US20120236595A1 - Light bulb with adjustable light output - Google Patents
Light bulb with adjustable light output Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20120236595A1 US20120236595A1 US13/420,926 US201213420926A US2012236595A1 US 20120236595 A1 US20120236595 A1 US 20120236595A1 US 201213420926 A US201213420926 A US 201213420926A US 2012236595 A1 US2012236595 A1 US 2012236595A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- light
- bulb
- optical
- light guide
- guide
- 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.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0035—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
-
- 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
- F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
- F21V9/30—Elements containing photoluminescent material distinct from or spaced from the light source
-
- 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
- F21V9/00—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters
- F21V9/40—Elements for modifying spectral properties, polarisation or intensity of the light emitted, e.g. filters with provision for controlling spectral properties, e.g. colour, or intensity
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/0058—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0066—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form characterised by the light source being coupled to the light guide
- G02B6/0073—Light emitting diode [LED]
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21K9/00—Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
- F21K9/20—Light sources comprising attachment means
- F21K9/23—Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21K9/00—Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
- F21K9/60—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
- F21K9/61—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction using light guides
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21K—NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21K9/00—Light sources using semiconductor devices as light-generating elements, e.g. using light-emitting diodes [LED] or lasers
- F21K9/60—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
- F21K9/64—Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
-
- 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
- F21V14/00—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements
- F21V14/02—Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements by movement of 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]
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0033—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
- G02B6/005—Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/0001—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems
- G02B6/0011—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings specially adapted for lighting devices or systems the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
- G02B6/0075—Arrangements of multiple light guides
- G02B6/0076—Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
Definitions
- LEDs Light emitting diodes
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a light bulb representing an exemplary lighting assembly with adjustable light output, where a portion of a housing of the light bulb is cut away to show a light source assembly;
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a lighting fixture representing another exemplary lighting assembly with adjustable light output
- FIGS. 3-5 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIGS. 8-10 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIGS. 13-20 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 21 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output
- FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the lighting assembly of FIG. 21 ;
- FIG. 23 is a top view of the lighting assembly of FIG. 21 .
- one type of lighting assembly 10 is a light bulb 12 .
- another type of lighting assembly 10 is a lighting fixture 14 .
- the lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions at least one of which is associated with one of the major surfaces. Each light output region is associated with a different optical characteristic.
- the lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge to input light into the light guide. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary the location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions. In this manner, a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
- the light bulb 12 additionally includes a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power.
- the lighting assembly 10 includes a light source assembly 16 ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
- the light source assembly 16 includes one or more light sources 18 .
- Each light source 18 is typically embodied as one or more solid-state devices.
- the light sources 18 are mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) 19 ( FIG. 1 ).
- PCB printed circuit board
- Exemplary light sources 18 include solid state devices such as LEDs, laser diodes, and organic LEDs (OLEDs).
- the LEDs may be top-fire LEDs or side-fire LEDs, and may be broad spectrum LEDs (e.g., emit white light) or LEDs that emit light of a desired color or spectrum (e.g., red light, green light, blue light, or ultraviolet light).
- the light source 18 emits light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nanometers (nm) (i.e., the light source 18 emits light at wavelengths that are predominantly less than 500 nm).
- the light source assembly 16 also includes structural components (e.g., PCB 19 ) to retain the light sources 18 .
- the light source assembly 16 may additionally include: circuitry, power supply and/or electronics for controlling and driving the light sources 18 , a heat sink, and any other appropriate components.
- the lighting assembly 10 also includes a light guide 20 .
- Light from the light sources 18 is input into the light guide 20 .
- the light guide 20 is a solid article made from, for example, acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, or another appropriate material.
- the light guide 20 also may be a multi-layer light guide having two or more layers.
- the light guide 20 has opposed major surfaces 22 and 24 .
- the light guide has at least one edge. For instance, in a case where the light guide 20 is shaped like a dome, the light guide has one edge. In a case where the light guide 20 is a hollow cylinder (e.g., as shown in FIGS.
- a light guide 20 is frustroconical, is a frustrated pyramid, is a dome with a hole cut at the dome's apex, or another similar shape, the light guide has two opposed edges.
- Other light guide 20 shapes for either a light bulb 12 or a lighting fixture 14 are possible, such as a globe or a shape approximating the bulbous shape of a conventional incandescent bulb.
- a light bulb configuration or a lighting fixture configuration may be established using planar or curved light guides 20 that are arranged in a three-dimensional geometric (e.g., polygonal) configuration. In the case where the light guide 20 is rectangular (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 ), the light guide 20 has four edges.
- each edge may follow a straight path or a curved path, and adjacent edges may meet at a vertex or join in a curve.
- the light input edge 26 is an external edge of the light guide 20 (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 ).
- the light input edge 26 is an internal edge of the light guide 20 , which is an edge completely surrounded by the light guide 20 and is usually an edge of a hole 42 that extends between the major surfaces of the light guide 20 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 6 ).
- Light output from the light sources 18 is directed toward the light input edge 26 .
- Additional optical elements e.g., lenses, reflectors, etc. may be present to assist in inputting the light into the light guide 20 .
- any light input surface of the light guide 20 is considered a light input edge, even if it is located on one of the major surfaces 22 , 24 or forms part of a light turning and/or homogenizing structure to introduce light between the major surfaces 22 , 24 in a manner that allows the light to propagate along the light guide 20 by total internal reflection at the major surfaces 22 , 24 .
- Length and width dimensions of each of the major surfaces 22 , 24 are much greater than, typically ten or more times greater than, the thickness of the light guide 20 .
- the length (measured from the light input edge 26 to an opposite edge distal the light input edge 26 ) and the width (measured along the light input edge 26 ) of the light guide 20 are both much greater than the thickness of the light guide 20 .
- the thickness is the dimension of the light guide 20 in a direction orthogonal to the major surfaces.
- the thickness of the light guide 20 may be, for example, about 0.1 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm.
- the light guide 20 may be rigid or flexible.
- the light guide 20 includes light extracting elements 27 in or on at least one of the major surfaces 22 , 24 . Although not specifically illustrated in connection with each light guide 20 shown in the appended drawing figures, each light guide 20 includes light extracting elements 27 in a configuration to achieve the described light extracting functions.
- Light extracting elements 27 that are in or on a major surface 22 , 24 will be referred to as being “at” the major surface 22 , 24 .
- Each light extracting element 27 functions to disrupt the total internal reflection of the propagating light that is incident on the light extracting element 27 .
- the light extracting elements 27 reflect light toward the opposing major surface so that the light exits the light guide 20 through the opposing major surface.
- the light extracting elements 27 transmit light through the light extracting elements 27 and out of the major surface 22 , 24 of the light guide 20 having the light extracting elements 27 .
- both of these types of light extracting elements 27 are present.
- the light extracting elements 27 reflect some of the light and refract the remainder of the light incident thereon. Therefore, the light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from one or both of the major surfaces 22 , 24 .
- Light extracting elements 27 are arranged at a major surface 22 , 24 to extract light from one or more distinct light output regions 28 , 30 of one or both of the major surfaces 22 , 24 . It is possible that a light output region occupies part or all of one of the major surfaces 22 , 24 .
- the location of the light source 18 relative to the light guide 20 , the angular range 32 of light output from the light source 18 , and the configuration of the light extracting elements 27 determine the portion of the light that exits through each light output region 28 , 30 .
- the light extracting elements 27 for each light output region may be at one or both of the major surfaces 22 , 24 through which light is emitted, or at the opposite major surface 22 , 24 .
- Light guides having such light extracting elements 27 are typically formed by a process such as stamping, molding, embossing, extruding, laser etching, chemical etching, or another suitable process.
- Light extracting elements 27 may also be produced by depositing elements of curable material on the light guide 20 and curing the deposited material using heat, UV-light or other radiation.
- the curable material can be deposited by a process such as printing, ink jet printing, screen printing, or another suitable process.
- the light extracting elements 27 may be inside the light guide between the major surfaces 22 , 24 (e.g., the light extracting elements 27 may be light redirecting particles and/or voids disposed in the light guide).
- the light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light in a defined intensity profile, such as uniform intensity, and/or a defined light ray angle distribution over the light output region. Using variations in the light extracting elements 27 , each light output region need not have the same intensity profile and/or light ray angle distribution.
- Intensity profile refers to the variation of intensity with position within a light-emitting region (such as light output region 28 or light output region 30 ).
- Light ray angle distribution refers to the variation of intensity with ray angle (typically a solid angle) of light emitted from a light-emitting region (such as light output region 28 or light output region 30 ).
- Exemplary light extracting elements 27 include light-scattering elements, which are typically features of indistinct shape or surface texture, such as printed features, ink jet printed features, selectively-deposited features, chemically etched features, laser etched features, and so forth.
- Other exemplary light extracting elements 27 include features of well-defined shape, such as V-grooves, lenticular grooves, and features of well-defined shape that are small relative to the linear dimensions of the major surfaces 22 , 24 , which are sometimes referred to as micro-optical elements.
- the smaller of the length and width of a micro-optical element is less than one-tenth of the longer of the length and width of the light guide 20 , and the larger of the length and width of the micro-optical element is less than one-half of the smaller of the length and width of the light guide.
- the length and width of the micro-optical element is measured in a plane parallel to the major surface 22 , 24 of the light guide 20 for flat light guides 20 or along a surface contour for non-flat light guides 20 .
- Micro-optical elements are shaped to predictably reflect light or predictably refract light. However, one or more of the surfaces of the micro-optical elements may be modified, such as roughened, to produce a secondary effect on light output. Exemplary micro-optical elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,505 and, for the sake of brevity, will not be described in detail in this disclosure.
- the micro-optical elements may vary in one or more of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle, or index of refraction such that a desired light output from the light guide 20 is achieved over the corresponding light output region 28 .
- FIGS. 3-5 schematically illustrate one embodiment of components of the lighting assembly 10 that are operative to modify a characteristic of the light output of the lighting assembly 10 .
- the light guide 20 has a first light output region 28 and a second light output region 30 . As illustrated, there is more than one first light output region 28 and more than one second light output region 30 . In embodiments where there are more than one set of two or more light output regions, each set of light output regions is associated with a respective light source 18 .
- the light source 18 has an angular range 32 , which is the range of light ray angles within which a predominant amount of the light is emitted by the light source.
- the first light output region 28 has an optical characteristic that is different than an optical characteristic of the second light output region 30 .
- the optical characteristics in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-5 are each provided by a material property of the region 28 , 30 or optical characteristic-affecting structure of the region 28 , 30 .
- the different optical characteristics are indicated by different types of surface hatching in the appended figures.
- the different optical characteristics may be two different types of optical characteristic or different amounts of the same type of optical characteristic.
- Exemplary optical characteristics of the light output regions 28 , 30 include specularly transmissive, reflective, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, reflective polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating.
- Wavelength shifting is used herein to refer to a process in which a material absorbs light at certain wavelengths, and reemits the light at one or more different wavelengths. Wavelength shifting may be achieved using a phosphor material, a luminescent material, a luminescent nanomaterial such as a quantum dot material, a conjugated polymer material, an organic fluorescent dye, an organic phosphorescent dye, lanthanide-doped garnet, or the like. Color attenuating may be achieved using color filtering material.
- the change in optical characteristic from the first light output region 28 to the second light output region 30 is abrupt.
- a barrier (not shown) is provided between the first light output region 28 and the second light output region 30 to reduce light leakage between the output regions.
- a groove extending into the light guide 20 from one or both major surfaces 22 , 24 at the boundary between the output regions serves as the barrier. Reflective or opaque material may be located in the groove.
