WO2005083317A1 - A translucent lighting panel, a luminaire, and a method of manufacturing a panel - Google Patents

A translucent lighting panel, a luminaire, and a method of manufacturing a panel Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005083317A1
WO2005083317A1 PCT/IB2005/050507 IB2005050507W WO2005083317A1 WO 2005083317 A1 WO2005083317 A1 WO 2005083317A1 IB 2005050507 W IB2005050507 W IB 2005050507W WO 2005083317 A1 WO2005083317 A1 WO 2005083317A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
protrusions
panel
lighting panel
plate
substantially conical
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2005/050507
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Petrus A. J. Holten
Original Assignee
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. filed Critical Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Publication of WO2005083317A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005083317A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29C—SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING
    • B29C33/00—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor
    • B29C33/42—Moulds or cores; Details thereof or accessories therefor characterised by the shape of the moulding surface, e.g. ribs or grooves
    • B29C33/424—Moulding surfaces provided with means for marking or patterning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B29—WORKING OF PLASTICS; WORKING OF SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE IN GENERAL
    • B29D—PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE
    • B29D11/00—Producing optical elements, e.g. lenses or prisms
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21—LIGHTING
    • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V5/00—Refractors for light sources
    • F21V5/02—Refractors for light sources of prismatic shape

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a translucent lighting panel for being located inside a luminaire in front of a light source inside the luminaire, wherein the panel has a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions.
  • the translucent lighting panel is a plate of plastic or any other material and is preferably made of polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate.
  • a "profiled" surface means that at least one side of the translucent lighting panel is provided with a certain pattern of recesses and/or protrusions, so that the major portion of the transmitted light radiating from the panel shines in the desired directions.
  • Such a translucent lighting panel is disclosed in GB-A-878215, where one side of the panel is provided with a pattern of recesses.
  • the recesses have a conical shape or a pyramidal shape, and the base of the pyramid may be an equilateral triangle or a square.
  • the luminaire may be used for lighting an office, in which case it may be mounted in a recess in the ceiling, or against the surface of the ceiling, or be suspended from the ceiling.
  • the translucent panel may thus form the lower side of the luminaire, through which side the light radiates from the light source in the luminaire into the office.
  • the light from the luminaire does not only radiate in the vertical downward direction, but also in directions enclosing an angle with the vertical direction.
  • the luminaire illuminates an area that can be much larger than the dimensions of the luminaire itself.
  • the office should be illuminated by a number of luminaires distributed over the ceiling, each luminaire illuminating a portion of the office below the luminaire, while light radiation enclosing a small angle with the surface of the ceiling is avoided.
  • a good translucent lighting panel for illuminating an office directs the transmitted light radiation such that the intensity of the light below the luminaire is more than the intensity further away from the luminaire.
  • the object of the invention is a translucent lighting panel having a surface provided with a profile such that the transmitted light radiation is distributed conveniently over the area in front of the luminaire, while light radiation at a relatively small angle to the plane of the panel is avoided, or at least reduced to a minimum.
  • one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers from the base portion of the protrusions, said protrusions extending in a direction away from the panel.
  • a “cone” or a “conical surface” in this description means a right circular cone or right circular conical surface, respectively.
  • the expression 'substantially conical' or 'substantially a cone' means that the protrusions are preferably right circular cones, but may also have a minor deviation from that shape.
  • a section through the axis of the cone will then result in an isosceles triangle, wherein the isosceles sides are not straight lines but may be slightly curved, and/or composed of straight parts.
  • the side of the translucent lighting panel that is directed towards the light source is preferably flat, but may alternatively have a profiled surface.
  • the lighting panel may be colored so as to color the transmitted light.
  • the lighting panel may also be part of a multilayer panel, wherein the lighting panel is one of the layers in the multilayer panel.
  • the apex angle of the substantially conical surface of the protrusion is between 100° and 120°, more preferably between 105° and 1 15°. It was found that such an apex angle results in a convenient distribution of the transmitted light radiation.
