WO2022106677A1

WO2022106677A1 - Illumination arrangement and method for generating a light spot with an adjustable spot size

Info

Publication number: WO2022106677A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/082458
Authority: WO
Inventors: Axel Meise; Stefan Wolfram
Original assignee: Occhio GmbH
Priority date: 2020-11-23
Filing date: 2021-11-22
Publication date: 2022-05-27
Also published as: DE102020130950A1; EP4248129A1

Abstract

An illumination arrangement for generating a light spot with an adjustable spot size, preferably a continuously adjustable spot size, on an illumination surface B is proposed, the illumination arrangement comprising the following: a plurality of brightness-controllable or dimmable illuminants (1, 2, 3), at least one primary optical unit (10; 11, 12, 13) and a control unit (40) designed to control the illuminants (1, 2, 3) independently of one another. The illuminants (1, 2, 3) and the at least one primary optical unit (10; 11, 12, 13) are arranged such that substantially concentric individual light spots (S1, S2, S3) of different sizes are generable on the illumination surface B. The control unit (40) is designed to control the illuminants (1, 2, 3) in such a way that the individual light spots (S1, S2, S3) generated are able to be superimposed on the illumination surface B to form a light spot with an adjustable spot size. Further, a method for adjusting, preferably continuously adjusting, a spot size of a light spot on an illumination surface B is proposed.

Description

Lighting arrangement and method for generating a light spot with an adjustable spot size

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to an illumination arrangement for generating a light spot according to the subject matter of claim 1 and an associated method according to the subject matter of claim 11.

Modern lighting systems are required to be able to set as many lighting parameters as possible by the user. For example, dimmable lighting systems are known in which the brightness or light intensity of the lighting system can be changed by a user. Another parameter for which there is a need for adjustability is the light distribution produced by the lighting system. For example, for lighting systems that provide spot-like illumination of a surface, it is desirable to be able to adjust the size of the spot generated by the lighting system.

Various approaches for providing a variable emission characteristic for setting a spot size are known from the prior art. For example, DE 10 2017 213 488 A1 describes a lamp with a controllable emission characteristic that has mechanically movable decoupling optics. By moving the decoupling optics, the radiation characteristics of the lamp are changed.

Such a construction has various disadvantages. Either the decoupling optics must be moved manually by a user, which is perceived as cumbersome and time-consuming. Alternatively, the decoupling optics can be moved by means of a drive provided for this purpose. However, this increases the design effort. In addition, the drive generates disturbing noises when the decoupling optics are moved.

In the light of the above statements, the object of the present invention is to provide a way of illuminating an illuminated area with a spot with an adjustable size, which is characterized by a small distinguishes constructive effort and in which no mechanically moving elements are required to adjust the spot size.

The object is achieved by a lighting arrangement having the features of claim 1 and a method having the features of claim 11. Advantageous developments result from the dependent claims.

The object is achieved in particular by a lighting arrangement for generating a light spot on an illuminated surface with an adjustable, preferably steplessly adjustable, spot size, having a large number of brightness-controllable or dimmable lamps, at least one primary optics and a control unit that is designed to operate the lamps independently of one another head for; wherein the lighting means and the at least one primary optics are arranged in such a way that essentially concentric individual light spots of different sizes can be generated on the lighting surface, and wherein the control unit is designed to control the lighting means in such a way that the individual light spots produced on the lighting surface can be superimposed on a light spot with an adjustable spot size.

An essential idea of the invention consists in providing a large number of dimmable light sources for adjusting the spot size of the lighting arrangement, which are combined with at least one primary optics in order to generate concentric individual light spots of different sizes on a common lighting area. To set the spot size, the brightness or emission intensity of the lamps is controlled so that the individual light spots are superimposed on the lighting surface to form a light spot with an adjustable spot size. With this solution, no mechanically moving components are required to adjust the spot size. Rather, the setting of the spot size is realized by (ultimately purely electronic) control of lighting means which, like the at least one primary optics, are arranged immovably in the lighting arrangement. This completely avoids the disadvantages that arise when adjusting the spot size using mechanically movable components. Ultimately, the spot size is set purely digitally by controlling the lamps accordingly via the control unit. Within the scope of the present invention, a spot, individual light spot and light spot are to be understood as meaning a brightness distribution which can be generated on an illuminated surface and which forms a coherent region on the illuminated surface. The individual light spots preferably form an essentially circular or ring-shaped area on the illumination surface.

