Abstract:
A ceiling mounted light fixture includes a lens assembly including a central lens and a pair of side lenses. The central lens extends along a longitudinal axis, and each side lens extends parallel to the central lens and is positioned on a lateral side of the central lens. The fixture further includes at least one central light emitter for emitting light directly through the central lens and a pair of side light emitters. At least one control component operatively connected to the central light emitter and the side light emitters is configured to operate in a first mode in which the central light emitter is deactivated and the side light emitters are activated, and a second mode in which the central light emitter and the side light emitters are activated.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of co-pending, prior-filed U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/324,066, filed Apr. 18, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The application relates to a ceiling-mounted light fixture. 
         [0003]    Conventional light fixtures for commercial environments may include a troffer that is mounted into a drop-ceiling or hard ceiling and contains a light source for providing overhead illumination. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one aspect, a ceiling mounted light fixture includes a housing having an upper wall and a plurality of side walls at least partially defining an opening, the housing extending along a longitudinal axis; a lens assembly including a central lens and a pair of side lenses, the central lens extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing, each side lens extending parallel to the central lens and positioned on a lateral side of the central lens; at least one central light emitter for emitting light directly through the central lens; a pair of side light emitters, light emitted by each side light emitter passing through an associated one of the side lenses; and at least one control component operatively connected to the at least one central light emitter and the side light emitters. The at least one control component is configured to operate in a first mode in which the at least one central light emitter is deactivated and the side light emitters are activated, and a second mode in which the at least one central light emitter and the side light emitters are activated. 
         [0005]    In another aspect, a ceiling mounted light fixture includes a housing having an upper wall and a plurality of side walls at least partially defining an opening, a light emitter assembly positioned in the opening and secured to the housing, and at least one control component operatively connected to the central light emitters, the first side light emitters, and the second side light emitters. The light emitter assembly includes a central portion including a plurality of central light emitters aligned along an axis, a first side portion positioned on one side of the central portion and including a plurality of first side light emitters aligned in a direction parallel to the axis, a second side portion positioned on another side of the central portion and including a plurality of second side light emitters aligned in a direction parallel to the axis, and a lens assembly including a central lens, a first side lens, and a second side lens. The central lens is positioned adjacent the plurality of central light emitters. The first side lens positioned adjacent the plurality of first side light emitters, and the second side lens is positioned adjacent the plurality of second side light emitters. The at least one control component is configured to operate in a first mode in which the first side light emitters and the second side light emitters are activated and is configured to operate in a second mode in which the first side light emitters, the second side light emitters, and the central light emitters are activated. 
         [0006]    In yet another aspect, a method for controlling operation of a light fixture includes: determining which mode of a plurality of modes is selected; while a first mode is selected, activating a plurality of first side light emitters, activating a plurality of second side light emitters, and deactivating a plurality of central light emitters positioned between the first side light emitters and the second side light emitters; and while a second mode is selected, activating the plurality of first side light emitters, the plurality of second side light emitters, and the plurality of central light emitters. 
         [0007]    The above-described and other features and advantages of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a lower perspective view of a light fixture. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a lower perspective view of the light fixture of  FIG. 1  in ambient mode. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a lower perspective view of the light fixture of  FIG. 1  in a combination mode. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a lower perspective view of a light fixture and frame. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is an upper perspective view of the light fixture and frame  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 5A  is an upper perspective of a light fixture including a support according to another embodiment. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a lower perspective view of  FIG. 4  with the frame and an outer lens removed. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a lower perspective view of a housing. 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a side sectional view of the light fixture of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side perspective, sectional view of the light fixture of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is an upper perspective view of a light emitter assembly and internal lens assembly. 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a lower perspective view of the light emitter assembly of  FIG. 10 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is an upper perspective view of a light emitter assembly. 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a lower perspective view of the light emitter assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a side view the light emitter assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0023]      FIG. 15  is an exploded view the light emitter assembly of  FIG. 12 . 
           [0024]      FIG. 16  is a perspective view of an exemplary LED board. 
           [0025]      FIG. 17  is a partial view of the LED board of  FIG. 16 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 18  an upper view of the LED board of  FIG. 17 . 
           [0027]      FIGS. 19-21  are upper views of exemplary trace layouts for the LED board. 
           [0028]      FIG. 22  is an exploded view of a light fixture according to another embodiment. 