  • the angle between the axis of the substantially conical shape and a flat plane tangent to the surface of the protrusion in any location of the surface of the protrusion is preferably between 50° and 60°, more preferably between 52.5° and 57.5°.
  • the entire circumferences of the base portions of the protrusions abut against similar surrounding protrusions. That means that the substantially conical surfaces of neighboring protrusions intersect each other at a line, which line is an endless line on the surface of the base portion of each protrusion.
  • the base portions of the protrusions are substantially isosceles triangles, preferably equilateral triangles, seen in plan view of the protrusion, so that the centers of every three neighboring protrusions are positioned at the corners of an isosceles triangle or equilateral triangle, as applicable.
  • the base portions of the protrusions are substantially rectangular, preferably square, seen in plan view of the protrusion, so that the centers of every four neighboring protrusions are positioned at the corners of a rectangle or square, as applicable.
  • These two kinds of distribution of the protrusions over the surface of the lighting panel were found to be superior to other kinds of distribution, for example to a distribution in which the base portions of the protrusions are hexagonal in plan view.
  • the substantially conical surface of the protrusion which surface tapers from the base portion of the protrusion, may taper into an apex, so that a cone converging into a point extends away from the surface of the panel.
  • said substantially conical surface is bordered by an endless edge (or ridge) at a distance from said base portion, while at the other side of the edge the protrusion has a concave surface that tapers from said edge into an apex.
  • the concave surface of the protrusion, surrounded by said edge is a conical or a pyramidal surface whose apex angle is between 100° and 120°, preferably between 105° and 1 15°. If the concave portion of the surface of the protrusion is substantially conical, the edge is a circle.
  • the invention also relates to a luminaire provided with a translucent lighting panel located in front of a light source, the panel having a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions, wherein one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers away from the base portion of the protrusions, and the protrusions extend in a direction away from the panel.
  • the translucent lighting panel forms the front side of the luminaire.
  • the invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a translucent lighting panel comprising protrusions having a convex substantially conical surface and a concave surface as described above, wherein the panel is shaped by means of a molding tool comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, said inverse shape being established by an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, each part being provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel.
  • said parts are protrusions of a second plate, each protrusion having a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes.
  • the invention also relates to a molding tool for producing a translucent lighting panel comprising protrusions having a convex substantially conical surface and a concave surface as described above, comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, wherein the molding tool comprises an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, each part being provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel.
  • said parts are protrusions of a second plate, wherein each protrusion has a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III in Figure 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a lighting panel;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V in Figure 4;
  • Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI- VI in Figure 4;
  • Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a lighting panel;
  • Fig. 8 is a front view of a third embodiment of a lighting panel;
  • Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX-IX in Figure 8;
  • Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X in Figure 8;
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of a lighting panel;
  • Fig. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a lighting panel;
  • Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V in Figure 4;
  • Fig. 6 is
  • FIG. 12 shows a first plate of a molding tool for producing a lighting panel
  • Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line XIII-XIII in Figure 12
  • Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line XIV-XIV in Figure 12
  • Fig. 15 shows of a second plate of a molding tool for producing a lighting panel
  • Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line XVI-XVI in Figure 15
  • Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line XVII-XVII in Figure 15.
  • the front side of the translucent lighting panel is the side where the transmitted light radiation leaves the panel.
  • the front side of the lighting panel may form the front side of the luminaire, i.e. de side where the light leaves the luminaire. If the luminaire is directly mounted to the ceiling, the front side is the lower side of the luminaire. If the luminaire is suspended from the ceiling, or is wall-mounted, the front side of the luminaire may be the upper side of the luminaire.
  • the front side is provided with protrusions, and the rear side of the lighting panel is flat.
  • the Figures show only a small portion of the lighting panel.
  • the panel, or plate may be much larger, but the pattern and the shape of the protrusions are the same over the whole front surface of the lighting panel.
  • Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel is provided with protrusions 1.
  • Each protrusion 1 has a conical shape that tapers from the base portion 2 to the apex 3, so that the entire surface of the lighting panel is covered with pointed cones.