- the groove walls may be coated with reflective material.
- the transition between the first region 28 and the second region 30 is gradual. A gradual transition may be appropriate where at least one of the regions 28 , 30 has an optical characteristic related to intensity reducing, wavelength shifting or color attenuating, but also may be used in other situations. The effect that the light output regions 28 , 30 have on light that is output from the lighting assembly 10 will be described in greater detail below.
- Each set of light output regions has at least one light source 18 to generate light that is output through the light output regions 28 , 30 in amounts apportioned between the light output regions 28 , 30 dependent on the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 . More specifically, one or both of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 is variably positionable relative to the other. The location at which the light from light source 18 is input to the light guide 20 determines where the light exits the light guide 20 . For example, in FIG. 3 , the light source 18 is located adjacent the light input edge 26 in an area of the light input edge 26 corresponding to the first light output region 28 . Therefore, more of the light from the light source 18 exits the light guide 20 by way of the first light output region 28 than exits by way of the second light output region 30 .
- the light source 18 has been moved laterally by respective distances relative to the position shown in FIG. 3 to change the position of the light source 18 relative to the light guide 20 and produce a corresponding change in the portion of the light from the light source 18 that exits the first output region 28 and, correspondingly, the portion of the light from the light source 18 that exits the second output region 30 .
- light guide 20 is moved laterally to change its position relative to the light source 18 to produce a similar effect.
- the relative positioning is varied so that more of the light emitted from the light source 18 exits the first light output region 28 than exits the second light output region 30 . Also, as shown in FIG.
- the relative positioning is varied so that more of the light that is emitted from the light source 18 exits the light guide by way of the second light output region 30 than exits the light guide by way of the first light output region 28 . Also, as shown in FIG. 4 , the relative positioning is varied so that similar portions of the light from the light source 18 exit the first light output region 28 and the second light output region 30 . Locating a barrier between the first light output region 28 and the second light output region 30 , as described above, increases the ratio between the amount of the light that exits the light guide by way of the first light output region 28 and that which exits the light guide by way of the second light output region 30 in the example shown in FIG. 3 , and vice versa in the example shown in FIG. 5 .
- variable relative positioning illustrated in FIGS. 3-5 allows for selectively apportioning light that is output from the lighting assembly 10 between the light that is output by way of the first light output region 28 and the light that is output by way of the second light output region 30 .
- the light output by way of the first light output region 28 is modified by the optical characteristic of the first light output region 28 and the light output by way of the second light output region 30 is modified by the optical characteristic of the second light output region 30 . Therefore, the overall characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly 10 is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20 .
- the relative positioning is varied manually by a user.
- the lighting assembly 10 includes a user-manipulable mechanism 34 that moves one or both of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 relative to the other to vary the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 .
- the light source 18 is fixed relative to a housing 36 and the light guide 20 is rotatably moveable relative thereto by the manual application of force to the mechanism 34 .
- the mechanism 34 is a member that is secured to the light guide 20 and slides over a portion of the housing 36 of the light bulb 12 .
- the amount of movement is limited by stops (not illustrated). Other manually-operated mechanisms are possible.
- the mechanism 34 is motorized to move one or both of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 relative to the other.
- the motorized mechanism may be controlled by a control assembly (not shown) to adjust light output based on user input, feedback from sensors, or a triggering event.
- there is no mechanism 34 and the adjustment is made by applying a positioning force, which in the case of the exemplary cylinder is torque, directly to the moveable one of the light source assembly 16 and the light guide 20 .
- the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 remains unchanged until the user or control assembly varies the relative positioning. Since constant motion of the light guide 20 relative to the light source 18 is not contemplated during operation of the lighting assembly 10 , the range of movement of the light guide 20 and/or the light source 18 may be limited. The range of movement may be limited to back-and-forth sliding that moves the regions 28 , 30 in and out of alignment with the light source 18 , rather than allowing infinite movement of the light guide 20 or the light source 18 in one direction.
- a visual indicator may be present to provide the user with an indication of the characteristic of the light output by the lighting assembly 10 .
- markings 38 are present on the light guide 20 and align relative to a pointer 40 on the housing to provide this indication.
- a disk-shaped light guide 20 has two sets of two light output regions 28 , 30 .
- the light output regions 28 , 30 have different optical characteristics.
- the light guide has a hole 42 that extends between the major surfaces 22 , 24 of the light guide 20 , typically at its center.
- the edge of the hole 48 provides the light input edge 26 of the light guide 20 in this embodiment.
- Light from each light source 18 is input to light guide 20 through the light input edge 26 .
- the variable relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light sources 18 selectively apportions the light emitted by each light source 18 between the light output and modified by the first light output region 28 and the light output and modified by the second light output region 30 .
- a hollow cylindrical light guide 20 has the two light output regions 28 , 30 having different optical characteristics.
- Light is input through the light input edge 26 , which is an edge along one end of the light guide 20 .
- the variable relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 selectively apportions light between the light output and modified by the first light output region 28 and the light output and modified by the second light output region 30 .
- the light output regions of the light guide 20 do not have different optical characteristics (e.g., there may be no discernable differences in the light guide 20 to form distinct regions), but the area of the light guide 20 that outputs light depends on the variable relative positioning of light source 18 and the light guide 20 . Typically, the area that outputs light is aligned with the light source 18 . For instance, using the respective relative positions shown in the FIGS. 8-10 , when the light source 18 is positioned to the right 42 of the light input edge 26 , as shown in FIG.
- a barrier (not shown) may be used to define optically-isolated light output regions 28 , 30 in the light guide 20 .
- the lighting assembly 10 further includes an optical adjuster 46 .
- the optical adjuster 46 has a fixed position relative to the light guide 20 .
- the optical adjuster 46 has opposed major surfaces 48 and 50 .
- the major surface 50 of the optical adjuster 46 is juxtaposed with the major surface 22 of the light guide 20 and conforms to the surface contour of the light guide 20 .
- the major surface 50 of the optical adjuster 46 that faces the light guide 20 is separated from major surface 22 so that the optical adjuster 46 does not disrupt the total internal reflection within the light guide 20 .
- the optical adjuster 46 is planar and located adjacent the major surface 22 .
- the optical adjuster 46 is located such that at least a portion of the light output from the light guide 20 is incident thereon.
- the optical adjuster 46 is also a hollow cylinder and positioned either inside the light guide 20 or outside the light guide 20 , and is coaxial therewith.
- the optical adjuster 46 has two or more optical adjuster regions.
- the optical adjuster 46 has a first optical adjuster region 52 and a second optical adjuster region 54 .
- the first optical adjuster region 52 has an optical characteristic that is different than an optical characteristic of the second optical adjuster region 54 .
- the different optical characteristics are denoted by the surface hatching in the appended figures.
- the different optical characteristics may be two different types of optical characteristic or different amounts of the same type of optical characteristic.
- the change in optical characteristic from the first optical adjuster region 52 to the second optical adjuster region 54 is abrupt. In other embodiments, the transition between the regions 52 , 54 may be gradual.
- the optical adjuster region 52 of the optical adjuster 46 is aligned with the first light output region 28 of the light guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the first light output region 28 .
- the optical adjuster region 54 the optical adjuster 46 is aligned with the second light output region 30 of the light guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the second light output region 30 .
- the optical characteristics of the optical adjuster regions combine with the optical characteristics of the respective light output regions with which they are associated to modify the characteristics of the light output of the lighting assembly 10 . Examples of the characteristics of the light output modified by the optical characteristics of the light output regions are intensity profile, light ray angle distribution, spectrum, polarization, and coherence.
- Light output from the major surface 22 of light guide 20 is incident on the optical adjuster 46 .
- the light incident on the optical adjuster 46 is modified by the optical characteristic of the first optical adjuster region 52 and/or is modified by the optical characteristic of the second optical adjuster region 54 . As shown in FIG.
- the light output regions 28 , 30 each have different optical characteristics.
- the first light output region 28 is aligned with the first optical adjuster region 52 and the second light output region 30 is aligned with the second optical adjuster region 54 , as illustrated.
- a portion of the second optical adjuster region 54 may overlap with the first light output region 28 or a portion of the first optical adjuster region 52 may overlap with the second light output region 30 .
- the light output from the light guide 20 is initially modified by the optical characteristic of the one or more of the first or second light output region 28 , 30 through which the light passes and is further modified by the optical characteristic of the one or more of the first or second optical adjuster region 52 , 54 through which the light passes.
- One or more additional optical adjusters may be located between the optical adjuster 46 and the light guide 20 .
- One or more additional optical adjusters may be located adjacent the major surface 48 of the optical adjuster 46 that faces away from the light guide 20 . If present, each additional adjuster may have a single optical characteristic or multiple optical characteristics.
- an additional optical adjuster 58 is located adjacent the optical adjuster 46 .
- the additional optical adjuster 58 of the illustrated embodiment is superposed with the optical adjuster 46 and has three optical adjuster regions 60 , 62 and 64 , each of which has a respective optical characteristic to further modify light output by the lighting assembly 10 .
- the additional optical adjuster 58 has a fixed position relative to the light guide 20 .
- the additional optical adjuster 58 and the light guide 20 are variably positionable relative to one another.
- the light output from the light guide 20 is modified by various combinations of the adjuster regions of the optical adjusters 46 , 58 depending on the variable relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20 , and additionally depending on the variable relative positioning of the additional optical adjuster 58 and the light guide 20 in embodiments in which this feature is implemented.
- the additional optical adjuster 58 having more than one optical adjuster region that each has a respective optical characteristic to further modify light output by the lighting assembly 10 is located adjacent the opposite side of the light guide 20 from the optical adjuster 46 .
- the additional optical adjuster 58 has a first optical adjuster region 66 aligned with the first optical adjuster region 52 of the optical adjuster 46 , and has a second optical adjuster region 68 aligned with the second optical adjuster region 54 of the first optical adjuster 46 .
- the light guide 20 outputs light from both major surfaces 22 and 24 .
- the area of the major surfaces 22 , 24 of the light guide from which the light is output depends on the variable relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 .
- the optical adjuster regions 52 and 68 are transmissive and the optical adjuster regions 54 and 66 are reflective.
- the optical adjuster regions 52 and 68 have at least one additional optical characteristic, such as diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting or color attenuating. In this manner, light output from the first light output region 28 of first major surface 22 and incident on the first optical adjuster region 52 exits the lighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the first major surface 22 as indicated by arrow 70 .
- light output from the first light output region 28 of the second major surface 24 of light guide 20 is incident on the first optical adjuster region 66 that reflects the light back through the second major surface 24 , through the light guide 20 and out through the first major surface 22 to be incident on the first optical adjuster region 52 , which transmits the light.
- the light transmitted by the optical adjuster region 52 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof.
- light output from the second light output region 30 of second major surface 24 and incident on the second optical adjuster region 68 exits the lighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the second major surface 24 as indicated by arrow 74 .
- light output from the second light output region 30 of the first major surface 22 of light guide 20 is incident on the second optical adjuster region 54 that reflects the light back through the second major surface 22 , through the light guide 20 and out through the second major surface 24 to be incident on the second optical adjuster region 68 , which transmits the light.
- the light transmitted by the optical adjuster region 68 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof.
- the direction e.g., as indicated by arrows 70 , 72 or by arrows 74 , 76
- the lighting assembly 10 is controlled by the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20 .
- a light guide assembly 78 includes a first light guide 80 and a second light guide 82 . Additional light guides that are stacked with the light guides 80 , 82 may be present.
