Abstract:
A lighting system with extended arrays of LED light engines is disclosed. The extended arrays of LED light engines are coupled to bent, curved, contoured or angled support surfaces withing a housing structure, coupled to bent, curved, contoured or angled surfaces of the housing structure or a combination thereof. Preferably, the extended arrays of LED light engines emit both upward and downward lighting through diffuse surfaces of the housing structure. In some embodiments of the invention the positions and/or angles of light emitting surfaces of extended arrays of LED light engines are adjustable within the housing structure.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) from the co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/959,187, filed on Aug. 19, 2013, and titled “LIGHTING DEVICE WITH ASYMMETRIC LED CONFIGURATION.” The provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/959,187, filed on Aug. 19, 2013, and titled “LIGHTING DEVICE WITH ASYMMETRIC LED CONFIGURATION” is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to lighting systems. More specifically, this invention relates to Light Emitting Diode (LED) devices and systems. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor diode that emits light when an electrical current is applied in the forward direction of the device, such as in a simple LED circuit. 
         [0004]    The device is fabricated from layers of silicon and seeded with atoms of phosphorus, germanium, arsenic or other rare-earth elements. The layers of the device are called the die and the junction between the materials is where the light is generated. The electricity enters from one side of the die and exits out the other. As the current passes through the LED device, the materials that makes up the junction react and light is emitted. 
         [0005]    LEDs are widely used as indicator lights on electronic devices and increasingly in higher power applications such as flashlights and area lighting. A LED is usually a small area (less than 1 mm 2 ) light source, often with optics added to the chip to shape its radiation pattern and assist in reflection. The color of the emitted light depends on the composition and condition of the semiconducting material used, and can be infrared, visible, or ultraviolet. The glow, color and wash of a lighting fixture with sets of LED arrays is sensitive to the angles of the LED arrays with respect to one and other. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention is directed to a lighting system with angled extended arrays of LED light engines. Angled, herein, means that light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines are positioned at angles with respect to each other with a housing structure that form a lighting cavity. The extended arrays of LED light engines are coupled to bent, curved, contoured or angled support surfaces withing the housing structure, coupled to bent, curved, contoured or angled surfaces of the housing structure or a combination thereof. 
         [0007]    The housing structure includes, for example, opaque surfaces and diffuse surfaces (lenses). Preferably, the extended arrays of LED light engines emit both upward and downward lighting through the diffuse surfaces of the housing structure. 
         [0008]    The lighting system of the present invention includes one or more LED driver circuits in electrical communication with the extended arrays of LED light engines to provide dimming control of the upward and the downward lighting. In further embodiment of the invention the lighting system includes independently operable LED drivers in electrical communication with selected sets of the extended arrays of the LED light engines to provide independently controllable dimming of the upward and the downward lighting. 
         [0009]    In accordance with the invention, the support surfaces within the housing structure of the lighting system with the extended arrays of LED light engines coupled thereto are adjustable. In some embodiments of the invention, angles of the support surfaces within the housing structure of the lighting system are adjustable, such that the angles of the light emitting surfaces of extended arrays of LED light engines are also adjustable with respect to each other. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows a schematic representation of a lighting system with extended arrays of LED light engines positioned at angles relative to each other on an adjustably angled support structure, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows a schematic representation of a lighting system with extended arrays of LED light engines with LED drivers for independently controlling dimming of upward and downward lighting, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3A  shows lighting system with an angled support structure housed within a lighting cavity having opposed opaque side walls, opposed top and bottom diffuser lenses and mounting features, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIGS. 3B-C  show schematic representations of extended arrays of LED light engines, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  shows a schematic representation of a lighting system with a movable or adjustable support and extended arrays of LED light engines coupled thereto, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  shows a lighting system with a contoured housing structure, a support structure and extended arrays of LED light engines coupled to the contoured housing structure and the support structure, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  shows a schematic representations of a lighting system with an alternative configuration that includes multiple angled support surfaces and extended arrays of LED light engines coupled to the angled support surfaces, in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]      FIG. 1  shows a lighting system  100  that includes a housing structure that forms a lighting cavity  108 . The housing structure includes opaque side surfaces  101  and  101 ′ and top  105  and bottom  107  diffuser lenses. The lighting system  100  also includes support structure  103  that is bent, curved, contoured or angled. Extended arrays of LED light engines  123  and  125  are couple to top surfaces of the support structure  103 . An extended array of LED light engines  121  is also coupled to a center bottom surface of the support structure  103 . 
