Illuminated feature for an LED luminaire

Aspects of this invention relate to a system that provides an illuminated feature for an LED luminaire that can be used with opposite linear runs of LEDs to light the edges or sides of a luminaire without requiring additional LEDs. The system may include a light guide assembly located along an end housing of a light fixture, the light guide assembly including a light guide with a light guide end located proximate to one or more captured LEDs from a first plurality of LEDs located along a first side housing of the light fixture, and another light guide end located proximate to one or more captured LEDs from a second plurality of LEDs located along a second side housing of the light fixture, wherein the light guide receives the light from the one or more captured LEDs from the first plurality of LEDs and the one or more captured LEDs from the second plurality of LEDs and projects the light through the light guide, wherein when covered by a lens, the light emitted from the light guide is equivalent in appearance to the light emitted from the first plurality of LEDs and the second plurality of LEDs.

BACKGROUND

LED lighting systems and LED luminaires may come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some luminaires may have linear arrays of LEDs, thereby providing light in a linear direction. Some luminaires may have an array of LEDs along only one side or only opposite sides of the luminaire. These luminaires may not have arrays of LEDs along all sides of the luminaire. However, it may be desirable for the LED lighting systems or LED luminaires to require light along multiple sides or multiple sections of the luminaire. A lighting solution that can be used with opposite linear arrays of LEDs may be desirable to light the edges or sides of a luminaire without requiring additional LEDs.

SUMMARY

The following presents a general summary of aspects of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention and various features of it. This summary is not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but it simply provides a general overview and context for the more detailed description that follows.

Aspects of this invention relates to: a light fixture, comprising: a housing that includes and is formed by a first side housing, a second side housing opposite the first side housing, a first end housing, and a second end housing; a first plurality of LEDs located along the first side housing; a second plurality of LEDs located along the second side housing; and a light guide assembly located along the first end housing. The light guide assembly may include a light guide bracket attached to the first end housing and a light guide secured to the light guide bracket. The light guide may have a first end and a second end. The first end of the light guide may be located proximate to one or more captured LEDs from the first plurality of LEDs. The second end of the light guide may be located proximate to one or more captured LEDs from the second plurality of LEDs. The light guide may receive the light from the one or more captured LEDs from the first plurality of LEDs and the one or more captured LEDs from the second plurality of LEDs and project the light through the light guide so that the appearance of the luminaire is consistent between the sides and ends. Further, the light guide bracket may include a first bracket arm with a first slot and a second bracket arm with a second slot. The first end of the light guide may fit in the first slot and the second end of the light guide fits in the second slot. The light guide may include a protrusion that engages a slot in the light guide bracket to locate and secure the light guide in the light guide bracket and ensure proper orientation. The protrusion may be located off-center along the light guide to ensure the light guide is orientated in the light guide bracket properly.

Another aspect of this invention relates to the light guide including a top surface and a bottom surface, and the light guide including an extraction pattern located along at least a portion of one or more of the top surface and/or the bottom surface. The extraction pattern may be a textured pattern utilized to extract the light from the captured LEDs as the light pass through the light guide. The extraction pattern may be located along the top surface and the bottom surface. The extraction pattern may be produced from one or more of the following: laser-etching, embossing, injection-molding with beads, facets, prisms, or by laminating another material onto the light guide. The extraction pattern may include variable textures, wherein extraction features can be denser towards the center than on the edges thereby extracting less light closer to the edges and allowing more light to travel to the center providing uniform illumination across the surface of the light guide.

A further aspect of this invention relates to the light fixture further comprising a second light guide assembly located along the second end housing. The second light guide assembly may include a second light guide bracket attached to the second end housing, a second light guide secured to the second light guide bracket. The second light guide may have a first end and a second end. The first end of the second light guide may be located proximate to one or more second captured LEDs from the first plurality of LEDs. The second end of the second light guide may be located proximate to the one or more second captured LEDs from the second plurality of LEDs. The second light guide may receive the light from the one or more second captured LEDs from the first plurality of LEDs and the one or more second captured LEDs from the second plurality of LEDs and project the light through the second light guide, wherein the projected light from the second captured LEDs is equivalent to the light projected from the first plurality of LEDs and the second plurality of LEDs.

Further, it is to be understood that the drawings may represent the scale of different components of one single embodiment; however, the disclosed embodiments are not limited to that particular scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various example structures according to the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration various example devices, systems, and environments in which aspects of the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other specific arrangements of parts, example devices, systems, and environments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Also, while the terms “top,” “bottom,” “front,” “back,” “side,” “rear,” and the like may be used in this specification to describe various example features and elements of the invention, these terms are used herein as a matter of convenience, e.g., based on the example orientations shown in the figures or the orientation during typical use. Nothing in this specification should be construed as requiring a specific three dimensional orientation of structures in order to fall within the scope of this invention. Also, the reader is advised that the attached drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale.