The illumination area on which a light spot with an adjustable spot size can be generated by means of the illumination arrangement is not subject to any particular restriction. Preferably, the illumination surface is a substantially planar surface, such as a wall or floor in an indoor or outdoor space.

A characteristic dimension of the spot on the illuminated surface can be used to determine spot sizes. For example, if a spot forms a substantially circular or ring-shaped area, an area in which the brightness or luminosity exceeds a predetermined fraction of the maximum brightness or luminosity that occurs, for example 50% of the maximum brightness or luminosity of the spot, can be defined , and the spot size can be set as the diameter of this area. To adjust the spot size, it is only necessary that the individual light spots assigned to the lamps are essentially concentric, i.e. that individual light spots can be generated on the lighting surface in such a way that individual light spots with a smaller spot size within individual light spots larger spot sizes or are circumscribed by them. The size of the light spot, which results from a superimposition of individual light spots, can then be adjusted by superimposing or overlaying the individual light spots by means of the control unit.

The number of illuminants used is not subject to any particular restriction. The more bulbs are used, the larger the range of the adjustable size of the light spot. Preferably, three or more illuminants are used to provide a satisfactory spot size adjustment range.

The primary optics used within the scope of the invention are not subject to any particular restriction. It is essential that they are so adapted to the bulbs in terms of their arrangement and design that with the Light sources that can be generated emission pattern in the form of substantially concentric individual light spots on the lighting surface is imaged. If, for example, LED-based illuminants are used as illuminants, which emit an essentially conical light distribution, a collimating element such as a lens or a lens system can be preferred as the primary optics, with which the emission angle of the illuminant can be modified. The primary optics can each be formed by an optical element (such as a lens) or have multiple components (for example a lens system made up of multiple lenses).

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lighting arrangement has a large number of primary optics, with each illuminant being assigned at least one, preferably precisely one, primary optic, which are each designed and arranged in such a way that one of the individual light spots can be generated on the illuminated surface with each illuminant is.

According to this embodiment, each illuminant forms a functional unit with the primary optics assigned to it, so that the primary optics assigned to the illuminants can be matched to the respective illuminant in order to generate the individual light spots of different sizes with the respective illuminant on the illuminated surface.

Precisely one primary optic is preferably assigned to each illuminant. This allows a simple constructive implementation of units each consisting of a light source and a primary optics for generating the individual light spots of different sizes. The lighting means with the respective associated primary optics can then be arranged in spatial proximity to one another, for example, in such a way that the light emission for illuminating the illuminated area takes place essentially in the same direction.

In this case, it can be preferred that light sources with small spatial extents are used, for example LED-based light sources. With such light sources, a substantially rotationally symmetrical, approximately conical light distribution with a predetermined angle of emission can be generated in one emission direction. If the illuminants are arranged essentially at the same distance from the illumination surface, the respective primary optics can be used to provide different Setting the beam angle for the individual lamps, for example by using collimating elements such as lenses with different refractive powers as primary optics. This means that individual light spots of different sizes can be generated on the illumination surface in a structurally simple manner, since the size of the individual light spots varies with the radiation angle set in each case.

In the case of a rotationally symmetrical, approximately conical light distribution of the emitted light, the angle at which the intensity is a predetermined fraction, for example 50%, of the maximum intensity occurring in the light distribution can be defined as the emission angle in the usual way.

