WO2010006614A1

WO2010006614A1 - Adjustable lamp

Info

Publication number: WO2010006614A1
Application number: PCT/DK2009/050169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Langkilde
Original assignee: LR-Service. Køge ApS
Priority date: 2008-07-15
Filing date: 2009-07-08
Publication date: 2010-01-21

Abstract

The present invention concerns a lamp containing at least one approximately punctiform light source, the light source being secured to a mounting base, where the mounting base contains electric connection to at least one light source which interacts with at least one lens, the lens being secured to a lens plate, where the lens plate is formed of a flexible material, where the lens plate is mechanically connected to at least one actuator and where the actuator may deflect the lens plate in at least one direction. By changing the position of the lenses in relation to the light sources, a light focusing may be achieved by inward deflection and a light dispersion by outward deflection of the light passing through the lenses. Thereby it will be possible to perform deflecting of light coming from a number of light sources.

Description

Adjustable Lamp

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a lamp containing at least one approximately punctiform light source, the light source being secured to a mounting base, where the mounting base contains electric connection to at least one light source which interacts with at least one lens, the lens being secured to a lens plate.

The present invention also concerns a method of changing the focal point of lamps using several light sources with approximately punctiform light emission, where the light sources interact with lenses that may be provided on a lens plate.

The present invention also concerns the use of the above lamp and method in lamps for vehicles.

Background of the Invention US 7,347,601 concern the use of LED for headlamps of cars. Here is used a very large number of fixed LEDs, e.g. for a headlamp, where the LEDs are provided in connection with parabolic concentrators.

US 7,246,930 also concern a light source for a car lamp. This patent publication concerns providing an LED chip in connection with a system consisting of mirrors and lenses for deflecting the light such that the generated light becomes suited for a car lamp. By means of a mechanical repositioning of the mirror it is here possible to change the light emission.

US 7,207,703 discloses also concerns a headlamp unit for vehicles. This patent publication also concerns the design of a LED-based headlamp for a car. Here is also used a combination of mirrors and lenses for forming the light in the right direction. It is shown here how an adjusting of the position of the light diode in relation to the mirrors may be performed by means of screws. Also, here it is clearly shown how an asymmetric low beam can be achieved by means of light diodes interacting with mirrors and lenses. JP 2003-72618 also concerns LED in connection with lamps for vehicles. These are light sources primarily used on two-wheelers such as mopeds and motorcycles.

EP 1 821 032 also concerns car lamps based on LED. A combination of mirrors and lenses is used here. An adjustment of the light is effected as one of the applied mirrors is placed on an actuator such that this mirror can change its position, whereby the deflection of the light can be changed.

WO 03044870 concerns an illuminating device using light-emitting diode properties, with high luminosity, very economical, redirected and scattered by one or several transparent optical components, providing illumination powered either by the power grid, or solar or wind turbine energy. The device consists in particular of a housing containing the printed circuit sliding on four rods, the transparent optical component is assembled to the housing with four screws. The endless micrometer screw vary by screwing and unscrewing the illuminating angle by modifying the focal distance between the LEDs and the polished concave optical housings positioned in the same axis. The printed circuit bearing the LEDs is supplied with electric power by the supply line. The inventive device is designed for illumination, in particular when there is need for an economical self-powered illumination device.

Object of the Invention

It is the object of the invention by punctiform light sources to achieve adjustment of the common actual light distribution for the punctiform light sources. A further object of the invention is to achieve adjusting of the emitted light in order to adapt the light distribution optimally in relation to the actual application. It is also the object of the invention to achieve a lamp for parking light, low beam or high beam for vehicles.

Description of the Invention

This may be achieved with a lamp as specified in the preamble of claim 1, if the lens plate is formed of a flexible material, where the lens plate is mechanically connected to at least one actuator and where the actuator may deflect the lens plate in at least one direction. By changing the position of the lenses in relation to the light sources, a changed inward or outward deflection of the light passing through the lenses may be achieved. Thereby it will be possible to perform deflecting of light coming from a number of light sources. The light from these light sources may thus, depending on the outward or inward deflection of the lens plate, be brought to concentrate either in a concentrated light beam in front of the lamp or by further deflection such that crossing of the light rays is obtained. By inward deflection in the opposite direction, dispersion of the light rays may be achieved. Depending on how the lens plate is fastened, different deflection of the generated light may be achieved. If the lens plate e.g. only allows deflection about one axis, it is achieved that the adjusting of the light occurs about that axis. By using the flexible lens plate one may achieve concentration of light from a number of punctiform light sources in a very simple way. Due to the fact that punctiform light sources will often be difficult to dispose accurately, it is difficult by other methods to attain optimal concentration of light from several punctiform light sources. By deflecting the light by means of lenses provided in the flexible lens plate, position limits for the light sources immediately become substantially smaller. It is only to be aimed at that the larger part of the emitted light strikes an associated lens.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, a number of light sources that interact with a very large number of lenses disposed on the same flexible lens plate may be envisaged. The requirement to the actual position of the light sources is substantially reduced hereby, as largely all light emitted towards the lens plate will be intercepted here and retransmitted through the lenses. In order to reduce losses from a lens plate in general, it will be possible to make the lens plate as a mirror at the back side, and at the same time dispose a mirror surface between the punctiform light sources. Hereby, reflecting a greater part of the light not passing through the lenses may be attained, such that a greater part of the reflected light is reflected again by the reflecting surface between the light sources for finally being transmitted through the lenses in the lens plates.

