EP3286494B1 - A device for modifying light distribution - Google Patents
A device for modifying light distribution Download PDFInfo
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- EP3286494B1 EP3286494B1 EP16721850.2A EP16721850A EP3286494B1 EP 3286494 B1 EP3286494 B1 EP 3286494B1 EP 16721850 A EP16721850 A EP 16721850A EP 3286494 B1 EP3286494 B1 EP 3286494B1
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- geometric
- light
- shape
- reflector
- longitudinal direction
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- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 claims description 30
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- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 16
- 239000012780 transparent material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000005266 casting Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011343 solid material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 241000826860 Trapezium Species 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000013598 vector Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 3
- 230000001419 dependent effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
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- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
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- 230000000149 penetrating effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229920001296 polysiloxane Polymers 0.000 description 1
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- 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
- F21V7/048—Optical design with facets structure
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- 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
- F21V7/10—Construction
- F21V7/16—Construction with provision for adjusting the curvature
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to illuminating engineering. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for modifying distribution of light produced by a light source that can be, for example but not necessarily, a light emitting diode "LED".
- a light source that can be, for example but not necessarily, a light emitting diode "LED”.
- FIG. 1a shows a section view of an exemplifying device 101 according to the prior art for modifying the distribution of light produced by a light source 102.
- the section shown in figure 1a is taken along a line A-A shown in figure 1b and the section plane is parallel with the yz-plane of a coordinate system 199.
- the device 101 for modifying the light distribution comprises a reflector surface 110 whose cross-sections along geometric planes parallel with the xz-plane of the coordinate system 199 are circular.
- Figure 1a some of the light beams produced by the light source 102 are depicted with dashed line arrows.
- Figure 1c illustrates an illumination pattern 105 formed on a planar surface 104 by the light distribution modified by the device 101.
- the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching.
- the shape of the reflector surface 110 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within the illumination pattern 105.
- one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with a reference number 106.
- An edge 103 of the reflector surface 110 determines the shape of the illumination pattern 105 so that geometric straight lines drawn from the light source 102 via the edge 103 to the planar surface 104 define a border 107 of the illumination pattern.
- Figures 2a, 2b, and 2c illustrate an illumination arrangement that is otherwise similar to the illumination arrangement illustrated in figures 1a-1c but a device 201 for modifying the light distribution comprises a reflector surface 210 whose cross-sections along geometric planes parallel with the xz-plane of a coordinate system 299 are square shaped.
- Figure 2c illustrates an illumination pattern 205 formed on a planar surface 204 by the light distribution modified by the device 201. In figure 2c , the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching.
- the shape of the reflector surface 210 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within the illumination pattern 205.
- one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with a reference number 206.
- An edge 203 of the reflector surface 210 determines the shape of the illumination pattern 205 so that geometric straight lines drawn from the light source 202 via the edge 203 to the planar surface 204 define a border 207 of the illumination pattern.
- the shape of the reflector surface determines the shape of the illumination pattern and at least partly the intensity distribution within the illumination pattern. Therefore, the shape of the illumination pattern and the intensity distribution are related to each other at least in some extent. In many cases there is, however, a need to produce an illumination pattern so that the shape of the illumination pattern and the intensity distribution can be designed more freely with respect to each other.
- the word "geometric" when used as a prefix means a geometric concept that is not necessarily a part of any physical object.
- the geometric concept can be for example a geometric line, a geometric plane, a non-planar geometric surface, a geometric room, or any other geometric entity that is one, two, or three dimensional.
- a device for modifying the distribution of light produced by a light source.
- a device comprises:
- the reflector surface is capable of determining at least partly the intensity distribution within an illumination pattern formable on a planar surface by the light distribution modified by the device, and the edge of the reflector surface is capable of determining the shape of the illumination pattern by determining the border of the illumination pattern.
- the shape of at least a part of the reflector surface is a result of a shape transformation directed to a geometric auxiliary surface constituting a geometric channel between the first and second ends.
- the shape transformation comprises: i) division of the geometric auxiliary surface into longitudinal geometric surface segments with geometric section lines directed from the first end to the second end, ii) displacements of at least some of the geometric surface segments substantially sideward with respect to the longitudinal direction so as to obtain a desired shape, and iii) addition of geometric connection-surfaces between ones of the geometric surface segments at least partly separated from each other by the displacements so as to form a stepped geometric surface representing the shape of the at least part of the reflector surface, wherein the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction intersect along closed section curves free from corners.
- a displacement of a geometric surface segment can be a shape-conserving displacement in which case all points of the geometric surface segment under consideration are displaced with a same displacement vector. It is also possible that the displacement is not shape-conserving so that different points of the geometric surface segment are displaced with different displacement vectors. In this case, the geometric surface segment under consideration can be warped, stretched, or otherwise deformed.