Alternatively, it is possible with this embodiment to provide the lighting means with the respectively associated primary optics at a distance from one another and to arrange them in such a way that the illumination surface can be illuminated with individual light spots of different sizes. In this case, too, collimating elements such as lenses can be used as primary optics. The primary optics can be selected in such a way that several light sources generate light distribution with the same beam angle. In order to generate individual light spots of different sizes, the illuminants with the associated primary optics are then arranged at different distances from the illuminated area. Alternatively, a plurality of light sources can be arranged at substantially the same distance from the lighting area. Different sizes of the individual light spots that can be generated in each case can then be achieved by setting different emission angles by means of suitable configurations of the primary optics.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the lighting arrangement has a common primary optics for the lamps, the lamps and the primary optics being arranged in such a way that one of the individual light spots on the illuminated surface can be generated with each lamp using the primary optics.

With this embodiment, a structurally particularly compact variant of the lighting arrangement can be implemented, which requires a reduced number of components, since common primary optics for generating the individual light spots are provided for all illuminants. Since a common primary optics is used for the lighting means within the scope of the present embodiment, it is preferable for the lighting means to be arranged spatially close to one another. If, for example, LEDs are used as lighting means, it can be preferred to provide an LED matrix or an LED cluster in which several groups of LEDs can be controlled together. The jointly controllable LEDs each form a lighting means according to the invention.

It is preferred here that the lighting means are arranged essentially concentrically. For example, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) can be used as lighting means, which are arranged concentrically on a common substrate. Alternatively, as described above, an LED matrix or an LED cluster can be used with groups of LEDs that are independently drivable, with each separately drivable group of LEDs forming a light source and the groups of LEDs being essentially concentric areas within the LED form the matrix or the LED cluster. As a result, concentrically arranged light sources of different sizes are formed, with which individual light spots of different sizes can be generated when using a common primary optics.

It is preferred that the lighting means have a first lighting means, which occupies a first closed, preferably essentially circular, area, and second lighting means, which surround the first lighting means. The first illuminant emits light over a closed, preferably essentially circular area, which is imaged by the primary optics into an individual light spot which has a closed, essentially circular shape with a first size. With the second light sources, which surround the first light source and are preferably of essentially ring-shaped design, individual light spots can be generated which surround the individual light spot that can be generated with the first light source. By superimposing the individual light spots that can be generated using the first light source with one or more of the individual light spots that can be generated using the second light source, a light spot with an adjustable size can be generated in a simple manner, with the size of the light spot being controlled by controlling a corresponding Number of second bulbs is adjustable. According to a further preferred embodiment, the lighting arrangement has at least one diffuser element. The diffuser element is preferably arranged between the at least one primary optics and the illumination surface.

If a diffuser is arranged between a light source and the illuminated surface, the individual light spot generated by the light source is softened on the illuminated surface. This means that the light distribution defined by the illuminant and the associated primary optics is broadened by the diffuser element. This leads to a softer intensity transition of the light distribution, particularly at the edges of the generated individual light spots. As a result, individual light spots of different sizes can be generated, which have a widened, diffuse overlap in the edge areas of the individual light spots. The use of diffuser elements thus makes it easier to continuously adjust the size of the light spot.

In the context of the present invention, a diffuser element is to be understood as meaning an optical element that causes the transmitted light to be scattered. For example, transparent elements with a roughened surface such as diffusers or conventional optical diffusers can be used as the diffuser element.

It is also preferred that the lighting means are formed by LEDs, preferably LED matrices and/or LED clusters, preferably with a warm white and/or cold white color temperature. Lamps of this type require little space. In addition, activation via a control unit for adjusting the brightness of the lamps can be easily implemented. The lighting means can each be formed by individual LEDs. Alternatively, a light source can have a multiplicity of LEDs, which are provided in the form of an LED matrix or an LED cluster. Furthermore, in order to be able to achieve a desired color temperature, LEDs with a warm white or cold white color temperature, or any combination of such LEDs, can be used. Alternatively or additionally, colored LEDs can be used.

It is further preferred that the at least one primary optic has at least one lens and/or at least one reflector and/or at least one free-form optic. Depending on the relative arrangement of the lamps, a suitable radiation characteristic of each light source can be set to generate individual light spots of different sizes on the lighting surface.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the lighting means are arranged on a common carrier element. If LEDs (in the form of individual LEDs and/or matrices or clusters) are used as illuminants, the LEDs can be arranged on a common circuit board, or separate circuit boards can be provided for each illuminant, which are arranged on a common carrier element. As a result, the installation space of the lighting arrangement can be further reduced and the design effort can be reduced. The carrier element can be formed from a material with high thermal conductivity and can thus serve as a heat sink for the lighting means.