- the light guides 80 and 82 have respective inner major surfaces 84 and 86 that are juxtaposed and conform in surface contour to one another, but the major surfaces 84 , 86 are separated by a gap sufficient to prevent the disruption of total internal reflection within each light guide.
- the light guides 80 , 82 are illustrated as being similar in shape, the light guides 80 , 82 may differ in one or more of length, width and thickness.
- the light source 18 and the light guide assembly 78 are variably positionable relative to each other.
- the light source 18 is positioned so that more of the light from the light source 18 is input into the first light guide 80 through the light input edge 88 thereof than is input into the second light guide 82 through the light input edge 90 thereof ( FIGS. 14 and 18 ), or more of the light is input into the second light guide 82 through the light input edge 90 thereof than is input into the first light guide 80 through a light input edge 88 thereof ( FIGS. 16 and 20 ), or the light is apportioned between the first light guide 80 and the second light guide 82 by inputting light through the both light input edges 88 and 90 ( FIGS. 15 and 19 , showing apportionment that is approximately equal between the two light guides 80 and 82 ).
- the first light guide 80 outputs light with a first characteristic and the second light guide 82 outputs light with a second characteristic, which is different than the first characteristic.
- Exemplary characteristics of the output light are identified above.
- the relative positioning of the light source 18 with respect to the light guide assembly 78 varies in a direction parallel to the light input edges 88 , 90 and orthogonal to major surfaces of light guides 80 , 82 .
- the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guides 80 , 82 can additionally vary in a direction parallel to the light input edges 88 , 90 and parallel to the major surfaces 84 , 86 of the light guides 80 , 82 to provide additional light output characteristics using, for example, the embodiments of FIGS. 3-12 .
- the characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is light output direction. For example, with reference to FIGS. 14-16 , depending on the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide assembly 78 , more light is output from the outer major surface 92 of the first light guide 80 than is output from the outer major surface 94 of the second light guide 82 ( FIG. 14 ); more light is output from the outer major surface 94 of the second light guide 82 than is output from the outer major surface 92 of the first light guide 80 ( FIG. 16 ); or similar amounts of light are output from both the outer major surface 92 of the first light guide 80 and the outer major surface 94 of the second light guide 82 ( FIG. 15 ).
- light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80 , 82 are configured so that light entering the light input edge 88 exits the first light guide 80 through the outer major surface 92 and so that light entering the light input edge 90 exits the second light guide 82 through the outer major surface 94 .
- light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80 , 82 are configured so that light entering the light input edge 88 exits the second light guide 82 through the outer major surface 94 and so that light entering the light input edge 90 exits the first light guide 80 through the outer major surface 92 . As shown in FIG.
- light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80 , 82 are configured so that light entering the light input edge 88 of the first light guide 80 exits the first light guide 80 through the inner major surface 84 , enters the second light guide 82 through the inner major surface 86 , passes through the second light guide 82 and exits through the outer major surface 94 of the second light guide 82 .
- the light extracting elements 27 are configured so that light entering the light input edge 90 of the second light guide 82 exits the second light guide 82 through the inner major surface 86 , enters the first light guide 80 through the inner major surface 84 , passes through the first light guide 80 and exits through the outer major surface 92 of the first light guide 80 .
- the surfaces 84 and 86 have cooperating light extracting elements 96 such that light extracted from one of the light guides 80 , 82 enters the other of the light guides at an angle such that the light does not propagate within the other of the light guides by total internal reflection.
- FIG. 17 shows an example in which inner major surfaces 84 , 86 are mating surfaces in which protrusions from one of the surfaces are accommodated within depressions in the other of the surfaces, and vice versa.
- light ray 98 light that has entered the light input edge 88 ( FIG. 14 ) of the first light guide 80 travels by total internal reflection through the first light guide 80 .
- Portions of the light incident on an exemplary light extracting element 96 exits the first light guide 80 by refraction by the light extracting element 96 and enters the second light guide 82 through an exemplary light extracting element 97 .
- the light then passes through the second light guide 82 and, when incident on the outer major surface 94 , exits the second light guide 82 by refraction.
- Light entering the light guide assembly 78 through the light input surface 90 of the second light guide 82 behaves similarly, and exits the light guide assembly 78 through the outer major surface 92 of the first light guide 80 .
- Light extracting elements 27 at one or both of the major surfaces 84 , 92 of the first light guide 80 are configured to output light through the outer major surface 92 .
- the second light guide 82 does not have light extracting elements 27 so that light propagates through the light guide 82 until it is incident on the distal edge 100 and exits the light guide 82 by refraction.
- the edge 100 may include an anti-reflective coating to maximize light transmission through the edge.
- the second light guide 82 has light extracting elements 27 configured so that a portion of the light that propagates through the light guide 82 exits the outer major surface 94 and another portion (typically the remainder) of the light exits the edge 100 .
- a characteristic of the light output of the lighting assembly 10 is modified based on the variable relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20 (or, in some embodiments, the variable relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide assembly 78 ).
- the modification further depends on the optical characteristics associated with each light output region of the light guide 20 or light guide assembly 78 .
- the relative positioning may be varied to selectively provide a light output from the lighting assembly with a light ray angle distribution that is a first light ray angle distribution, or a second light ray angle distribution, different from the first light ray angle distribution, or is any intermediate light ray angle distribution between the first and second light ray angle distributions.
- the color of the light output by the lighting assembly 10 may be changed using a color filter layer on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52 , 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20 ; a color filtering material composition of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52 , 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20 ; a dichroic filter on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52 , 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20 ; or a wavelength shifting material on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52 , 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20 .
- the lighting assembly 10 is configured to change color temperature of the light output.
- LED light sources 18 emit light in an intended range of wavelengths to achieve a corresponding color temperature. However, within batches of LEDs having the same nominal color temperature, there is variation from LED to LED. Also, sometimes broad-spectrum LEDs (e.g., “white light” LEDs) or groups of tri-color LEDs (e.g., a red LED, a blue LED and a green LED whose outputs combine to produce white light) do not produce a color temperature that is desirable to a user or appropriate for a certain lighting application.
- an optical characteristic associated with the first region 28 may be used. For instance, the optical characteristic associated with the first region 28 may modify the light output to be warmer (either or both of more red and less blue) and the optical characteristic associated with second region 30 may modify the light output to be cooler (either or both of more blue and less red).
- Some embodiments are configured to allow a user to adjust the color temperature of light output from the lighting assembly 10 in order to achieve a desired color temperature.
- Other embodiments are configured to allow a manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 to adjust the color temperature of light output from the lighting assembly 10 to compensate for different color temperatures associated with different lots of light sources 18 . This allows the lighting assembly manufacturer to source a broader range of light sources 18 from one or more suppliers and still manufacture lighting assemblies with a defined, consistent color temperature.
- the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 is varied by the manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 until the output light has a defined characteristic (e.g., a defined color temperature is obtained).
- the relative positioning is then fixed by the manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 and the lighting assembly 10 is configured in a manner that minimizes the ability of a user of the lighting assembly 10 to further vary the relative positioning.
- the user has the ability to vary the relative positioning.
- the light source assembly 16 includes another light source that does or does not move relative to the light guide 20 .
- the additional light source is selectively illuminated to further change the location at which the light is input to the light guide 20 .
- the light bulb 12 includes a base 102 .
- the illustrated base 102 is an Edison base, but other types of bases 102 may be used, including any commercially-standard base or proprietary base used for mechanically securing an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), a halogen bulb, a high intensity discharge (HID) bulb, an arc lamp, or any other type of bulb into a lamp, a lighting fixture, a flashlight, a socket, etc., and/or for supplying electricity thereto.
- the bulb 12 typically further includes a heat sink 104 that dissipates heat generated by the light sources 18 .
- the heat sink 104 of the illustrated embodiment forms part of the housing 36 . Parts of the light bulb 12 , such as the light guide 20 and the light source 18 , are described above with reference to FIGS. 3-20 .
- references herein to a “light bulb” are meant to broadly encompass light-producing devices that fit into and engage any of various fixtures for mechanically mounting the light-producing device and for providing electrical power thereto.
- fixtures include, without limitation, screw-in fixtures for engaging an Edison light bulb base, a bayonet fixture for engaging a bayonet light bulb base, or a bi-pin fixture for engaging a bi-pin light bulb base.
- the term “light bulb,” by itself, does not provide any limitation on the shape of the light-producing device, or the mechanism by which light is produced from electric power.
- the light bulb need not have an enclosed envelope forming an environment for light generation.
- the light bulb may conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or other standards for electric lamps, but the light bulb does not necessarily have to have this conformance.
- ANSI American National Standards Institute
- the lighting fixture 14 may be a hanging light (as shown), a ceiling light (e.g., an assembly to fit in a drop-down ceiling or secure flush to a ceiling), a wall sconce, a table lamp, a task light, or any other illumination device.
- the lighting fixture includes a housing 106 for retaining the light source assembly 16 and the light guide 20 .
- the housing 106 may retain or may serve as a heat sink.
- the lighting fixture 14 includes a mechanism 108 (e.g., a chain or wire in the case of a hanging light, clips or fasteners in the case of a ceiling light or wall sconce, etc.) to mechanically secure the lighting assembly to a retaining structure (e.g., a ceiling, a wall, etc.).
- the mechanism 108 is a stand and/or base assembly to allow the lighting fixture 14 to function as a floor lamp, table lamp, task lamp, etc. Electrical power is supplied to the lighting fixture through appropriate conductors, which in some cases may form part of or pass through the mechanism 108 . Parts of the light bulb 12 , such as the light guide 20 and the light source 18 , are described above with reference to FIGS. 3-20 .
- the illustrated lighting assembly 10 is a light bulb 12 .
- the light bulb 12 has a base 102 that is configured to mechanically mount the light bulb 12 to a compatible socket (not shown) and receive electrical power from the socket.
- the light bulb 12 also includes a housing 36 that is mechanically coupled to the base 102 .
- the housing 36 also serves as a heat sink or retains a heat sink for dissipating heat.
- One or more light sources 18 are mechanically coupled to the housing 36 .
- the light sources 18 are arranged to coordinate with one or more light guides 20 and one or more optical adjusters 110 as described in greater detail below.
- the individual light sources 18 are grouped into a number of light source groups 103 .
- no more than a respective single light source 18 constitutes each light source group 103 .
- the light sources 18 are mounted to a printed circuit board 19 (not shown in FIGS. 21-23 , but see FIG. 1 ) that is attached to the housing 36 .
- Electrical circuitry (not shown) to drive the light sources 18 using electricity received through the base 102 is located in the base 102 or the housing 36 . Therefore, the light sources 18 are electrically coupled to the base 102 .
- the light bulb 12 includes one or more light guides 20 that are mechanically coupled to the housing 36 and are variably positionable relative to the light sources 18 by an adjustment member 112 that is rotatable relative to the housing 36 .
- each light guide 20 includes opposed major surfaces 22 , 24 between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge 26 , and light extracting elements 27 (not specifically shown in FIGS. 21-23 ) at at least one of the major surfaces 22 , 24 .
- the light guides 20 each are positionable between a first position and a second position. In the example shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 , each light guide 20 is in the second position.
- the light input edge 26 is adjacent and aligned with one of the light source groups 103 such that the light guide 20 is edge lit by the light sources 18 of the light source group 103 .
- the light guide 20 is in its second position, the light input edge 26 is not adjacent and not aligned with any of the light sources 18 .
- the light guide 20 is not edge lit by light emitted from any of the light sources 18 .