The actuator may consist of a threaded rod interacting with a nut which is fastened to the flexible lens plate, and where the threaded rod may be rotated for moving the lens plate. By using a threaded rod together with a nut, a relatively precise adjustment of a lens plate may be achieved. The threaded rod may be a manually adjustable rod to be adjusted by hand, such that a lamp is provided the desired light distribution. This may be suitable in connection with e.g. lamps for homes, institutions or business premises, where it is relatively rare that an adjustment of the light propagation from the lamp is desired. However, each time it may be required it will be possible to adjust the actual light emission by means of a screw externally of the lamp.

The threaded rod may be connected to a motor which may rotate the threaded rod. By letting the threaded rod be rotated by a motor, an efficient, automatic regulation of the deflection of the lens plate may be achieved. By one type of motors, the threaded rod may possibly be screwed between two extreme positions and thus perform a shift between two permanent settings. By another embodiment, the motor may be a step motor which can be controlled in individual steps, such that a very large gearing for individual steps is attained via the threaded rod and the nut. Thereby it will be possible to perform a very precise fine-tuning of the deflection of the lens plate. However, the step motor requires connection to a control circuit, maybe in connection with a microprocessor in order to be efficient. However, components of this type could be provided together with the punctiform light sources, possibly on a common printed circuit board. In principle, it will thus be possible to provide a very efficient lamp with a fully automatic, very accurate regulation of light propagation from the lamp.

The actuator can be designed as a magnetic actuator which, when activated, presses an anchor out of or into a coil, depending on the direction of the magnetic field. By a magnetic actuator, one may change a lens plate in a relatively simple way between a first and a second deflection, and even obtain a third, neutral position there between. This may provide a very simple though very efficient adjusting of the lens plate.

The approximately punctiform light source may be formed of one or more interacting light diodes. A possible punctiform light source may be a light diode or most often in reality several interacting individual light diodes which are placed in the same housing. An alternative to actual light diodes may be miniature lasers which also emit punctiform light. A feature common to light diodes and lasers is that their light producing principle is to produce light with a certain spectral colour. White light can be achieved in two ways, either by using light sources of three different colours and then mix the light, or by letting the light diodes emit light of one colour - maybe ultraviolet light - and place e.g. a glass jacket over the light sources, where the glass jacket is provided with a white luminescent phosphorus inside, which will be the direct light emitting material. By both methods it is possible to produce white light by means of light diodes or lasers, respectively.

The lamp may be built up of a number of light diodes or light diode arrays that may interact with lenses provided on the flexible lens plate, and where the resulting distribution of light produced by light diodes or light diode arrays may be adjusted by changing the deflection of the lens plate. When letting light diodes or light diode arrays interact with lenses which are disposed at a distance of few centimeters from light diodes or light diode arrays, it is to be ensured that the light emission characteristic of light diodes or light diode arrays is designed such that the greater part of the light will fall on the associated lens. Based on the fact that most light diodes or light diode arrays emit light primarily in an area around a centre, where the greater part of the light lies within +/- 3O⁰C relative to a centre axis of emission, then it will be possible to achieve that up to 80% of the emitted light will fall on the associated lens, where the lens may perform a concentration of the light such that the light leaving the lens runs approximately in parallel. By changing the deflection of the lens plate, it becomes possible to turn the individual lenses slightly in relation to each other such that the emitted light is e.g. directed towards a common point, whereby a very concentrated light spot is produced. By an alternative deflection of the lens plate there may be obtained a relatively strong dispersion of light instead.

The lens plate of the lamp may be connected with several independent actuators. By using several actuators and possibly various ways of fastening the lens plate, there may be achieved a very efficient, but at the same time relatively complicated adaptation of the emitted light such that various forms of light characteristics of the emitted light will be possible.