The following terms are used in this specification, and unless otherwise noted or clear from the context, these terms have the meanings provided below.

“Plurality” indicates any number greater than one, either disjunctively or conjunctively, as necessary, up to an infinite number.

In general, as described above, aspects of this invention relate to a system that provides an illuminated feature for an LED luminaire that can be used with opposite linear runs of LEDs to light the edges or sides of a luminaire without requiring additional LEDs. More detailed descriptions of aspects of this invention follow.

One aspect of this invention relates to a light guide assembly100that includes a light guide102that distributes the light from one or more LEDs30on one side and one or more LEDs30on the opposite side to project light along the light guide102, thereby projecting light from captured LEDs and the light guide102such that when covered by a lens or diffuser, the appearance of the end features are the same as the sides.FIGS. 1-3illustrate an example luminaire10that includes a light guide assembly100(light guide assembly100not shown in these figures as the light guide assembly is covered by the lens assembly20).

The luminaire10may be rectangular in shape, such that the luminaire includes a first side housing12, a second side housing14opposite the first side housing12, a first end housing16and a second end housing18opposite the first end housing18. The first side housing12, second side housing14, first end housing16, and second end housing18form the rectangular housing of the luminaire10. The luminaire10may also include a lens assembly20that is connected to the housing of the luminaire12. The lens assembly20may extend around the entire interior of the luminaire10as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3. The lens assembly20may also be located in other positions around the luminaire10and the housing without departing from this invention. The lens assembly20may cover the LEDs as will be described in more detail below. The lens assembly20may include a first side lens22, a second side lens24opposite the first side lens22, a first end lens26, and a second end lens28opposite the first end lens26. As illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the first side lens22may be attached or engaged with the first side housing12. The second side lens24may be attached or engaged with the second side housing14. The first end lens26may be attached or engaged with the first end housing16. The second end lens28may be attached or engaged with the second end housing18. The luminaire10may be other shapes without departing from this invention.

FIG. 4illustrates an exemplary light fixture or luminaire10with multiple light fixtures connected together. The light fixture10may be in the shape of a rectangular shape (as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3). Other shapes may be utilized without departing from this invention. The light fixture10may include two opposing sides connected with two opposing ends and shorter end pieces. The light fixture10illustrated inFIG. 4does not show the lens assembly20so as to better detail and show a light guide assembly100. The light fixture ofFIG. 4shows a connector40connecting the two light fixtures together. As can be seen inFIG. 4, the light guide assembly100may be located on each of the opposing ends of the light fixture10.

FIGS. 5A-5C and 5Eillustrate a close-up views of the end of the light fixture10illustrated inFIG. 4.FIG. 5Dillustrates a close-up view of the connector40area of the light fixture10. The LEDs30,32as illustrated may be oversized to better illustrate this invention. The scale of the LEDs with regards to the light fixture10may be varied without departing from this invention. As shown inFIGS. 5A through 5E, the light fixture10includes a light guide assembly100on the two opposing ends of the light fixture10. Specifically,FIGS. 5A-5C and 5Eillustrate the light guide assembly100located at the end of the light fixture10. Specifically,FIG. 5Dillustrates another embodiment, wherein the light guide assembly100may also be located at a middle of multiple light fixtures10.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A through 5E, the light guide assembly100may include both a light guide102and a light guide bracket120. The light guide102may be attached or secured to the light guide bracket120with the light guide bracket120attached or secured to light fixture10. The light guide bracket120may be attached or secured to the first end housing16or the second housing18. The light guide bracket120may also be attached or secured to the connector40or a portion of the connector40.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5A, 5C, 5D, and 5E, the light fixture10may include an LED circuit with a plurality of LEDs30spaced along the first side housing12. As illustrated specifically inFIG. 5B, the plurality of LEDs30may also be spaced along the second side housing14. The plurality of LEDs30may be spaced along both the first side housing12and the second side housing14. However, LEDs30are not located along the first end housing16or the second end housing18. The light guide102may be located and positioned such that the light guide102is adjacent to at least one or more captured LEDs32(the adjacent LEDs are designated with reference number32). Note—the captured LEDs may also be located along both the first side housing12(as shown inFIG. 5C) and the second side housing14(not shown because of the perspective angle of the figures). For example, as illustrated inFIGS. 5C and 5E, two captured LEDs32are located adjacent to each of the light guide ends104and the edges of the light guide102. As illustrated inFIG. 5D, one captured LED32is located adjacent to each of the edges of the light guide102. One or more captured LEDs32may be located adjacent to each of the light guide ends104and the edges of the light guide102. The light guide102may then distribute the light from the one or more adjacent captured LEDs32across the light guide102to project light along the first and second end housings16,18and through the first and second end lens26,28. The distributed and projected light from the adjacent captured LEDs32across the light guide102may light the first and second side lens22,24. The light projected from the adjacent captured LEDs32and from the light guide102may be equivalent to the light projected from the one or more LEDs30located along the first and second side housings12,14and through the first and second side lens22,24.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate perspective views of the exemplary light guide102and light guide bracket120of the light fixture100. The light guide102may be attached or secured to the light guide bracket120. As illustrated inFIGS. 6 and 7, the light guide bracket120may include a bracket base122and bracket arms124that extend in a general perpendicular direction from the bracket base122. The bracket arms124may also include a slot126that may be sized and shaped to receive the light guide102. The light guide102may include ends104that may fit in the slot126. The slot126may hold the light guide end104.

