Patent Publication Number: US-2005135113-A1

Title: Optical projection device of a colored lighting module

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an optical projection device with a colored lighting module, in which the colored lighting module is disposed in an optical mask for colored lighting and then covers a lens for converging or diffusing.  
      2. Background of the Invention  
      A conventional light emission diode (LED) is one kind of electronic component produced by single-crystal semiconductor materials. Red and green LEDs are the most common at present.  
      Because of high reliability thereof, and the easy on/off control thereof, applications for the conventional LED have broadened and it has gradually supplanted the conventional lamp because of its ability to show something by a plurality of light segments. However, the conventional LED with light, which cannot reach far, has some restrictions in use.  
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION  
      The primary object of the invention is therefore to specify an optical projection device with a colored lighting module, in which a plurality of LEDs is arranged into a mask and subsequently covered with a lens, to allow the colored lighting module to emit colored light and use the lens to converge or diffuse the light to reach far or near.  
      According to the invention, this object is achieved by an optical projection device with a colored lighting module including a mask, a lighting module and a lens. The mask has a receiving cavity formed therein. A first opening and a second opening relating to the first opening are formed in the mask, the first opening and the second opening both communicating with the receiving cavity and respectively formed in two opposing sides of the mask, and the mask includes a reflection layer disposed in an interior surface thereof. The lighting module and the lens are respectively disposed by the first and second opening of the mask.  
      To provide a further understanding of the invention, the following detailed description illustrates embodiments and examples of the invention. Examples of the more important features of the invention thus have been summarized rather broadly in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the contributions to the art may be appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
       FIG. 1  is a cross-sectional view of the present invention optical projection device with a colored lighting module;  
       FIG. 2  is an exploded profile of the present invention optical projection device with a colored lighting module; and  
       FIG. 3  is an exploded profile according to another embodiment of the present invention optical projection device with a colored lighting module. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS  
      With respect to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the present invention provides an optical projection device of a colored lighting module, including a colored lighting module  10 , a mask  20  and a lens  30 . The colored lighting module  10  includes a plurality of LEDs, such as red, green, or blue LEDs. The colored lighting module  10  also includes a plurality of pins  11 , respectively electrically connecting an anode and a cathode for electrically driving chips (not shown), which are disposed in the colored lighting module  10 , to provide light.  
      The mask  20  is made of a plastic or similar material, and is a hollow housing in conical or other shape, according to practical requirements. The mask  20  has a receiving cavity  21  formed therein, a first opening  22  and a second opening  23  relating to the first opening  22 . The first opening  22  and the second opening  23  both communicate with the receiving cavity  21  and are respectively formed on two opposing sides of the mask  20 , which are a lower side and an upper side of the mask  20 . The mask  20  includes a reflection layer  24 , which is electroplated or otherwise processed, disposed on an interior surface thereof. The reflection layer  24  is highly reflective. The colored lighting module  10  is arranged by the first opening  22  of the lower side of the mask  20  and is, for example, clamped, stuck or screwed to the mask  20 .  
      The lens  30  is made of a transparent material, and includes a first face  31  and a second face  32  opposite the first face  31 . The first face  31  and the second face  32  each can be flat, concave, or convex to provide a concave or convex lens formed thereby for converging and diffusing the light emitted from the colored lighting module. The first face  31  and the second face  32  can be shaped otherwise, as meets practical requirements, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The lens  30  is arranged by the second opening  23  of the upper side of the mask  20 , and is, for example, clamped, stuck or screwed to the mask  20 . The lens  30  is opposite and disposed over the colored lighting module  10 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , the colored lighting module  10  emits light. Part of the light is transmitted by the lens  30  and is converged outwardly, and the other part of the light is reflected by the reflection layer  24  first and transmitted to the lens  30  to be converged outwardly later.  
      The colored lighting module  10  arranged in the mask  20  with a lens  30  subsequently covering thereon generates colored light first and then converges the light for projection over a long distance. Accordingly, the present invention is adopted for decorative purposes as well. Application of various kinds of lenses  30  allows the light to be diffused for projection over short distances, instead.  
      It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the above description is only illustrative of specific embodiments and examples of the invention. The invention should therefore cover various modifications and variations made to the herein-described structure and operations of the invention, provided they fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the following appended claims.