- Light guide 20 will be regarded as not being edge lit by any of the light sources 18 in positions of the light guide 20 in which the light extracted from the light guide 20 has an intensity less than one-tenth of the light extracted from the light guide 20 when the light guide 20 is in the first position.
- the light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from the light guide 20 with a diffuse light ray angle distribution. Therefore, when the light guide 20 is in the first position, the light extracted from the light bulb 12 will illuminate a wide area.
- the light guide 20 has a secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from the light guide 20 . Exemplary secondary optical characteristics include reflective, light redirecting (such as by the addition of a light-redirecting film (not shown) adjacent at least one of the major surfaces 22 , 24 ), polarizing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating.
- the light guide 20 has more than one secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from the light guide. In other embodiments, different ones of the light guides 20 respectively affect light with different secondary optical characteristics.
- the light bulb 12 of FIGS. 21-23 further includes one or more optical adjusters 110 .
- there is a group of optical adjusters (referred to as optical adjuster group 111 ) for each light source group 103 and, within each optical adjuster group 111 , there is an optical adjuster 110 for each light source 18 .
- no more than a respective single optical adjuster 110 constitutes each optical adjuster group 111 .
- the optical adjusters 110 are mechanically coupled to the housing 36 by the adjustment member 112 that is rotatable to variably position the optical adjusters 110 relative to the light sources 18 .
- the optical adjuster groups 111 are aligned with respective light source groups 103 so that each optical adjuster 110 is respectively aligned with at least one of the light sources 18 . In this manner, light emitted from the light sources 18 is emitted from the light bulb 12 through respective optical adjusters 110 .
- the optical adjusters 110 are lenses.
- One type of lens for the optical adjusters 110 is a collimating lens configured so that when light is emitted from the light bulb 12 through the collimating lenses, the light is emitted with a narrower light ray angle distribution than when light is emitted from the light bulb 12 through the light guide 20 .
- the optical adjusters 110 impart a different characteristic or a secondary characteristic to the light. Exemplary optical characteristics of the optical adjusters 110 include specularly transmissive, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating.
- the optical adjusters 110 have more than one optical characteristic that affects the light emitted from the light bulb 12 .
- different ones of the optical adjusters 110 respectively affect light with different optical characteristics.
- the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 of the illustrated embodiment are mechanically coupled to the adjustment member 112 .
- the adjustment member 112 is, in turn, mechanically coupled to the housing 36 .
- the adjustment member 112 is variably positionable relative to the housing 36 to move each light guide 20 between its first and second positions and, correspondingly, move each optical adjuster group 111 into alignment with the respective light source group 103 when the light guide 20 is in the second position.
- the light sources 18 are arranged along the circumference of a circle in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the light bulb 12 .
- the adjustment member 112 rotates about the longitudinal axis of the light bulb 12 .
- the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are retained by the adjustment member 112 so that the light input edges 26 of the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are arranged along the circumference of the above-described circle in a plane parallel to and adjacent the plane of the light sources 18 .
- the light guides 20 are curved in the length direction of the light input edges 26 .
- Other layouts of the light sources 18 , light input edges 26 , and optical adjusters 110 other than circular arrangements are possible.
- the light guides 20 have non-curved light input edges 26 and the light sources 18 are arranged along one or more straight lines.
- the light guides 20 are non-parallel to the axis of rotation of the adjustment member 112 .
- the adjustment member 112 is a disk-like member and has a first set of openings 114 .
- Each opening 114 has a respective light guide 20 retained therein in a manner that exposes the light input edge 26 to the light sources 18 .
- the adjustment member 112 also has a second set of openings 116 and each opening 116 has a respective optical adjuster 110 retained therein in a manner that exposes the optical adjuster 110 to the light sources 18 .
- the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are retained in the openings 114 , 116 by an adhesive. Other ways of mounting the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 to the adjustment member 112 are possible and may be used.
- the optical adjuster is transparent and lacks the openings 114 , 116 (e.g., the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are mounted to or are part of the transparent adjustment member 112 ).
- the housing 36 includes cooling air vents 118 through which air flows to dissipate heat generated by the light sources 118 .
- the cooling air vents 118 allow air to pass from the outside of the housing 36 adjacent the base 102 to a region surrounded by the light guides 20 , or vice versa, depending on the orientation of the bulb 12 .
- the adjustment member 112 includes a third set of openings 120 .
- the third set of openings 120 of the illustrated embodiment align with the air flow vents 118 when the adjustment member 112 is positioned to place the light guides 20 in either of the first position or the second position.
- the openings 120 of the third set and the cooling air vents 118 are configured to allow air flow through the openings 120 and the cooling air vents 118 when the adjustment member 112 is in other positions between the first and second positions.
- the adjustment member 112 has increased resistance to movement when positioned so that the light guides 20 are in the first and second positions relative to when the adjustment member 112 is in other positions (e.g., the light guides 20 are not in one of the first or second positions). In this manner, light bulb 12 will have a tendency to stay in the configurations in which the light guides 20 are positioned to be edge lit by the light sources 18 or the optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from respective light sources 18 .
- Other positions of the adjustment member 112 also may have increased resistance to movement, such as when some of the optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from some of the light sources 18 (e.g., the optical adjuster groups 111 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103 ) and the remaining light sources 18 of the light source groups 103 edge light the light guides 20 (e.g., the light input edges 26 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103 ).
- one of the housing 36 and the adjustment member 112 includes a detent (not shown) and the other of the housing 36 and the adjustment member 112 includes an indent (not shown) that collectively provide the resistance to movement in certain positions of the adjustment member 112 .
- the light ray angle distribution of light emitted from the light bulb 12 is a combination of the light ray angle distribution of the light extracted from the light guides 20 and the light ray angle distribution of the light emitted by the optical adjusters 110 .
- the variable relative positioning of the adjustment mechanism 112 and the light sources 18 allows for selectively apportioning light that is output from the light bulb 12 between the light that is output by way of the light guides 20 and the light that is output by way of the optical adjusters 110 .
- the phrase “one of” followed by a list is intended to mean the elements of the list in the alterative.
- “one of A, B and C” means A or B or C.
- the phrase “at least one of” followed by a list is intended to mean one or more of the elements of the list in the alterative.
- “at least one of A, B and C” means A or B or C or (A and B) or (A and C) or (B and C) or (A and B and C).
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Abstract
A light bulb includes a base; a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces; and a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which light is input to the light guide such that light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
Description
- This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/453,756 (filed Mar. 17, 2011), 61/454,221 (filed Mar. 18, 2011), and 61/602,193 (filed Feb. 23, 2012), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- Energy efficiency has become an area of interest for energy consuming devices. One class of energy consuming devices is lighting devices. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) show promise as energy efficient light sources for lighting devices. But control over color and light output distribution is an issue for lighting devices that use LEDs or similar light sources.
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FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a light bulb representing an exemplary lighting assembly with adjustable light output, where a portion of a housing of the light bulb is cut away to show a light source assembly; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a lighting fixture representing another exemplary lighting assembly with adjustable light output; -
FIGS. 3-5 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIGS. 8-10 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIGS. 13-20 are schematic views showing part of an embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 21 is an exploded view of another embodiment of a lighting assembly having adjustable light output; -
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the lighting assembly ofFIG. 21 ; and -
FIG. 23 is a top view of the lighting assembly ofFIG. 21 . - Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
- Aspects of this disclosure relate to a lighting assembly. As illustrated in
FIG. 1 , one type oflighting assembly 10 is alight bulb 12. As illustrated inFIG. 2 , another type oflighting assembly 10 is alighting fixture 14. - As described in greater detail below, the lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions at least one of which is associated with one of the major surfaces. Each light output region is associated with a different optical characteristic. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge to input light into the light guide. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary the location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions. In this manner, a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
- In the case of the
light bulb 12, thelight bulb 12 additionally includes a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power. - With additional reference to
FIG. 3 , thelighting assembly 10, whether abulb 12, alighting fixture 14, or another type of lighting device, will be described in greater detail. Thelighting assembly 10 includes a light source assembly 16 (FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Thelight source assembly 16 includes one or morelight sources 18. Eachlight source 18 is typically embodied as one or more solid-state devices. In one embodiment, thelight sources 18 are mounted to a printed circuit board (PCB) 19 (FIG. 1 ). -
Exemplary light sources 18 include solid state devices such as LEDs, laser diodes, and organic LEDs (OLEDs). In an embodiment where thelight source 18 is one or more LEDs, the LEDs may be top-fire LEDs or side-fire LEDs, and may be broad spectrum LEDs (e.g., emit white light) or LEDs that emit light of a desired color or spectrum (e.g., red light, green light, blue light, or ultraviolet light). In one embodiment, thelight source 18 emits light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nanometers (nm) (i.e., thelight source 18 emits light at wavelengths that are predominantly less than 500 nm). Although not specifically illustrated, thelight source assembly 16 also includes structural components (e.g., PCB 19) to retain thelight sources 18. Thelight source assembly 16 may additionally include: circuitry, power supply and/or electronics for controlling and driving thelight sources 18, a heat sink, and any other appropriate components. - The
lighting assembly 10 also includes alight guide 20. Light from thelight sources 18 is input into thelight guide 20. Thelight guide 20 is a solid article made from, for example, acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, or another appropriate material. Thelight guide 20 also may be a multi-layer light guide having two or more layers. Thelight guide 20 has opposedmajor surfaces light guide 20, the light guide has at least one edge. For instance, in a case where thelight guide 20 is shaped like a dome, the light guide has one edge. In a case where thelight guide 20 is a hollow cylinder (e.g., as shown inFIGS. 1 and 7 ), is frustroconical, is a frustrated pyramid, is a dome with a hole cut at the dome's apex, or another similar shape, the light guide has two opposed edges.Other light guide 20 shapes for either alight bulb 12 or alighting fixture 14 are possible, such as a globe or a shape approximating the bulbous shape of a conventional incandescent bulb. In one embodiment, a light bulb configuration or a lighting fixture configuration may be established using planar orcurved light guides 20 that are arranged in a three-dimensional geometric (e.g., polygonal) configuration. In the case where thelight guide 20 is rectangular (e.g., as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3 ), thelight guide 20 has four edges. Other geometries for thelight guide 20 result in a corresponding number of edges. Depending on the geometry of thelight guide 20, each edge may follow a straight path or a curved path, and adjacent edges may meet at a vertex or join in a curve. - One of the edges serves as a
light input edge 26. In some embodiments, thelight input edge 26 is an external edge of the light guide 20 (e.g., as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 ). In embodiments, thelight input edge 26 is an internal edge of thelight guide 20, which is an edge completely surrounded by thelight guide 20 and is usually an edge of ahole 42 that extends between the major surfaces of the light guide 20 (e.g., as shown inFIG. 6 ). Light output from thelight sources 18 is directed toward thelight input edge 26. Additional optical elements (e.g., lenses, reflectors, etc.) may be present to assist in inputting the light into thelight guide 20. Once input into thelight guide 20, the light propagates through the light guide by total internal reflection (TIR) at the opposedmajor surfaces light guide 20 is considered a light input edge, even if it is located on one of themajor surfaces major surfaces light guide 20 by total internal reflection at themajor surfaces - Length and width dimensions of each of the
