Medical examination light fixture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10830401-B2
Application number	US-201715490254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2017
Priority date	Apr 18, 2016
Publication date	Nov 10, 2020
Grant date	Nov 10, 2020

Abstract

A ceiling mounted light fixture includes a lens assembly including a central lens and a pair of side lenses. The central lens extends along a longitudinal axis, and each side lens extends parallel to the central lens and is positioned on a lateral side of the central lens. The fixture further includes at least one central light emitter for emitting light directly through the central lens and a pair of side light emitters. At least one control component operatively connected to the central light emitter and the side light emitters is configured to operate in a first mode in which the central light emitter is deactivated and the side light emitters are activated, and a second mode in which the central light emitter and the side light emitters are activated.

First claim

We claim:

1. A light fixture comprising:
a housing having an upper wall configured to be positioned proximate a ceiling and a plurality of side walls at least partially defining an opening, the housing extending along a longitudinal axis;
a frame coupled to at least one of the plurality of side walls of the housing proximate to the opening and configured to securely mount and support the housing with respect to the ceiling;
a lens assembly including a central lens and a pair of side lenses, the central lens extending along the longitudinal axis of the housing, each side lens extending parallel to the central lens and positioned on a lateral side of the central lens;
at least one central light emitter for emitting light directly through the central lens generally away from the ceiling;
a pair of side light emitters, light emitted by each side light emitter passing through an associated one of the side lenses and generally away from the ceiling; and
at least one control component operatively connected to the at least one central light emitter and the side light emitters,
wherein the at least one control component is configured to operate in a first mode in which the at least one central light emitter is deactivated and the side light emitters are activated, and a second mode in which the at least one central light emitter and the side light emitters are activated.

2. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the one or more control components are supported on a tray in the housing.

3. The light fixture of claim 2 , wherein the tray is removable from the housing.

4. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein each central light emitter is directed toward the opening and each side light emitter is directed away from the opening at an oblique angle.

5. The light fixture of claim 4 , wherein a pair of reflectors are positioned in the housing to reflect light from an associated one of the side light emitters toward the side lens.

6. The light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising an outer lens supported on the housing and positioned in the opening.

7. The light fixture of claim 1 , further comprising at least one nightlight emitter, wherein the at least one control component is further configured to operate in a third mode in which the at least one nightlight emitter in activated and the at least one central light emitter and the side light emitters are deactivated.

8. The light fixture of claim 1 , wherein the frame extends across the upper wall.

9. A light fixture comprising:
a housing having an upper wall configured to be positioned proximate a ceiling and a plurality of side walls at least partially defining an opening;
a frame coupled to at least one of the plurality of side walls of the housing proximate to the opening and configured to securely mount and support the housing with respect to the ceiling;
a light emitter assembly positioned in the opening and secured to the housing, the light emitter assembly including,
a central portion including a plurality of central light emitters aligned along an axis and configured to emit light generally away from the ceiling,
a first side portion positioned on one side of the central portion and including a plurality of first side light emitters aligned in a direction parallel to the axis and configured to emit light generally away from the ceiling,
a second side portion positioned on another side of the central portion and including a plurality of second side light emitters aligned in a direction parallel to the axis and configured to emit light generally away from the ceiling, and
a lens assembly including a central lens, a first side lens, and a second side lens, the central lens positioned adjacent the plurality of central light emitters, the first side lens positioned adjacent the plurality of first side light emitters, the second side lens positioned adjacent the plurality of second side light emitters; and

at least one control component operatively connected to the central light emitters, the first side light emitters, and the second side light emitters, the at least one control component configured to operate in a first mode in which the first side light emitters and the second side light emitters are activated and configured to operate in a second mode in which the first side light emitters, the second side light emitters, and the central light emitters are activated.

10. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein each central light emitter is directed toward the opening and each side light emitter is directed away from the opening at an oblique angle.

11. The light fixture of claim 10 , wherein the light emitter assembly further includes a pair of reflectors, each of the reflectors reflecting light from an associated one of the first side light emitters and the second side light emitters toward an associated one of the first side lens and the second side lens.

12. The light fixture of claim 9 , further comprising an outer lens supported on the housing and positioned in the opening.

13. The light fixture of claim 9 , further comprising at least one nightlight emitter, wherein the at least one control component is further configured to operate in a third mode in which the at least one nightlight emitter in activated and the central light emitters, the first side light emitters, and the second side light emitters are deactivated.

14. The light fixture of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of first side light emitters includes a first set of light emitters and a second set of light emitters.

15. The light fixture of claim 14 , wherein a first circuit controls the first set of light emitters and a second circuit controls the second set of light emitters.

16. A method for controlling operation of a light fixture, the method comprising:
providing a housing having an upper wall configured to be positioned proximate a ceiling and a plurality of side walls at least partially defining an opening;
providing a frame coupled to at least one of the plurality of side walls of the housing proximate to the opening and configured to securely mount and support the housing with respect to the ceiling;
determining which mode of a plurality of modes is selected;
while a first mode is selected, activating a plurality of first side light emitters, activating a plurality of second side light emitters, and deactivating a plurality of central light emitters positioned between the first side light emitters and the second side light emitters; and
while a second mode is selected, activating the plurality of first side light emitters, the plurality of second side light emitters, and the plurality of central light emitters.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising transmitting a signal from at least one of patient switch and a wall switch to a controller, wherein the patient switch is configured to transmit a signal indicative of the first mode, wherein the wall switch is configured to transmit at least a signal indicative of the second mode.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the wall switch is configured to selectively transmit a first signal indicative of the first mode and a second signal indicative of the second mode.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising, while a third mode is selected, activating a plurality of nightlight emitters and deactivating the plurality of first side light emitters, the plurality of second side light emitters, and the plurality of central light emitters.

20. The method of claim 16 , wherein, in the first mode, a portion of the plurality of first sid

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Miller Eric
• Rector David
• Bailey Chris
• Hollander John
• Brown Raymond

Classifications

• F21Y2113/00

  Combination of light sources · CPC title

• H05B45/10

  Controlling the intensity of the light · CPC title

• F21V7/0016

  on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes · CPC title

• F21W2131/208

  for hospital wards · CPC title

• F21Y2103/10

  comprising a linear array of point-like light-generating elements · CPC title