WO2021118364A1

WO2021118364A1 - Light emitting device for a vessel and use of such device

Info

Publication number: WO2021118364A1
Application number: PCT/NO2020/050309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chris SCHNEEBERG
Original assignee: R. Stahl Tranberg As
Priority date: 2019-12-09
Filing date: 2020-12-09
Publication date: 2021-06-17
Also published as: NO20191457A1

Abstract

A light emitting device (1) for a vessel. The device (1) comprises a support structure (5), and two or more light sources (10) attached to different portions of the support structure (5) separated from each other and configured to emit light in different directions away from the support structure (5). The device (1) further comprises a respective lens unit (20) for each light source (10) configured to receive light from the light sources (10) and to refract the light with a common focal point FP.

Description

LIGHT EMITTING DEVICE FOR A VESSEL AND USE OF SUCH DEVICE

Introduction

The present invention relates to a light emitting device for a vessel, in particular a naviga tion light or a signal light. The device comprises a support structure, and two or more light sources attached to different portions of the support structure separated from each other and configured to emit light in different directions away from the support structure.

The present invention further relates to use of such device.

Prior art

Light emitting devices for a vessel, such as navigation and signal lights are used on ves- sels for avoiding collisions. The devices provide light in specified sectors to indicate differ ent sides of the vessel or different operations/statuses. For marine vessels, red, green, white, yellow and blue sectors are used.

It is desired to reduce the energy consumption of such devices, for example by using low consumption light sources, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, in order to ob- tain sufficient luminance of the device, it is necessary to apply a plurality of low consump tion light sources in the device, thus resulting in an increased light emitting surface.

The larger light emitting surface has the disadvantage that it requires larger screen to pro vide sufficient low angle of uncertainty between two neighboring sectors, that is a sharp cut-off between the sectors. Accordingly, the transition to low consumption light sources has the disadvantage that the overall extension of the light emitting device increases.

Summary of the invention

The invention has for its object to remedy or to reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative to prior art. A first object of the inven- tion is to provide a light emitting device for a vessel that enables a compact design using a plurality of light sources forming a combined large light emitting surface. A second object of the invention is to provide a compact light emitting device with low power consumption, in particular to provide a light emitting device that enables a compact design using light- emitting diodes (LEDs).

These objects are achieved by means of a light emitting device for a vessel, wherein the device comprises:

- a support structure, and

- two or more light sources attached to different portions of the support structure separat ed from each and configured to emit light in different directions away from the support structure.

The device is characterized in that it comprises a respective lens for each light source configured to receive light from the light sources and to refract the light with a common focal point, or essentially common focal point.

The support structure has the function of attaching the two or more light sources. The two or more light sources are attached to different portions of the support structure and jointly generates the light that is emitted from the device.

By means of providing a respective lens for the light sources that are configured to refract the light from the two or more light sources to the common focal point, or essentially common focal point, the angle of uncertainty of light from two neighboring sectors of a sector screen to be arranged around the light sources is minimized, which enables a compact design of a sector screen around the light sources. Accordingly, the invention has the advantage of enabling a compact design of the light emitting device.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the common focal point, or essentially common focal point, is located at a geometric center of the support structure.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the light sources with lenses are configured to cooperatively provide a 270 or 360 degrees light distribution along a first plane. Alterna tively, less than four LED cards may be used, giving less than 270 or 360 degrees cover age.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises two, three or four light sources with lens units attached to different portions of the support structure and config ured to cooperatively provide a 270 or 360 degrees light distribution along the first plane. According to an embodiment of the invention, the two or more light sources attached equidistant or essentially equidistant to the common focal point.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises three or four light sources attached spaced apart with 90 degrees rotation, or approximately 90 degrees rotation, in respect to neighboring light sources.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the respective lens unit comprises a first lens member configured to provide light distribution along a first plane and a second lens member configured to provide light distribution along a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the light distribution of the first lens member is larger than the light distribution of the second lens member.

