EP2894392B1

EP2894392B1 - Lighting device for illumination streets, roads or paths

Info

Publication number: EP2894392B1
Application number: EP14368005.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Florian Rocard; Alice Mulin
Original assignee: ZG Lighting France SAS
Current assignee: ZG Lighting France SAS
Priority date: 2014-01-10
Filing date: 2014-01-10
Publication date: 2021-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2034-01-10
Also published as: WO2015104327A1; CN105992906B; CN105992906A; EP2894392A1

Description

1. Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a lighting device for illuminating streets, roads or paths, as well as to a corresponding lighting system for illuminating streets, roads or paths.

2. Technical background

From the prior art, lighting devices for illuminating streets or roads are well-known, for example from documents WO 2013/136217 A1 or WO 2006/092538 A1 . Document WO 2006/092538 A1 discloses a device for illuminating traffic lanes having a light source arranged at a vertical height of not more than 1 m. In this document, it is further disclosed that the lighting device is mounted on a guard rail (e.g. on a guard rail placed in the middle of a highway) such that the device is preferably arranged under the position of a driver. However, in practice it has been found that a driver can be dazzled by the light of such a lighting device. Moreover, in this document, it is disclosed to use a gas-discharge lamp (HID lamp) due to the required luminance. However, in this respect, it has also to be noted that there are only limited design opportunities for the lighting device (i.e. for any reflector arrangement positioned adjacent to the light source) using such gas-discharge lamps due to the usual large dimensions of such gas-discharge lamps. As a result, there are also only limited opportunities for any reflector arrangement used in connection with such a gas-discharge lamp.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new lighting device for illuminating streets, roads or paths with which a wide distribution of the light emitted by the lighting device is reached, and whereby the risk to dazzle a driver by means of a lateral light is further minimized. These and other objects, which become apparent upon reading the following description, are solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims refer to prefered embodiments of the invention.