major surfaces light guide 20. For instance, in the rectangular embodiment shown inFIG. 2 , the length (measured from thelight input edge 26 to an opposite edge distal the light input edge 26) and the width (measured along the light input edge 26) of thelight guide 20 are both much greater than the thickness of thelight guide 20. The thickness is the dimension of thelight guide 20 in a direction orthogonal to the major surfaces. The thickness of thelight guide 20 may be, for example, about 0.1 millimeters (mm) to about 10 mm. Thelight guide 20 may be rigid or flexible. - With continuing reference to
FIG. 3 , thelight guide 20 includeslight extracting elements 27 in or on at least one of themajor surfaces light guide 20 shown in the appended drawing figures, eachlight guide 20 includeslight extracting elements 27 in a configuration to achieve the described light extracting functions. -
Light extracting elements 27 that are in or on amajor surface major surface light extracting element 27 functions to disrupt the total internal reflection of the propagating light that is incident on thelight extracting element 27. In one embodiment, thelight extracting elements 27 reflect light toward the opposing major surface so that the light exits thelight guide 20 through the opposing major surface. Alternatively, thelight extracting elements 27 transmit light through thelight extracting elements 27 and out of themajor surface light guide 20 having thelight extracting elements 27. In another embodiment, both of these types oflight extracting elements 27 are present. In yet another embodiment, thelight extracting elements 27 reflect some of the light and refract the remainder of the light incident thereon. Therefore, thelight extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from one or both of themajor surfaces -
Light extracting elements 27 are arranged at amajor surface light output regions major surfaces major surfaces - The location of the
light source 18 relative to thelight guide 20, theangular range 32 of light output from thelight source 18, and the configuration of thelight extracting elements 27 determine the portion of the light that exits through eachlight output region light extracting elements 27 for each light output region may be at one or both of themajor surfaces major surface light extracting elements 27 are typically formed by a process such as stamping, molding, embossing, extruding, laser etching, chemical etching, or another suitable process.Light extracting elements 27 may also be produced by depositing elements of curable material on thelight guide 20 and curing the deposited material using heat, UV-light or other radiation. The curable material can be deposited by a process such as printing, ink jet printing, screen printing, or another suitable process. Alternatively, thelight extracting elements 27 may be inside the light guide between themajor surfaces 22, 24 (e.g., thelight extracting elements 27 may be light redirecting particles and/or voids disposed in the light guide). - The
light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light in a defined intensity profile, such as uniform intensity, and/or a defined light ray angle distribution over the light output region. Using variations in thelight extracting elements 27, each light output region need not have the same intensity profile and/or light ray angle distribution. Intensity profile refers to the variation of intensity with position within a light-emitting region (such aslight output region 28 or light output region 30). Light ray angle distribution refers to the variation of intensity with ray angle (typically a solid angle) of light emitted from a light-emitting region (such aslight output region 28 or light output region 30). - Exemplary
light extracting elements 27 include light-scattering elements, which are typically features of indistinct shape or surface texture, such as printed features, ink jet printed features, selectively-deposited features, chemically etched features, laser etched features, and so forth. Other exemplarylight extracting elements 27 include features of well-defined shape, such as V-grooves, lenticular grooves, and features of well-defined shape that are small relative to the linear dimensions of themajor surfaces light guide 20, and the larger of the length and width of the micro-optical element is less than one-half of the smaller of the length and width of the light guide. The length and width of the micro-optical element is measured in a plane parallel to themajor surface light guide 20 for flat light guides 20 or along a surface contour for non-flat light guides 20. - Micro-optical elements are shaped to predictably reflect light or predictably refract light. However, one or more of the surfaces of the micro-optical elements may be modified, such as roughened, to produce a secondary effect on light output. Exemplary micro-optical elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,505 and, for the sake of brevity, will not be described in detail in this disclosure. The micro-optical elements may vary in one or more of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle, or index of refraction such that a desired light output from the
light guide 20 is achieved over the correspondinglight output region 28. -
FIGS. 3-5 schematically illustrate one embodiment of components of thelighting assembly 10 that are operative to modify a characteristic of the light output of thelighting assembly 10. In this embodiment, thelight guide 20 has a firstlight output region 28 and a secondlight output region 30. As illustrated, there is more than one firstlight output region 28 and more than one secondlight output region 30. In embodiments where there are more than one set of two or more light output regions, each set of light output regions is associated with a respectivelight source 18. Thelight source 18 has anangular range 32, which is the range of light ray angles within which a predominant amount of the light is emitted by the light source. - The first
light output region 28 has an optical characteristic that is different than an optical characteristic of the secondlight output region 30. The optical characteristics in the embodiment ofFIGS. 3-5 are each provided by a material property of theregion region light output regions - In the illustrated embodiments, the change in optical characteristic from the first
light output region 28 to the secondlight output region 30 is abrupt. In an embodiment, a barrier (not shown) is provided between the firstlight output region 28 and the secondlight output region 30 to reduce light leakage between the output regions. In an example, a groove extending into thelight guide 20 from one or bothmajor surfaces first region 28 and thesecond region 30 is gradual. A gradual transition may be appropriate where at least one of theregions light output regions lighting assembly 10 will be described in greater detail below. - Each set of light output regions, e.g.,
light output regions light source 18 to generate light that is output through thelight output regions light output regions light guide 20 and thelight source 18. More specifically, one or both of thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18 is variably positionable relative to the other. The location at which the light fromlight source 18 is input to thelight guide 20 determines where the light exits thelight guide 20. For example, inFIG. 3 , thelight source 18 is located adjacent thelight input edge 26 in an area of thelight input edge 26 corresponding to the firstlight output region 28. Therefore, more of the light from thelight source 18 exits thelight guide 20 by way of the firstlight output region 28 than exits by way of the secondlight output region 30. - In the examples shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , thelight source 18 has been moved laterally by respective distances relative to the position shown inFIG. 3 to change the position of thelight source 18 relative to thelight guide 20 and produce a corresponding change in the portion of the light from thelight source 18 that exits thefirst output region 28 and, correspondingly, the portion of the light from thelight source 18 that exits thesecond output region 30. In another example (not shown),light guide 20 is moved laterally to change its position relative to thelight source 18 to produce a similar effect. In one embodiment, and as shown inFIG. 3 , the relative positioning is varied so that more of the light emitted from thelight source 18 exits the firstlight output region 28 than exits the secondlight output region 30. Also, as shown inFIG. 5 , the relative positioning is varied so that more of the light that is emitted from thelight source 18 exits the light guide by way of the secondlight output region 30 than exits the light guide by way of the firstlight output region 28. Also, as shown inFIG. 4 , the relative positioning is varied so that similar portions of the light from thelight source 18 exit the firstlight output region 28 and the secondlight output region 30. Locating a barrier between the firstlight output region 28 and the secondlight output region 30, as described above, increases the ratio between the amount of the light that exits the light guide by way of the firstlight output region 28 and that which exits the light guide by way of the secondlight output region 30 in the example shown inFIG. 3 , and vice versa in the example shown inFIG. 5 . - The variable relative positioning illustrated in
FIGS. 3-5 allows for selectively apportioning light that is output from thelighting assembly 10 between the light that is output by way of the firstlight output region 28 and the light that is output by way of the secondlight output region 30. The light output by way of the firstlight output region 28 is modified by the optical characteristic of the firstlight output region 28 and the light output by way of the secondlight output region 30 is modified by the optical characteristic of the secondlight output region 30. Therefore, the overall characteristic of the light output from thelighting assembly 10 is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide 20. - In one embodiment, the relative positioning is varied manually by a user. In the example shown in
FIG. 1 , thelighting assembly 10 includes a user-manipulable mechanism 34 that moves one or both of thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18 relative to the other to vary the relative positioning of thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18. As shown inFIG. 1 , thelight source 18 is fixed relative to ahousing 36 and thelight guide 20 is rotatably moveable relative thereto by the manual application of force to themechanism 34. In the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , themechanism 34 is a member that is secured to thelight guide 20 and slides over a portion of thehousing 36 of thelight bulb 12. In one embodiment, the amount of movement is limited by stops (not illustrated). Other manually-operated mechanisms are possible. For instance, other types of sliders may be employed or a turnable knob may act on the moveable component through a gear or drive train. In other embodiments, themechanism 34 is motorized to move one or both of thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18 relative to the other. The motorized mechanism may be controlled by a control assembly (not shown) to adjust light output based on user input, feedback from sensors, or a triggering event. In still other embodiments, there is nomechanism 34 and the adjustment is made by applying a positioning force, which in the case of the exemplary cylinder is torque, directly to the moveable one of thelight source assembly 16 and thelight guide 20. - Once positioned, the relative positioning of the
light guide 20 and thelight source 18 remains unchanged until the user or control assembly varies the relative positioning. Since constant motion of thelight guide 20 relative to thelight source 18 is not contemplated during operation of thelighting assembly 10, the range of movement of thelight guide 20 and/or thelight source 18 may be limited. The range of movement may be limited to back-and-forth sliding that moves theregions light source 18, rather than allowing infinite movement of thelight guide 20 or thelight source 18 in one direction. - A visual indicator may be present to provide the user with an indication of the characteristic of the light output by the
lighting assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 1 , for example,markings 38 are present on thelight guide 20 and align relative to apointer 40 on the housing to provide this indication. - With additional reference to
FIG. 6 , schematically illustrated is another embodiment of part of thelighting assembly 10 having an adjustable light output. In this embodiment, a disk-shapedlight guide 20 has two sets of twolight output regions light output regions hole 42 that extends between themajor surfaces light guide 20, typically at its center. The edge of thehole 48 provides thelight input edge 26 of thelight guide 20 in this embodiment. Light from eachlight source 18 is input tolight guide 20 through thelight input edge 26. The variable relative positioning of thelight guide 20 and thelight sources 18 selectively apportions the light emitted by eachlight source 18 between the light output and modified by the firstlight output region 28 and the light output and modified by the secondlight output region 30. - With additional reference to
FIG. 7 , schematically illustrated is another embodiment of part of thelighting assembly 10 having an adjustable light output. In this embodiment, a hollow cylindricallight guide 20 has the twolight output regions light input edge 26, which is an edge along one end of thelight guide 20. The variable relative positioning of thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18 selectively apportions light between the light output and modified by the firstlight output region 28 and the light output and modified by the secondlight output region 30. - With additional reference to
FIGS. 8-10 , schematically illustrated is another embodiment of part of thelighting assembly 10 having an adjustable light output. In this embodiment, the light output regions of thelight guide 20 do not have different optical characteristics (e.g., there may be no discernable differences in thelight guide 20 to form distinct regions), but the area of thelight guide 20 that outputs light depends on the variable relative positioning oflight source 18 and thelight guide 20. Typically, the area that outputs light is aligned with thelight source 18. For instance, using the respective relative positions shown in theFIGS. 8-10 , when thelight source 18 is positioned to the right 42 of thelight input edge 26, as shown inFIG. 8 , more of the light exits through the secondlight output region 30 oflight guide 20 than through the firstlight output region 28. Following this example, when thelight source 18 is positioned near the middle of thelight input edge 26, as shown inFIG. 9 , the light is apportioned approximately equally between firstlight output region 28 andsecond output region 30 with the apportionment depending on the relative positioning of thelight source 18 andlight guide 20. When thelight source 18 is positioned to the left 44 of thelight input edge 26, as shown inFIG. 10 , more of the light exits through the firstlight output region 28 of thelight guide 20 than through the secondlight output region 30. In a manner similar to that described above, a barrier (not shown) may be used to define optically-isolatedlight output regions light guide 20. - In the embodiments of
