Patent Publication Number: US-2023133237-A1

Title: Suspended luminaire with curved sound dampening panels

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the technology relate generally to luminaires and more particularly to a suspended luminaire that provides sound dampening. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A luminaire is a system for producing, controlling, and/or distributing light for illumination. Luminaires are often referred to as light fixtures. The lighting industry has been transitioning to using light emitting diodes as the light source in luminaires. As compared to incandescent and fluorescent light sources, light emitting diodes (LEDs) offer substantial potential benefit associated with their energy efficiency, light quality, and compact size. However, applying LEDs for use in lighting systems offers both challenges and opportunities. In some cases, LED luminaires can provide additional functions or benefits beyond supplying illumination light for an area. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: 
         FIG.  1    illustrates a front perspective view of a suspended luminaire according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  2    illustrates a side perspective view of the suspended luminaire of  FIG.  1    according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  3    illustrates an opposite side perspective view of the suspended luminaire of  FIG.  1    according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG.  4    illustrates a cross-sectional view of the suspended luminaire of  FIG.  1    according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG.  5    is an exploded view of the suspended luminaire of  FIG.  1    according to an example embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     The drawings illustrate only example embodiments and are therefore not to be considered limiting in scope. The elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Additionally, certain dimensions or placements may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in different drawings designate like or corresponding but not necessarily identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following paragraphs, example embodiments will be described in further detail with reference to the figures. In the description, well-known components, methods, and/or processing techniques are omitted or briefly described. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the embodiments is not to suggest that all embodiments must include the referenced feature(s). 
     The example embodiments described herein relate to luminaires that are suspended from a ceiling or other mounting structure and comprise acoustic panels used for absorbing sound. The acoustic panels described herein have a unique shape to optimize the absorption of sound. It should be appreciated that the embodiments herein can also apply to other types of luminaires beyond suspended luminaires. 
     Referring now to  FIGS.  1 - 5   , a luminaire  100  is illustrated in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure. Luminaire  100  comprises a first acoustic panel  105  and a second acoustic panel  120 . The first and second acoustic panels  105 ,  120  can be joined along the top by at least one joining rod  140  and are joined along the bottom by a light module  160 . In alternate example embodiments, the joining rods  140  can be omitted leaving the top portion between the first acoustic panel  105  and the second acoustic panel  120  completely open. One or more suspension cables, such as suspension cables  142  and  144 , can be attached to the joining rods  140  for suspending the luminaire  100  from a ceiling or other support structure. In alternate example embodiments, the one or more suspension cables can be attached to the light module  160 . The first and second acoustic panels  105 ,  120  and the light module  160  together define a cavity  148 . The cavity  148  is open along the top of the luminaire  100  due to open spaces between the joining rods  140 . The first acoustic panel  105  and second acoustic panel  120  are curved such that the luminaire  100  has a unique shape that can be described as a tear drop. In other words, as described further below, the luminaire  100  has a width along the top that is more narrow than the width along the bottom. 
     The acoustic panels can absorb sound which can be beneficial in large open areas or areas with significant noise. The acoustic panels can be made from one or more of a variety of materials known to be effective for absorbing sound such as foam, cork, felt, various polymers such as polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”), other porous materials, and combinations of the foregoing materials. In one example, PET can be softened by a heating process and pressed into curved shapes such as the shapes shown in  FIGS.  1 - 5   . In the example suspended luminaire  100  of  FIGS.  1 - 5   , there are two acoustic panels  105  and  120 . 
     However, in other example embodiments, the luminaire can have other shapes and the number of acoustic panels will be determined by that shape. 
     The first acoustic panel  105  comprises two major surfaces bordered by narrow side surfaces. Specifically, the first acoustic panel  105  comprises a first inner major surface  107 , a first outer major surface  109 , a first top side  111 , a first bottom side  113 , a first proximal lateral side  115 , and a first distal lateral side  117 . Similarly, the second acoustic panel  120  comprises a second inner major surface  122 , a second outer major surface  124 , a second top side  126 , a second bottom side  128 , a second proximal lateral side  130 , and a second distal lateral side  132 . The first acoustic panel  105  and second acoustic panel  120  are arranged so that the inner major surface of each panel faces the inner major surface of the other panel. 