3. Summary of the invention

According to the invention, a lighting device for illuminating streets, roads or paths is provided comprising: at least one light source comprising at least one light emitting diode; at least one reflector comprising an essentially saddle-shaped reflection surface, wherein the light source is arranged in such a way that at least a part of the light emitted by the light source is directed to the reflection surface of the reflector; and wherein the light is reflected by the reflection surface in such a way that a wide light distribution of the lighting device is provided at least in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to a main axis of the reflection surface.
The lighting device according to the invention is preferably mounted at a height of less than two meters, e.g. the present lighting device is preferably provided below the common position of a driver sitting in a vehicle.
The term saddle-shaped has to be understood as any structure having a mainly rounded shape with an elevated area and two laterally arranged indentations (i.e. two minima in the reflection surface) extending there from, thereby providing a surface/structure commonly known from a saddle.
By means of an arrangement comprising the above-mentioned at least one light source, which is preferably arranged/mounted at a central area with respect to the reflection surface, and the above-mentioned specifically shaped reflector a wide light distribution (i.e. a relatively broad light distribution) in a direction parallel to the surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to a main axis of the reflection surface (e.g. a symmetry line of the saddle-shaped reflection surface) can be provided.
Contrary to the known lighting devices using a gas-discharge lamp, the presently used light source can be provided as a relatively compact structure such that there are essentially no design limitations allowing using a specifically adapted reflector (i.e. a specifically adapted and arranged reflection surface). Thereby, the light emitted by the lighting device can be adjusted in such a way that the risk for dazzling a driver can be minimized. In other words, in particular by means of the saddle-shaped reflection surface a distribution of the light can be exactly adjusted as required by the respective mounting/application conditions.
Preferably, the reflection surface is mirror symmetrical with respect to the main axis of the reflection surface. Thereby, an essentially homogenous distribution of the light emitted by the lighting device can be provided in a dirpection parallel to the surface to be illuminated.
It is preferred that in top view, the reflection surface has a shape corresponding to a sector of a circle, preferably having an interior angle between 90° and 220° DEG, more preferably between 150° and 200° DEG, and even more preferably between 170° and 190° DEG. It is further preferred that in top view, the main axis of the reflection surface (i.e. the center of the elevated area) halves the reflection surface.
At least two indentations/minima of the reflection surface are provided at an angle between +/- 50° and +/- 90° DEG, preferably between +/- 60° and +/-85° DEG, and more preferably between +/-70° and +/- 80° DEG with respect to the main axis of the reflection surface. By the positions of the minima (i.e. the indentations), the maximum width (i.e. the maximum angel) of the light distribution in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to the main axis of the reflection surface is provided.
It is further preferred that the reflection surface does not comprise any jump discontinuities. Thereby, it is possible to provide a relatively homogenous light distribution, since thereby no overlap of the emitted light occurs.
Preferably, in top view, the light is distributed with an angle greater than +/-50° DEG preferably greater than +/-70° DEG, and more preferably greater than +/-75° DEG with respect to the main axis of the reflection surface. In other words, the light is essentially distributed over the entire shape of the reflection surface (i.e. over the entire sector of a circle).
Preferably, perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated, the light is distributed with an angle greater than 60° DEG preferably greater than 70° DEG, and more preferably greater than 80° DEG, and most preferably the light is distributed with an angle of about 85° DEG; preferably measured at most from a horizontal plane downwards. Thereby, not only a wide light distribution of the lighting device in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to the main axis of the reflection surface can be provided, but also a wide light distribution perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated can be provided.
It is further preferred that adjacent to the reflector at least one baffle is arranged, wherein the at least one baffle preferably comprises an inward reflection surface for redirecting light to the reflection surface of the reflector. In order to further ensure that no light is emitted dazzling a driver of a vehicle, a respective baffle can be arranged ensuring that no light is emitted parallel to the horizontal. Therefore, the baffle is preferably arranged such that it at least partially surrounds the light source in a horizontal plane and, if necessary, also above the light source (i.e. opposite to the reflection surface with respect to the light source). By means of the inward reflection surface, the respective part of the emitted light is redirected to the reflection surface, thereby further usable for an illumination. Notably, depending on the respective application, further baffles can be used for adjusting the shape and dimension of the emitted light.
Preferably, the lighting device comprises a housing in which the reflector and the at least one light source are housed. Preferably, the reflection surface is arranged (preferably downwards) inclined (e.g. in the housing) with its main axis with respect to the horizontal plane, preferably with an angle between 20° and 60° DEG, more preferably between 30° and 50° DEG and most preferably between 35° and 45° DEG. Notably, many experiments have been carried out in order to establish that the above-mentioned light distribution ranges can be provided using a saddle-shaped reflection surface which is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal line, wherein a respective angle is dependent from the mounting height of the lighting device and from the respective surface to be illuminated.
Further, it is preferred that the light source is a directional light source emitting light essentially only in the direction to the reflection surface of the reflector. Thereby, light losses can be minimized and also any dazzling can be further avoided.
Preferably, the at least one light source is arranged above the main axis of the reflection surface, preferably in the center of the sector of a circle. The light source, preferably comprises a high brightness light emitting diode, a light emitting diode, a ray/cluster and/or a chip on board light emitting diode arrangement. By such an arrangement of the light source above the main axis, the light emitted by the light source is splitted and widen by means of the reflection surface, wherein about a half of the emitted light is directed to each symmetry part of the reflection surface. However, it can be further preferred that the lighting device comprises at least two light sources arranged with an offset with respect to the main axis of the reflection surface such that each light source emits light to a half of the mirror symmetrical shaped reflection surface. Thereby, it is possible to assign respective light sources to a specific part of the reflection surface, wherein thereby an essentially homogenous distribution of the emitted light is still provided. Such an arrangement also provides the possibility to increase the light quantity emitted by a lighting device.
The present invention further relates to a lighting system for illuminating streets, roads or paths comprising a lighting device as explained above, wherein the lighting device is mounted at a height less than 2.0 m preferably between 1.5 and 0.5 m, more preferably between 1.0 and 0.7 m, and most preferably between 0.95 and 1.80 m.

