Rayleigh scatter light

A Rayleigh scatter light has a first layer and a second layer above the first layer. An LED emitter is mounted in the first layer. The LED emitter is configured to emit light. A focusing lens assembly is mounted in the first layer, and the focusing lens focuses light emitted from the LED emitter into a focused beam. A is mounted in the first layer. The near field mirror receives the focused beam and reflects a mirrored beam from the focused beam. A far field mirror is mounted in the second layer above the near field mirror. The far field mirror receives the mirrored beam from the near field mirror. The far field mirror reflects the mirrored beam to an angled beam. A Rayleigh scatter board is translucent and receives the angled beam which partially scatters when passing through the Rayleigh scatter board.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of Rayleigh scatter lighting.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A variety of different Rayleigh scatter lighting devices have been described in patent literature.

A variety of different Rayleigh scatter lighting devices have been described in patent literature. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,352,534 entitled Lighting system by inventor Paolo Di Trapani, published Jul. 16, 2019 the abstract discloses, “A lighting system comprises a light source for providing a light beam of directed non-diffused light with a first correlated color temperature along a main light beam direction; and a lamp shade-like structure comprising a bottom unit to be illuminated from the light source at one side and a screen structure provided at an opposite side, the bottom unit and the screen structure defining a light passage. The bottom unit comprises a diffused light generator for generating diffused light at a second correlated color temperature, which is larger than the first correlated color temperature, is at least partially transparent for the directed non-diffused light of the light beam, and is configured such that at least a divergent light beam portion of the light beam enters the light passage; and the screen structure is spatially oriented with respect to the main light beam direction of the divergent light beam portion.”

For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 10,723,103 entitled Stratified panel structure for sun-sky-imitating lighting systems by inventor Paolo Di Trapani et al., published Jul. 28, 2020 the abstract discloses, “A chromatic stratified panel structure (100) for generating a sun-sky-imitating effect in lighting systems (1) comprises two cover panels (102, 104) at least one of which being a transparent panel; an adhesive transparent polymeric layer (106) sandwiched between the two inner faces of the two cover panels; and at least one nanoparticle-based Rayleigh-like diffusing coating (108) applied to an inner face of at least one of the two cover panels (102, 104) and/or to a face of the adhesive transparent polymeric layer (106) and forming an interlayer between one of the cover panels (102, 104) and the adhesive transparent polymeric layer (106).”

For example, in United States publication number 20170153021A1 entitled Illumination device simulating the natural illumination and including an infrared light source by inventor Paolo Di Trapani, published Jun. 1, 2017 the abstract discloses, “Illumination device for illuminating an environment (7), including a visible source (2), which emits a visible beam, and a diffuse light generator (2, 4; 68; 150), which includes an optical structure (4; 64; 150) delimited by an inlet surface (Si; S3), which receives the visible beam, and by an outlet surface (S2). The generator emits from the outlet surface diffuse visible light and direct visible light. The illumination device further includes an infrared optical source (15), which is different from the first visible source and emits an infrared beam so as to impinge on the inlet surface; the optical structure transmits at least one portion of the infrared beam. The illumination system further includes a ventilation system (40) which can be coupled to the environment, which introduces air masses into the environment, in pulsed mode.”

For example, in United States publication number 20190178471A1 entitled Chromatic mirror, chromatic panel and applications thereof by inventor Paolo Di Trapani, published Jun. 13, 2019 the abstract discloses, “Chromatic components are presented which alleviate the usage in various applications in that this chromatic component is, according to a first aspect of the present application, made-up of a mirroring surface and a diffusing layer in front of the mirroring surface, which preferentially scatters short-wavelength components of impinging light with respect to long-wavelength components of the impinging light, and in that according to another aspect, the chromatic component is made up of a stratified-glass panel which comprises two less sheets sandwiching an adhesive transparent polymeric film wherein the adhesive transparent polymeric film forms a diffusing layer which preferentially scatters short-wavelength components of light passing the stratified-glass panel with respect to long-wavelength components of this light with respect to long-wavelength components of the same.”

For example, in international patent number CN108700278A entitled The sun sky of perception window area with amplification simulates lighting system by inventor P. Di Trapani and D. Magati, published Oct. 23, 2018 the abstract discloses, “Room edge for especially forming room (12) Lighting system (1), the sky perception offer unit of amplification is provided (2), it includes form inward flange (14) Light penetrating panel (3) With with reflecting surface (13A) Mirror unit (13). Lighting system further includes light source (41), it is configured to pass through light penetrating panel (3) By direct beam (43) It is emitted to mirror unit (13) On so that the transmissive portion of light beam (9) By reflecting surface (13A) It is fully reflective, to generate the direct beam of the reflection especially for simulated solar light beam (17).”

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A Rayleigh scatter light has a first layer and a second layer above the first layer. An LED emitter is mounted in the first layer. The LED emitter is configured to emit light. A focusing lens assembly is mounted in the first layer, and the focusing lens focuses light emitted from the LED emitter into a focused beam. A is mounted in the first layer. The near field mirror receives the focused beam and reflects a mirrored beam from the focused beam. A far field mirror is mounted in the second layer above the near field mirror. The far field mirror receives the mirrored beam from the near field mirror. The far field mirror reflects the mirrored beam to an angled beam. A Rayleigh scatter board is translucent and receives the angled beam which partially scatters when passing through the Rayleigh scatter board.