It is furthermore preferred that the lighting arrangement has at least one housing in which at least one of the lighting means or all lighting means is/are accommodated. The housing is preferably pivotable. The installation space required for the lighting arrangement can be reduced by the integration of light sources in a common housing. In addition, the location at which the light spot with an adjustable size can be generated on the illuminated surface can be varied by a pivotable design of the housing.

The object of the invention is also achieved by a method for adjusting, preferably steplessly adjusting, a spot size of a light spot on an illuminated surface, preferably using an illumination arrangement according to one of the preceding claims. The procedure has the following steps:

• Providing and arranging a multiplicity of light sources and at least one primary optics for generating essentially concentric individual light spots of different sizes on the illumination surface;

• Controlling and dimming the lamps to create a superimposed

Light spots with set spot size. With the method according to the invention, the same advantages can be achieved as have already been described in connection with the lighting device according to the invention. It should be pointed out that the features described within the scope of the lighting device according to the invention apply to the method according to the invention for adjusting the spot size of the light spot. Features of the lighting device, in particular those relating to setting the size of the light spot, can be transferred to the method according to the invention. Likewise, features of the method according to the invention can be transferred to the detection device according to the invention by configuring the lighting device in such a way that it is suitable for executing the corresponding method features.

The invention is also described below with regard to further details, features and advantages, which are explained in more detail with reference to the figures. The features and feature combinations described below, as shown below in the figures of the drawing and described with reference to the drawing, can be used not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Here show:

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a

Lighting arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention, which illuminates a lighting area with a spot of adjustable size;

Figures 2a and 2b show schematic views of a lighting arrangement for use in the lighting arrangement of Figure 1;

FIGS. 3a and 3b show schematic representations of light source arrangements for use in the lighting arrangement from FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a shows a schematic view of an illumination area to explain the adjustable spot size with an illumination arrangement according to FIG. 1; FIG. 4b shows a graph that schematically shows a possible control logic for adjusting the spot size according to FIG. 4a;

Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a

Lighting arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention, which illuminates a lighting area with a spot of adjustable size;

Fig. 6a and 6b schematic representations of illuminant arrangements for

Use in the lighting arrangement of FIG. 5;

Fig. 7a is a schematic view of an illumination area for

Explanation of the adjustable spot size with a lighting arrangement according to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7b shows a graph that schematically shows a possible control logic for setting the spot size according to FIG. 7a.

The figures are only of a schematic nature and serve exclusively for understanding the invention. Similar elements are provided with the same reference symbols in the description of the exemplary embodiments.

1 shows a lighting arrangement according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention, with which a light spot with an adjustable spot size can be generated on a lighting area B. FIG. The lighting arrangement has three light sources 1 , 2 , 3 . The lamps 1, 2, 3 can be controlled independently of one another by means of a control unit 40 in such a way that they can be operated independently of one another with adjustable brightness or light intensity.

In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, each light source 1, 2, 3 is assigned a primary optics 11, 12, 13, which is arranged on the associated light source 1, 2, 3 in each case. The primary optics 11, 12, 13 modify the light distribution of the light emitted by the light sources 1, 2, 3 light. In the present embodiment, the primary optics 11, 12, 13 are through lenses formed with different focal lengths, which collimate the light emitted by the lamps 1, 2, 3 to different extents.

This results in an essentially conical emission characteristic with an emission angle ai for the first light source 1 . Correspondingly, with the second illuminant 2, a light distribution can be realized that has a beam angle θ2 that is greater than ai. The light emitted by the third illuminant 3 is collimated the least and has a conical light distribution with a beam angle a s that is greater than a 1 and a 2 .

Since the lamps 1, 2, 3 are all arranged essentially at the same distance from the illumination area B, individual light spots Si, S2, S3 of different sizes are due to the different beam angles ai, 02, 03 with the lamps 1, 2, 3 can be generated on the illumination area B. The individual light spots Si, S2, S3 that can be generated with the lamps 1, 2, 3 are shown in Fig.