           [0029]      FIG. 23  is an exploded view of a light fixture according to another embodiment. 
           [0030]      FIG. 24  is a perspective view of a light emitter assembly of the light fixture of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0031]      FIG. 25  is a section view of the light fixture of  FIG. 22 . 
           [0032]      FIG. 26  is a flowchart illustrating a control method for a light fixture. 
       
    
    
       [0033]    Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Use of “including” and “comprising” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Use of “consisting of” and variations thereof as used herein is meant to encompass only the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0034]    Various embodiments are directed to light fixtures used for patient room and patient examination lighting. For patients and health care professionals, lighting is important for patient experience, observation accuracy, procedure success, patient recovery, patient safety (slips, trips and falls, etc.) and for general patient comfort. 
         [0035]      FIGS. 1-3  depict and exemplary light fixture  10  that is capable of producing more than one output modes. The light fixture  10  is installed in a surface, for example a ceiling or drop ceiling  12 . The light fixture  10  may be recessed or surface mounted and is electrically connected to a power source (not shown), such as a mains power supply.  FIG. 1  shows the fixture  10  in a first mode or ambient mode of operation that provides soft or diffused light from side portions of the light fixture.  FIG. 2  shows the fixture  10  in a second mode or examination mode of operation that provides direct, downward light to a specific area for patient examination.  FIG. 3  shows the fixture in a third mode or combination mode of operation that provides both ambient light and examination light. The light fixture  10  may also be capable of operating in a reading mode, which has a light output that is similar to, but brighter than, the ambient mode shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0036]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show the light fixture  10  removed from the ceiling  12  ( FIG. 3 ). The light fixture  10  includes a housing  14  having one or more top walls  16  and one or more side walls  18  at least partially defining an interior compartment. The top wall  16  and the side walls  18  each have a rectilinear configuration and are oriented at right angles to form a substantially rectangular housing  14 . In other embodiments, other rectilinear and curvilinear configurations and orientations can be used. The housing  14  is shown as having a standard 2×4 configuration. Other standard configurations, for example 1×4 and 2×2, and non-standard configurations can also be used. 
         [0037]    Light emitters and one or more control components are positioned in the interior of the housing  14 . The light emitters produce and emit light through an open portion of the housing  14 . An outer lens  20  can be positioned over the open portion. The outer lens  20  can be plain and completely transparent, or it can include features that direct, diffuse, color, or otherwise alter the light leaving the housing  14 . In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a grid frame  22  extends along a perimeter of the housing  14  and supports the housing  14  in the ceiling  12 ; in other embodiments ( FIG. 5A ), one or more flanges  22 A extend along an upper surface of the housing  14  and support the housing  14  relative to a ceiling. 
         [0038]      FIG. 6  shows the housing  14  separated from the frame  22  and with the outer lens  20  removed. One or more flanges  24  extend from the side walls  18  to position and/or support the housing  14  in the frame  22 . A single continuous flange  24  can extend around the entire housing or multiple discrete flanges can be used extending from one or more of the side walls  18 . The flanges  24  are shown as flush with a lower edge of the housing  14 , but may also be offset to accommodate ceiling tiles in a drop ceiling. In alternative embodiments, the flange  24  is removed and the housing  14  is mounted in any other suitable manner. 
         [0039]    In an exemplary embodiment, the light fixture  10  can include an internal lens or lens assembly.  FIG. 6  shows an internal lens assembly with a pair of side lenses  26  and a central lens  28 . The internal lens assembly can be held in place by one or more frame elements. The side lenses  26  and central lens  28  may be plain and completely transparent, or they can include features that direct, diffuse, color, or otherwise alter light passing therethrough. In conjunction with the embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the side lenses  26  can be used to diffuse light for the ambient lighting shown in  FIG. 1  and the central lens  28  can be used to direct or focus light for the examination lighting shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0040]      FIG. 7  shows an exemplary embodiment of the housing  14  interior that includes a tray  30 . The tray  30  is positioned in the housing  14  to support one or more control components. The tray  30  can be releasably connected to the top wall  16 , for example by one or more fasteners. The exemplary embodiment shows three drivers mounted on the tray  30  that are associated with one or more light emitters. For example, one driver can power the light emitters in exam mode, one driver can power the light emitters in ambient mode, and another driver can power the light emitters in reading mode. Other control components can be mounted to the tray  30  or positioned elsewhere in the housing. For example, a low voltage controller can be provided that is operated by a user to switch the light fixture  10  between different modes. Other control components can be used including, drivers, surge protectors, fuses, batteries, photocells, occupancy sensors, wireless communication devices, or any combination thereof. The tray  30  allows for easy changing and maintenance of the control components. 