  • the shape of the base portion 2 of the protrusion 1 is an equilateral triangle, so that the apexes 3 of every six neighboring protrusions 1 are positioned at the corners of an equilateral hexagon.
  • Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in Figure 1. In front view, i.e.
  • the base portion 2 is triangular, but the line 4 where the conical surfaces of two neighbouring cones 1 intersect each other is not a straight line.
  • Figure 2 shows that line 4 is a curved line, being the intersection of the cone 1 and a flat plane parallel to the axis of the cone. The apex angle in this embodiment is 107°.
  • the rear side 5 of the lighting panel may have a certain profile, but in this embodiment the rear side 5 of the lighting panel is flat.
  • Figure 3 shows an sectional view in another location of Figure 1.
  • Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel is provided with protrusions 1 having a conical surface and having a square shape in top view.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a row of conical protrusions 1 whose apex angle is 1 10°.
  • the rear side 5 of the lighting panel is flat.
  • Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of the profiled surface of a lighting panel taken on the the second embodiment.
  • Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel in provided with protrusions 1 having a more complicated shape than the shape of the protrusions 1 of the first and the second embodiment.
  • the base portion 2 of the protrusion 1 has a square shape, and the surface of the base portion is conical, just like the base portions of the protrusions 1 in the second embodiment shown in Figure 4.
  • the conical surface of the base portion 2 does not reach an apex, because it terminates in a circular edge 6.
  • the surface 7 of the protrusion 1 is concave at the other side of the circular edge 6. In this embodiment, said surface 7 is also conical and tapers into an apex 8.
  • Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the panel taken on the the third embodiment taken on the lines IX-IX and X-X, respectively.
  • the rear side 5 of the panel is again flat in this embodiment.
  • Figure 11 is a perspective view of part of the profiled surface of a lighting panel taken on the the third embodiment.
  • the dimensions of the protrusions 1 of the lighting panel may be chosen in dependence on aesthetic considerations.
  • the distance between the apexes of neighboring protrusions 1 is between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 5 mm.
  • the lighting panel provided with the protrusions 1 can be manufactured in a molding operation in which the profiled surface at the front side of the panel is shaped by means of a molding tool. This molding tool has a surface comprising recesses corresponding to the protrusions 1 at the front side of the lighting panel.
  • FIG. 8-1 1 Such a molding tool for producing a lighting panel provided with protrusions 1 having a base portion 2 with a conical surface and having a concave surface 7 tapering into an apex 8 is shown in Figures 8-1 1 and will be elucidated below.
  • the molding tool comprises two plates, a first plate as shown in Figures 12-14 and a second plate as shown in Figures 15-17.
  • Figure 12 shows the first plate 10 of the molding tool, which plate may be much larger than shown.
  • the plate 10 comprises a number of concave conical surfaces 11 arranged in parallel rows. The intersections of neighboring conical surfaces 1 1 define curved lines 12, which lines are straight in the front view of Figure 12. Each conical surface 1 1 tapers into a circular hole 13.
  • Figures 13 and 14 show the curved line 12, and Figure 14 shows the conical surfaces 11 and the holes 13.
  • the lower side 14 of the plate is flat.
  • Figures 15-17 show the second plate 15 of the molding tool.
  • One side of the second plate 15 is provided with protrusions 16, which protrusions 16 are arranged in parallel rows.
  • Each protrusion 16 has a conical surface 17 with a circular base 18 on the surface of plate 15.
  • the conical surface 17 of each protrusion 16 tapers into an apex 19.
  • the two plates 10,15 are assembled together by placing the first plate 10 on top of the second plate 15.
  • the surface of the molding tool consists of the conical surfaces 1 1 and the conical surfaces 17.
  • the plates 10,15 can be made of metal and can be manufactured by mechanical machining in material-removing operations.
  • the protrusions 16 of the second plate 15 may also have a pyramidal shape. In that case the holes 13 in the first plate 10 must have a shape corresponding to the pyramidal shape of the protrusions 16, which shape can be mechanically machined.