     As shown in  FIGS.  1 - 5   , the first and second acoustic panels  105 ,  120  have a curvature so that when the luminaire  100  is assembled, the cavity  148  within the luminaire  100  has varying widths. At the top of the luminaire  100 , a top gap  150  located between the first inner major surface  107  and the second inner major surface  122  is the most narrow width of the cavity  148 . Joining rods  140  can be located intermittently along the top gap  150 , but open spaces between the joining rods  140  leave openings in the top portion of the luminaire  100 . These one or more openings along the top gap  150  permit sound to travel into the cavity  148  where it can be absorbed by the first inner major surface  107  and the second inner major surface  122  thereby improving the sound absorption characteristics of the luminaire. 
     Moving downward from the top gap  150  as illustrated in  FIGS.  1 - 5   , the acoustic panels  105 ,  120  curve outward until the widest section of the cavity  148 , which can be referred to as the major gap  154 . Continuing downward from the major gap  154 , the acoustic panels  105 ,  120  curve back inward until the bottom of the luminaire  100 , at which the cavity  148  has a bottom gap  156 . The bottom gap  156  is smaller than the major gap  154 , but larger than the width of the top gap  150 . The varying widths of the cavity  148  facilitate capture and absorption of unwanted sound that enters the cavity  148  through the top gap  150 . Disposed in the cavity  148  at the bottom gap  156  is the light module  160 . The light module  160  can be attached to the first inner major surface  107  and the second inner major surface  122  by any of a variety of fastening methods including clips and fasteners. The light module  160  occupies all or substantially all of the bottom gap  156  along the length of the luminaire  100  thereby enclosing the cavity  148  along the bottom gap  156 . 
     Referring to  FIGS.  4  and  5   , details of the light module  160  of example luminaire  100  are shown. As illustrated in the example of  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the light module  160  can comprise two side walls  172  and  174  that attach to the first acoustic panel  105  and second acoustic panel  120 , respectively. Light module  160  further comprises an inner housing  166  that attaches to the side walls  172  and  174  on each side of the inner housing  166 . The inner housing  166  comprises a horizontal panel  168  and a light source can be attached to the bottom side of the horizontal panel  168  thereby positioned to direct light downward. A lens cover  170  can attach to the inner housing  166  and be placed over the light source. The example light module  160  also comprises end caps  162  and  164 . 
     The light source of the light module  160  can be in the form of a light emitting diode, an array of light emitting diodes, an organic LED, a fluorescent light source, a halogen light source, or some other type of light source. Certain light sources such as LED light sources and fluorescent light sources require regulated power and, in those cases, the light module  160  can receive regulated power from a power supply. As non-limiting examples, the power supply can comprise one or more of a driver, a ballast, a switched mode power supply, an AC to DC converter, a transformer, or a rectifier that can provide regulated power to the light source. Although not shown in  FIGS.  4  and  5   , the power supply can be located within the light module  160  and can receive AC power via a power cable that extends into the luminaire  100 . 
     In another example, the power supply can be located remotely from the luminaire, such as in a plenum space above a ceiling from which the luminaire is suspended. The power supply can comprise class 1 connections for receiving power from a power source such as AC mains or grid power (e.g. 120 VAC, 230 VAC) from the electrical power grid or a renewable power source. The power supply can modify the power received from the power source and can comprise class 2 low voltage connections for coupling to a low voltage power cable. The low voltage power cable can supply low voltage power (e.g. 60 VDC or less) to the light module of the luminaire. In certain embodiments, the low voltage power cable can also be the suspension cable that suspends the luminaire from a ceiling or other structure. In other embodiments, the low voltage power cable can be attached to and run alongside the suspension cable that suspends the luminaire from a ceiling or other structure. 