- the above-mentioned geometric auxiliary surface is merely a geometric concept used for describing the shape of the reflector surface and the geometric auxiliary surface is not necessarily a surface of any physical object.
- the shape of the geometric auxiliary surface can be selected according to the desired intensity distribution within the illumination pattern formable on the planar surface, whereas the shape produced by the shape transformation can be selected according to the desired shape of the illumination pattern.
- the geometric auxiliary surface can have for example a smooth shape so that the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device intersect along closed section curves free from corners.
- the geometric auxiliary surface can be for example a part of a geometric paraboloid, e.g. a geometric rotation paraboloid.
- the above-mentioned edge of the reflector surface may have a shape that approximates for example a polygon when the edge is seen along the longitudinal direction of the device.
- the shape of the illumination pattern on the planar surface is substantially a polygon.
- the polygon can be for example a square, a triangle, or a rectangle.
- a new illuminator system comprising at least one light source and at least one device according to the invention for modifying the distribution of light produced by each light source.
- the light source can be, for example, a light emitting diode "LED", a filament lamp, or a gas-discharge lamp.
- a new mold having a form suitable for manufacturing, by mold casting, a piece of solid material, e.g. plastic, having a shape of a device according to the invention.
- a process of manufacture of a device according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention may further comprise coating one or more areas of the above-mentioned piece of solid material with metal or other material so as to obtain desired optical properties.
- Figure 3a shows a front view of a device 301 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying the distribution of light produced by a light source 302.
- the light source can be for example a light emitting diode "LED", a filament lamp, or a gas-discharge lamp.
- Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the device 301.
- the device 301 comprises a first end 308 that comprises a place for the light source 302 and a second end 309 for allowing the light to exit from the device.
- the second end 309 is a distance away from the first end 308 in the longitudinal direction of the device.
- the longitudinal direction is parallel with the y-direction of the coordinate system 399.
- the device 301 comprises a reflector surface 310 that constitutes a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 308 and 309 as illustrated by the perspective view shown in figure 3b .
- the reflector surface 310 has an edge 311 at the first end 308 of the device and an edge 312 at the second end 309 of the device.
- one of the light beams radiated by the light source 302 is depicted with a dash-and-dot line arrow.
- Figure 3c illustrates an illumination pattern 305 formed on a planar surface 304 by the light distribution modified by the device 301 in an exemplifying situation in which the planar surface 304 is in front of the device 301 and parallel with the xz-plane of the coordinate system 399.
- the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching.
- the shape of the reflector surface 310 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within the illumination pattern 305.
- one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with a reference number 306.
- the edge 312 of the reflector surface 310 determines the shape of the illumination pattern 305 so that geometric straight lines drawn from the light source 302 via the edge 312 to the planar surface 304 define a border 307 of the illumination pattern.
- the light source 302 and the edge 312 are shown in figures 3a and 3b .
- the edge 312 of the reflector surface 310 has a shape approximating a square and therefore the shape of the illumination pattern 305 on the planar surface 304 is substantially a square.
- the shape of the whole reflector surface 310 is a result of a shape transformation directed to a geometric auxiliary surface that constitutes a geometric channel between the first and second ends 308 and 309 of the device 301.
- a part of the geometric auxiliary surface is denoted with a reference number 330.
- the geometric auxiliary surface is rotationally symmetric so that the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the z-direction of the coordinate system 399 intersect along circular section curves.
- some of the circular section curves are depicted with dashed line circles and one of the dashed line circles is denoted with a reference number 317.
- the geometric auxiliary surface can be for example a part of a geometric paraboloid. Because of the rotational symmetry of the geometric auxiliary surface, the level curves of the intensity distribution are round as illustrated in figure 3c . It is to be noted that figure 3c is merely a schematic illustration and in a real case the level curves of the intensity distribution are not necessarily as circular as in figure 3c but the level curves of the intensity distribution are however closer to circles than in the case illustrated in figures 2a-2c .
- the above-mentioned shape transformation is described below with reference to figure 3b .
- the shape transformation comprises division of the geometric auxiliary surface into longitudinal geometric surface segments with geometric section lines directed from the first end 308 to the second end 309. Three of the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are denoted with reference numbers 313, 314' and 315'.
- the shape transformation further comprises displacements of some of the geometric surface segments substantially sideward with respect to the longitudinal direction of the device 301 so as to achieve a desired shape. The displacements are depicted with dashed line arrows.
- the geometric surface segments 314' and 315' after the displacements are depicted with reference numbers 314 and 315.
- the geometric surface segment 313 is one of the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface that are not displaced and thus, concerning the geometric surface segment 313, the reflector surface 310 concurs with the geometric auxiliary surface.
- the shape transformation further comprises addition of geometric connection-surfaces between those of the geometric surface segments that are at least partly separated from each other by the displacements so as to form a stepped geometric surface representing the shape of the reflector surface 310.