1 on the illumination area B shown schematically as circular areas whose diameters differ from one another. The primary optics 11, 12, 13 are arranged in such a way that the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 that can be generated with the light sources 1, 2, 3 are arranged essentially concentrically to one another.

The individual light spots Si, S2, S3 are not sharply delimited, as indicated schematically in FIG. Rather, the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 can have a diffuse brightness profile at the edges, in which the brightness on the illuminated area B decreases from the inside to the outside. In this case, the delimitation of the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 shown in FIG. 1 is to be understood as an area within which the brightness or luminosity of the respective individual light spots Si, S2, S3 is a predetermined fraction of the maximum spot brightness or luminosity exceeds.

In order to enable the size of the light spot to be adjusted as steplessly as possible, it is advantageous if the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 have a diffuse brightness distribution at the edges. For this purpose, diffuser elements can be provided on the lighting arrangement, which scatter the light distribution generated by the lighting means 1, 2, 3 and modified by means of the primary optics 11, 12, 13. 2a shows a detailed view of an illumination arrangement according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, which has a diffuser element 20 which is arranged between the primary optics 11, 12, 13 and the illumination surface B (not shown). In FIG. 2a, the light sources 1, 2, 3 have LED clusters, each of which is arranged on a circuit board. The light sources 1 , 2 , 3 are arranged on a common support plate 50 . As can be seen in Fig. 2a, each lamp 1, 2, 3 is assigned a primary optics 11, 12, 13 in the form of a lens with a different focal length, so that the emission characteristics of the individual lamps 1, 2, 3 have different emission angles ai, 012 , as, as described with reference to FIG.

The light patterns emitted by the lamps 1, 2, 3 are scattered by the diffuser element 20 (which can be formed, for example, by a diffusing disk), in order to project individual light spots Si, S2, S3 with a diffuse brightness profile into the illuminated area B To be able to create border areas. In order to be able to produce a concentric arrangement of the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 on the illumination surface B, the primary optics 11, 12, 13 are aligned accordingly, as shown schematically in FIG. 2a.

FIG. 2b shows an alternative embodiment of the lighting arrangement shown in FIG. 2a, in which each light source 1, 2, 3 is assigned a separate diffuser element 21, 22, 23.

In the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2a and 2b, the lighting means 1, 2, 3 are arranged next to one another on a common carrier plate 50. 3a and 3b show two possible variants with which such an arrangement of the lighting means can be implemented.

3a shows a support plate 50 which is preferably formed from a material with high thermal conductivity. On the support plate 50 three light sources 1, 2, 3 are arranged. Each light source 1, 2, 3 has an LED cluster that is arranged on a circuit board. In Fig. 3b a support plate 50 is shown, which is designed as a circuit board. Three groups of LEDs are arranged on the carrier plate 50, each of which forms a light source 1, 2, 3.

The lighting arrangement according to the exemplary embodiments described above preferably has a housing (not shown) in which the illuminants 1, 2, 3 and primary optics 11, 21, 31 and possibly the diffuser elements 20, 21, 22, 23 are accommodated.

4a schematically illustrates the individual light spots Si, S2, S3, which can be generated on the illuminated area B with the illumination arrangement according to the above description. The upper part of FIG. 4a shows the illumination area B with the individual light spots Si, S2, S3. The brightness distribution of the individual light spots along the line marked x is shown in the diagram below (the selected unit L represents the brightness of the spots on the illuminated area B in a dimensionless unit, with all brightness profiles normalized to the same maximum value are). It can be seen that all the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 have a diffuse brightness profile at the edges, in which the brightness gradually decreases towards the outside. To define the spot size, a predetermined fraction of the maximum spot brightness can be defined, which is denoted by Lo in FIG. 4a. The diameter of the area in which the individual light spots have a brightness above Lo can be defined as a measure of the spot size.

