Patent Abstract:
A downlight auxiliary ring device and method of control and use of same is disclosed. Specifically, the downlight auxiliary ring device, comprising light-emitting diodes, allows a dimmable and reduced-glare reflected downlight. It is also an aspect of the present disclosure to provide easy-to-implement and cost-effective methods of control and use of the downlight auxiliary ring device system.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0001]    The present disclosure is generally directed toward illumination devices and systems. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has become widely available to replace compact fluorescent lights (CFL) and incandescent products. LED lighting provides advantages including a reduction in power requirements, longer life and less environmental waste. Further, LED lighting is considered to provide improved aesthetics. Frequently, LED lighting is installed in a downlight configuration, causing unwelcomed glare. Also, traditional downlight LED installations provide only a binary on or off illumination, causing a user to either turn the LED lighting completely off (making a room too dark, for example during a presentation or while viewing a video) or completely on causing the aforementioned unwelcomed glare. No controllable dimming and/or controlled blending with other light sources is provided. Attempts to modify traditional LED installations to improve or mitigate the afore-mentioned problems traditionally do not complement and/or integrate with existing lighting systems. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    It is, therefore, one aspect of the present disclosure to provide a downlight auxiliary ring device comprising one or more light sources which provide a reflected or indirect downlight. It is also an aspect of the present disclosure to provide methods of control and use of the downlight auxiliary ring device. 
         [0004]    The downlight auxiliary ring device, in some embodiments, is fitted with one or more light sources positioned on a distal portion of the auxiliary ring. The one or more light sources are arranged to emit light toward a reflective surface such that the reflected light is directed downward. The reflected light is of reduced glare than if emitted directly downward. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, an auxiliary ring is disclosed, the auxiliary ring comprising: a body comprising: a proximal portion configured to engage a perimeter surface of a downlight; and a distal portion configured to receive or support one or more light sources, the one or more light sources being positioned to emit light toward a reflective surface such that the light reflects downward. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment, an illumination system is disclosed, the illumination system comprising: a downlight comprising an outer flange, the outer flange positioned proximate to a radial extremity of the downlight; an auxiliary ring comprising: a body, the body comprising a proximal portion configured to engage the outer flange of the downlight, and a distal portion configured to receive one or more light sources, wherein the proximal portion of the body of the auxiliary ring is secured to the outer flange of the downlight, wherein the one or more light sources are positioned to emit light toward a reflective surface. 
         [0007]    The present disclosure will be further understood from the drawings and the following detailed description. Although this description sets forth specific details, it is understood that certain embodiments of the invention may be practiced without these specific details. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the general description of the disclosure given above and the detailed description of the drawings given below, serve to explain the principles of the disclosures. 
           [0009]    It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details that are not necessary for an understanding of the disclosure or that render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein. 
           [0010]    The present disclosure is described in conjunction with the appended figures: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1A  is a cross-sectional side-view of an illumination system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1B  is a cross-sectional side-view of an illumination system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2A  is a bottom view of a downlight auxiliary ring device in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2B  is a cross-sectional side-view along line A-A depicted in  FIG. 2A ; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic-diagram representation of an illumination system in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]    The ensuing description provides embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claims. Rather, the ensuing description will provide those skilled in the art with an enabling description for implementing the described embodiments. Preferred embodiments are described to illustrate the present invention, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Like elements in various embodiments are commonly referred to with like reference numerals. It being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , representations and configurations of the device, methods of manufacture of the device, and methods of use of the device are shown. 
         [0018]    In regard to  FIGS. 1A-B , side-views of two configurations of an illumination system  10  are provided. The system  10  and components thereof will be described in accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure. 
         [0019]      FIGS. 1A-B  depict a system  10  comprising downlight  20 , downlight lower portion  30 , downlight attachment springs  40  and downlight flange area  50 . Downlight  20  is shown mounted to a mounting surface  60 , such as a ceiling, wall, floor, or the like, emitting a downward light directly away from the mounting surface. The directly-emitted light will be referred to herein as downward light  70 , but it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present disclosure are not necessarily limited to ceiling installations. 
         [0020]    One or more light sources  110  are disposed on an upper surface of auxiliary ring  100 . Light source(s)  110  are configured to emit light upwards at an angle which is offset from vertical (e.g., the direction of light emitted by the downlight), wherein the emitted light is reflected against a surface (here, mounting surface  60 ) such that the light is reflected downward (as indicated by light arrows  120 ). 
