Waveguide luminaire with side glare shield

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10969535-B2
Application number	US-201916394629-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 25, 2019
Priority date	Feb 14, 2019
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A luminaire configured to emit light in different directions. The luminaire may include a frame and optical waveguides disposed in the frame and positioned at different angles relative to one another to direct light outward in multiple different directions. At least one LED may be associated with each optical waveguide. A shield may be associated with the frame and configured to reduce the light from being directed in one or more of the different directions.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A luminaire, comprising:
a frame with a plurality of sides, the sides comprising a top, a bottom, and lateral sides that extend between the top and the bottom, the lateral sides further comprising corner members that extend between the top and the bottom and with openings positioned between the corner members;
a plurality of optical waveguides disposed in the openings in the frame, the plurality of optical waveguides positioned at different angles relative to one another to direct light outward in multiple different directions;
at least one LED associated with each optical waveguide; and
a shield connected to the frame and configured to reduce the light from being directed in one of the different directions, the shield comprising a mask area and extensions that extend outward from opposing sides of the mask area;
the extensions positioned to extend outward beyond the mask area to extend over the top of the frame and also to engage with the corner members, the extensions configured to attach the shield to the frame with the extensions positioned on opposing sides of the frame and with the mask area extending across the one optical waveguide without extending into the other lateral sides of the frame and with each of the extensions exposed on an exterior of the frame when the shield is attached to the frame.

2. The luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the mask area is larger than the opening and extends completely across the opening and partially over the corner members that are adjacent to the opening.

3. The luminaire of claim 2 , wherein the extensions that engage the top of the frame each comprise an ear configured to extend across the top of the frame and a tab that is angled relative to the ear to extend outward above the top of the frame.

4. The luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a diffuse reflecting surface that faces towards the optical waveguide to reflect light emitted from the at least one LED that is associated with the optical waveguide.

5. The luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical waveguides comprise four optical waveguides that define a rectangular closed path and the shield is mounted at one of the optical waveguides.

6. The luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a reflective inner surface that faces towards the frame.

7. The luminaire of claim 1 , further comprising a drain opening that extends through the frame and comprises an outlet at the bottom of the frame and with the shield positioned away from the outlet.

8. The luminaire of claim 1 , wherein the mask area comprises perforations that allows for a portion of the light to pass through the shield.

9. A luminaire, comprising:
a frame comprising a top and a bottom and a plurality of sides that are positioned between the top and bottom, the plurality of sides separated by support members that extend between the top and the bottom;
at least two light-emitting sections positioned in the frame, each of the light-emitting sections configured to emit light outward from one of the sides of the frame, each of the light-emitting sections comprising:
one or more LEDs;
an optical waveguide disposed in the frame and configured to receive light from the one or more LEDs and to direct the light outward from one of the sides of the frame, wherein each of the optical waveguides comprises first and second opposite waveguide ends, a coupling portion disposed at the first waveguide end, and a light projecting portion disposed between the first and second waveguide ends; and

a shield configured to be positioned on the frame and comprising a mask area that extends over one of the light-emitting sections and extensions that extend over and are exposed on outer sections of the frame, the shield configured to extend over the light emitting section to emit less light outward from one of the sides of the frame relative to each of the light-emitting sections and the extensions positioned to engage with the support members and away from the one or more other light-emitting sections to prevent shielding the light from these light-emitting sections.

10. The luminaire of claim 9 , wherein the shield prevents the light from being emitted from the one side.

11. The luminaire of claim 9 , wherein the shield extends across an entirety of the optical waveguide.

12. The luminaire of claim 11 , wherein the extensions comprise one or more upper extensions that comprise ears that extend outward from a back of the mask area to extend over the top of the frame.

13. The luminaire of claim 9 , wherein the mask area and the optical waveguides comprise a common shape and size.

14. The luminaire of claim 9 , wherein the frame comprises a rectangular shape with four sides and the light-emitting sections extend along three of the sides and the shield extends along one of the sides and the shield is positioned away from the three light-emitting sections.

15. The luminaire of claim 9 , further comprising a rib that extends across one side of the mask area and is laterally offset from the mask area.

16. A method of reducing light emitted by a luminaire, the method comprising:
powering a first LED associated with a first light-emitting section on a first side of the luminaire and receiving light from the first LED into a first optical waveguide disposed on the first side and directing the light outward in a first direction through a light projecting portion of the first optical waveguide that is disposed between first and second waveguide ends;
powering a second LED associated with a second light-emitting section on a second side of the luminaire and receiving light from the second LED into a second optical waveguide disposed on the second side and directing the light outward in a second direction through a light projecting portion of the second optical waveguide that is disposed between first and second waveguide ends; and
attaching a shield to the luminaire and shielding the first light-emitting section and reducing the light that is emitted outward from the luminaire in the first direction while continuing to direct a same amount of the light outward in the second direction from the second light-emitting section, the shielding comprising positioning a mask area of the shield over the first optical waveguide and securing the mask area by positioning upper extensions over a top of a frame that supports the first and second optical waveguides and positioning lower extensions over a bottom of the frame and with at least one of the extensions comprising an ear that contacts against the frame and a tab that extends outward from the ear and angles relative to the ear and away from the frame.

17. The method of 16 , wherein shielding the first light-emitting section comprises positioning the shield completely across the first optical waveguide.

18. The method of 16 , wherein installing the shield over the light projecting portion of the optical waveguide comprises positioning the shield over a limited section of the light projecting portion.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising attaching the shield to the luminaire without using a tool.

20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising snapping the shield onto the luminaire and applying a compressive force onto the top and bottom of the frame to maintain the shield attached to the luminaire.

Assignees

• Ideal Ind Lighting Llc

Inventors

• Sieberth Bernd R
• Thomas Brad

Classifications

• G02B6/0068

  Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources · CPC title

• F21Y2103/20

  of polygonal shape, e.g. square or rectangular · CPC title

• G02B6/0055

  Reflecting element, sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0078 Primary

  Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays · CPC title

• F21V23/006

  the substrate being distinct from the light source holder · CPC title