- One of the geometric connection-surfaces is denoted with a reference number 316.
- the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are displaced so that the shapes of the geometric surface segments are substantially unchanged, i.e. all points of each geometric surface segment are displaced with a substantially same displacement vector. It is, however, also possible that all points of each geometric surface segment are not displaced with a substantially same displacement vector.
- the shape transformation applied on the case illustrated in figures 3a and 3b could be as well for example such that the ends of the geometric surface segments that are at the first end 308 of the device are not moved at all, the ends of the geometric surface segments that are at the second end 309 of the device are moved as illustrated in figure 3b , and points of the geometric surface segments between the ends of the geometric surface segments are moved so that each geometric surface segment gets or retains a desired shape e.g. the shape of a part of a geometric paraboloid.
- the shape of the edge of the reflector surface at the first end 308 of the device would be circular when seen along the longitudinal direction of the device, i.e. along the y-direction of the coordinate system 399.
- the shape of the edge 312 of the reflector surface 310 can be selected according to the desired illumination pattern obtainable with the aid of the device 301.
- the above-described shape transformation can be used for obtaining other shapes too.
- a shape obtained with the above-described shape transformation can be for example a shape that approximates a polygon other than a square, e.g. a triangle, a non-square rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a parallelogram, a trapezium, etc.
- the polygon does not necessarily need to be convex so that all the angles are below 180 degrees but it is also possible to produce a shape that approximates a polygon having one or more concave angles each being greater than 180 degrees.
- An example of a polygon having concave angles is a star-shaped polygon.
- the shape of the edge 311 shown in figures 3a and 3b approximates a polygon having eight angles so that four of the angles are each less than 90 degrees and the rest of the angles are each greater than 180 degrees.
- the above-described shape transformation can be used for obtaining forms having one or more curved outlines.
- the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are mutually similar. In order to approximate for example a square or another polygon more accurately, the geometric surface segments corresponding to the corner regions of the polygon can be made narrower than the geometric surface segments corresponding to the middle regions of the sides of the polygon.
- FIG. 4 illustrates a device 401 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution.
- the device 401 comprises a first end 408 comprising a place for a light source and a second end 409 for allowing light to exit from the device.
- the device 401 comprises a reflector surface 410 constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 408 and 409.
- the reflector surface 410 has an edge 411 at the first end 408 and an edge 412 at the second end 409.
- the reflector surface 410 comprises annular sections 418, 419, 420, and 421 that are successive in the longitudinal direction of the device 401.
- each transition region between adjacent ones of the annular sections 418-421 forms a step-wise broadening of the light propagation channel constituted by the reflector surface.
- the shapes of the annular sections 419, 420, and 421 are results of shape transformations of the kind described above with reference to figure 3b .
- the shape of the annular section 418 that is closest to the first end 408 has a shape that is smooth in the circumferential direction of the annular section 418.
- the shape of the annular section 418 may correspond for example to a shape of a geometric paraboloid, e.g. a rotational geometric paraboloid.
- Figures 5a and 5b illustrate a device 501 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution.
- the device 501 is more asymmetric than the devices 301 and 401 illustrated in figures 3a , 3b , and 4 .
- the device 501 comprises a first end 508 comprising a place for a light source and a second end 509 for allowing light to exit from the device.
- the device 501 comprises a reflector surface 510 constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 508 and 509.
- the reflector surface 510 has an edge 511 at the first end 508 and an edge 512 at the second end 509.
- the reflector surface 510 comprises annular sections 518, 519, 520, and 521 that are successive in the longitudinal direction of the device, i.e. in the direction from the first end 503 to the second end 509. As illustrated in figure 5 , each transition region between adjacent ones of the annular sections 518-521 forms a step-wise broadening of the light propagation channel constituted by the reflector surface 510.
- the shapes of the annular sections 519, 520, and 521 are results of shape transformations of the kind described above with reference to figure 3b .
- the shape of the geometric auxiliary surface used as a starting point of the shape transformation relating to the annular section 521 is illustrated with a closed dashed line curve.
- One of the displacements related to the shape transformation is depicted with a dashed line arrow in figure 5a .
- the shape of the annular section 518 that is closest to the first end 508 has a shape that is smooth in the circumferential direction of the annular section 518.
- edge 512 of the reflective surface 510 does not necessarily need to concur with a geometric plane. Instead, for example, the edge 512 can be arranged to concur with a non-planar geometric surface that, in turn, concurs with dash-and-dot lines 525 shown in figure 5b .
- each of the devices for modifying light distribution comprises a structure constituting a cavity whose surface is the reflector surface.
- the structure constituting the cavity may comprise a body-part made of for example plastic and a metal coating or another suitable coating for providing the reflectiveness of the reflector surface.
- the device comprises a piece of transparent material that has an outer surface constituting the reflector surface so that the outer surface reflects light arriving from inside the piece of the transparent material.