By controlling the individual light sources 1, 2, 3, the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 can be superimposed on the illumination area B to form a light spot with an adjustable size. For example, if only the first light source 1 is activated, a light spot results on the illuminated area, the size of which corresponds to the individual light spot Si. If this individual light spot Si is superimposed with the individual light spot S2 that can be generated with the second light source 2, the size of the light spot increases with increasing emission intensity of the second light source 2 to the size of the individual light spot S2. In order to further increase the size of the light spot, the third light source 3 can be controlled and the size of the light spot can be increased up to the size of the third individual light spot S3.

This is shown schematically in the graph shown in Figure 4b. The x-axis represents the adjustable size of the light spot, and the intensities h, h, I3 of the lamps 1, 2, 3 are shown on the y-axis, at which the control unit 40 can control the lamps 1, 2, 3 in order to set the desired size of the light spot. If the first illuminant 1 is driven with maximum intensity Ii, a light spot of size Si results on the illuminated area. In order to be able to continuously increase the size of the light spot, the intensity h of the second light source is gradually increased. If an approximately constant brightness of the light spot is to be maintained with increasing size, the intensity I i can be reduced when the intensity h of the second illuminant 2 is increased, as shown in FIG. 4b. As a result, the first individual light spot Si and the second individual light spot S2 are faded into one another, while the size of the light spot resulting from the superimposition of the individual light spots increases continuously. In order to increase the size of the light spot beyond the size S2, the second light source 2 and the third light source 3 can be blended into one another accordingly.

It should be pointed out once again at this point that the lighting arrangement according to the invention is not limited to such an arrangement of the lighting means 1, 2, 3. On the one hand, the arrangement of the lamps 1, 2, 3 relative to one another does not have to be linear. The lamps 1, 2, 3 can also be arranged, for example, on an imaginary circle. Furthermore, the lighting arrangement according to the invention is not limited to the use of three light sources 1, 2, 3. Two lamps or more than three lamps can also be used.

5 shows a lighting arrangement according to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As in the exemplary embodiments described above, the lighting arrangement has a control unit 40 which is designed to control the lighting means 1, 2, 3 separately from one another in order to be able to generate individual light spots with different diameters on the lighting surface B. The light patterns that can be generated with the lamps 1, 2, 3 are shown with different dashed lines, as are the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 that can be generated on the illuminated surface.

In contrast to the exemplary embodiments described above, the lighting arrangement in FIG. 4 has only one primary optics 10 which is shared by all the lighting means 1, 2, 3. The lamps 1, 2, 3 are formed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 such that the first Bulb 1 is surrounded by the second and third bulbs 2 and 3, as shown in more detail in Figs. 5a and 5b.

FIG. 6a schematically shows a lamp arrangement for use in the lighting arrangement according to FIG. 4. The lamp arrangement has three lamps 1, 2, 3 which are arranged on a carrier plate 50 and which have an essentially concentric arrangement. The first light source 1 is arranged in a central area of the light source arrangement. The second light source 2 is designed in such a way that it surrounds the first light source 2 . The third light source 3 surrounds the second light source 3. In order to implement such a light source arrangement, the individual light sources 1, 2, 3 can be formed by OLEDs, for example.

FIG. 6b shows a schematic of a further lighting arrangement for use in the lighting arrangement according to FIG. The lamps 1, 2, 3 are formed by different groups of LEDs. The first light source 1 is formed in FIG. 1 by LEDs, which are arranged in a central area of the LED matrix and are shown with a first hatching. The second light source 2 is formed by a group of LEDs that adjoin and surround the LEDs of the first light source 1 . The third light source 3 includes LEDs that surround the second light source 2 and are shown with a second hatching. The LEDs are configured in such a way that the groups of LEDs that form the different light sources 1, 2, 3 can be controlled separately from one another.

As described in relation to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 to 2a, a diffuser element 20 can also be arranged in front of the primary optics 10 in the lighting arrangement according to FIGS .