         [0021]    Auxiliary ring  100  is shown in  FIG. 1A  with flange engaging downlight flange area  50 , while in  FIG. 1B , auxiliary ring  100  does not include flange area. In the embodiment of  FIG. 1A , the auxiliary ring  100  engages, via flange, between mounting surface  60  and downlight flange area  50 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 1B , the auxiliary ring  100  engages, via flange, solely the downlight flange area  50  at the bottom surface of the downlight flange area  50 . Attachment of the auxiliary ring  100  to the downlight  20  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1A  may be of several means, to include gravity mount, friction mount, snap fit, adhesive, bolt and nut, and loop and eye. Attachment of the auxiliary ring  100  to the downlight  20  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1B  may be of several means, to include adhesive, snap fit, bolt and nut, and loop and eye. 
         [0022]    The light sources  110  of the auxiliary ring  10  may be powered by a stand-alone power source or by a common power source with the downlight  20 . The power sources for one or both of the auxiliary ring  10  and the downlight  20  may be direct current (DC) or alternating current (AC). In one embodiment, the auxiliary ring is powered by a 12 volt AC power source. 
         [0023]    The one or more light sources  110  may, in some embodiments, correspond to a Light Emitting Diode (LED), an array of LEDs, an Organic LED (OLED). In some embodiments, where the light sources  110  correspond to one or more LEDs, the LEDs may be in the form of surface mount LEDs or thru-hole mount LEDs. As can be appreciated, any other type of light source may be used without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2A  depicts a bottom view of the downlight auxiliary ring device  100  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1A . The circular geometry of the auxiliary ring is apparent from  FIG. 2A . It should be appreciated, however, that the auxiliary ring device  100  may have a non-circular geometry without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. A plurality of light sources  110  are shown, disposed at substantially equal radii from the center (e.g., from where a downlight device would be positioned at center). The light sources  110  may be of identical or different types. For instance, one different light source  110 ′ is shown in addition to a plurality of light sources  110 . The different light source  110 ′ may be different from one of the other light sources  110  in any number of ways. For example, the different light source  110 ′ may produce light of a different color (e.g., wavelength) than that produces by light sources  110 . Alternatively or additionally, different light source  110 ′ may be configured to emit light of a different brightness than light sources  110 . As still another example, different light source  110 ′ may be configured with a lens or encapsulant that conditions or shapes light differently from the other light sources  110 . In short, it should be appreciated that the downlight auxiliary ring device  100  may be configured to support light sources of the same or different types. 
         [0025]    A power source  190  for the auxiliary ring  100  is also depicted. The power source  190  may correspond to a DC power source (e.g., battery) that provides DC current to the light sources  110 ,  110 ′. In other embodiments, the power source  190  may correspond to a power conditioner that receives AC power from a grid-based power source (e.g., conventional 120V 60 hz AC power) and converts that AC power such that it can be used to drive the light sources  110 ,  110 ′. 