- the outer surface provides total internal reflection "TIR" based on the sufficiently high refractive index of the transparent material.
- the transparent material can be for example plastic, glass, or optical silicone.
- one or more of the reflector surface areas between the steps can be partly or wholly provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve scattering reflections but it is also possible that the reflective areas are smooth so as to provide mirroring reflections.
- the undulations may comprise grooves and/or other deviations from a smooth shape.
- the roughness and/or undulation can be used for achieving e.g. a color mixing effect so that light beams exhibiting different wavelengths become effectively mixed and evenly distributed.
- a light penetrating surface of a light source is provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve the mixing effect.
- the light source is covered with a dome made of material penetrable by light and provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve the mixing effect.
- FIG. 6 illustrates an illuminator system according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention.
- the illuminator system comprises light sources 602a, 602b, 602c, and 602d and devices 601a, 601 b, 601c, and 601d according to an embodiment of the invention for modifying the distribution of the light emitted by the light sources.
- Each of the light sources 602a-602d can be for example a light emitting diode "LED".
- the front side of the illuminator system is substantially covered by the reflective surfaces of the devices 601a-601d. Therefore, darker regions, i.e. regions between the reflective surfaces, are smaller than for example in a case where the reflective surfaces are rotationally symmetric.
Description
- The invention relates generally to illuminating engineering. More particularly, the invention relates to a device for modifying distribution of light produced by a light source that can be, for example but not necessarily, a light emitting diode "LED".
- Distribution of light produced by a light source can be important or even critical in some applications. The light source can be, for example but not necessarily, a light emitting diode "LED", a filament lamp, or a gas-discharge lamp.
Figure 1a shows a section view of anexemplifying device 101 according to the prior art for modifying the distribution of light produced by alight source 102. The section shown infigure 1a is taken along a line A-A shown infigure 1b and the section plane is parallel with the yz-plane of acoordinate system 199. In the exemplifying case illustrated infigures 1a and 1b , thedevice 101 for modifying the light distribution comprises areflector surface 110 whose cross-sections along geometric planes parallel with the xz-plane of thecoordinate system 199 are circular. Infigure 1a , some of the light beams produced by thelight source 102 are depicted with dashed line arrows.Figure 1c illustrates anillumination pattern 105 formed on aplanar surface 104 by the light distribution modified by thedevice 101. Infigure 1c , the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching. The shape of thereflector surface 110 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within theillumination pattern 105. Infigure 1c , one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with areference number 106. Anedge 103 of thereflector surface 110 determines the shape of theillumination pattern 105 so that geometric straight lines drawn from thelight source 102 via theedge 103 to theplanar surface 104 define aborder 107 of the illumination pattern. -
Figures 2a, 2b, and 2c illustrate an illumination arrangement that is otherwise similar to the illumination arrangement illustrated infigures 1a-1c but adevice 201 for modifying the light distribution comprises areflector surface 210 whose cross-sections along geometric planes parallel with the xz-plane of acoordinate system 299 are square shaped.Figure 2c illustrates anillumination pattern 205 formed on aplanar surface 204 by the light distribution modified by thedevice 201. Infigure 2c , the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching. The shape of thereflector surface 210 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within theillumination pattern 205. Infigure 2c , one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with areference number 206. Anedge 203 of thereflector surface 210 determines the shape of theillumination pattern 205 so that geometric straight lines drawn from thelight source 202 via theedge 203 to theplanar surface 204 define aborder 207 of the illumination pattern. - As schematically illustrated in
figures 1a-1c and2a-2c , the shape of the reflector surface determines the shape of the illumination pattern and at least partly the intensity distribution within the illumination pattern. Therefore, the shape of the illumination pattern and the intensity distribution are related to each other at least in some extent. In many cases there is, however, a need to produce an illumination pattern so that the shape of the illumination pattern and the intensity distribution can be designed more freely with respect to each other. - A reflector according to the state of the art is described in document
US 2009/097258 A1 . - The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide basic understanding of some aspects of various embodiments of the invention. The summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is neither intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention nor to delineate the scope of the invention. The following summary merely presents some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of exemplifying embodiments of the invention. In this document, the word "geometric" when used as a prefix means a geometric concept that is not necessarily a part of any physical object. The geometric concept can be for example a geometric line, a geometric plane, a non-planar geometric surface, a geometric room, or any other geometric entity that is one, two, or three dimensional.
- In accordance with the invention, there is provided a new device for modifying the distribution of light produced by a light source. A device according to the invention comprises:
- a first end comprising a place for the light source,
- a second end for allowing the light to exit from the device, the second end being a distance away from the first end in a longitudinal direction of the device, and
- a reflector surface constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends and having and edge delimiting a geometric egress area for allowing the light to exit from the light propagation channel.