         [0041]    The interior of the housing  14  also includes a central bracket  32  and one or more side brackets  34 . The central bracket  32  extends from the top wall toward the opening and runs along the length of the housing  14 . A shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a light emitter assembly  40 , or a portion thereof, can be connected to the central bracket  32 . The central bracket  32  can also be used to at least partially support a reflector  42 . For example, a tab  43  extending from the reflector  42  can be positioned in a slot in the central bracket  32 . 
         [0042]    The one or more side brackets  34  extend from one or more of the side walls  18 . In the exemplary embodiment, a side bracket  34  extends from each of the four side walls  18 . The side brackets  34  are used to connect and support various components, including the outer lens  20 , the inner lens assembly, and the reflectors  42  as shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 . These components can be directly connected to the side brackets  34  or connected through various mounting components as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0043]    In an exemplary embodiment, the light emitter assembly  40  includes one or more central light emitters  44  and a pair of side light emitters  46  connected to a support  48 . The central light emitters  44  are configured to emit light downward toward the housing opening through the central lens  28 . The side light emitters  46  are configured to emit light upward, at an angle, toward the reflectors  42 . The light emitted from the side light emitters  46  is reflected off the reflectors and directed downward toward the housing opening through the side lenses  26 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 12-15  show the light emitter assembly  40 . The support  48  includes a central portion  50  supporting the central light emitters  44  and a pair of sides  52  supporting the side light emitters  46 . The sides  52  are oriented at an oblique angle to the central portion  50 . The exact angle can be varied depending on the desired light output and of internal layout of the luminaire  10 . 
         [0045]    As best shown in  FIGS. 14 and 15 , the central light emitters  44  include one or more LED boards  54  mounted to the central portion  50  of the support  48 . The number of LED boards  54  used depends on the size and the desired light output. In an exemplary embodiment having a 2×4 housing, a set of two, two-foot long LED boards  54  are used on each side, resulting in 4 total LED boards  54  associated with the central light emitters  44 . An optic  56  is positioned over the LED boards  54 . The LED boards  54  and the optic  56  are connected to the support  48  through one or more fasteners. In an exemplary embodiment, the optic  56  is a total-internal-reflection (TIR) optic. 
         [0046]    The side light emitters  46  also include an LED board  58  having one or more LEDs mounted to a printed circuit board. The LED boards  58  are connected to the support  48  through one or more fasteners. The number of LED boards  58  used depends on the size and the desired light output. In an exemplary embodiment having a 2×4 housing, a set of two, two-foot long LED boards  58  are used on each side, resulting in 4 total LED boards  58  associated with the side light emitters  46 . 
         [0047]    The side light emitters  46  are used to produce light in both the ambient mode and the reading mode. The reading mode has a higher light output than the ambient mode. To accommodate the higher light output, the side light emitters  46  can be controlled to operate in a first mode where a first set of LEDs are activated and in a second mode where the first set and a second set of LEDs are activated. In an exemplary embodiment, the LEDs can be positioned in a single row, with alternating LEDs belonging to the first set or the second set. Each LED board  58  can include a first circuit associated with the first set of LEDs and a second circuit associated with the second set of LEDs. Depending on the mode, one or both of the circuits are activated to power the first set of LEDs or the first and second sets of LEDs. 
         [0048]      FIG. 22  illustrates a light fixture  210  according to another embodiment. The light fixture  210  is similar to the light fixture  10  described above, and similar features are identified with similar reference numbers, plus 200. For the sake of brevity, only differences between the light fixture  210  and the light fixture  10  are described in detail. 
         [0049]    As shown in  FIG. 22 , the light fixture  210  includes a door  270  coupled to a flange  224  of a housing  214 . The door  270  may include a transparent lens (not shown). The door  270  includes a hinge  272  coupled to the side flange  224  of the housing  214 , and the door  270  may pivot relative to the housing  214  about the hinge  272  to provide user access to the housing  214 . In other embodiments ( FIG. 23 ), the light fixture  210  may be constructed without a door such that the bottom of the housing  214  is open. 
