfaces of the collimators.
  • the diffuser may be arranged in the plane of the light sources 101 or in the plane of the support plate 113.
  • the reflector 104 may be configured to focus the converging beam 105 at a different distance from the reflector, e.g. in the plane of the light sources or the plane of the support plate 113.
  • the diffuser plate may be omitted or replaced by another optical element such as a microlens array or small aperture.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 show more detailed views of examples of a light source 101 with a collimating lens 102.
  • the collimator is a TIR lens having a light-receiving input surface that faces the light source 101 and a light-emitting output surface that faces away from the light source 101 and towards the reflector 104.
  • the input surface has a central portion and an annular portion 318 surrounding the central portion.
  • the central portion 309 is formed as a bottom of a recess while the annular portion 318 is formed by the side walls of the recess.
  • the light source 101 is positioned at the centre of (i.e.
  • the light source may be positioned flush with a rim of the recess or partly extending into the recess.
  • the central portion 309 is convex so as to collimate the received light from the light source 101.
  • the annular portion 318 is also convex so as to cause a collimation of the incoming light.
  • the light entering the collimator lens 102 through the annular portion 318 impinges on a circumferential lateral surface 310 of the lens.
  • the lateral surface defines an angle relative to the optical axis such that the light is redirected from the lateral surface by total internal reflection as collimated light 103 through the output surface of the lens 102.
  • the lateral surface may also be curved so as to contribute to the collimation.
  • Surface 318 may have infinite radius of curvature.
  • light emitted axially along or at small angles (e.g. less than 45° such as less than 30°) relative to the optical axis are collimated by the central portions, while light emitted laterally at larger angles (e.g. more than 30° such as more than 45°) relative to the optical axis are received by the annular portion and redirected by the lateral surface.
  • the output surface 311 is planar, while the output surface of the lens shown in FIG. 4 has a central portion 412 and an annular portion surrounding the central portion.
  • the central portion 412 is convex and contributes to the collimating effect of the central portion 309 of the input surface of the lens.
  • the annular portion 411 surrounds the central portion and may be planar or convex so as to contribute to the collimating effect of the annular portion 309 of the input surface and of the lateral surface 310.
  • the central portion 412 usually has a smaller radius of curvature than the annular portion 411.
  • FIG. 5 shows an example of an illumination device.
  • the illumination device comprises a housing 517, a light engine 100 (illustrated by a dashed dotted line) as described in connection with FIG. 1 , and a lens 515 that receives the light 108 output by the light engine 100 and directs the light 516 towards an area to be illuminated.
  • the light engine 100 and the lens 515 are arranged within the housing 517.
  • the lens 515 may be a collimating or focussing lens; it may be movably arranged so as to vary the characteristics of the light 516 output by the illumination device. It will be appreciated that embodiments of an illumination device may comprise other optical elements in addition or alternative to the lens 515.
  • FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example of a light engine.
  • the light engine 100 of FIG. 6 is similar to the light engine described with reference to FIG. 1 in that it comprises a plurality of light sources 101, a plurality of collimators 102, a concave reflector 104 and a diffuser plate 106, all as described in connection with FIG. 1 .
  • the light engine of FIG. 6 differs from the light engine of FIG. 1 in that the concave reflector 104 comprises a central hole 621 surrounded by an annular reflective surface 620.
  • the light from the light sources 101 is directed predominantly towards the annular reflective surface 620 and not (or at least not significantly) towards the central opening 621.
  • the light engine further comprises additional light sources 622, e.g.
  • the light engine further comprises additional collimating TIR lenses 623, similar to lenses 102, (or other suitable collimators) adapted to collimate the light from the additional light sources 622 towards the central aperture of support plate 113.
  • the light engine further comprises a focusing lens 619 operable to receive the collimated light from the collimating TIR lenses and provide a converging beam that converges towards the same beam spot 107 as the converging reflected beam from the reflector 104. Consequently, in the embodiment of FIG. 6 , the total light-emitting area of the light engine is increased, thus allowing a larger number of light sources to be provided without increasing the overall dimensions of the light engine.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of another example of a light engine.
  • the light engine 100 of FIG. 7 is similar to the light engine described with reference to FIG. 6 , but where the light from the additional light sources 622 is directed and converged towards the beam spot 107 by a single TIR lens structure 723.
  • the lens structure 723 has a light-receiving input face having multiple input portions, one for each of the additional light sources 622. Each input portion is similar to the light-receiving input face of lenses 102, while the light-emitting output face of lens structure 723 is formed as a common Fresnel lens.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another example of a light engine.
  • the light engine 100 of FIG. 8 is similar to the light engine described with reference to FIG. 7 , but where the single TIR lens structure is replaced by multiple TIR lenses 823, one for each light source 622.
  • Each lens 823 has a light-receiving input face similar to the light-receiving input face of lenses 102, while the light-emitting output faces of lenses 823 together form a Fresnel lens.
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of yet another example of a light engine.
  • the light engine 100 of FIG. 9 is similar to the light engine described with reference to FIG. 7 , but further comprising yet another set of one or more additional light sources 926 and corresponding one or more optical elements 925.
  • the reflector 104 is formed as an interference filter configured to transmit light having wavelengths above a threshold wavelength, e.g. 600 nm, and to reflect light below the threshold wavelength.
  • the interference filter has a central opening 621, thus defining an annular, partially reflective and partially transmissive surface.
  • the additional light source(s) 926 and optical element(s) 925 are placed behind (as seen from the central aperture of support plate 113) the annular concave reflector 104.
  • the light sources 101 are operable to at least predominantly emit light in a wavelength range below the threshold wavelength of the interference filter (such that the light from the light sources 101 is reflected by the interference filter) while the further light sources 926 behind the reflector are operable to at least predominantly emit light above the threshold wavelength (such that the light from the additional light sources 926 is transmitted by the interference filter 104).
  • the light sources may be green and/or blue LEDs, while the further light sources 926 may be red LEDs.
  • the light engine may comprise light sources 622 radially arranged within the central opening (e.g. axially in front of the opening, behind the opening or within the opening), e.g. as described in connection with FIG. 7 . These central light sources 622 may emit white light or light having another desired spectral distribution.
EP13182309.8A 2013-08-30 2013-08-30 Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage Withdrawn EP2843301A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13182309.8A EP2843301A1 (fr) 2013-08-30 2013-08-30 Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP13182309.8A EP2843301A1 (fr) 2013-08-30 2013-08-30 Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2843301A1 true EP2843301A1 (fr) 2015-03-04