By a method as specified in the preamble of claim 8, the object of the present patent application may be achieved if the lens plate is flexible and deflected via a mechanical connection to at least one actuator, where the actuator changes the deflection of the lens plate between different positions by a movement in order thereby to change the actual focal point of the emitted light.

By the indicated method it will be possible to adapt a light cone in a very simple way. About the same efficiency is achieved as with existing lamps if these are provided with zoom optics for changing the propagation of the light cone. With the movable lens plate, a concentration of the emitted light may be achieved, such that light from a number of light sources can be concentrated within a very limited area. This may be suitable if the method is used for room lighting where the concentrated light can be transmitted down into an annularly dispersing light distributor and onwards through various light screens. Thus may be provided e.g. a suspended lamp which may operate without any wiring.

The lamp may advantageously be used in connection with vehicles where it becomes possible to adapt e.g. low beam or high beam formed by means of light diodes, such that asymmetric light is formed even in connection with the actual light generation. This asymmetric light may, however, be directionally controlled such that the light e.g. at high speeds is transmitted in relatively concentrated beam forwardly, whereas by lower speeds, e.g. in connection with urban driving, may be dispersed such that a greater part of the light is transmitted in direction away from the driving direction of the vehicle.

Another application for e.g. headlamps on cars may be that by deflecting the lens plate, the light is dipped. The same lamps may thus be used for high beam and low beam, respectively, as in connection with dipping the lights a change of the deflection of the lens plate is performed, thereby reducing the light emission in upwards direction.

Description of the Drawing Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a lamp according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment where the control of the flexible lens plate is shown with motor control and with control by a front glass, respectively; Fig. 3 shows a flexible lens plate, as seen from the front; Fig. 4 shows four different light patterns that appear by using a lamp as shown on

Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment with six lenses; Fig. 6 shows a possible lighting pattern formed by a lamp as shown on Fig. 5.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a lamp according to the invention, where Fig. 1 shows a lamp 2 consisting of a lamp housing 4 and a front glass 6. The lamp housing 4 includes a mounting base 8 and a lens plate 10. On the mounting base 8 is provided light sources 12 and 14, which may be based either on laser technology or be based on light diode technology. The lens plate 10 contains lenses 16 and 18. At the centre of the mounting plate 8, a motor 22 is shown, and this motor has a threaded rod 20 as output shaft, the rod 20 interacting with a nut 24 which is fastened to the lens plate 10.

The threaded spindle 20 can be rotated by means of the motor 22, thereby actuating the nut 24 such that the lens plate is deflected either in upward or downward direction.

The light emitted from the light diodes 12 and 14 predominantly strikes the lenses 16 and 18, and these lenses gather the light such that the light coming into the lenses is leaving the lenses in an approximately parallel direction. By performing a deflecting of the lens plate 10, the position of the lenses and their mutual angle are moved, whereby a deflection of the light occurs. By lowering the nut 24 it is possible to gather the light emitted via the lenses 16 and 18. It is also possible to disperse the light by turning the threaded spindle 20 such that the nut 24 is actuated in upwards direction. Hereby it is possible to have a lamp adjusting the light emission such that light emission may either be concentrated or dispersed. By adjusting the threaded spindle and the deflection of the lens plate 10, it is practically possible to gather light from the two shown lenses into one point. This is in fact a focal length adjustment.

Hereby may be achieved an entirely new concept in connection with the application of light diodes for replacing existing spot lamps. With a number of light diodes it is possible to concentrate the light of these light diodes in a very limited area, where the size of the limited area can be adjusted. By a possible embodiment, the motor 22 can be substituted by a wing nut such that an adjustment of the threaded spindle and thereby the dispersion of the light can be performed e.g. from the back side of the lamp.

The threaded spindle may also in an alternative embodiment go through the front glass 6 such that adjustment occurs at the front of the lamp.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment with a lamp 102. The lamp has a lamp housing 104 which is closed by a front glass 106. The lamp housing 102 contains a mounting base 108 and a lens plate 110. On the mounting base is provided a number of punctiform light sources 112, 113, 114 and 115. The punctiform light sources interact with lenses 116, 118, 120 and 122 placed on the lens plate 110. Adjusting the lens plate 110 is effected by a spindle 103 which at the bottom is fastened to the mounting base 108 which has an electronic circuit and a motor 132 for rotating the spindle 130. The threaded spindle 130 is connected to a wing nut 134 disposed in front of the front plate 106 for manual adjustment of the lens plate 110.