Abstract

A translucent lighting panel for a luminaire, which panel is located in front of a light source inside the luminaire. The panel has a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions. One side of the panel is provided with protrusions (1) having a substantially conical surface that tapers away from the base portion (2) of the protrusions (1), i.e. the protrusions (1) extend in a direction away from the panel. The apex angle of the substantially conical surface of the protrusion (1) is between 100° and 120°.

Description

A translucent lighting panel, a luminaire, and a method of manufacturing a panel
The invention relates to a translucent lighting panel for being located inside a luminaire in front of a light source inside the luminaire, wherein the panel has a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions. The translucent lighting panel is a plate of plastic or any other material and is preferably made of polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate. A "profiled" surface means that at least one side of the translucent lighting panel is provided with a certain pattern of recesses and/or protrusions, so that the major portion of the transmitted light radiating from the panel shines in the desired directions. Such a translucent lighting panel is disclosed in GB-A-878215, where one side of the panel is provided with a pattern of recesses. The recesses have a conical shape or a pyramidal shape, and the base of the pyramid may be an equilateral triangle or a square. For example, the luminaire may be used for lighting an office, in which case it may be mounted in a recess in the ceiling, or against the surface of the ceiling, or be suspended from the ceiling. The translucent panel may thus form the lower side of the luminaire, through which side the light radiates from the light source in the luminaire into the office. The light from the luminaire does not only radiate in the vertical downward direction, but also in directions enclosing an angle with the vertical direction. Thus the luminaire illuminates an area that can be much larger than the dimensions of the luminaire itself. However, if the radiation of the light from the luminaire encloses a wide angle with the vertical direction, i.e. the angle between the radiation and the surface of the ceiling is narrow, then such radiation of the light is inconvenient for persons at some distance from the luminaire. To avoid such inconvenience, the office should be illuminated by a number of luminaires distributed over the ceiling, each luminaire illuminating a portion of the office below the luminaire, while light radiation enclosing a small angle with the surface of the ceiling is avoided. A good translucent lighting panel for illuminating an office directs the transmitted light radiation such that the intensity of the light below the luminaire is more than the intensity further away from the luminaire. Neighbouring luminaires can then produce a uniform light intensity over the whole area below a number of luminaires. However, the light radiation from the luminaires may not have a direction at this small angle to the surface of the ceiling for avoiding inconvenience to the persons in the office. The object of the invention is a translucent lighting panel having a surface provided with a profile such that the transmitted light radiation is distributed conveniently over the area in front of the luminaire, while light radiation at a relatively small angle to the plane of the panel is avoided, or at least reduced to a minimum. To accomplish this object, one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers from the base portion of the protrusions, said protrusions extending in a direction away from the panel. A "cone" or a "conical surface" in this description means a right circular cone or right circular conical surface, respectively. The expression 'substantially conical' or 'substantially a cone' means that the protrusions are preferably right circular cones, but may also have a minor deviation from that shape. A section through the axis of the cone will then result in an isosceles triangle, wherein the isosceles sides are not straight lines but may be slightly curved, and/or composed of straight parts. When the panel is mounted in front of a light source such that said one side is the side of the panel facing away from the light source, then the transmitted light radiation has mainly directions at small angles to the direction perpendicular to the lighting panel. Light radiation with relative small angles to the plane of the panel is avoided thereby. Experiments have shown that such a panel produces a convenient light distribution, especially when used in luminaires for office illumination. The side of the translucent lighting panel that is directed towards the light source is preferably flat, but may alternatively have a profiled surface. Furthermore, the lighting panel may be colored so as to color the transmitted light. The lighting panel may also be part of a multilayer panel, wherein the lighting panel is one of the layers in the multilayer panel. Preferably, the apex angle of the substantially conical surface of the protrusion is between 100° and 120°, more preferably between 105° and 1 15°. It was found that such an apex angle results in a convenient distribution of the transmitted light radiation. If the shape of the protrusions deviates slightly from the conical shape, the angle between the axis of the substantially conical shape and a flat plane tangent to the surface of the protrusion in any location of the surface of the protrusion is preferably between 50° and 60°, more preferably between 52.5° and 57.5°. In one preferred embodiment, in plan view of the protrusion, the entire circumferences