The first plane is preferably a horizontal plane of the vessel. A large light distribution is desirable in the horizontal plane. The second plane is preferably a vertical plane, perpen dicular to the horizontal plane. On the contrary to the horizontal plane, a smaller light dis tribution is required in the vertical plane.

By means of configuring the light distribution of the first lens member larger than the sec ond lens member, the light distribution from the device is optimized. Accordingly, lower luminance light sources may be applied in the device, which thereby providing a reduced power consumption of the device compared with prior art devices.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the first lens member is configured to pro vide light distribution in 90 degrees, or approximately 90 degrees.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the second lens member is configured to provide light distribution in a sector of +/-10 degrees. According to an embodiment of the invention, the first lens member and second lens member comprises an outer surface of the unit and the second lens member comprises an inner surface of the unit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a fastening arrange ment configured to enable fastening the device to the vessel so that the first plane is aligned with the horizonal direction and correspondingly the second plane with the vertical plane.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a sector screen con figured to be exposed to the light from the light sources. The sector screen is configured to provide one or more sectors of light emitted from the device. The sectors may have different color, such as red, green, white, yellow and blue. In each fixture, the sector(s) will have one color.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the sector screen is arranged extending equidistant or effectively equidistant from the common focal point. The sector screen comprises for example a circular extension attached so that the common focal point cor responds or essentially corresponds to a center of the screen.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the light sources each comprises one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

According to an embodiment of the invention, the device comprises electric wiring con- nected to the light sources and configured to be connected to an electric power source.

The objects of the invention are further obtained by use of light emitting device according to any of above embodiments.

Brief description of drawings

In the following is described examples of preferred embodiments illustrated in the accom- panying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 discloses a light emitting device according to an embodiment of the inven tion;

Fig. 2a discloses an example of a lens unit of the light emitting device in fig. 1 seen from a first side; and Fig. 2b discloses an example of a lens unit of the light emitting device in fig. 1 seen from a second side.

Detailed description of the invention

In fig. 1 is a light emitting device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention disclosed. The devices 1 is configured to be arranged at a vessel and is for example used as a navi- gation or signal light on the vessel. The device 1 is seen from above towards a first plane.

The device 1 comprises a support structure 5 and two or more light sources 10 attached to different portions of the support structure 3. The light sources 10 are preferably low energy consumption lamps, such as comprising one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The device 1 further comprises electric wiring connected to the light sources 10 and con figured to be connected to an electric power source (not disclosed).

In the disclosed embodiment in fig. 1, the support structure 5 comprises four sides facing four different directions in the first plane. The four sides are distributed with 90 degrees orientation in respect to the neighboring sides. The device 1 is provided with typical four light sources 10 attached respective sides of the support structure 5, as disclosed in fig. 1. The support structure comprises a geometric center located within the four sides.

The device 1 further comprises a respective lens unit 20 for each light source 10 and a sector screen 30 arranged around the support structure 5 and the light sources 10 with lens units 20. The sector screen 30 is configured to provide one or more sectors of light emitted from the device 1, such as sectors in red, green, white, yellow and blue.

The lens units 20 are configured to receive light from the respective light sources 20 and to refract the light with a common focal point FP or essentially common focal point FP.

The sector screen 30 is arranged extending equidistant or essentially equidistant from the common focal point FP or essential common focal point FP.

The sector screen 30 is configured to be exposed to the light from the light sources 10 after being refracted by the lens units 20. By means of the common focal point FP or es sentially common focal point FP in which the light is refracted by the lens units 20, the angle of uncertainty between two neighboring sectors is minimized. The refraction of the lens units 20 with common focal point FP or essentially common focal point FP makes light emitted from the device 1 virtually appear as if originating from a single point or es sentially single point. By refracting the light with the common focal point FP or essentially common focal point FP enables a compact design of a sector screen 30 around the light sources 10.

In the disclosed embodiment in fig. 1, the common focal point or essentially common focal point FP is located at a geometric center of the support structure 5.