Family

ID=49083540

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13182309.8A Withdrawn EP2843301A1 (fr) 2013-08-30 2013-08-30 Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage

Country Status (1)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2843301A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10697612B2 (en) 2018-05-02 2020-06-30 Frank Shum Light distribution for planar photonic component

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JP2005292642A (ja) * 2004-04-02 2005-10-20 Victor Co Of Japan Ltd 光源装置
US20070138978A1 (en) * 2003-06-23 2007-06-21 Advanced Optical Technologies, Llc Conversion of solid state source output to virtual source
EP1857729A1 (fr) * 2006-05-19 2007-11-21 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH Module optoelectronique et système d'illumination avec un tel module
US7580192B1 (en) * 2008-12-23 2009-08-25 Smart Champ Enterprise Limited Collimation lens system for LED
WO2011006501A1 (fr) * 2009-07-13 2011-01-20 Martin Professional A/S Dispositif d'éclairage à combinaison des couleurs
US20120069562A1 (en) * 2010-09-21 2012-03-22 Honeywell International Inc. Performance spotlight
US20120155102A1 (en) * 2009-08-20 2012-06-21 Erwin Melzner Led luminaire, particularly led headlight
WO2012167799A1 (fr) 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 Martin Professional A/S Dispositif d'éclairage à modes multiples

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20070138978A1 (en) * 2003-06-23 2007-06-21 Advanced Optical Technologies, Llc Conversion of solid state source output to virtual source
JP2005292642A (ja) * 2004-04-02 2005-10-20 Victor Co Of Japan Ltd 光源装置
EP1857729A1 (fr) * 2006-05-19 2007-11-21 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH Module optoelectronique et système d'illumination avec un tel module
US7580192B1 (en) * 2008-12-23 2009-08-25 Smart Champ Enterprise Limited Collimation lens system for LED
WO2011006501A1 (fr) * 2009-07-13 2011-01-20 Martin Professional A/S Dispositif d'éclairage à combinaison des couleurs
US20120155102A1 (en) * 2009-08-20 2012-06-21 Erwin Melzner Led luminaire, particularly led headlight
US20120069562A1 (en) * 2010-09-21 2012-03-22 Honeywell International Inc. Performance spotlight
WO2012167799A1 (fr) 2011-06-10 2012-12-13 Martin Professional A/S Dispositif d'éclairage à modes multiples

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10697612B2 (en) 2018-05-02 2020-06-30 Frank Shum Light distribution for planar photonic component

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US10422943B2 (en) Luminaire with light guide
US8919994B2 (en) Illumination system and lamp utilizing directionalized LEDs
JP5650962B2 (ja) 手術用ライト
US20140112003A1 (en) Methods and apparatus related to an optical lens for a led
US9063257B2 (en) LED illumination lamp
EP2721656B1 (fr) Source de lumière à del
US10253941B2 (en) Lighting device, corresponding lamp and method
US10962194B1 (en) Motor vehicle light guide and reflective coupler system for outboard homogenous lit appearance of lamp module
WO2016194959A1 (fr) Élément de régulation de flux lumineux, dispositif electroluminescent et dispositif d'éclairage
EP2726780B1 (fr) Guide de lumière
CA2905246C (fr) Systeme optique pour lampe directionnelle
EP2726781B1 (fr) Guide de lumière
US10139078B2 (en) Compact optical assembly for LED light sources
US20160010809A1 (en) Lighting apparatus
WO2017002723A1 (fr) Élément de régulation de flux lumineux, dispositif d'émission de lumière et dispositif d'éclairage
EP2843301A1 (fr) Générateur de lumière pour un dispositif d'éclairage
JP2016212371A (ja) 光束制御部材、発光装置および照明装置
US9052088B2 (en) Tuned composite optical arrangement for LED array
US9052418B2 (en) Light source module
US20210254798A1 (en) Luminaire for emitting directional and non-directional light
EP2955431A1 (fr) Élément optique, dispositif d'éclairage et luminaire
CN105202389A (zh) 大角度led灯
Pedersen et al. Light engine for an illumination device
EP3431868A1 (fr) Dispositif d'éclairage catadioptrique
WO2016181789A1 (fr) Organe de commande de faisceau de lumière, dispositif électroluminescent et dispositif d'éclairage

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 20130830

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

AX Request for extension of the european patent

Extension state: BA ME

PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN

18D Application deemed to be withdrawn

Effective date: 20150905