Patent Publication Number: US-2013235350-A1

Title: Illumination assembly for shop illumination

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an illumination assembly for illuminating an object. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In a shop, products are stacked in a rack, or the like, and presented to a customer. In order to attract the attention of the customer, the products should be clearly visible. Further, preferably, also other signs are provided for attracting the attention of the customer. Such a sign may provide information about the product, the price of the product or other relevant information, for example. 
     In JP2006071690 it is described to use an image-creating body and a light emitting diode (LED) to project a light image on a first side of a translucent screen, thereby generating a shadow image on a second side of the translucent screen. Thus, using a text, a brand mark or the like may be shown as a light image. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination system for illuminating an object and for generating a light image. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object is achieved in an illumination assembly according to claim The illumination system comprises at least one light source, such as a LED, for generating light. The light source is arranged such that a part of the generated light is directed at a reflective part of the illumination assembly. The reflective part is arranged and configured to illuminate the object, such as an article for sale or a wall. Further, the light source is arranged such that another part of the generated light is directed at a diffractive part. The diffractive part is configured to shape a distribution of the light, thereby generating a light image. 
     The reflective part may comprise a reflector to reflect the light generated by the light source and/or the reflective part may comprise a diffractive reflective part to re-direct the light. For example, a diffractive reflective part may be used to generate a light spot directed at a particular product on a shelf. 
     In an embodiment, the reflective part may comprise a second light source. The second light source may be, for example, a reflective OLED (organic light emitting diode), thereby generating more light and illuminating the object even more. 
     The diffractive part may comprise a transmissive diffractive element such that light generated by the light source may pass through the diffractive element. A person positioned on a side of the diffractive element opposite of said element compared to the light source may perceive a three-dimensional image, when looking at the diffractive element. 
     The diffractive part may comprise a reflective diffractive element for generating a three-dimensional light image on the object. The object may be, for example, a wall. As mentioned above, it may also be used for highlighting a product on a shelf, or the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Hereinafter, the present invention is elucidated with reference to the appended drawings showing non-limiting embodiments, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a first embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  shows a fifth embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  shows a sixth embodiment of an illumination assembly according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLES 
     In the drawings, same reference numerals refer to same elements.  FIG. 1  shows an illumination assembly  10  arranged relative to a display D of products. The products are arranged on shelves, for example. The illumination assembly  10  comprises a light source  12 , for example a LED light source, for generating light. The illumination assembly  10  further comprises a reflective part  20  comprising a reflector  22  and a diffractive part  30  comprising a transmissive diffractive element  32 . Further, an eye E of a person, e.g. a customer, is shown, Also, an image I is shown. The image I is a virtual image that may be perceived by the person, as is elucidated below. Arrows A represent exemplary light ray trajectories. 
     In operation, the illumination assembly  10  illuminates the products on the display D. To achieve this, the light generated by the light source  12  is reflected by the reflector  22 . The reflector  22  is shaped such that substantially the whole display D, or a predetermined part thereof, is illuminated as illustrated by the arrows A. Further, a part of the generated light passes through the transmissive diffractive element  32 . A part of said light reaches the eye E and the image I is perceived by the person. The image I may be a three-dimensional image of a logo, a brand name, a trademark or any other sign, for example. 
       FIG. 2  shows a second embodiment of the illumination assembly  10 . Compared to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the reflective part of the second embodiment is provided with a diffractive reflective element  24 . The diffractive reflective element  24  may replace the reflector  22  or may be used in combination with the reflector  22 . The diffractive reflective element  24  enables more accurate shaping of the reflected light and thus the illumination of the display D. 
       FIG. 3  shows a third embodiment of the illumination assembly  10 . Compared to the first embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the reflective part of the third embodiment is provided with a reflective organic light emitting diode (OLED)  26 , or a number of OLEDs  26 . The OLEDs  26  generate additional light, thereby enabling better illumination of the display D. Moreover, since the display D receives light from the OLEDs  26 , the first light source  12  may transmit more light through the diffractive element  32 , thereby obtaining a brighter image  1 . The reflective OLEDs  26  may be used instead of, or in combination with, the reflector  22  and/or the diffractive reflective element  24 . 
       FIG. 4  shows a fourth embodiment of an illumination assembly  10 . The illumination assembly  10  is configured to illuminate a wall W and to project an image I on the wall W. Of course, the wall W may as well be a display D, or the like. In the fourth embodiment, a suitably shaped reflector  22  is used to illuminate the wall WA reflective diffractive element  34  is used to generate the image I on the wall W. 
       FIG. 5  shows a fifth embodiment of the illumination assembly  10 . Compared to the fourth embodiment, the reflective part  20  comprises a reflective diffractive element  24  instead of, or in combination with, the reflector  22 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the reflective part  20  may further comprise a reflective OLED  26 , or a number of reflective OLEDs  26 . 
     Although detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary embodiments of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. 
     Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language).