The four light sources 10 with lens units shown in fig. 1 are configured to cooperatively provide a 360 degrees light distribution in the first plane, wherein the first lens members 20a are configured to provide light distribution in 90 degrees or essentially 90 degrees. Accordingly, a wide light distribution is arranged in the horizonal plane and a narrow light distribution in the vertical plane. Thereby, lower luminance light sources 10 may be ap plied in the device 1 compared to prior art devices. In fig. 2a and 2b are an example of a lens unit 20 of the light emitting device 10 in fig. 1 disclosed. In fig. 2a is a first side of the lens seen and in fig. 2a is a second side of the lens seen.

The respective lens unit 20 comprises a first lens member 20a configured to provide light distribution along the first plane and a second lens member 20b configured to provide light distribution along a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane. The light distribu tion of the first lens member 20a is larger than the light distribution of the second lens member 20b.

The device 1 is configured to be arranged so that the first plane is parallel with a horizon- tal plane of the vessel and the second plane thereby parallel with a vertical plane.

The respective first lens member 20a is configured to provide light distribution in 90 de grees or essentially 90 degrees by means of a first surface, see fig. 2a.

The respective second lens member 20b is configured to provide light distribution in a sector of +/-10 degrees by means of a second surface, see fig. 2b. The second lens member 20b comprise a jagged configuration with a plurality of incident surfaces.

The device 1 further comprises a fastening arrangement (not disclosed) configured to en able the device 1 to be fasten to the vessel so that first plane of the device 1 is aligned with a horizontal plane of the vessel.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be able to design many alternative embodi ments without departing from the scope of the appended claims. In the claims, any refer ence signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. Use of the verb "comprise" and its conjugations does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those stated in a claim. The article "a" or "an" preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a com bination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

C l a i m s

1. A light emitting device (1) for a vessel, the device (1) comprises:

- a support structure (5), and

- two or more light sources (10) attached to different portions of the support struc ture (5) separated from each other and configured to emit light in different direc tions away from the support structure (5), c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that the device (1) further comprises a respective lens unit (20) for each light source (10) configured to receive light from the light sources (10) and to refract the light with a common focal point (FP).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the common focal point (FP) is locat ed at a geometric center of the support structure (5).

3. The device (1) according to any of claim 1 or 2, wherein the light sources (10) with lenses are configured to cooperatively provide a 270 or 360 degrees light distribu tion along a first plane.

4. The device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the device (1) comprises three or four light sources (10) with lens units (20) attached to different portions of the support structure (5) and configured to cooperatively provide a 270 or 360 degrees light distribution along the first plane.

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the device (1) comprises three or four light sources (10) with lens units (20) that are attached spaced apart with 90 de grees rotation in respect to neighboring light sources (10).

6. The device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the respective lens unit (20) comprises a first lens member (20a) configured to provide light distribu tion along a first plane and a second lens member (20b) configured to provide light distribution along a second plane that is perpendicular to the first plane, wherein the light distribution of the first lens member (20a) is larger than the light distribu tion of the second lens member (20b).

7. The device (1) according to claim 6, wherein the respective first lens member (20a) is configured to provide light distribution in 90 degrees.

8. The device (1) according to any of claims 6-7, wherein the second lens member (20b) is configured to provide light distribution in a sector +/-10 degrees.

9. The device (1) according to any of claims 6-8, wherein the first lens member (20a) comprises an outer surface of the lens unit and the second lens member (20b) comprises an inner surface of the lens unit (20).

10. The device (1) according to claims 3-9, wherein the device (1) comprises a fas tening arrangement configured to enable the device (1) to be fasten to the vessel so that the first plane is aligned with the horizonal direction.

11. The device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the device (1) comprises a sector screen (30) configured to be exposed to the light from the light sources (10).

12. The device (1) according to claim 11, wherein the sector screen (30) is arranged extending equidistant from the common focal point (FP).

13. The device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the light sources (10) each comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.

14. The device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the device (1) comprises electric wiring connected to the light sources (10) and configured to be connected to an electric power source.

15. Use of a device (1) according to any of claims 1-14.