- The reflector surface is capable of determining at least partly the intensity distribution within an illumination pattern formable on a planar surface by the light distribution modified by the device, and the edge of the reflector surface is capable of determining the shape of the illumination pattern by determining the border of the illumination pattern.
- The shape of at least a part of the reflector surface is a result of a shape transformation directed to a geometric auxiliary surface constituting a geometric channel between the first and second ends. The shape transformation comprises: i) division of the geometric auxiliary surface into longitudinal geometric surface segments with geometric section lines directed from the first end to the second end, ii) displacements of at least some of the geometric surface segments substantially sideward with respect to the longitudinal direction so as to obtain a desired shape, and iii) addition of geometric connection-surfaces between ones of the geometric surface segments at least partly separated from each other by the displacements so as to form a stepped geometric surface representing the shape of the at least part of the reflector surface, wherein the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction intersect along closed section curves free from corners. A displacement of a geometric surface segment can be a shape-conserving displacement in which case all points of the geometric surface segment under consideration are displaced with a same displacement vector. It is also possible that the displacement is not shape-conserving so that different points of the geometric surface segment are displaced with different displacement vectors. In this case, the geometric surface segment under consideration can be warped, stretched, or otherwise deformed.
- The above-mentioned geometric auxiliary surface is merely a geometric concept used for describing the shape of the reflector surface and the geometric auxiliary surface is not necessarily a surface of any physical object.
- The shape of the geometric auxiliary surface can be selected according to the desired intensity distribution within the illumination pattern formable on the planar surface, whereas the shape produced by the shape transformation can be selected according to the desired shape of the illumination pattern. The geometric auxiliary surface can have for example a smooth shape so that the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the device intersect along closed section curves free from corners. The geometric auxiliary surface can be for example a part of a geometric paraboloid, e.g. a geometric rotation paraboloid. The above-mentioned edge of the reflector surface may have a shape that approximates for example a polygon when the edge is seen along the longitudinal direction of the device. In this case, the shape of the illumination pattern on the planar surface is substantially a polygon. The polygon can be for example a square, a triangle, or a rectangle.
- In accordance with the invention, there is provided also a new illuminator system comprising at least one light source and at least one device according to the invention for modifying the distribution of light produced by each light source. The light source can be, for example, a light emitting diode "LED", a filament lamp, or a gas-discharge lamp.
- In accordance with the invention, there is provided also a new mold having a form suitable for manufacturing, by mold casting, a piece of solid material, e.g. plastic, having a shape of a device according to the invention. In addition to the mold casting, a process of manufacture of a device according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention may further comprise coating one or more areas of the above-mentioned piece of solid material with metal or other material so as to obtain desired optical properties.
- A number of exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention are described in accompanied dependent claims.
- Various exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention both as to constructions and to methods of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific exemplifying embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
- The verbs "to comprise" and "to include" are used in this document as open limitations that neither exclude nor require the existence of also un-recited features. The features recited in dependent claims are mutually freely combinable unless otherwise explicitly stated. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the use of "a" or "an", i.e. a singular form, throughout this document does not exclude a plurality.
- The exemplifying and non-limiting embodiments of the invention and their advantages are explained in greater detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
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figures 1a, 1b and 1c illustrate a device according to the prior art for modifying light distribution, -
figures 2a, 2b, and 2c illustrate devices according to the prior art for modifying light distribution, -
figures 3a ,3b and3c illustrate a device according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution, -
figure 4 illustrates a device according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution, -
figures 5a and 5b illustrate a device according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution, and -
figure 6 illustrates an illuminator system according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. -
Figures 1a, 1b, 1c ,2a, 2b, and 2c have already been explained in the Background-section of this document. - The specific examples provided in the description given below should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given below are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.