Additionally, in accordance with aspects of this invention, the light guide102may include a protrusion106(as detailed and explained withFIGS. 8A-8C). The protrusion106may sized and shaped to fit into a slot in the bracket base122to secure and properly locate the light guide102in the light guide bracket120. The protrusion106may also be located off-center on light guide102so that the light guide102can only be oriented in one way when located in the light guide bracket120. The light guide102may have a top and bottom that makes it important to be oriented in the correct manner in the light guide bracket120.

In accordance with aspects of this invention, one or more of the bracket arms124may be bendable or movable such that the light guide102can be installed into the light guide bracket120easily. In one aspect of this invention, one of the bracket arms124may be bent downward to allow the light guide102and the light guide end104to be placed in the opposite side slot126, ensuring the protrusion106fits inside the slot on the bracket base122. After the light guide102and light guide end104are secured in the opposite side slot126, the bended bracket arm124may be bended up to secure the other light guide end104in the other slot126to secure the light guide102into the light guide bracket120.

Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the light guide bracket120attached or secured to light fixture10. The light guide bracket120may be attached or secured to the first end housing16or the second housing18. The light guide bracket120may also be attached or secured to the connector40or a portion of the connector40. As illustrated inFIG. 6, the light guide bracket120may include one or more securing members128. The securing members128may be screws or other similar-type securing members without departing from this invention. The securing member128may be located at the bracket base122, thereby attaching the light guide bracket120to the first end housing16, the second end housing18, or the connector40.

FIGS. 8A-8Cillustrate views of the exemplary light guide102of the light fixture10. The light guide102may include a base surface102A, a first and second end104, and a protrusion or tab106. As illustrated inFIG. 8C, the bottom view of the light guide102, the light guide102and the base surface102A may include an extraction pattern108. The extraction pattern108may be a textured pattern utilized to extract the light from the captured LEDs32as the light passes through the light guide102. The extraction pattern108may be a variety of forms and shapes without departing from this invention. For example, the extraction pattern108may be formed by laser-etching, embossed, molded with beads, facets, prisms, laminated, and/or any other known processes for forming extraction patterns. Additionally, the extraction pattern108may be formed on one side, on either the top or bottom side of the light guide102. The extraction pattern108may also be formed on both sides (top and bottom) of the light guide102without departing from this invention. The extraction pattern108may include variable textures throughout the light guide102. The extraction pattern108may also include a gradient texture, for example, extraction features can be denser towards the center than on the edges thereby extracting less light closer to the edges and allowing more light to travel to the center. This gradient texture may help to ensure uniform illumination across the light emitting portion of the light guide102.

Additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 8B, the light guide102and the base surface102A may include a reflective surface110. The reflective surface110illustrated inFIG. 8Bis only on a portion of the base surface102A, however, the reflective surface110may extend across the entire base surface102A and light guide102. The reflective surface110may be a surface utilized to help reflect the extracted light from the captured LEDs32in a particular direction. The reflective surface110may be a variety of forms and shapes without departing from this invention. The reflective surface110might be applied directly to the light guide102or may be a separate part. For example, the reflective surface may be a film, painted, silk screen, or and/or any other known processes for producing reflective surfaces. Additionally, the reflective surface110may be on one side, on either the top or bottom side of the light guide102and base surface102A. The reflective surface110may also be formed on both sides (top and bottom) of the light guide102without departing from this invention. The reflective surface110may include variable textures or reflectivity throughout the light guide102. The reflective surface110may also include a gradient reflectivity, for example, with a less reflective surface located closer to the light guide ends104, but with a more reflective surface located towards the middle of the light guide102and the reflective surface110may also a more reflective surface located closer to the light guide ends104, but with a less reflective surface located towards the middle of the light guide102.