of the base portions of the protrusions abut against similar surrounding protrusions. That means that the substantially conical surfaces of neighboring protrusions intersect each other at a line, which line is an endless line on the surface of the base portion of each protrusion. So, between the protrusions there are no surfaces having an angle with respect to the plane of the panel other than half the apex angle of the substantially conical shape. The protrusions may be distributed over the surface of the panel in any appropriate pattern, but experiments and calculations have resulted in two preferred embodiments, which embodiments were found to be superior to other patterns of the protrusions. In one preferred embodiment, the base portions of the protrusions are substantially isosceles triangles, preferably equilateral triangles, seen in plan view of the protrusion, so that the centers of every three neighboring protrusions are positioned at the corners of an isosceles triangle or equilateral triangle, as applicable. In another preferred embodiment, the base portions of the protrusions are substantially rectangular, preferably square, seen in plan view of the protrusion, so that the centers of every four neighboring protrusions are positioned at the corners of a rectangle or square, as applicable. These two kinds of distribution of the protrusions over the surface of the lighting panel were found to be superior to other kinds of distribution, for example to a distribution in which the base portions of the protrusions are hexagonal in plan view. The substantially conical surface of the protrusion, which surface tapers from the base portion of the protrusion, may taper into an apex, so that a cone converging into a point extends away from the surface of the panel. However, in one preferred embodiment, said substantially conical surface is bordered by an endless edge (or ridge) at a distance from said base portion, while at the other side of the edge the protrusion has a concave surface that tapers from said edge into an apex. Preferably, the concave surface of the protrusion, surrounded by said edge, is a conical or a pyramidal surface whose apex angle is between 100° and 120°, preferably between 105° and 1 15°. If the concave portion of the surface of the protrusion is substantially conical, the edge is a circle. If the concave portion of the surface is pyramidal, the edge is a endless line deviating from a circle and not lying in a flat plane, so a three-dimensional curved line. The invention also relates to a luminaire provided with a translucent lighting panel located in front of a light source, the panel having a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions, wherein one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers away from the base portion of the protrusions, and the protrusions extend in a direction away from the panel. Preferably, the translucent lighting panel forms the front side of the luminaire. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a translucent lighting panel comprising protrusions having a convex substantially conical surface and a concave surface as described above, wherein the panel is shaped by means of a molding tool comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, said inverse shape being established by an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, each part being provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel. In one preferred embodiment, said parts are protrusions of a second plate, each protrusion having a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes. The invention also relates to a molding tool for producing a translucent lighting panel comprising protrusions having a convex substantially conical surface and a concave surface as described above, comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, wherein the molding tool comprises an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, each part being provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel. In one preferred embodiment, said parts are protrusions of a second plate, wherein each protrusion has a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes. The invention will now be further elucidated by means of a description of some examples of embodiments of a translucent lighting panel and of a molding tool for producing a lighting panel which reference to the drawing comprising Figures, which are only diagrammatic representations and in which: Fig. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a lighting panel; Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in Figure 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III in Figure 1; Fig. 4 is a front view of a second embodiment of a lighting panel; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line V-V in Figure 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line VI- VI in Figure 4; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of a lighting panel; Fig. 8 is a front view of a third embodiment of a lighting panel; Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line IX-IX in Figure 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line X-X in Figure 8; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of a lighting panel; Fig. 12 shows a first plate of a molding tool for producing a lighting panel; Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on the line XIII-XIII in Figure 12; Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken on the line XIV-XIV in Figure 12; Fig. 15 shows of a second plate of a molding tool for producing a lighting panel; Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on the line XVI-XVI in Figure 15; and Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on the line XVII-XVII in Figure 15.