4. Description of the preferred embodiments

In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed figures in which

Figure 1: is a schematic side view of a lighting device according to the invention;
Figure 2: is a schematic view of a reflector comprising an essentially saddle-shaped reflection surface;
Figure 3: is a schematic to view of the reflector shown in figure 1;
Figure 4: is a schematic side view of the reflector shown in figure 2;
Figure 5: is a cross-section view along a main axis of the reflection surface;
Figure 6: is a schematic top view of the reflector shown in figure 2 together with a light source arranged thereby,
Figure 7: is a schematic view of a light distribution obtained by a device according to the present invention.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a lighting device 100 comprising preferably a housing 110 in which a light source module is housed, preferably comprising a high brightness light emitting diode (not shown) being arranged above a reflector 120.
As can be taken from figure 1, the reflector 120 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal plane (indicated by an auxiliary line 130). In the shown preferred embodiment, the reflector 120 is arranged inclined with respect to the horizontal plane 130 with an angle of about 30° DEG. However, depending on the specific application (e.g. the specific mounting height), the reflector 120 may be arranged with an angle between 20° and 60° DEG, more preferably between 30° and 50° DEG. Notably, by means of the inclined arrangement of the reflector 120, the area to be illuminated by the lighting device 100 can be adjusted.
The lighting device 100 distributes light perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated with an angle 135 greater than 60° DEG. In other embodiments of the lighting device, light can be distributed in a direction perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated with an angle preferably greater than 70° DEG and more preferably greater than 80° DEG, and most preferably, the light is distributed with an angle 85° DEG. Preferably, this angle is measured from a horizontal plane 130 downwards. Notably, the angle of the light distribution perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated can be adjusted by means of the inclined arrangement of the reflector 120 and/or by means of the specific geometry of the reflector 120 (e.g. by means of the specific heigth of the elevation) and/or by further optical means like a baffle as described in the following,
The lighting device 100 is adapted to be mounted at a height of about 0.95 m. For example, the lighting device 100 can be mounted at a guard rail (not shown) provided at a middle strip of a highway. Notably, the lighting device 100 is preferably mounted at a height lower than the height of a driver of a vehicle, such that the driver is not dazzled by any light laterally emitted by the lighting device 100. However, to ensure that a driver is not dazzled by a lateral light, the lighting device 100 can further comprise a baffle 140 preferably arranged and at least partially surrounding the light source in the horizontal plane 130 or even additionally above the light source.
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the reflector 120 shown in the lighting device 100 in figure 1.
As can be taken from figure 2, the reflector 120 comprises an upper reflection surface 150 having an essentially saddle-shape surface. Notably, the term saddle-shape according to the present invention is to be understood as a structure having a kind of a wave form with a wave crest (i.e. provided by the elevation) positioned at the main axis 160 and two laterally arranged wave troughs (i.e. provided by indentations), wherein the wave crest and the wave troughs convert together, preferably at a central section 170 of the reflection surface 150, thereby providing a commonly known saddle-shape surface.
Figure 3 is a schematical top view of the reflector 120. As can be taken from figure 3, the reflection surface 150 has a shape corresponding to a sector of a circle having a center point in the center section 170, wherein in the shown preferred embodiment, the sector of a circle has an interior angle of about 190° DEG (indicated by the angle 180). Preferably, this interior angle is between 90° and 220° DEG, more preferably between 150° and 200° DEG, and even more preferably between 170° and 190° DEG. As already mentioned, by the positions of the minima (i.e. the indentations), the maximum width (i.e. the maximum angel) of the light distribution in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to the main axis of the reflection surface is provided.
As can be further taken from figure 3, the reflection surface 150 is preferably mirror symmetrical with respect to the main axis 160 of the reflection surface 150.
In figure 3, the minima (i.e. the indentations) are highlighted by auxiliary lines 190. Thus, in the shown preferred embodiment, the two minima are provided at an angle of about +/- 80° DEG with respect to the main axis 160 of the reflection surface 150. Notably, in case a light source is arranged above the central section 170 of the reflection surface 150, light is essentially distributed between both minima, thus providing in the preferred embodiment a light distribution in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to the main axis 160 of the reflection surface 150 with an angle of about 160° DEG. However, depending on the specific application, the minima can be provided at an angle between +/- 50° and +/- 90° DEG, preferably between +/- 60° and +/- 85° DEG, and more preferably between +/- 70° and +/- 80° DEG with respect to the main axis 160 of the reflection surface. Thereby, a wide light distribution can be achieved, preferably with an angle greater than +/- 50° DEG, preferably greater than +/- 70° DEG, and even more preferably greater than +/- 75° DEG.
Figure 4 is a side view of the reflector 120 as shown in figures 2 and 3. As can be taken from figure 4, the reflection surface 150 does not comprise any jump discontinuities. In fact, starting from a rearward edge 200, the outer circumference of the reflection surface 150 runs downwards to the shown minima and runs subsequently upwards to the front-tip 210 of the reflection surface 150. Since in the preferred embodiment, the reflection surface 150 is mirror symmetrical with respect to the main axis 160, the circumference at the not shown other side is equally provided.
Figure 5 is a cross-section view along the main axis 160 of the reflection surface 150. As can be taken from figure 5, the main axis 160 is provided by a flat curve slightly directed downwardly from the rear edge 200 to a minima and then slightly directed upwardly to the front-tip 210.
Figure 6 is a schematical top view of the reflector 120, wherein above the center section 170 of the reflection surface 150, a light module 220 comprising a high brightness light emitting diode is arranged. The light module 220 is preferably a light source having only a directional light emitting light essentially only in the direction to the reflection surface 150 of the reflector 120. Notably, the use of a high brightness light emitting diode preferred, however, also light emitting diode arrays/clusters and/or chip on board light emitting diode arrangements can be used depending on the specific application. As an alternative or in addition to the arrangement of the light module 220 above the center section (i.e. above the main axis 160 of the reflection surface 150), it is also possible to arrange two light sources with an offset with respect to the main axis 160 such that each light source emits light to a predetermined area of the reflection surface 150 (e.g. one light source is arranged slightly left of the main axis 160 and a further light source is arranged slightly right of the main axis 160) such that the emitted light of each light sources is directed and assinged to a half of the mirror symmetrical shaped reflection surface 150.
It should be clear to a skilled person that the above shown embodiment is a preferred embodiment, but that, however, also different shapes of the reflection surface can be used, as long as the shape of the reflection surface is essentially saddle-shaped. In particular, the specific use of a lighting device may require, that the reflection surface has to be provided with different gradients, thereby adjusting the emitting light cone. Moreover, even if it is preferred that the reflection surface does not comprise any jump discontinuities, the reflection surface may be provided by discrete surface areas, as long as the transitions between these areas provide an essentially uniform distribution of the light.