Additionally, the light guide102may have various dimensions without departing from this invention. For example, the light guide102may have a length L as defined from the first end104to the second end104and as illustrated inFIG. 8A. The light guide102may also have a width W as defined from the front of the base surface102A to the back to the base surface102A as illustrated inFIG. 8A. The light guide102may also have a thickness T as defined from the top of the base surface102A to the bottom of the base surface102A as illustrated inFIG. 8A. The various dimensions of length L, width W, and thickness T, are all important variables for the design of the light guide102. The various dimensions of length L, width W, and thickness T all may affect the light output from the light guide102to ensure that the light projected from the adjacent captured LEDs32across the light guide102and from the light guide102is equivalent to the light projected from the one or more LEDs30located along the first and second side housings12,14and through the first and second side lens22,24.

As illustrated inFIGS. 8A-8C, the light guide102may be in the general shape of a rectangle. In other embodiments without departing from this invention, the light guide102may be other shapes, such as circular, oval, trapezoidal, and/or other shapes that may be contemplated and utilized.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 8A, the light guide ends104may include a finished surface or face104A. The finished surface104A may be a polished face utilized to capture more light from the captured LEDs32to pass the light through the light guide102. The finished surface104A a variety of forms and shapes without departing from this invention. Additionally, the finished surface104A may be formed on one light guide end104, or formed on both light guide ends104.

Additionally, the light guide102may have a protrusion or tab106extending generally perpendicular to the base surface102A to assist in aligning and securing the light guide102to the light guide bracket120. The protrusion106may have a cross-sectional shape that is symmetrical about at least one plane. For instance, the protrusion106may have any cross-sectional shape such as a rectangle, circle, a square, a cross, a star, or a t-shape. Additionally, the outer surfaces of the protrusion106may have a taper such that the cross-sectional shape becomes smaller in size as the protrusion106extends away from the base surface102A. The taper may be approximately 5 degrees or in a range from a 1 degree up to 10 degrees. Alternatively, the exterior surfaces of the protrusion106may not have a taper.

The protrusion106may have any width and height. The height is defined as the dimension from the base surface102A to the top of the protrusion106. The height may be any approximately the same as the width, or may be larger than the width, or alternatively may be smaller than the width.

According to various aspects and embodiments, the light guide102may be formed of one or more of a variety of optically-clear, transparent, or near-transparent materials, such as acrylic, silicon, glass, polymers, or composites (including fiber-reinforced composites). The light guide102may be formed in one of a variety of configurations, without departing from the scope of the invention. It is understood that the light guide102may contain components made of several different materials.

The light guide102may be formed by various forming methods. For example, acrylic, glass, or silicon components, can be manufactured by a variety of processing techniques, such as cut from a sheet, injection molding, casting, and/or other known techniques. For example, composite components, such as carbon fiber-polymer composites, can be manufactured by a variety of composite processing techniques, such as prepreg processing, powder-based techniques, mold infiltration, and/or other known techniques. In a further example, polymer components, such as high strength polymers, can be manufactured by polymer processing techniques, such as various molding and casting techniques and/or other known techniques.

The essence of this invention is the ability to make the appearance of the end lens(es) (first end lens26and second end lens28) equivalent to the side lens(es) (22,24) both when illuminated and in the off state, thus creating a luminaire that appears to be lit equally from all four sides. There are various variables which may affect this ability to make the light projected through and from the light guide102equivalent to the light emitted from the one or more LEDs30along the first and second side housing12,14. For example, the size and shape of the light guide102may be varied, such as the length L, width W, and thickness T. The design and/or material of the lens (first end lens26and second end lens28) that is located over the light guide102may be varied and different than the first side lens22and second side lens24. The size, shape, and form of the extraction pattern108of the light guide may be varied to control or change the light projected from the light guide102. The size, shape, and form of the reflective surface110of the light guide may be varied to control or change the light projected from the light guide102. The light output, number, and location of the adjacent captured LEDs32may be varied to control or change the light projected from the light guide102. The distance the captured LEDs32are from the light guide ends104and the light guide102may be varied to control or change the light projected from the light guide102. The size, shape, and form of the polished surface104A on the light guide ends104may be varied to control or change the light projected from the light guide102.

CONCLUSION

While the invention has been described in detail in terms of specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and methods. Thus, the spirit and scope of the invention should be construed broadly as set forth in the appended claims.