The front side of the translucent lighting panel is the side where the transmitted light radiation leaves the panel. The front side of the lighting panel may form the front side of the luminaire, i.e. de side where the light leaves the luminaire. If the luminaire is directly mounted to the ceiling, the front side is the lower side of the luminaire. If the luminaire is suspended from the ceiling, or is wall-mounted, the front side of the luminaire may be the upper side of the luminaire. In the embodiments described, the front side is provided with protrusions, and the rear side of the lighting panel is flat. The Figures show only a small portion of the lighting panel. The panel, or plate, may be much larger, but the pattern and the shape of the protrusions are the same over the whole front surface of the lighting panel. Similar parts of the different embodiments are indicated with the reference same numerals. Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel is provided with protrusions 1. Each protrusion 1 has a conical shape that tapers from the base portion 2 to the apex 3, so that the entire surface of the lighting panel is covered with pointed cones. In the front view shown in Figure 1, the shape of the base portion 2 of the protrusion 1 is an equilateral triangle, so that the apexes 3 of every six neighboring protrusions 1 are positioned at the corners of an equilateral hexagon. Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II in Figure 1. In front view, i.e. in top view of the protrusion 1, the base portion 2 is triangular, but the line 4 where the conical surfaces of two neighbouring cones 1 intersect each other is not a straight line. Figure 2 shows that line 4 is a curved line, being the intersection of the cone 1 and a flat plane parallel to the axis of the cone. The apex angle in this embodiment is 107°. The rear side 5 of the lighting panel may have a certain profile, but in this embodiment the rear side 5 of the lighting panel is flat. Figure 3 shows an sectional view in another location of Figure 1. Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel is provided with protrusions 1 having a conical surface and having a square shape in top view. The apexes 3 of four neighboring protrusions 1 are accordingly positioned at the corners of a square. The line 4 where the conical surfaces of two neighboring protrusions 1 intersect each other is a curved line 4, as is shown in Figure 5. Figure 6 is a sectional view of a row of conical protrusions 1 whose apex angle is 1 10°. The rear side 5 of the lighting panel is flat. Figure 7 is a perspective view of part of the profiled surface of a lighting panel taken on the the second embodiment. Figure 8 shows a third embodiment of a translucent lighting panel in front view, where the front side of the panel in provided with protrusions 1 having a more complicated shape than the shape of the protrusions 1 of the first and the second embodiment. In front view of the panel, i.e. in top view of the protrusion 1, the base portion 2 of the protrusion 1 has a square shape, and the surface of the base portion is conical, just like the base portions of the protrusions 1 in the second embodiment shown in Figure 4. However, the conical surface of the base portion 2 does not reach an apex, because it terminates in a circular edge 6. The surface 7 of the protrusion 1 is concave at the other side of the circular edge 6. In this embodiment, said surface 7 is also conical and tapers into an apex 8. Figures 9 and 10 are sectional views of the panel taken on the the third embodiment taken on the lines IX-IX and X-X, respectively. The rear side 5 of the panel is again flat in this embodiment. Figure 11 is a perspective view of part of the profiled surface of a lighting panel taken on the the third embodiment. The dimensions of the protrusions 1 of the lighting panel may be chosen in dependence on aesthetic considerations. Preferably, the distance between the apexes of neighboring protrusions 1 is between 0.5 mm and 15 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 5 mm. The lighting panel provided with the protrusions 1 can be manufactured in a molding operation in which the profiled surface at the front side of the panel is shaped by means of a molding tool. This molding tool has a surface comprising recesses corresponding to the protrusions 1 at the front side of the lighting panel. Such a molding tool for producing a lighting panel provided with protrusions 1 having a base portion 2 with a conical surface and having a concave surface 7 tapering into an apex 8 is shown in Figures 8-1 1 and will be elucidated below. The molding tool comprises two plates, a first plate as shown in Figures 12-14 and a second plate as shown in Figures 15-17. Figure 12 shows the first plate 10 of the molding tool, which plate may be much larger than shown. The plate 10 comprises a number of concave conical surfaces 11 arranged in parallel rows. The intersections of neighboring conical surfaces 1 1 define curved lines 12, which lines are straight in the front view of Figure 12. Each conical surface 1 1 tapers into a circular hole 13. Figures 13 and 14 show the curved line 