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Figure 3a shows a front view of adevice 301 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying the distribution of light produced by alight source 302. The light source can be for example a light emitting diode "LED", a filament lamp, or a gas-discharge lamp.Figure 3b shows a perspective view of thedevice 301. Thedevice 301 comprises afirst end 308 that comprises a place for thelight source 302 and asecond end 309 for allowing the light to exit from the device. Thesecond end 309 is a distance away from thefirst end 308 in the longitudinal direction of the device. In this exemplifying case, the longitudinal direction is parallel with the y-direction of the coordinatesystem 399. Thedevice 301 comprises areflector surface 310 that constitutes a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 308 and 309 as illustrated by the perspective view shown infigure 3b . Thereflector surface 310 has anedge 311 at thefirst end 308 of the device and anedge 312 at thesecond end 309 of the device. Infigure 3b , one of the light beams radiated by thelight source 302 is depicted with a dash-and-dot line arrow.Figure 3c illustrates anillumination pattern 305 formed on aplanar surface 304 by the light distribution modified by thedevice 301 in an exemplifying situation in which theplanar surface 304 is in front of thedevice 301 and parallel with the xz-plane of the coordinatesystem 399. Infigure 3c , the non-illuminated area is depicted with cross-hatching. The shape of thereflector surface 310 determines at least partly the intensity distribution within theillumination pattern 305. Infigure 3c , one of the level curves of the intensity distribution is denoted with areference number 306. Theedge 312 of thereflector surface 310 determines the shape of theillumination pattern 305 so that geometric straight lines drawn from thelight source 302 via theedge 312 to theplanar surface 304 define aborder 307 of the illumination pattern. Thelight source 302 and theedge 312 are shown infigures 3a and3b . In this exemplifying case, theedge 312 of thereflector surface 310 has a shape approximating a square and therefore the shape of theillumination pattern 305 on theplanar surface 304 is substantially a square. - In this exemplifying case, the shape of the
whole reflector surface 310 is a result of a shape transformation directed to a geometric auxiliary surface that constitutes a geometric channel between the first and second ends 308 and 309 of thedevice 301. Infigure 3b , a part of the geometric auxiliary surface is denoted with areference number 330. In this exemplifying case, the geometric auxiliary surface is rotationally symmetric so that the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the z-direction of the coordinatesystem 399 intersect along circular section curves. Infigures 3a and3b , some of the circular section curves are depicted with dashed line circles and one of the dashed line circles is denoted with areference number 317. The geometric auxiliary surface can be for example a part of a geometric paraboloid. Because of the rotational symmetry of the geometric auxiliary surface, the level curves of the intensity distribution are round as illustrated infigure 3c . It is to be noted thatfigure 3c is merely a schematic illustration and in a real case the level curves of the intensity distribution are not necessarily as circular as infigure 3c but the level curves of the intensity distribution are however closer to circles than in the case illustrated infigures 2a-2c . - The above-mentioned shape transformation is described below with reference to
figure 3b . The shape transformation comprises division of the geometric auxiliary surface into longitudinal geometric surface segments with geometric section lines directed from thefirst end 308 to thesecond end 309. Three of the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are denoted withreference numbers 313, 314' and 315'. The shape transformation further comprises displacements of some of the geometric surface segments substantially sideward with respect to the longitudinal direction of thedevice 301 so as to achieve a desired shape. The displacements are depicted with dashed line arrows. The geometric surface segments 314' and 315' after the displacements are depicted withreference numbers figure 3b , thegeometric surface segment 313 is one of the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface that are not displaced and thus, concerning thegeometric surface segment 313, thereflector surface 310 concurs with the geometric auxiliary surface. The shape transformation further comprises addition of geometric connection-surfaces between those of the geometric surface segments that are at least partly separated from each other by the displacements so as to form a stepped geometric surface representing the shape of thereflector surface 310. One of the geometric connection-surfaces is denoted with areference number 316. - In the exemplifying case illustrated in
figures 3a and3b , the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are displaced so that the shapes of the geometric surface segments are substantially unchanged, i.e. all points of each geometric surface segment are displaced with a substantially same displacement vector. It is, however, also possible that all points of each geometric surface segment are not displaced with a substantially same displacement vector. For example, the shape transformation applied on the case illustrated infigures 3a and3b could be as well for example such that the ends of the geometric surface segments that are at thefirst end 308 of the device are not moved at all, the ends of the geometric surface segments that are at thesecond end 309 of the device are moved as illustrated infigure 3b , and points of the geometric surface segments between the ends of the geometric surface segments are moved so that each geometric surface segment gets or retains a desired shape e.g. the shape of a part of a geometric paraboloid. In the above-described case, the shape of the edge of the reflector surface at thefirst end 308 of the device would be circular when seen along the longitudinal direction of the device, i.e. along the y-direction of the coordinatesystem 399. - The shape of the