         [0026]      FIG. 2B  depicts a cross-sectional side-view of the downlight auxiliary ring device  100  as shown in  FIG. 2A  as taken at section line A-A. Auxiliary ring  100  comprises flange  113  with flange upper surface  112 , first sidewall  115 , second sidewall  119  and channel  117  with channel light source mounting surface  114 . Channel  117  connects first sidewall  115  with second sidewall  119 . An adjustable shelf  180  is disposed on the channel light source mounting surface  114 . A light source  110  is disposed on the channel light source mounting surface  114 . The adjustable shelf  180  enables selectable adjustment of the orientation of light source  110  such that the light emitted from the light source may be at a selectable angle. Adjustable shelf  180  may be manually adjusted or adjusted remotely by, for example, a controller. A light diffuser  170  is attached to first sidewall  115  and second sidewall  119 . Light emitted from light source  110  passes at least partially through light diffuser  170 , therein reflecting off mounting surface  60  and or reflecting within light diffuser  170 , then continuing away from the mounting surface  60 . The light diffuser  170  diffuses, spreads out and/or scatters the light from the light source  110 , thereby providing a softer light of reduced glare. The flange  113  is at a proximal location of the auxiliary ring  100 , and the light source mounting surface  114  is at a distal location of the auxiliary ring  100 .  FIG. 2B  depicts one geometry of the downlight auxiliary ring device  100  in which light diffuser  170  is attached to first sidewall  115  and second sidewall  119 , thereby forming, with channel  117 , a circularly-enclosed chamber. This configuration protects light source  110  from unwelcomed foreign debris, such as dust, from contacting and/or degrading light source  110  quality. It should be appreciated, however, that the auxiliary ring device  100  may have other geometries without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the second sidewall  119  may be extended upwards such that the light diffuser  170  attaches to flange  113  and flange upper surface  112  forms a substantially planar surface with an upper surface of light diffuser  170 . In other embodiments, the geometry of the downlight auxiliary ring device  100  is as described above, except the light diffuser  170  is absent. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, the auxiliary ring  100  may be configured to attach to an existing downlight  20 . For example, in the embodiment of auxiliary ring  100  shown in  FIGS. 2A-B , the auxiliary ring  100  could be glued onto the bottom surface of an existing downlight  20  such that the light sources  110  reflect from the attachment surface of the existing downlight  20  and thereby provide a reflected downlight. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  depicts a schematic-diagram representation of a controller  310  used to selectively control illumination states of the downlight  10  and auxiliary ring  100 . The auxiliary ring  100  may be configured to operate in one or more of an on state, an off state and a scalable dimmer state. Similarly, the downlight  20  may be configured to operate in one or more of an on state, an off state, and a scalable dimmer state. Controller  310  is configured to control the states of each of the auxiliary ring  100  and the downlight  20  either independently or collectively. For example, the controller  310  may provide an illumination system  10  with both auxiliary ring  100  and downlight  20  on, with only auxiliary ring  100  on, with only downlight  20  on, or with both auxiliary ring  100  and downlight  20  off. The control of downlight  20  and auxiliary ring  100  may be achieved by the controller  310  providing one or more control signals to drivers of the downlight  20  and auxiliary ring  100 , respectively. In other embodiments, the controller  310  may directly control the amount of current provided from the input power. It should also be appreciated that a common input power may be provided to both the downlight  20  and auxiliary ring  100  while in other embodiments different input powers may be provided to the illumination components. 
         [0029]    Although the controller  310  is represented in  FIG. 3  as a single element, in some embodiments the controller  310  is a plurality of controllers or sub-controllers, each controlling one or more aspects, processes or elements of the system  10 . For example, a sub-controller may control the downlight  20  while another controls auxiliary ring  100 . 
         [0030]    While the pictorial representations and flowcharts have been discussed and illustrated in relation to a particular sequence of events, it should be appreciated that changes, additions, and omissions to this sequence can occur without materially affecting the operation of the disclosed embodiments, configuration, and aspects. 
         [0031]    The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes components, methods, processes, systems and/or apparatus substantially as depicted and described herein, including various aspects, embodiments, configurations embodiments, sub-combinations, and/or subsets thereof. Those of skill in the art will understand how to make and use the disclosed aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations after understanding the present disclosure. The present disclosure, in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations, includes providing devices and processes in the absence of items not depicted and/or described herein or in various aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations hereof, including in the absence of such items as may have been used in previous devices or processes, e.g., for improving performance, achieving ease and\or reducing cost of implementation. 
         [0032]    The foregoing discussion has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. The foregoing is not intended to limit the disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. In the foregoing Detailed Description for example, various features of the disclosure are grouped together in one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. The features of the aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations of the disclosure may be combined in alternate aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations other than those discussed above. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claims require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in less than all features of a single foregoing disclosed aspect, embodiment, and/or configuration. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into this Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate preferred embodiment of the disclosure. 
         [0033]    Moreover, though the description has included description of one or more aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations and certain variations and modifications, other variations, combinations, and modifications are within the scope of the disclosure, e.g., as may be within the skill and knowledge of those in the art, after understanding the present disclosure. It is intended to obtain rights which include alternative aspects, embodiments, and/or configurations to the extent permitted, including alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps to those claimed, whether or not such alternate, interchangeable and/or equivalent structures, functions, ranges or steps are disclosed herein, and without intending to publicly dedicate any patentable subject matter.

Technology Classification (CPC): 5