12, and Figure 14 shows the conical surfaces 11 and the holes 13. The lower side 14 of the plate is flat. Figures 15-17 show the second plate 15 of the molding tool. One side of the second plate 15 is provided with protrusions 16, which protrusions 16 are arranged in parallel rows. Each protrusion 16 has a conical surface 17 with a circular base 18 on the surface of plate 15. The conical surface 17 of each protrusion 16 tapers into an apex 19. In order to form the molding tool for shaping the profiled surface of the lighting panel, the two plates 10,15 are assembled together by placing the first plate 10 on top of the second plate 15. This causes the protrusions 16 to extend through the circular holes 13, so that a surface is created that corresponds to the profile to be formed on the surface of the lighting panel. The surface of the molding tool consists of the conical surfaces 1 1 and the conical surfaces 17. The plates 10,15 can be made of metal and can be manufactured by mechanical machining in material-removing operations. The protrusions 16 of the second plate 15 may also have a pyramidal shape. In that case the holes 13 in the first plate 10 must have a shape corresponding to the pyramidal shape of the protrusions 16, which shape can be mechanically machined. The embodiments described above are only examples; a great many other embodiments are possible.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A translucent lighting panel for being located inside a luminaire, in front of a light source inside the luminaire, the panel having a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions, characterized in that one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers away from the base portion of the protrusions, said protrusions extending in a direction away from the panel.
2. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the apex angle of the substantially conical surface of the protrusion is between 100° and 120°, preferably between 105° and 115°.
3. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, seen in plan view of the protrusion, the entire circumference of the base portion of each protrusion abuts against similar surrounding protrusions.
4. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base portions of the protrusions are substantially isosceles triangles, preferably equilateral triangles, as seen in plan view of the protrusion.
5. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the base portions of the protrusions are substantially rectangular, preferably square, as seen in plan view of the protrusion.
6. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said substantially conical surface is bordered by an endless edge at a distance from said base portion, while at the other side of the edge the protrusion has a concave surface that tapers in a direction from said edge to an apex.
7. A translucent lighting panel as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said concave surface is a substantially conical surface.
8. A luminaire provided with a translucent lighting panel, which panel is located in front of a light source to be accomodated within the luminaire, the panel having a profiled surface in order to prevent transmitted light from radiating in undesired directions, characterized in that one side of the panel is provided with protrusions having a substantially conical surface that tapers away from the base portion of the protrusions, said protrusions extending in a direction away from the panel.
9. A method of manufacturing a translucent lighting panel as claimed in claims 6 or 7, wherein the panel is shaped by means of a molding tool comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, characterized in that said inverse shape is established by an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and in that said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, such that each part is provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel.
10. A method as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said parts are protrusions of a second plate, each protrusion having a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes.
1 1. A molding tool for producing a translucent lighting panel as claimed in claim
6 or 7, comprising the inverse shape of the shape of the surface of the panel, characterized in that the molding tool comprises an assembly of a first plate having concave substantially conical surfaces corresponding to the convex substantially conical surfaces of the protrusions of the lighting panel, and in that said first plate is provided with a hole in the centre of each concave substantially conical surface and with a number of parts extending through said holes, such that each part is provided with a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel.
12. A molding tool as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that said parts are protrusions of a second plate, each protrusion having a convex surface corresponding to the concave surface of the protrusions of the lighting panel, while said second plate abuts against said first plate, so that the protrusions of the second plate extend through said holes.