     In certain example embodiments, the light module of the suspended luminaires described in this disclosure can use a lightguide for transmitting light. For example, in place of the horizontal panel  168 , a lightguide can be positioned horizontally within the light module and at or proximal to the bottom gap  156 . One advantage of positioning a lightguide horizontally within the light module is that it can provide light in both a downward direction and an upward direction through the top gap  150 . A lightguide can comprise a panel, slab, plate, or related form that can be flat or curved and that comprises two major faces that are internally reflective. Light can be introduced into the lightguide from a first edge of the lightguide, so that the major faces guide the light towards a second edge. One or both of the major faces can have features that provide a controlled release of light flowing through the lightguide, to illuminate an area. Light can thus propagate in the lightguide via internal reflection from the two major faces, traveling from the light-source edge towards an opposing edge, and illumination light can escape from the lightguide through the major faces. A light source can be positioned adjacent the first edge of the lightguide, so that the light source emits light into the lightguide via the first edge. In alternative embodiments, additional LEDs can be located adjacent to one or more of the other edges of the lightguide thereby directing light into the lightguide from the other edges. In yet other alternative embodiments, instead of positioning LEDs adjacent to one or more edges of the lightguide, certain edges can have a reflector located adjacent to one or more edges of the lightguide, the reflector reflecting light exiting the edge of the lightguide back into the edge of the lightguide. In yet other alternative embodiments, the lightguide can have a circular or round shape with one continuous edge where LEDs are positioned along a portion of the lightguide edge and reflective material can be positioned along other portions of the lightguide edge. LEDs are an example of the light source that can be used with the lightguide, including but not limited to discrete LEDs, arrays of LEDs, and chip-on-board LEDs. In other embodiments, alternative light sources such as organic LEDs can be used. 
     In certain example embodiments, the example luminaires described herein are subject to meeting certain standards and/or requirements. For example, the National Electric Code (NEC), the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) set standards as to electrical enclosures (e.g., light fixtures), wiring, and electrical connections. As another example, Underwriters Laboratories (UL) sets various standards for light fixtures. Use of example embodiments described herein meet (and/or allow a corresponding device to meet) such standards when required. 
     Referring generally to the foregoing examples, any luminaire components (e.g., the light module, the acoustic panels), described herein can be made from a single piece (e.g., as from a mold, injection mold, die cast, 3-D printing process, extrusion process, stamping process, or other prototype methods). In addition, or in the alternative, a luminaire (or components thereof) can be made from multiple pieces that are mechanically coupled to each other. In such a case, the multiple pieces can be mechanically coupled to each other using one or more of a number of coupling methods, including but not limited to epoxy, welding, fastening devices, compression fittings, mating threads, and slotted fittings. One or more pieces that are mechanically coupled to each other can be coupled to each other in one or more of a number of ways, including but not limited to fixedly, hingedly, removeably, slidably, and threadably. 
     A fastener or attachment feature (including a complementary attachment feature) as described herein can allow one or more components and/or portions of an example luminaire to become coupled, directly or indirectly, to another portion or other component of a luminaire. An attachment feature can include, but is not limited to, a flange, a snap, Velcro, a clamp, a portion of a hinge, an aperture, a recessed area, a protrusion, a slot, a spring clip, a tab, a detent, and mating threads. A component can be coupled to a luminaire by the direct use of one or more attachment features. 
     In addition, or in the alternative, a portion of a luminaire can be coupled using one or more independent devices that interact with one or more attachment features disposed on the light fixture or a component of the light fixture. Examples of such devices can include, but are not limited to, a pin, a hinge, a fastening device (e.g., a bolt, a screw, a rivet), epoxy, glue, adhesive, tape, and a spring. One attachment feature described herein can be the same as, or different than, one or more other attachment features described herein. A complementary attachment feature (also sometimes called a corresponding attachment feature) as described herein can be a coupling feature that mechanically couples, directly or indirectly, with another coupling feature. 
     Terms such as “first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “side”, “distal”, “proximal”, and “within” are used merely to distinguish one component (or part of a component or state of a component) from another. Such terms are not meant to denote a preference or a particular orientation, and are not meant to limit the embodiments described herein. In the following detailed description of the example embodiments, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description. 
     Although particular embodiments have been described herein in detail, the descriptions are by way of example. The features of the example embodiments described herein are representative and, in alternative embodiments, certain features, elements, and/or steps may be added or omitted. Additionally, modifications to aspects of the example embodiments described herein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the following claims, the scope of which are to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass modifications and equivalent structures.