FIGS. 8-10 , to achieve the desired modification of the light output based on the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide 20, thelighting assembly 10 further includes anoptical adjuster 46. Theoptical adjuster 46 has a fixed position relative to thelight guide 20. Theoptical adjuster 46 has opposedmajor surfaces major surface 50 of theoptical adjuster 46 is juxtaposed with themajor surface 22 of thelight guide 20 and conforms to the surface contour of thelight guide 20. Themajor surface 50 of theoptical adjuster 46 that faces thelight guide 20 is separated frommajor surface 22 so that theoptical adjuster 46 does not disrupt the total internal reflection within thelight guide 20. In the embodiment where thelight guide 20 is planar (e.g., as shown inFIGS. 8-10 ), theoptical adjuster 46 is planar and located adjacent themajor surface 22. Theoptical adjuster 46 is located such that at least a portion of the light output from thelight guide 20 is incident thereon. In another embodiment in which thelight guide 20 is configured as a hollow cylinder, such as is shown inFIG. 1 , theoptical adjuster 46 is also a hollow cylinder and positioned either inside thelight guide 20 or outside thelight guide 20, and is coaxial therewith. - The
optical adjuster 46 has two or more optical adjuster regions. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 8-10 , for example, theoptical adjuster 46 has a firstoptical adjuster region 52 and a secondoptical adjuster region 54. The firstoptical adjuster region 52 has an optical characteristic that is different than an optical characteristic of the secondoptical adjuster region 54. The different optical characteristics are denoted by the surface hatching in the appended figures. The different optical characteristics may be two different types of optical characteristic or different amounts of the same type of optical characteristic. In the illustrated embodiments, the change in optical characteristic from the firstoptical adjuster region 52 to the secondoptical adjuster region 54 is abrupt. In other embodiments, the transition between theregions - The
optical adjuster region 52 of theoptical adjuster 46 is aligned with the firstlight output region 28 of thelight guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the firstlight output region 28. Similarly, theoptical adjuster region 54 theoptical adjuster 46 is aligned with the secondlight output region 30 of thelight guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the secondlight output region 30. The optical characteristics of the optical adjuster regions combine with the optical characteristics of the respective light output regions with which they are associated to modify the characteristics of the light output of thelighting assembly 10. Examples of the characteristics of the light output modified by the optical characteristics of the light output regions are intensity profile, light ray angle distribution, spectrum, polarization, and coherence. - Light output from the
major surface 22 oflight guide 20 is incident on theoptical adjuster 46. Depending on the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide 20, the light incident on theoptical adjuster 46 is modified by the optical characteristic of the firstoptical adjuster region 52 and/or is modified by the optical characteristic of the secondoptical adjuster region 54. As shown inFIG. 10 , when the position of the light source 18 relative to the light guide 20 is such that more of the light from the light source 18 is output from the first light output region 28 of the light guide 20 than is output from the second light output region 30 of the light guide 20, more of the light that is emitted from the light guide 20 is incident on the first optical adjuster region 52 and is modified by the optical characteristic thereof than is incident on the second optical adjuster region 54 and is modified by the optical characteristic thereof As shown inFIG. 8 , when the position of the light source 18 relative to the light guide 20 is such that more of the light from the light source 18 is output from the second light output region 30 of the light guide 20 than is output from the first light output region 28 of the light guide, more of the light that is emitted from the light guide 20 is incident on the second optical adjuster region 54 and is modified by the optical characteristic thereof than is incident on the first optical adjuster region 52 and is modified by the optical characteristic thereof Also, as shown inFIG. 9 , when light output by the light guide 20 and incident on the optical adjuster 46 is apportioned between a portion of the first optical adjuster region 52 and a portion of the second optical adjuster region 54, the light is proportionally modified by the optical characteristics of the first optical adjuster region 52 and the second optical adjuster region 54. In this manner, a characteristic of the light output from thelighting assembly 10 is modified based on the respective effects of theoptical adjuster regions optical adjuster regions light source 18 and thelight guide 20. - In a variation of this embodiment, the
light output regions light output region 28 is aligned with the firstoptical adjuster region 52 and the secondlight output region 30 is aligned with the secondoptical adjuster region 54, as illustrated. Alternatively, a portion of the secondoptical adjuster region 54 may overlap with the firstlight output region 28 or a portion of the firstoptical adjuster region 52 may overlap with the secondlight output region 30. In these variations, the light output from thelight guide 20 is initially modified by the optical characteristic of the one or more of the first or secondlight output region optical adjuster region - One or more additional optical adjusters may be located between the
optical adjuster 46 and thelight guide 20. One or more additional optical adjusters may be located adjacent themajor surface 48 of theoptical adjuster 46 that faces away from thelight guide 20. If present, each additional adjuster may have a single optical characteristic or multiple optical characteristics. - As illustrated in
FIG. 11 , an additionaloptical adjuster 58 is located adjacent theoptical adjuster 46. The additionaloptical adjuster 58 of the illustrated embodiment is superposed with theoptical adjuster 46 and has threeoptical adjuster regions lighting assembly 10. Like theoptical adjuster 46, the additionaloptical adjuster 58 has a fixed position relative to thelight guide 20. In another embodiment, the additionaloptical adjuster 58 and thelight guide 20 are variably positionable relative to one another. The light output from thelight guide 20 is modified by various combinations of the adjuster regions of theoptical adjusters light source 18 and thelight guide 20, and additionally depending on the variable relative positioning of the additionaloptical adjuster 58 and thelight guide 20 in embodiments in which this feature is implemented. - As another example, as illustrated in
FIG. 12 , the additionaloptical adjuster 58 having more than one optical adjuster region that each has a respective optical characteristic to further modify light output by thelighting assembly 10 is located adjacent the opposite side of thelight guide 20 from theoptical adjuster 46. In the illustrated embodiment, the additionaloptical adjuster 58 has a firstoptical adjuster region 66 aligned with the firstoptical adjuster region 52 of theoptical adjuster 46, and has a secondoptical adjuster region 68 aligned with the secondoptical adjuster region 54 of the firstoptical adjuster 46. Also, thelight guide 20 outputs light from bothmajor surfaces major surfaces light guide 20 and thelight source 18. - In one configuration, and as illustrated, the
optical adjuster regions optical adjuster regions optical adjuster regions light output region 28 of firstmajor surface 22 and incident on the firstoptical adjuster region 52 exits thelighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the firstmajor surface 22 as indicated byarrow 70. As indicated byarrow 72, light output from the firstlight output region 28 of the secondmajor surface 24 oflight guide 20 is incident on the firstoptical adjuster region 66 that reflects the light back through the secondmajor surface 24, through thelight guide 20 and out through the firstmajor surface 22 to be incident on the firstoptical adjuster region 52, which transmits the light. The light transmitted by theoptical adjuster region 52 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof. Similarly, light output from the secondlight output region 30 of secondmajor surface 24 and incident on the secondoptical adjuster region 68 exits thelighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the secondmajor surface 24 as indicated byarrow 74. As indicated byarrow 76, light output from the secondlight output region 30 of the firstmajor surface 22 oflight guide 20 is incident on the secondoptical adjuster region 54 that reflects the light back through the secondmajor surface 22, through thelight guide 20 and out through the secondmajor surface 24 to be incident on the secondoptical adjuster region 68, which transmits the light. The light transmitted by theoptical adjuster region 68 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof. In this embodiment, the direction (e.g., as indicated byarrows arrows 74, 76) in which light is emitted by thelighting assembly 10 is controlled by the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide 20. - With additional reference to
FIGS. 13-20 , schematically illustrated is another embodiment of part of thelighting assembly 10 having an adjustable light output. In this embodiment, alight guide assembly 78 includes afirst light guide 80 and a secondlight guide 82. Additional light guides that are stacked with the light guides 80, 82 may be present. The light guides 80 and 82 have respective innermajor surfaces major surfaces - Referring additionally to
FIGS. 14-20 , similar to the previous embodiments, thelight source 18 and thelight guide assembly 78 are variably positionable relative to each other. In the examples shown, thelight source 18 is positioned so that more of the light from thelight source 18 is input into thefirst light guide 80 through thelight input edge 88 thereof than is input into the secondlight guide 82 through thelight input edge 90 thereof (FIGS. 14 and 18 ), or more of the light is input into the secondlight guide 82 through thelight input edge 90 thereof than is input into thefirst light guide 80 through alight input edge 88 thereof (FIGS. 16 and 20 ), or the light is apportioned between thefirst light guide 80 and the secondlight guide 82 by inputting light through the both light input edges 88 and 90 (FIGS. 15 and 19 , showing apportionment that is approximately equal between the twolight guides 80 and 82). - In this embodiment, the
first light guide 80 outputs light with a first characteristic and the secondlight guide 82 outputs light with a second characteristic, which is different than the first characteristic. Exemplary characteristics of the output light are identified above. In the embodiments ofFIGS. 13-17 , the relative positioning of thelight source 18 with respect to thelight guide assembly 78 varies in a direction parallel to the light input edges 88, 90 and orthogonal to major surfaces of light guides 80, 82. The relative positioning of thelight source 18 and the light guides 80, 82 can additionally vary in a direction parallel to the light input edges 88, 90 and parallel to themajor surfaces FIGS. 3-12 . - In one embodiment, the characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is light output direction. For example, with reference to
FIGS. 14-16 , depending on the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide assembly 78, more light is output from the outermajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80 than is output from the outermajor surface 94 of the second light guide 82 (FIG. 14 ); more light is output from the outermajor surface 94 of the secondlight guide 82 than is output from the outermajor surface 92 of the first light guide 80 (FIG. 16 ); or similar amounts of light are output from both the outermajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80 and the outermajor surface 94 of the second light guide 82 (FIG. 15 ). - In some examples of the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 14-16 ,light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80, 82 are configured so that light entering thelight input edge 88 exits thefirst light guide 80 through the outermajor surface 92 and so that light entering thelight input edge 90 exits the secondlight guide 82 through the outermajor surface 94. In other examples,light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80, 82 are configured so that light entering thelight input edge 88 exits the secondlight guide 82 through the outermajor surface 94 and so that light entering thelight input edge 90 exits thefirst light guide 80 through the outermajor surface 92. As shown inFIG. 17 ,light extracting elements 27 of the light guides 80, 82 are configured so that light entering thelight input edge 88 of thefirst light guide 80 exits thefirst light guide 80 through the innermajor surface 84, enters the secondlight guide 82 through the innermajor surface 86, passes through the secondlight guide 82 and exits through the outermajor surface 94 of the secondlight guide 82. Additionally, thelight extracting elements 27 are configured so that light entering thelight input edge 90 of the secondlight guide 82 exits the secondlight guide 82 through the innermajor surface 86, enters thefirst light guide 80 through the innermajor surface 84, passes through thefirst light guide 80 and exits through the outermajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80. In this exemplary embodiment, thesurfaces light extracting elements 96 such that light extracted from one of the light guides 80, 82 enters the other of the light guides at an angle such that the light does not propagate within the other of the light guides by total internal reflection.FIG. 17 shows an example in which innermajor surfaces FIG. 17 , as depicted bylight ray 98, light that has entered the light input edge 88 (FIG. 14 ) of thefirst light guide 80 travels by total internal reflection through thefirst light guide 80. Portions of the light incident on an exemplarylight extracting element 96 exits thefirst light guide 80 by refraction by thelight extracting element 96 and enters the secondlight guide 82 through an exemplarylight extracting element 97. The light then passes through the secondlight guide 82 and, when incident on the outermajor surface 94, exits the secondlight guide 82 by refraction. Light entering thelight guide assembly 78 through thelight input surface 90 of the secondlight guide 82 behaves similarly, and exits thelight guide assembly 78 through the outermajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80. - As another example, with reference to