The brightness distribution of the individual light spots Si, S2, S3, which can be generated with an illumination arrangement according to FIGS. 5 to 6b, is shown schematically in FIG. 7a. As in FIG. 4a, the upper part of FIG. 7a shows the illumination surface B with the individual light spots Si, S2, S3 that can be generated thereon, whose brightness distribution is shown along the line labeled x in the diagram below. In contrast to Fig. 4a due to the concentric arrangement of the light sources 1, 2, 3, for all individual light spots except for the inner individual light spot Si, there are essentially ring-shaped brightness profiles on the illumination surface B, in which a central area of the individual light spots has a lower brightness. The adjustable brightness distributions of the individual light spots overlap at the edges of the individual light spots, so that by suitably controlling the lamps 1, 2, 3, an almost infinitely variable adjustment of the size of the light spot is made possible by superimposing the individual light spots.

The corresponding control of the lighting means 1, 2, 3 for setting the size of the light spot is shown schematically in FIG. 7b. As shown in FIG. 7a, the brightness distributions of the individual light spots (apart from the individual light spot Si that can be generated with the first illuminant 1) have a minimum in a central area. It is therefore preferred in the present exemplary embodiment not to reduce the intensity of the lighting means with a smaller individual light spot when setting light spots of increasing size. Instead, in order to adjust light spots with increasing size, the control unit 40 successively switches on lamps that are located further out and their intensity is gradually increased in order to be able to continuously further increase the size of the light spot.

Claims

CLAIMS Lighting arrangement for generating a light spot on an illuminated area (B) with an adjustable, preferably steplessly adjustable, spot size, having:

• a large number of brightness-controllable or dimmable light sources (1, 2, 3);

• at least one primary optics (10; 11, 12, 13);

• a control unit (40) which is designed to control the lighting means (1, 2, 3) independently of one another; wherein the lighting means (1, 2, 3) and the at least one primary optics (10;

11, 12, 13) are arranged in such a way that essentially concentric individual light spots (Si, S2, S3) of different sizes can be generated on the illumination surface (B), and wherein the control unit (40) is designed to control the lighting means (1st , 2, 3) to be controlled in such a way that the generated individual light spots (Si, S2, S3) can be superimposed on the illumination surface (B) to form a light spot with an adjustable spot size. Lighting arrangement according to Claim 1, having a multiplicity of primary optics (11, 12, 13), each illuminant (1, 2, 3) being assigned at least one, preferably exactly one, primary optics (11, 12, 13) which are each designed in this way and are arranged such that one of the individual light spots can be generated on the illuminated surface (B) with each light source (1, 2, 3). Lighting arrangement according to Claim 1, having a common primary optics (10) for the lighting means (1, 2, 3), the lighting means (1, 2, 3) and the primary optics (10) being arranged in such a way that with each lighting means (1, 2, 3) one of the individual light spots (Si, S2, S3) can be generated on the illumination surface (B) using the primary optics (10). Lighting arrangement according to Claim 3, in which the lighting means (1, 2, 3) are arranged essentially concentrically. Lighting arrangement according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the lighting means (1, 2, 3) have a first lighting means (1) which occupies a first closed, preferably substantially circular area, and second lighting means (2, 3) which the first Light source (1), preferably ring-shaped, surrounded. Lighting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one diffuser element (20; 21, 22, 23) which is preferably arranged between the at least one primary optics (10; 11, 12, 13) and the illumination surface (B). Lighting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting means (1, 2, 3) are formed by LEDs, preferably LED matrices and/or LED clusters, preferably with a warm white and/or cold white color temperature. Lighting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one primary optics (10; 11, 12, 13) has at least one lens and/or at least one reflector and/or at least one free-form optics. Lighting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting means (1, 2, 3) are arranged on a common carrier element (50). Lighting arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, having at least one housing, preferably a pivotable housing, in which at least one of the lighting means (1, 2, 3) or all lighting means (1, 2, 3) is/are accommodated. Method for adjusting, preferably steplessly adjusting, a spot size of a light spot on an illumination area (B), preferably using an illumination arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, having the following steps:

• Providing and arranging a plurality of light sources (1, 2, 3) and at least one primary optics (10; 11, 12, 13) for generating in 19

Substantially concentric individual light spots (Si, S2, S3) of different sizes on the illumination area (B);

• Control and dimming of the lamps (1, 2, 3) to generate a superimposed light spot with a set spot size.