The Rayleigh scatter board is mounted in the first layer. The focusing lens assembly further includes a first focusing lens, a second focusing lens, and a third focusing lens. The Rayleigh scatter board has a Rayleigh scatter board orientation that is oriented parallel to the focused beam orientation. The Rayleigh scatter board is preferably horizontal. The mirrored beam is preferably vertically oriented. The near field mirror has a near field mirror angle that is adjusted for moving the bright spot to simulate movement of a sun. The far field mirror has a far field mirror angle that is adjusted for moving the bright spot to simulate movement of a sun. A homogenizing member receives light from the LED emitter and projects a bright spot onto a focusing lens assembly. A user sees the bright spot on the Rayleigh scatter board as a simulated sun.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the element numbers of the drawings.20focusing lens assembly21LED emitter22homogenizing rod23first focusing lens24second focusing lens25third focusing lens26near field mirror27far field mirror28Rayleigh scatter board29wall31initial LED output beam32focused beam33mirrored beam34angled beam35Rayleigh scattered light41focusing lens bevel angle42near field mirror angle43far field mirror angle44Rayleigh scatter board orientation angle45focused beam orientation46first angled beam angle47second angled beam angle50housing51first layer52second layer53top surface of the lower wall of the housing88bright spot

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As seen inFIG. 1, the present invention shows a light fixture having a first layer51and a second layer52. Components are arranged on the first layer. The first layer can be a top surface of the lower wall of the housing53. The first layer51is aligned with the LED emitter21emitting light through a homogenizing member such as a homogenizing rod22. The homogenizing rod22can be made as a glass prism, fiber-optic, or bundle of fiber-optic which diverts the light from the LED to a focusing lens assembly20that can be made as set of focusing lenses. The set of focusing lenses can include a first focusing lens23, a second focusing lens24, and a third focusing lens25. The first focusing lens23, the second focusing lens24, and the third focusing lens25are collinear and horizontally oriented to form a horizontal beam which is a focused beam32. Each of the lenses in the focusing lens assembly20may have a bevel with a focusing lens bevel angle41. The focusing lens bevel angle41can be selected to provide a directed beam of light. The focused beam orientation45is horizontal and optionally has a bright portion toward the middle of the focused beam. The focused beam32then meets a near field mirror26.

The near field mirror26has an upward angle which is the near field mirror angle42. The near field mirror angle42can be forty five degrees from horizontal. The near field mirror angle42is an angle between the plane of the near field bearer26and the focused beam orientation45. The near field mirror reflects the focused beam32upwardly to a far field mirror27. Above the first layer51is a second layer52. The far field mirror27is mounted to the second layer which is above the first layer. The mirrored beam33reflects from a far field mirror27. The far field mirror27has an angle which is the far field mirror angle. The far field mirror27is above the near field mirror26. The distance of the mirrored beam33can be adjusted depending upon the height of the housing50. The present invention can be contained in a standard lighting troffer housing for low profile installations.

The far field mirror27is angled at a far field mirror angle43to reflect the mirrored beam33into an angled beam34which passes through a Rayleigh scatter board28. The Rayleigh scatter board28can be a film, or glass having inclusions that scatter the light from the angled beam34. The bright middle portion of the focused beam32becomes a bright middle portion of the mirrored beam33, which becomes a bright portion of the angled beam34. When the angled beam34passes through the Rayleigh scatter board28, the Rayleigh scatter board produces a blue background which appears as a blue sky. The bright spot88appears as a brighter white middle portion that appears as a sun. The far field mirror27and the near field mirror26can have adjustable angles to mimic a sun moving across a sky or can be fixed angles. For example, the adjustable angles can be motor powered by servomotors. The housing50preferably has an inside surface that is reflective for directing scattered light through the Rayleigh scatter board28.

The first layer51has first layer components that preferably include the Rayleigh scatter board28, the near field mirror26, the focusing lens that are mounted to a top surface of the lower wall of the housing53. Optionally, a fixed angle, a first layer frame such as a stamped metal sheet frame can receive the first layer components. A metal frame can be stamped with openings such as slots that receive the first layer components in a drop in assembly process. The first layer frame and the second layer frame can be made as drawer trays that slide out from the lamp housing54easy and quick mounting of components.

A viewer from below can see the light reflecting from a wall29. The wall provides indirect light to the occupants of the room when the wall diffuses the light into the room with Rayleigh scattered light35permeating the room. A cast shadow from the edge of the Rayleigh scatter board28provides a realistic skylight effect. An occupant looking upwards can see a simulated sun on a blue sky. The sun corresponds to the bright spot88. The bright spot88can be se in size and focus.

The Rayleigh scatter board orientation angle44is preferably parallel to the focused beam orientation45. The angled beam meets the Rayleigh scatter board28at a first angled beam angle46on a first side and a second angled beam angle47on a second side which may produce a gradient effect. The first angled beam angle46is less than the second angled beam angle47. The wall29receives a projection of the blue sky light from the Rayleigh scatter board28.