FIGS. 18-20 , depending on the relative positioning of thelight source 18 and thelight guide assembly 78 to apportion light input between the light guides 80, 82, more light is output from the outermajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80 than from anedge 100 of the secondlight guide 82 distal the light input edge 90 (FIG. 18 ), or more light is output from theedge 100 of the secondlight guide 82 than from the outermajor surface 92 of the first light guide 80 (FIG. 20 ), or similar amounts of light are output from both themajor surface 92 of thefirst light guide 80 and theedge 100 of the second light guide 82 (FIG. 19 ).Light extracting elements 27 at one or both of themajor surfaces first light guide 80 are configured to output light through the outermajor surface 92. Also, in the example shown, the secondlight guide 82 does not have light extractingelements 27 so that light propagates through thelight guide 82 until it is incident on thedistal edge 100 and exits thelight guide 82 by refraction. Theedge 100 may include an anti-reflective coating to maximize light transmission through the edge. In a variation, the secondlight guide 82 haslight extracting elements 27 configured so that a portion of the light that propagates through thelight guide 82 exits the outermajor surface 94 and another portion (typically the remainder) of the light exits theedge 100. - With reference to all of the figures, a characteristic of the light output of the
lighting assembly 10 is modified based on the variable relative positioning of thelight source 18 and the light guide 20 (or, in some embodiments, the variable relative positioning of thelight source 18 and the light guide assembly 78). The modification further depends on the optical characteristics associated with each light output region of thelight guide 20 orlight guide assembly 78. For example, the relative positioning may be varied to selectively provide a light output from the lighting assembly with a light ray angle distribution that is a first light ray angle distribution, or a second light ray angle distribution, different from the first light ray angle distribution, or is any intermediate light ray angle distribution between the first and second light ray angle distributions. - The color of the light output by the
lighting assembly 10 may be changed using a color filter layer on or as part of theoptical adjuster 46 in one or bothregions light guide 20; a color filtering material composition of theoptical adjuster 46 in one or bothregions light guide 20; a dichroic filter on or as part of theoptical adjuster 46 in one or bothregions light guide 20; or a wavelength shifting material on or as part of theoptical adjuster 46 in one or bothregions light guide 20. In one example, thelighting assembly 10 is configured to change color temperature of the light output. ManyLED light sources 18 emit light in an intended range of wavelengths to achieve a corresponding color temperature. However, within batches of LEDs having the same nominal color temperature, there is variation from LED to LED. Also, sometimes broad-spectrum LEDs (e.g., “white light” LEDs) or groups of tri-color LEDs (e.g., a red LED, a blue LED and a green LED whose outputs combine to produce white light) do not produce a color temperature that is desirable to a user or appropriate for a certain lighting application. To modify the color temperature of the light output from thelighting assembly 10, an optical characteristic associated with thefirst region 28, and possibly with thesecond region 30, may be used. For instance, the optical characteristic associated with thefirst region 28 may modify the light output to be warmer (either or both of more red and less blue) and the optical characteristic associated withsecond region 30 may modify the light output to be cooler (either or both of more blue and less red). - Some embodiments are configured to allow a user to adjust the color temperature of light output from the
lighting assembly 10 in order to achieve a desired color temperature. Other embodiments are configured to allow a manufacturer of thelighting assembly 10 to adjust the color temperature of light output from thelighting assembly 10 to compensate for different color temperatures associated with different lots oflight sources 18. This allows the lighting assembly manufacturer to source a broader range oflight sources 18 from one or more suppliers and still manufacture lighting assemblies with a defined, consistent color temperature. - In some embodiments, the relative positioning of the
light guide 20 and thelight source 18 is varied by the manufacturer of thelighting assembly 10 until the output light has a defined characteristic (e.g., a defined color temperature is obtained). The relative positioning is then fixed by the manufacturer of thelighting assembly 10 and thelighting assembly 10 is configured in a manner that minimizes the ability of a user of thelighting assembly 10 to further vary the relative positioning. In other embodiments, the user has the ability to vary the relative positioning. - Other applications will be apparent based on using any combination of the above-noted optical characteristics and structural embodiments.
- In yet another embodiment, the
light source assembly 16 includes another light source that does or does not move relative to thelight guide 20. In this embodiment, the additional light source is selectively illuminated to further change the location at which the light is input to thelight guide 20. - Returning to
FIG. 1 , additional details regarding thelighting assembly 10 when embodied as thelight bulb 12 will be described. Thelight bulb 12 includes abase 102. The illustratedbase 102 is an Edison base, but other types ofbases 102 may be used, including any commercially-standard base or proprietary base used for mechanically securing an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent bulb, a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), a halogen bulb, a high intensity discharge (HID) bulb, an arc lamp, or any other type of bulb into a lamp, a lighting fixture, a flashlight, a socket, etc., and/or for supplying electricity thereto. Thebulb 12 typically further includes aheat sink 104 that dissipates heat generated by thelight sources 18. Theheat sink 104 of the illustrated embodiment forms part of thehousing 36. Parts of thelight bulb 12, such as thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18, are described above with reference toFIGS. 3-20 . - References herein to a “light bulb” are meant to broadly encompass light-producing devices that fit into and engage any of various fixtures for mechanically mounting the light-producing device and for providing electrical power thereto. Examples of such fixtures include, without limitation, screw-in fixtures for engaging an Edison light bulb base, a bayonet fixture for engaging a bayonet light bulb base, or a bi-pin fixture for engaging a bi-pin light bulb base. Thus the term “light bulb,” by itself, does not provide any limitation on the shape of the light-producing device, or the mechanism by which light is produced from electric power. Also, the light bulb need not have an enclosed envelope forming an environment for light generation. The light bulb may conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or other standards for electric lamps, but the light bulb does not necessarily have to have this conformance.
- Returning to
FIG. 2 , additional details regarding thelighting fixture 14 will be described. Thelighting fixture 14 may be a hanging light (as shown), a ceiling light (e.g., an assembly to fit in a drop-down ceiling or secure flush to a ceiling), a wall sconce, a table lamp, a task light, or any other illumination device. The lighting fixture includes ahousing 106 for retaining thelight source assembly 16 and thelight guide 20. Thehousing 106 may retain or may serve as a heat sink. In some embodiments, thelighting fixture 14 includes a mechanism 108 (e.g., a chain or wire in the case of a hanging light, clips or fasteners in the case of a ceiling light or wall sconce, etc.) to mechanically secure the lighting assembly to a retaining structure (e.g., a ceiling, a wall, etc.). In other embodiments, themechanism 108 is a stand and/or base assembly to allow thelighting fixture 14 to function as a floor lamp, table lamp, task lamp, etc. Electrical power is supplied to the lighting fixture through appropriate conductors, which in some cases may form part of or pass through themechanism 108. Parts of thelight bulb 12, such as thelight guide 20 and thelight source 18, are described above with reference toFIGS. 3-20 . - Referring now to
FIGS. 21-23 , another embodiment of alighting assembly 10 is illustrated. In this embodiment, the illustratedlighting assembly 10 is alight bulb 12. Thelight bulb 12 has a base 102 that is configured to mechanically mount thelight bulb 12 to a compatible socket (not shown) and receive electrical power from the socket. Thelight bulb 12 also includes ahousing 36 that is mechanically coupled to thebase 102. In one embodiment, thehousing 36 also serves as a heat sink or retains a heat sink for dissipating heat. - One or more
light sources 18 are mechanically coupled to thehousing 36. Thelight sources 18 are arranged to coordinate with one or more light guides 20 and one or moreoptical adjusters 110 as described in greater detail below. In one embodiment, and for the purpose of the coordination with the light guides 20 and theoptical adjusters 110, the individuallight sources 18 are grouped into a number of light source groups 103. In some embodiments, no more than a respective singlelight source 18 constitutes eachlight source group 103. In one embodiment, thelight sources 18 are mounted to a printed circuit board 19 (not shown inFIGS. 21-23 , but seeFIG. 1 ) that is attached to thehousing 36. Electrical circuitry (not shown) to drive thelight sources 18 using electricity received through thebase 102 is located in the base 102 or thehousing 36. Therefore, thelight sources 18 are electrically coupled to thebase 102. - The
light bulb 12 includes one or more light guides 20 that are mechanically coupled to thehousing 36 and are variably positionable relative to thelight sources 18 by anadjustment member 112 that is rotatable relative to thehousing 36. Similar to the light guides described above, eachlight guide 20 includes opposedmajor surfaces light input edge 26, and light extracting elements 27 (not specifically shown inFIGS. 21-23 ) at at least one of themajor surfaces - The light guides 20 each are positionable between a first position and a second position. In the example shown in
FIGS. 21 and 22 , eachlight guide 20 is in the second position. When alight guide 20 is in its first position, thelight input edge 26 is adjacent and aligned with one of thelight source groups 103 such that thelight guide 20 is edge lit by thelight sources 18 of thelight source group 103. When thelight guide 20 is in its second position, thelight input edge 26 is not adjacent and not aligned with any of thelight sources 18. Thus, when thelight guide 20 is in the second position, thelight guide 20 is not edge lit by light emitted from any of thelight sources 18.Light guide 20 will be regarded as not being edge lit by any of thelight sources 18 in positions of thelight guide 20 in which the light extracted from thelight guide 20 has an intensity less than one-tenth of the light extracted from thelight guide 20 when thelight guide 20 is in the first position. - In one embodiment, the
light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from thelight guide 20 with a diffuse light ray angle distribution. Therefore, when thelight guide 20 is in the first position, the light extracted from thelight bulb 12 will illuminate a wide area. In some embodiments, thelight guide 20 has a secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from thelight guide 20. Exemplary secondary optical characteristics include reflective, light redirecting (such as by the addition of a light-redirecting film (not shown) adjacent at least one of themajor surfaces 22, 24), polarizing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating. In some embodiments, thelight guide 20 has more than one secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from the light guide. In other embodiments, different ones of the light guides 20 respectively affect light with different secondary optical characteristics. - The
light bulb 12 ofFIGS. 21-23 further includes one or moreoptical adjusters 110. In one embodiment, there is a group of optical adjusters (referred to as optical adjuster group 111) for eachlight source group 103 and, within each optical adjuster group 111, there is anoptical adjuster 110 for eachlight source 18. In some embodiments, no more than a respective singleoptical adjuster 110 constitutes each optical adjuster group 111. Theoptical adjusters 110 are mechanically coupled to thehousing 36 by theadjustment member 112 that is rotatable to variably position theoptical adjusters 110 relative to thelight sources 18. In one embodiment, when the one or more light guides 20 are in the second position, the optical adjuster groups 111 are aligned with respectivelight source groups 103 so that eachoptical adjuster 110 is respectively aligned with at least one of thelight sources 18. In this manner, light emitted from thelight sources 18 is emitted from thelight bulb 12 through respectiveoptical adjusters 110. - In one embodiment, the
optical adjusters 110 are lenses. One type of lens for theoptical adjusters 110 is a collimating lens configured so that when light is emitted from thelight bulb 12 through the collimating lenses, the light is emitted with a narrower light ray angle distribution than when light is emitted from thelight bulb 12 through thelight guide 20. In other embodiments, theoptical adjusters 110 impart a different characteristic or a secondary characteristic to the light. Exemplary optical characteristics of theoptical adjusters 110 include specularly transmissive, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating. In some embodiments, theoptical adjusters 110 have more than one optical characteristic that affects the light emitted from thelight bulb 12. In other embodiments, different ones of theoptical adjusters 110 respectively affect light with different optical characteristics. - The light guides 20 and the
optical adjusters 110 of the illustrated embodiment are mechanically coupled to theadjustment member 112. Theadjustment member 112 is, in turn, mechanically coupled to thehousing 36. Theadjustment member 112 is variably positionable relative to thehousing 36 to move eachlight guide 20 between its first and second positions and, correspondingly, move each optical adjuster group 111 into alignment with the respectivelight source group 103 when thelight guide 20 is in the second position. In the illustrated embodiment, thelight sources 18 are arranged along the circumference of a circle in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of thelight bulb 12. Theadjustment member 112 rotates about the longitudinal axis of thelight bulb 12. The light guides 20 and theoptical adjusters 110 are retained by theadjustment member 112 so that the light input edges 26 of the light guides 20 and theoptical adjusters 110 are arranged along the circumference of the above-described circle in a plane parallel to and adjacent the plane of thelight sources 18. In the example shown, for alignment of the light input edges 26 with thelight sources 18, the light guides 20 are curved in the length direction of the light input edges 26. Other layouts of thelight sources 18, light input edges 26, andoptical adjusters 110 other than circular arrangements are possible. In another example, the light guides 20 have non-curved light input edges 26 and thelight sources 18 are arranged along one or more straight lines. In another example, the light guides 20 are non-parallel to the axis of rotation of theadjustment member 112. - In one embodiment, an example of which is shown in