edge 312 of thereflector surface 310 can be selected according to the desired illumination pattern obtainable with the aid of thedevice 301. Instead of the shape illustrated infigures 3a and3b and approximating a square, the above-described shape transformation can be used for obtaining other shapes too. A shape obtained with the above-described shape transformation can be for example a shape that approximates a polygon other than a square, e.g. a triangle, a non-square rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a parallelogram, a trapezium, etc. The polygon does not necessarily need to be convex so that all the angles are below 180 degrees but it is also possible to produce a shape that approximates a polygon having one or more concave angles each being greater than 180 degrees. An example of a polygon having concave angles is a star-shaped polygon. For example, the shape of theedge 311 shown infigures 3a and3b approximates a polygon having eight angles so that four of the angles are each less than 90 degrees and the rest of the angles are each greater than 180 degrees. Furthermore, the above-described shape transformation can be used for obtaining forms having one or more curved outlines. In the exemplifying case illustrated infigures 3a and3b , the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface are mutually similar. In order to approximate for example a square or another polygon more accurately, the geometric surface segments corresponding to the corner regions of the polygon can be made narrower than the geometric surface segments corresponding to the middle regions of the sides of the polygon. -
Figure 4 illustrates adevice 401 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution. Thedevice 401 comprises afirst end 408 comprising a place for a light source and asecond end 409 for allowing light to exit from the device. Thedevice 401 comprises areflector surface 410 constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 408 and 409. Thereflector surface 410 has anedge 411 at thefirst end 408 and anedge 412 at thesecond end 409. In this exemplifying case, thereflector surface 410 comprisesannular sections device 401. As illustrated infigure 4 , each transition region between adjacent ones of the annular sections 418-421 forms a step-wise broadening of the light propagation channel constituted by the reflector surface. The shapes of theannular sections figure 3b . The shape of theannular section 418 that is closest to thefirst end 408 has a shape that is smooth in the circumferential direction of theannular section 418. The shape of theannular section 418 may correspond for example to a shape of a geometric paraboloid, e.g. a rotational geometric paraboloid. -
Figures 5a and 5b illustrate adevice 501 according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention for modifying light distribution. As illustrated infigures 5a and 5b , thedevice 501 is more asymmetric than thedevices figures 3a ,3b , and4 . Thedevice 501 comprises afirst end 508 comprising a place for a light source and asecond end 509 for allowing light to exit from the device. Thedevice 501 comprises areflector surface 510 constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends 508 and 509. Thereflector surface 510 has anedge 511 at thefirst end 508 and anedge 512 at thesecond end 509. In this exemplifying case, thereflector surface 510 comprisesannular sections second end 509. As illustrated infigure 5 , each transition region between adjacent ones of the annular sections 518-521 forms a step-wise broadening of the light propagation channel constituted by thereflector surface 510. - The shapes of the
annular sections figure 3b . Infigure 5a , the shape of the geometric auxiliary surface used as a starting point of the shape transformation relating to theannular section 521 is illustrated with a closed dashed line curve. One of the displacements related to the shape transformation is depicted with a dashed line arrow infigure 5a . The shape of theannular section 518 that is closest to thefirst end 508 has a shape that is smooth in the circumferential direction of theannular section 518. - It is worth noting that the
edge 512 of thereflective surface 510 does not necessarily need to concur with a geometric plane. Instead, for example, theedge 512 can be arranged to concur with a non-planar geometric surface that, in turn, concurs with dash-and-dot lines 525 shown infigure 5b . - In the exemplifying cases illustrated in
figures 3a ,3b ,4 ,5a, and 5b , each of the devices for modifying light distribution comprises a structure constituting a cavity whose surface is the reflector surface. The structure constituting the cavity may comprise a body-part made of for example plastic and a metal coating or another suitable coating for providing the reflectiveness of the reflector surface. It is, however, also possible that the device comprises a piece of transparent material that has an outer surface constituting the reflector surface so that the outer surface reflects light arriving from inside the piece of the transparent material. In other words, the outer surface provides total internal reflection "TIR" based on the sufficiently high refractive index of the transparent material. The transparent material can be for example plastic, glass, or optical silicone. - In addition to the stepped shape caused by the above-explained shape transformation, one or more of the reflector surface areas between the steps can be partly or wholly provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve scattering reflections but it is also possible that the reflective areas are smooth so as to provide mirroring reflections. The undulations may comprise grooves and/or other deviations from a smooth shape. The roughness and/or undulation can be used for achieving e.g. a color mixing effect so that light beams exhibiting different wavelengths become effectively mixed and evenly distributed. It is also possible that a light penetrating surface of a light source is provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve the mixing effect. Furthermore, it is also possible that the light source is covered with a dome made of material penetrable by light and provided with roughness and/or undulations so as to achieve the mixing effect.
-
Figure 6 illustrates an illuminator system according to an exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. The illuminator system compriseslight sources devices light sources 602a-602d can be for example a light emitting diode "LED". As illustrated infigure 6 , the front side of the illuminator system is substantially covered by the reflective surfaces of thedevices 601a-601d. Therefore, darker regions, i.e. regions between the reflective surfaces, are smaller than for example in a case where the reflective surfaces are rotationally symmetric. - The specific examples provided in the description given above should not be construed as limiting the scope and/or the applicability of the appended claims. Lists and groups of examples provided in the description given above are not exhaustive unless otherwise explicitly stated.