         [0018]    The lighting system  100  provides upward and downward lighting through the top  105  and bottom  107  diffuser lenses. The extended arrays of LED light engines  121 ,  123  and  125  are all powered by the same LED driver (not shown) or are alternatively powered by one or more independently controllable LED drivers to provide independent upward and downward and/or sideways dimming from the extended arrays of LED light engines  121 ,  123  and  125 . 
         [0019]    In accordance with the embodiments of the invention the angles or positions of extended arrays of LED light engines  121  and  123  are moveable or adjustable to new positions  123 ′ and  125 ′ by, for example, moving portions of the support structure  103  through one or more hinge features  111  and  111 ′, as indicated by the arrows  102 ,  104  and  104 ′. The angle or positions of the portions of the support structure  103  are controlled manually or through a control device  109  that is in electrical or wireless communication with servo-motors or other mechanisms that drive the portion of the support structure  103  to move the extended arrays of LED light engines  121  and  123  to one or more selectable positions. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a lighting system  200  includes a housing structure that form a lighting cavity  204 . The housing structure includes opaque side walls  210  and  201 ′ and top  205  and bottom  207  diffuser lenses. The lighting system  200  also includes a support structure  203  that is bent, curved, contoured or angled. On opposed top surfaces of the support structure  203  extended arrays of LED light engines  223  and  225  are mounted. Also, on opposed bottom surfaces of the support structure  203  extended arrays of LED light engines  227  and  229  are mounted. Further, on center top and bottom surfaces of the support structure  203  additional extended arrays of LED light engines  221  and  219  are also mounted. 
         [0021]    The extended arrays of LED light engines  219 ,  221 ,  223 ,  225 ,  227  and  229  are all powered by the same LED driver circuit or are alternatively powered by one or more independently controllable LED driver circuits  231  and  233  to provide independent upward and downward and/or sideways dimming from the LED light engines  219 ,  221 ,  223 ,  225 ,  227  and  229 . For example, LED light engines  221 ,  227  and  229  are powered by a downward dimming LED driver circuit  231  and the LED light engines  219 ,  223  and  225  are powered by an upward LED dimming driver circuit  233 . 
         [0022]    In accordance with the embodiments of the invention the angles or positions of portions of the support structure  203  are adjustable through one or more hinge features  211  and  211 ′ as described above with reference to  FIG. 1 . The angles or positions of the portions of the support structure  203  are controlled manually or by a control device  209  that is in electrical or wireless communication with servo-motors or other mechanisms that drive the portions of the support structure  203  to move to one or more selectable positions. 
         [0023]      FIG. 3A  shows a linear or extended lighting fixture  300  that includes a bent, curved, contoured or angled support structure  313  housed within a lighting cavity  302  of a housing structure. The housing structure includes opaque side walls  301 , a top diffuser lens  305  and a bottom diffuser lens  307 . The bent, curved, contoured or angled support structure  313  supports any number of extended arrays of LED light engines that are controlled or dimmed by the same or different LED drivers, such as described with reference to  FIGS. 1-2 . The lighting system  300  includes mounting features, such as cables  309  and  309 ′, that allows the lighting system  300  to be attached to or suspended from a ceiling or wall. As described above, the bent, curved, contoured or angled support structure  331  is stationary or adjustable to move the relative positions or angles of the light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines attached thereto within the lighting cavity  302 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 3B-C  show schematic representations of extended arrays of LED light engines  325  and  350 , in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. The extended array of LED light engines  325  includes any number of aligned LEDs  331 ,  333 ,  335 ,  337  and  339  that form a light emitting surface  326  that is substantially planar. The extended array of LED light engines  350  includes any number of staggered LEDs  361 ,  363 ,  365 ,  367  and  369  that form a light emitting surface  351  that is substantially planar. It will be clear to one skilled in the art that any number of configuration of extended arrays of LED light engines that from a substantially planar light emitting surface are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0025]      FIG. 4A  show a lighting system  400  includes a housing structure that forms a lighting cavity  402 . 