Fig. 3 shows the same embodiment as Fig. 2, though now seen from the front where the lenses 116, 118, 120 and 122 can be seen through the front lens 106. Also, the threaded rod 113 may be seen.

Fig. 4 shows four different light patterns that appear by using a lamp as shown on Figs. 2 and 3. At A is shown a relatively concentrated light pattern designed for use in connection with headlamps for cars, where the light pattern is suited for driving at high speed. At B is shown a changed light characteristic which may be suited for driving at lower speeds, as the light is dispersed slightly more. C shows further dispersion of the light which may be suited for urban driving. D shows a setting which may be particularly suited for driving at low speeds.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative embodiment, here with six lenses placed on a lens plate, and in Fig. 6 is shown a possible lighting pattern formed by a lamp as shown on Fig. 5. Thus it becomes possible to make a car lamp that may generate asymmetric light by means of the present invention. The use of light diodes in headlamps on cars will most likely reduce the actual energy consumption and thereby imply a substantial environmental improvement for the entire society. By this invention it will be possible not only to perform switching between low beam and high beam light, but also to adapt the actual light pattern at all times during the driving. Based on knowledge of e.g. speed, by means of a computer it becomes possible to calculate the optimal position of the emitted light. At high speed it will be appropriate that as most light as possible is transmitted a relatively long distance forward of the car, and that only limited amounts of light are transmitted to the sides of the road. The lower driving speed, the more light may be desired to the roadside in the vicinity of the car, as the case here is presumably urban driving with the possibility of pedestrians and cyclists at the roadside which are only discovered when being relatively close to them. The invention may readily be extended such that more threaded spindles are used in connection with headlamps for cars. Thereby it becomes possible to the let the light transmission of the headlamps turn in relation to the car headlamps such that any movement with the steering wheel will automatically cause a deflection of the light in the same direction in which the wheels are turned. This may be particularly advantageous if driving with relatively high on roads with many curves.

Claims

1. A lamp (2,102) provided in a lamp housing which contains at least one approximately punctiform light source (12,14,112,113,114,115), the light source (12,14112,113,114,115) being secured to a mounting base (8,108) where the mounting base (8) contains electric connection for the at least one light source (12,14, 112,113,114,115), where the light source (12,14112,113,114,115) interacts with at least one lens (16,18,116,118,120,122), the lens (16,18) being secured to a lens plate (10,110) which is secured to the lamp housing (4) at least one point, characterised in that the lens plate (10,110) is formed of a flexible material, where the lens plate (10,110) is mechanically connected to at least one actuator (22,132), the actuator (22,132) performing an outward deflection or inward deflection of the lens plate (10,110) in at least one direction.

2. Lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuator consists of a threaded rod (20,130) interacting with a nut (24,134) which is fastened to the flexible lens plate (10,110), and that the threaded rod (20,130) is rotated for moving the lens plate (10,110).

3. Lamp according to claim 2, characterised in that the threaded rod (20,130) is connected to a motor (22,132) which rotates the threaded rod (20).

4. Lamp according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuator is designed as a magnetic actuator which, when activated, presses an anchor out of or into a coil, depending on the direction of the magnetic field.

5. Lamp according to one of claims 1-5, characterised in that the approximately punctiform light source (12,14,112,113,114,115) is formed of one or more interacting light diodes.

6. Lamp according to claim 5, characterised in that the lamp is built up of a number of light diodes or light diode arrays (12,14,112,113,114,115) that interact with lenses (16,18,116,118,120,122) provided on the flexible lens plate (10,110), and where the resulting distribution of light produced by light diodes or light diode arrays (12,14, 112,113,114,115) is adjusted by changing the deflection of the lens plate (10,110).

7. Lamp according to claim 6, characterised in that the lens plate (10,110) of the lamp (2,102) is connected with several independent actuators (20,132).

8. A method of changing the focal point of lamps (2) using several light sources (12,14, 112,113,114,115) with approximately punctiform light emission, where the light sources (12,14, 112,113,114,115) interact with lenses (16,18,116,118,120,122) provided on a lens plate (10), characterised in that the lens plate (10) is flexible and deflected via a mechanical connection (20,24) to at least one actuator (22), that the actuator (22) changes the deflection of the lens plate (10) between different positions by a movement in order thereby to change the actual focal point of the emitted light.

9. Use of a lamp (2) as specified in claims 1 - 7 and a method as specified in claim 8, characterised in that the use is effected in a headlamp for a vehicle, where change of light distribution is effected in order to adapt the actual light distribution in front of the vehicle.