Claims

Lighting device (100) for illuminating streets, roads or paths, comprising:
- at least one light source (220) comprising at least one light emitting diode;

- at least one reflector (120) comprising an essentially saddle-shaped reflection surface (150);
wherein the light source (220) is arranged such that at least a part of the emitted light is directed to the reflection surface (150) of the reflector (120); and wherein the light is reflected by the reflection surface (150) in such a way that a wide light distribution of the lighting device (100) is provided at least in a direction parallel to a surface to be illuminated and perpendicular to a main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150),
wherein the reflection surface (150) of the reflector (120) comprises at least two minima (190) provided at an angle between +/- 50° and +/- 90° DEG with respect to the main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150).
Lighting device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the reflection surface (150) is mirror symmetrical with respect to its main axis (160).
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in top view the reflection surface (150) has a shape corresponding to a sector of a circle, preferably having an interior angle between 90° and 220° DEG, more preferably between 150° and 200° DEG, and even more preferably between 170° and 190° DEG.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least two minima (190) are provided at an angle between +/- 60° and +/- 85° DEG, and preferably between +/- 70° and +/- 80° DEG with respect to the main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150).
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflection surface (150) does not comprise any jump discontinuities.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflector (120) is designed and arranged such that in top view, the light is distributed with an angle greater than +/- 50° DEG, preferably greater than +/-70° DEG, and more preferably greater than +/- 75° DEG with respect to the main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150).
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflector (120) is designed such that perpendicular to the surface to be illuminated, the light is distributed with an angle greater than 60° DEG, preferably greater than 70° DEG, and more preferably greater than 80° DEG, and most preferably the light is distributed with an angle of about 85° DEG.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein adjacent to the reflector (120) at least one baffle (140) is arranged at least partially surrounding the light source preferably in a horizontal plane, wherein the at least one baffle (140) preferably comprises an inward reflection surface for redirecting light to the reflection surface (150) of the reflector (120).
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting device (100) comprises a housing (110) in which the reflector (120) and the at least one light source (220) are housed.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the reflector (120) is arranged inclined downwards with its main axis (160) with respect to the horizontal plane (130), preferably with an angle between 20° and 60° DEG, more preferably between 30° and 50° DEG and most preferably between 35° and 45° DEG.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (220) is a directional light source emitting light essentially only in the direction to the reflection surface of the reflector.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one light source (220) is arranged above the main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150), preferably in the center of the sector of a circle.
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting device (100) comprises at least two light sources arranged with an offset with respect to the main axis (160) of the reflection surface (150) such that each light source emits light to a predetermined area of the reflection surface (150).
Lighting device (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the light source (220) comprises a high brightness light emitting diode, a light emitting diode array/cluster and/or a chip on board light emitting diode arrangement.
Lighting system for illuminating streets, roads or paths comprising a lighting device (100) according to any of the claims 1 to 14, wherein the lighting device (100) is mounted at a height less than 2.0 m, preferably between 1.5 and 0.5 m, more preferably between 1.0 and 0.7 m, and most preferably between 0.95 and 0.80 m.