         [0026]    The housing structure includes opaque side surfaces  401  and  401 ′ with a top  405  and bottom  407  diffuser lens. The lighting system  100  also includes support structure  403  with angled surfaces. Extended arrays of LED light engines  415 ,  417  and  419  are mounted, supported or otherwise coupled to the angled surfaces of the support structure  403 . In accordance with this embodiment of the invention the positions of the extended arrays of LED light engines  415 ,  417  and  419  are moved within the lighting cavity  402  of the lighting system  400  by moving or rotating the support structure  403 , as indicated by the arrows  411  and  413 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4B  shows a lighting system  425  that includes a housing structure that forms a lighting cavity  427  with a support structure  443  therein. The housing structure includes curved opaque side surfaces  426  with a top  445  and a bottom  439  diffuser lens. Extended arrays of LED light engines  431  and  437  are mounted, supported or otherwise couple to the curved opaque side surfaces  426  of the housing structure. Extended arrays of LED light engines  433  and  435  are also mounted, supported or otherwise couple to a surface of the support structure  433 . In operation, the relative positions of the light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines  431  and  437  and the extended arrays of LED light engines  433  and  435  are changed or adjusted by moving the support structure  433  up or down within the lighting cavity  427 , as indicated by the arrow  447 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4C  show a lighting system  450  includes a housing structure that forms a lighting cavity  452 . The housing structure includes opaque side surfaces  451  and  451 ′ with a top  455  and bottom  457  diffuser lens. The lighting system  450  also includes support structures  453  and  453 ′ with angled surfaces. On the angles surfaces of the support structures  453  and  453 ′ extended arrays of LED light engines  473 ,  475 ,  473 ′ and  475 ′ are mounted or supported. In accordance with this embodiment of the invention the angles or positions of the extended arrays of LED light engines  473 ,  475 ,  473 ′ and  475 ′ are changed within the lighting cavity  452  by moving portions of the support structures  453  and  453 ′ through one or more hinge features  461  and  461 , as indicated by the arrows  454  and  454 ′. The angles or positions of the portions of the support structures  453  and  453 ′ are changed, adjusted or controlled manually or through a control device (not shown) that is in electrical or wireless communication with servo-motors or other mechanisms that move the portions of the support structure structures  453  and  453 ′ to thereby move the extended arrays of LED light engines  473 ,  475 ,  473 ′ and  475 ′ to selectable positions. 
         [0029]    Still referring to  FIG. 4C , the lighting system  450  includes a support structure  481  with extended arrays of LED light engines  483  and  485  mounted or supported thereon. In operation the positions of the light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines  483  and  485  relative to the light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines  473 , 475 ,  473 ′ and  475 ′ are changed by moving the support structure  481  up or down within the lighting cavity  452 , as indicated by the arrow  447 . 
         [0030]    Referring generally to  FIGS. 4A-C , while the lighting systems  400 ,  425  and  450  have been illustrated without LED driver circuits, its is understood that one or more internal or external LED driver circuit is required to power the lighting systems  400 ,  425  and  450 . Further, while the lighting systems  400 ,  425  and  450  have been illustrated without a mechanism for moving or changing positions or angles of light emitting surfaces of the extended arrays of LED light engines within lighting cavities  402 ,  427  and  452 , it is understood any number of suitable mechanism are within the scope of the invention. 
         [0031]    The present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments incorporating details to facilitate the understanding of the principles of construction and operation of the invention. As such, references herein to specific embodiments and details thereof are not intended to limit the scope of the claims appended hereto. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made in the embodiments chosen for illustration without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.