FIG. 23 , theadjustment member 112 is a disk-like member and has a first set ofopenings 114. Eachopening 114 has a respectivelight guide 20 retained therein in a manner that exposes thelight input edge 26 to thelight sources 18. Theadjustment member 112 also has a second set ofopenings 116 and eachopening 116 has a respectiveoptical adjuster 110 retained therein in a manner that exposes theoptical adjuster 110 to thelight sources 18. In an example, the light guides 20 and theoptical adjusters 110 are retained in theopenings optical adjusters 110 to theadjustment member 112 are possible and may be used. In another example, the optical adjuster is transparent and lacks theopenings 114, 116 (e.g., the light guides 20 and theoptical adjusters 110 are mounted to or are part of the transparent adjustment member 112). - In the illustrated embodiment, the
housing 36 includes coolingair vents 118 through which air flows to dissipate heat generated by thelight sources 118. The coolingair vents 118 allow air to pass from the outside of thehousing 36 adjacent the base 102 to a region surrounded by the light guides 20, or vice versa, depending on the orientation of thebulb 12. To allow air to flow into or out of the coolingair vents 118, theadjustment member 112 includes a third set ofopenings 120. The third set ofopenings 120 of the illustrated embodiment align with the air flow vents 118 when theadjustment member 112 is positioned to place the light guides 20 in either of the first position or the second position. Also, theopenings 120 of the third set and the coolingair vents 118 are configured to allow air flow through theopenings 120 and the coolingair vents 118 when theadjustment member 112 is in other positions between the first and second positions. - In one embodiment, the
adjustment member 112 has increased resistance to movement when positioned so that the light guides 20 are in the first and second positions relative to when theadjustment member 112 is in other positions (e.g., the light guides 20 are not in one of the first or second positions). In this manner,light bulb 12 will have a tendency to stay in the configurations in which the light guides 20 are positioned to be edge lit by thelight sources 18 or theoptical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from respectivelight sources 18. Other positions of theadjustment member 112 also may have increased resistance to movement, such as when some of theoptical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from some of the light sources 18 (e.g., the optical adjuster groups 111 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103) and the remaininglight sources 18 of thelight source groups 103 edge light the light guides 20 (e.g., the light input edges 26 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103). In an example, one of thehousing 36 and theadjustment member 112 includes a detent (not shown) and the other of thehousing 36 and theadjustment member 112 includes an indent (not shown) that collectively provide the resistance to movement in certain positions of theadjustment member 112. - When some of the
optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from some of thelight sources 18 and the remaininglight sources 18 edge light the light guides 20, the light ray angle distribution of light emitted from thelight bulb 12 is a combination of the light ray angle distribution of the light extracted from the light guides 20 and the light ray angle distribution of the light emitted by theoptical adjusters 110. Also, the variable relative positioning of theadjustment mechanism 112 and thelight sources 18 allows for selectively apportioning light that is output from thelight bulb 12 between the light that is output by way of the light guides 20 and the light that is output by way of theoptical adjusters 110. - In this disclosure, the phrase “one of” followed by a list is intended to mean the elements of the list in the alterative. For example, “one of A, B and C” means A or B or C. The phrase “at least one of” followed by a list is intended to mean one or more of the elements of the list in the alterative. For example, “at least one of A, B and C” means A or B or C or (A and B) or (A and C) or (B and C) or (A and B and C).
Claims (42)
1. A light bulb, comprising:
a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
a light guide comprising opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces, each light output region being associated with a different optical characteristic; and
a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge to input light into the light guide, the light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
2. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the light bulb further comprises a heat sink thermally coupled to the light source.
3. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is spectrum.
4. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is color temperature.
5. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is light output direction.
6. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions differ in an amount of a single optical characteristic.
7. The light bulb of claim 6 , wherein the optical characteristic is at least one of reflective, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, reflective polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuation.
8. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the optical characteristic associated with a first one of the light output regions imposes a first characteristic on the output light, the optical characteristic associated with a second one of the light output regions imposes a different characteristic on the output light, and the optical characteristics are at least one of reflective, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, reflective polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuation.
9. The light bulb of claim 1 , further comprising an optical adjuster comprising a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to one of the major surfaces of the light guide and wherein the association of optical characteristics with the light output regions is achieved by respective optical adjuster regions of the optical adjuster aligned with the light output regions.
10. The light bulb of claim 9 , wherein the optical adjuster is a first optical adjuster and the light bulb further comprises a second optical adjuster superposed with the first optical adjuster, the second optical adjuster comprising optical adjuster regions with different optical characteristics to increase the number of light output characteristics of the light bulb based on the optical characteristics of the second optical adjuster and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
11. The light bulb of claim 9 , wherein the optical adjuster is a first optical adjuster and the light bulb further comprises a second optical adjuster comprising a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the other of the major surfaces of the light guide, wherein the second optical adjuster has optical adjuster regions with different optical characteristics.
12. The light bulb of claim 11 , wherein the first optical adjuster has a transmissive optical adjuster region and a reflective optical adjuster region, and the second optical adjuster has a reflective optical adjuster region aligned with the transmissive optical adjuster region of the first optical adjuster and has a transmissive optical adjuster region aligned with the reflective optical adjuster region of the first optical adjuster.
13. The light bulb of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the transmissive optical adjuster regions additionally is at least one of diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating.
14. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the light guide further comprises:
first light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the first light extracting elements defining a first one of the light output regions; and
second light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the second light extracting elements defining a second one of the light output regions, the first and second light extracting elements respectively configured to achieve the different optical characteristics associated with the first light output region and the second light output region.
15. The light bulb of claim 14 , wherein the first light extracting elements differ from the second light extracting elements in at least one of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle and index of refraction such that the first light output region outputs light with a different intensity profile than the second light output region.
16. The light bulb of claim 14 , wherein the first light extracting elements differ from the second light extracting elements in at least one of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle and index of refraction such that the first light output region outputs light with a different light ray angle distribution than the second light output region.
17. The light bulb of claim 14 , wherein the light extracting elements are light-scattering elements.
18. The light bulb of claim 14 , wherein the light extracting elements have well-defined shapes.
19. The light bulb of claim 14 , wherein the light extracting elements are micro-optical elements.
20. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
21. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein each light output region is associated with the same one of the major surfaces.
22. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein each light output region is associated with a respective one of the major surfaces.
23. The light bulb of claim 1 , wherein one of the light output regions is associated with one of the major surfaces and the other of the light output regions is associated with an edge of the light guide opposite the light input edge.
24. A light bulb, comprising:
a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
a first light guide comprising opposed inner and outer major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and a light output region associated with an optical characteristic;
a second light guide comprising opposed inner and outer major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and a light output region associated with an optical characteristic, the inner major surface of the second light guide juxtaposed and conforming to the inner major surface of the first light guide; and
a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edges, the light source and the light input edges variably positionable relative one another to selectively apportion light between an amount of light input into the first light guide and output from the light output region of the first light guide and an amount of light input into the second light guide and output from the light output region of the second light guide so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges.
25. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein each light output region is associated with the respective one of the outer major surfaces.
26. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein each light output region is associated with the outer major surface of the other light guide.
27. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein one of the light output regions is associated with the respective one of the outer major surfaces and the other of the light output regions is associated with an edge of the respective light guide opposite the respective light input edge.
28. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein the light guides have respective light extracting elements.
29. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges determines an amount of the light that exits through the outer major surface of the first light guide and an amount of the light that exits through the outer major surface of the second light guide.
30. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges determines an amount of the light that exits through one or both of the outer major surfaces and an amount of the light that exits through an edge of one of the light guides opposite the corresponding light input edge.
31. The light bulb of claim 24 , wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
32. A light bulb, comprising:
a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
a housing mechanically coupled to the base;
a light source electrically coupled to the base and mechanically coupled to the housing; and
a light guide mechanically coupled to the housing so as to be variably positionable relative to the light source, the light guide comprising opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces, wherein the light guide is positionable between a first position where the light input edge is adjacent the light source such that the light guide is edge lit by the light source and a second position where the light guide is not edge lit by the light source.
33. The light bulb of claim 32 , wherein the light extracting elements are configured to extract light from the light guide with a diffuse light ray angle distribution.
34. The light bulb of claim 32 , further comprising an optical adjuster mechanically coupled to the housing and variably positionable relative to the light source such that when the light guide is in the second position the optical adjuster is aligned with the light source.
35. The light bulb of claim 34 , wherein the optical adjuster comprises a lens.
36. The light bulb of claim 35 , wherein the lens is a collimating lens.
37. The light bulb of claim 36 , wherein when the light guide is in the second position, the light is emitted with a narrower light ray angle distribution than when the light guide is in the first position.
38. The light bulb of claim 34 , further comprising an adjustment member mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the light guide and the optical adjuster are coupled to the adjustment member, and the adjustment member is variably positionable relative to the housing to move the light guide between the first and second positions and move the optical adjuster into alignment with the light source when the light guide is in the second position.
39. The light bulb of claim 38 , wherein the adjustment member has increased resistance to movement when the light guide is in the first and second positions relative to when the light guide is not in one of the first position or the second position.
40. The light bulb of claim 38 , wherein the housing comprises cooling air vents through which air flows to dissipate heat generated by the light source and the adjustment member comprises openings that align with the cooling air vents of the housing at least when the light guide is in the first position and the second position.
41. The light bulb of claim 32 , wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
42. The light bulb of claim 32 , wherein the base comprises an Edison screw base.
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US14/486,410 Expired - Fee Related US9477029B2 (en) | 2011-03-17 | 2014-09-15 | Lighting assembly with adjustable light output |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP2686606A2 (en) | 2014-01-22 |
US20120236590A1 (en) | 2012-09-20 |
WO2012125801A2 (en) | 2012-09-20 |
TW201243220A (en) | 2012-11-01 |
US8840275B2 (en) | 2014-09-23 |
US20150092439A1 (en) | 2015-04-02 |
WO2012125801A3 (en) | 2012-11-22 |
JP2014514688A (en) | 2014-06-19 |
EP2686606A4 (en) | 2014-08-13 |
US9477029B2 (en) | 2016-10-25 |
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