Light beacon lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10823370-B2
Application number	US-201916576231-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2019
Priority date	Sep 20, 2018
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

Light beacons and light beacon systems including a lens or housing configured to collimate light emitted from two discrete optical focal points positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the beacon. The example lens can be, e.g., cylindrical or frusto-conical, and an outer surface of the lens defines at least a first region that is optically tuned to a first of the optical focal points, a second region that is optically tuned to a second of the optical focal points, and a third region that is optically tuned to both focal points.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A light beacon, comprising:
a housing adapted to transmit light, the housing having a curved, radially enclosed inner surface defined by a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing, and an outer surface, the outer surface defining at least first, second, and third optical collimating regions, the third collimating region being above the first collimating region and below the second collimating region, the first collimating region including at least one lens element optically tuned to a first optical focal point of the housing, the second collimating region including at least one lens element optically tuned to a second optical focal point of the housing, and the third collimating region including a lens element optically tuned to both the first and the second optical focal points of the housing, the first and second optical focal points being located along the central longitudinal axis and spaced apart from each other,
wherein the lens element of the third collimating region includes a first outward face tuned to the first optical focal point and a second outward face tuned to the second optical focal point; and
wherein there is a first ridge line at a transition between the first outward face and the second outward face.

2. The light beacon of claim 1 , wherein the first focal point is located below the second focal point along the central longitudinal axis.

3. The light beacon of claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the housing defines Fresnel lens elements in at least a portion of the first collimating region and at least a portion of the second collimating region.

4. The light beacon of claim 1 ,
wherein the outer surface of the housing is configured such that the first collimating region includes a first upper section and a first lower section, the first upper section including an outwardly convex first central lens element, an outwardly convex first upper lens element positioned above the first central lens element, and an outwardly convex first lower lens element positioned below the first central element, the second collimating region includes a second upper section and a second lower section, the second lower section including an outwardly convex second central lens element, an outwardly convex second upper lens element positioned above the second central lens element, and an outwardly convex second lower lens element positioned below the second central lens element,
wherein the lens elements of the first upper section are tuned to the first optical focal point, and
wherein the lens elements of the second upper section are tuned to the second optical focal point.

5. The light beacon of claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of the housing is configured such that the first lower section includes a plurality of lower lens elements that are tuned to the first focal point, and the second upper section includes a plurality of upper lens elements that are tuned to the second focal point.

6. The light beacon of claim 5 , wherein the lens element of the third collimating region is one of a plurality of third lens elements, each of the plurality of third lens elements including a first outward face tuned to the first optical focal point and a second outward face tuned to the second optical focal point.

7. The light beacon of claim 6 , wherein the third lens elements include a middle lens element that protrudes outwardly more than the others of the third lens elements.

8. The light beacon of claim 7 , wherein the first ridge line is one of a plurality of ridge lines, each of the plurality of ridge lines being defined at a transition between the first and second outward faces of one of the third lens elements, wherein the plurality of ridge lines define a reference curve that is outwardly convex.

9. The light beacon of claim 8 , wherein a total number of the third lens elements equals a total number of each of a total number of the upper lens elements and a total number of a lower lens elements.

10. The light beacon of claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal length of the first lower section equals a longitudinal length of the second upper section.

11. The light beacon of claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal length of the first lower section equals a longitudinal length of the second upper section and a longitudinal length of the third collimating region.

12. The light beacon of claim 4 , wherein a longitudinal length of the first upper section equals a longitudinal length of the second lower section.

13. The light beacon of claim 6 , wherein all of the lens elements of the first, second, and third collimating regions define complete rings in planes perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

14. The light beacon of claim 4 , wherein a central lens axis of the first central lens element extends through the first focal point, and a central lens axis of the second central lens element extends through the second focal point.

15. The light beacon of claim 1 , wherein a light emitter is positioned within the housing at the same height as at least one of the first optical focal point and the second optical focal point.

16. The light beacon of claim 1 , wherein a light emitter is positioned within the housing at the same height as each of the first and second optical focal points.

17. The light beacon of claim 16 , wherein the light emitters are positioned at the first and second optical focal points.

18. The light beacon of claim 17 , wherein the light emitters are adapted to emit light towards the inner surface of the housing.

19. The light beacon of claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a first ring-shaped notch extending at least partially radially inwards towards the central longitudinal axis and positioned between the third collimating region and the first collimating region, and a second ring-shaped notch extending at least partially radially inwards towards the central longitudinal axis and positioned between the third collimating region and the second collimating region.

20. A light beacon, comprising:
a housing adapted to transmit light, the housing having a curved, radially enclosed inner surface defined by a central longitudinal axis extending from a first end to a second end of the housing, and an outer surface, the outer surface defining at least first, second, and third optical collimating regions, the third collimating region being above the first collimating region and below the second collimating region, the first collimating region including at least one lens element optically tuned to a first optical focal point of the housing, the second collimating region including at least one lens element optically tuned to a second optical focal point of the housing, and the third collimating region including at least one lens element optically tuned to both the first and the second optical focal points of the housing, the first and second optical focal points being located along the central longitudinal axis and spaced apart from each other,
wherein the housing includes a ring-shaped notch extending at least partially radially inwards towards the central longitudinal axis and positioned between the third collimating region and either the first or the second collimating region.

Assignees

• Fed Signal Corp

Inventors

• Belitz Duane P

Classifications

• F21S43/195

  Details of lamp holders, terminals or connectors · CPC title

• F21S43/2605

  Refractors · CPC title

• F21S43/26

  Refractors, transparent cover plates, light guides or filters not provided in groups F21S43/235 - F21S43/255 · CPC title

• F21V5/045 Primary

  the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses · CPC title

• F21W2111/00

  Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00 · CPC title