         [0050]    In addition, as shown in  FIGS. 24 and 25 , a light emitter assembly  240  is supported in the housing  214  ( FIG. 25 ). The light emitter assembly  240  includes a central support  248 , lens support brackets  260 , and reflectors  242  coupled together in a common assembly. As shown in  FIG. 25 , the central support  248  is coupled to a central bracket  232  of the housing. Central light emitters  244  are coupled to a lower surface of the central support  248 , and side light emitters  246  are coupled to angled side portions of the central support  248 . A central lens  228  is supported in a central portion of the lens support bracket  260 , and the side lenses  226  are supported between the lens support bracket  260  and side brackets  234 . In the illustrated embodiment, the light emitters  244 ,  246  include LED boards similar to the light emitters  44 ,  46  described above, although the light emitters  244 ,  246  do not include an optic (e.g., a TIR optic) positioned over the LED boards  54 . In other embodiments, the light emitters  244 ,  246  may include an optic. 
         [0051]    Referring again to  FIG. 22 , the light fixture housing  214  includes trays  230  for supporting a plurality of drivers and/or other control components. In the illustrated embodiment, the light fixture  210  includes three drivers  288 . One of the drivers  288  may power some light emitters in a first mode (e.g., ambient/reading mode), another driver  288  may power some light emitters in a second mode (e.g., exam mode), and the other driver  288  may power some light emitters in a third mode (e.g., nightlight mode). In some embodiments, the drivers  288  may be dimmable to allow dimming of the light emitters  244 ,  246  ( FIG. 25 ). 
         [0052]    In addition, in some embodiments the side light emitters  246  may include a first set of LEDs having a first color temperature and a second set of LEDs having a second color temperature. One or more of the driver(s)  288  may adjust the relative current applied to each set of LEDs to adjust the light output mixture from the two sets of LEDs, thereby adjusting the color temperature of the total light output. In some embodiments, the color tuning aspect may be similar to the system described in U.S. Publication No. 2016/0157318, published Jun. 2, 2016 and U.S. Publication No. 2016/0157319, published Jun. 2, 2016, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
         [0053]    In some embodiments, the light fixture  210  operates in two primary modes. In a first or ambient/reading mode, only the side light emitters  246  are activated to provide a soft or diffuse light from side portions of the fixture  210 . The first mode provides light for an ambient or reading mode. In a second or examination mode, all of the light emitters—the central emitters  244  and the side emitters  246 —are activated, and the central emitters  244  provide direct, downward light for patient examination. In addition, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the light fixture  210  may further include nightlight emitters  290 . The light fixture  210  may be operated in a third or nightlight mode, in which only the nightlight emitters  290  are activated. 
         [0054]      FIG. 26  illustrates a control system according to one embodiment. A patient switch or “pillow” switch  292  may be configured to select the ambient/reading mode, the nightlight mode, or an off mode. If the ambient mode is selected, a controller  294  passes current to a first circuit including a driver  296  for activating the side light emitters  246 . If the nightlight mode is selected, the controller  294  passes current to a third circuit including a driver  298  for activating the nightlight emitters  290 . A wall switch  300  may be configured to select the examination mode, in which the controller  294  passes current to both the first circuit and a second circuit including a driver  302  associated with the central light emitters  244 . Once the examination mode is cycled off, the controller  294  may return the first circuit to its previous state (i.e., off or ambient/reading mode). 
         [0055]    The foregoing detailed description of certain exemplary embodiments has been provided for the purpose of explaining the general principles and practical application, thereby enabling those skilled in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. This description is not necessarily intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure to the exemplary embodiments disclosed. Modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the scope thereof. Any of the embodiments and/or elements disclosed herein may be combined with one another to form various additional embodiments not specifically disclosed. Accordingly, additional embodiments are possible and are intended to be encompassed within this specification and the scope of the appended claims. The specification describes specific examples to accomplish a more general goal that may be accomplished in another way. 
         [0056]    As used in this application, the terms “front,” “rear,” “upper,” “lower,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and other orientational descriptors are intended to facilitate the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the structure of the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure to any particular position or orientation. Terms of degree, such as “substantially” or “approximately” are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.