PCT/IB2005/050507 2004-02-20 2005-02-09 A translucent lighting panel, a luminaire, and a method of manufacturing a panel WO2005083317A1 (en)

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WO2006097859A2 (en) * 2005-03-16 2006-09-21 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Luminaire with translucent lighting panel
WO2006114763A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A luminaire and a lighting panel for a luminaire
WO2008044170A2 (en) 2006-10-10 2008-04-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Thin illumination device, display device and luminary device
WO2010122507A1 (en) * 2009-04-24 2010-10-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Illumination system comprising beam shaping element
WO2011148313A1 (en) 2010-05-28 2011-12-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A beamshaping optical stack, a light source and a luminaire
EP2532953A1 (en) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-12 Siteco Beleuchtungstechnik GmbH Prism panel
WO2013046081A1 (en) 2011-09-27 2013-04-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A lighting system for emitting a shaped light beam and a luminaire
US8425101B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2013-04-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Illumination system, luminaire and backlighting unit
EP2796776A1 (en) * 2013-04-23 2014-10-29 Trilux GmbH & Co. KG Luminaire for diffuse radiating, laminar lighting means, in particular for OLED, and the optical system and light cover for the same
US9939126B2 (en) 2013-09-24 2018-04-10 Philips Lighting Holding B.V. Lighting unit
US10317583B2 (en) 2013-12-19 2019-06-11 Bright View Technologies Corporation 2D deglaring diffusers increasing axial luminous intensity
WO2019152382A1 (en) 2018-01-30 2019-08-08 Bright View Technologies Corporation Microstructures for transforming light having lambertian distribution into batwing distributions
US11294104B2 (en) 2017-04-03 2022-04-05 Signify Holding B.V. Optical output system and lighting unit comprising the system

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WO2006097859A3 (en) * 2005-03-16 2006-11-16 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Luminaire with translucent lighting panel
WO2006097859A2 (en) * 2005-03-16 2006-09-21 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Luminaire with translucent lighting panel
WO2006114763A1 (en) * 2005-04-26 2006-11-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A luminaire and a lighting panel for a luminaire
US7631980B2 (en) 2005-04-26 2009-12-15 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Luminaire and a lighting panel for a luminaire
US8251529B2 (en) 2006-10-10 2012-08-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Thin illumination device, display device and luminary device
WO2008044170A2 (en) 2006-10-10 2008-04-17 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Thin illumination device, display device and luminary device
CN101523109A (en) * 2006-10-10 2009-09-02 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 Thin illumination device, display device and luminary device
US8425101B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2013-04-23 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Illumination system, luminaire and backlighting unit
US9748522B2 (en) 2009-04-24 2017-08-29 Philips Lighting Holding B.V. Illumination system comprising beam shaping element
CN102422450A (en) * 2009-04-24 2012-04-18 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 Illumination system comprising beam shaping element
WO2010122507A1 (en) * 2009-04-24 2010-10-28 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Illumination system comprising beam shaping element
WO2011148313A1 (en) 2010-05-28 2011-12-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A beamshaping optical stack, a light source and a luminaire
US8890395B2 (en) 2010-05-28 2014-11-18 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Beamshaping optical stack, a light source and a luminaire
EP2532953A1 (en) * 2011-06-10 2012-12-12 Siteco Beleuchtungstechnik GmbH Prism panel
WO2013046081A1 (en) 2011-09-27 2013-04-04 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. A lighting system for emitting a shaped light beam and a luminaire
EP2796776A1 (en) * 2013-04-23 2014-10-29 Trilux GmbH & Co. KG Luminaire for diffuse radiating, laminar lighting means, in particular for OLED, and the optical system and light cover for the same
US9939126B2 (en) 2013-09-24 2018-04-10 Philips Lighting Holding B.V. Lighting unit
US10317583B2 (en) 2013-12-19 2019-06-11 Bright View Technologies Corporation 2D deglaring diffusers increasing axial luminous intensity
US11294104B2 (en) 2017-04-03 2022-04-05 Signify Holding B.V. Optical output system and lighting unit comprising the system
WO2019152382A1 (en) 2018-01-30 2019-08-08 Bright View Technologies Corporation Microstructures for transforming light having lambertian distribution into batwing distributions
EP3746696A4 (en) * 2018-01-30 2021-10-13 BrightView Technologies, Inc. Microstructures for transforming light having lambertian distribution into batwing distributions
US11391437B2 (en) 2018-01-30 2022-07-19 Brightview Technologies, Inc. Microstructures for transforming light having Lambertian distribution into batwing distributions
US11655957B2 (en) 2018-01-30 2023-05-23 Brightview Technologies, Inc. Microstructures for transforming light having Lambertian distribution into batwing distributions

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