Claims (11)
- A device (301, 401, 501, 601a-601d) for modifying light distribution, the device comprising:- a first end (308, 408) comprising a place for a light source,- a second end (309, 409) for allowing light to exit from the device, the second end being a distance away from the first end in a longitudinal direction of the device, and- a reflector surface (310, 410) constituting a light propagation channel between the first and second ends and having and edge (312) delimiting a geometric egress area for allowing the light to exit from the light propagation channel,wherein the reflector surface is capable of determining at least partly an intensity distribution within an illumination pattern formable on a planar surface by the light distribution modified by the device, and the edge of the reflector surface is capable of determining a shape of the illumination pattern by determining a border of the illumination pattern, characterized in that a shape of at least a part of the reflector surface is a result of a shape transformation directed to a geometric auxiliary surface constituting a geometric channel between the first and second ends, the shape transformation comprising: i) division of the geometric auxiliary surface into longitudinal geometric surface segments (314', 315') with geometric section lines directed from the first end to the second end, ii) displacements of at least some of the geometric surface segments (314', 315') substantially sideward with respect to the longitudinal direction, and iii) addition of geometric connection-surfaces (316) between ones of the geometric surface segments (314, 315) at least partly separated from each other by the displacements so as to form a stepped geometric surface representing the shape of the at least part of the reflector surface, wherein the geometric auxiliary surface and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction intersect along closed section curves free from corners.
- A device according to claim 1, wherein the geometric auxiliary surface is a part of a geometric paraboloid.
- A device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge (312) of the reflector surface has a shape approximating a polygon when seen along the longitudinal direction.
- A device according to claim 3, wherein the polygon is one of the following: a triangle, a square, a rectangle, a pentagon, a hexagon, a heptagon, an octagon, a parallelogram, a trapezium.
- A device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface corresponding to corner regions of the polygon are narrower in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction than the geometric surface segments of the geometric auxiliary surface corresponding to middle regions of sides of the polygon.
- A device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the reflector surface comprises annular sections (418-421) successive in the longitudinal direction, and each transition region between adjacent ones of the annular sections forms a step-wise broadening of the light propagation channel constituted by the reflector surface.
- A device according to claim 6, wherein a particular one of the annular sections (418) which is closest to the first end (408) and geometric planes perpendicular to the longitudinal direction intersect along closed section curves free from corners.
- A device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the device comprises a structure constituting a cavity whose surface constitutes the reflector surface.
- A device according to any of claims 1-7, wherein the device comprises a piece of transparent material having an outer surface constituting the reflector surface, the outer surface being capable of reflecting light arriving at the outer surface from inside the piece of the transparent material.
- An illuminator system comprising:- at least one device (601a-601d) according to any of claims 1-9 for modifying distribution of light, and- at least one light source (602a-602d) installed on the at least one device and arranged to produce the light.
- A mold having a form suitable for manufacturing, by mold casting, a piece of solid material having a shape of a device according to any of claims 1-9.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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EP15165078.5A EP3086026A1 (en) | 2015-04-24 | 2015-04-24 | A device for modifying light distribution |
PCT/FI2016/050266 WO2016170234A1 (en) | 2015-04-24 | 2016-04-22 | A device for modifying light distribution |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP3286494A1 EP3286494A1 (en) | 2018-02-28 |
EP3286494B1 true EP3286494B1 (en) | 2019-11-20 |
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Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP15165078.5A Withdrawn EP3086026A1 (en) | 2015-04-24 | 2015-04-24 | A device for modifying light distribution |
EP16721850.2A Active EP3286494B1 (en) | 2015-04-24 | 2016-04-22 | A device for modifying light distribution |
Family Applications Before (1)
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EP15165078.5A Withdrawn EP3086026A1 (en) | 2015-04-24 | 2015-04-24 | A device for modifying light distribution |
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EP (2) | EP3086026A1 (en) |
HK (1) | HK1250775A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016170234A1 (en) |
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PL71003Y1 (en) * | 2017-10-24 | 2019-09-30 | Lena Lighting Spolka Akcyjna | Multi-diode LED lamp |
WO2019149555A1 (en) * | 2018-02-01 | 2019-08-08 | Signify Holding B.V. | Polarized lighting device containing polarization preserving reflector |
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DE102007035396B4 (en) * | 2007-07-26 | 2011-04-14 | Erco Gmbh | lamp |
TWM334262U (en) * | 2007-10-12 | 2008-06-11 | Dosun Solar Technology Co Ltd | Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting fixture having light beam adjustment |
CN202302885U (en) * | 2011-05-04 | 2012-07-04 | 广东德豪润达电气股份有限公司 | LED (light-emitting diode) light source device with reflecting cup |
US8449159B2 (en) * | 2011-10-18 | 2013-05-28 | Lawrence M. Rice | Combination optics light emitting diode landing light |
US8944660B2 (en) * | 2013-01-23 | 2015-02-03 | Ledil Oy | Light guide |
-
2015
- 2015-04-24 EP EP15165078.5A patent/EP3086026A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2016
- 2016-04-22 WO PCT/FI2016/050266 patent/WO2016170234A1/en active Application Filing
- 2016-04-22 EP EP16721850.2A patent/EP3286494B1/en active Active
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EP3286494A1 (en) | 2018-02-28 |
HK1250775A1 (en) | 2019-01-11 |
WO2016170234A1 (en) | 2016-10-27 |
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