Two stage optic for LED devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11112089-B2
Application number	US-201916456445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 28, 2019
Priority date	Jun 28, 2019
Publication date	Sep 7, 2021
Grant date	Sep 7, 2021

Abstract

A lighting module is disclosed. The lighting module includes a light emitting diode (LED) light source, and a total internal reflection (TIR) optical assembly. The optical assembly includes a refractor configured to be located proximate to the LED light source, and a reflector configured to be attached to the refractor. The refractor is made from a material that is resistant to thermal damage when exposed to heat generated by the LED light source.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lighting module comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) light source; and
a total internal reflection (TIR) optical assembly comprising:
a refractor configured to be located proximate to the LED light source wherein the refractor includes an upper surface that comprises a plurality of corrugations, and
a reflector configured to be attached to the refractor, wherein a lower surface of the reflector is adjacent at least a portion of the upper surface of the refractor and wherein the refractor is made from a material that is different than the reflector and provides at least a partial thermal barrier between the reflector and the LED light source.

2. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein:
the reflector comprises a hollow body configured to form an upper part of the TIR optical assembly that is not proximate to the LED light source; and
an inner surface of the hollow body is configured to substantially reflect light rays received from the LED light source in a light distribution pattern away from the LED light source.

3. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein the refractor comprises a solid body that forms a lower part of the TIR optical assembly.

4. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein:
the TIR optical assembly has a parabolic shape configured to provide an output light distribution pattern that is collimated and in a direction parallel to an axis of symmetry of the parabolic shape; and
the LED light source is located proximate to the focus of the parabolic shape.

5. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein the material is silicone.

6. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein the reflector is formed from a metallic material.

7. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein the light emitted by the LED light source is substantially collimated.

8. The lighting module of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of corrugations are configured to provide a direct line of sight from the LEI) light source to the reflector.

9. A lighting module comprising:
a light emitting diode (LED) light source; and
a total internal reflection (TIR) optical assembly comprising:
a refractor configured to be located proximate to the LEI) light source, and
a reflector configured to be attached to the refractor,

wherein the refractor is made from a material that is resistant to thermal damage when exposed to heat generated by the LED light source,
wherein the refractor comprises a solid body that forms a lower part of the TIR optical assembly and, wherein the refractor further comprises an inner surface that defines a cylindrical channel extending longitudinally through the refractor, the cylindrical channel configured to be positioned over the LED light source.

10. The lighting module of claim 9 , wherein
each corrugation of the plurality of corrugations comprising two planar faces positioned at an angle with respect to each other.

11. The lighting module of claim 10 , wherein the angle is configured to provide TIR of light rays incident on the inner surface of the refractor.

12. The lighting module of claim 11 , wherein a light ray received by the refractor, from the LED light source, traverses a path within the solid body of the refractor and exits the refractor via one of the plurality of corrugations in the upper surface in a light distribution pattern away from the LED light source.

13. The lighting module of claim 12 , wherein:
the light ray received by the refractor enters the solid body of the refractor via the inner surface and forms a refracted light ray; and
the refracted light ray is reflected by an outer surface of the refractor before exiting the refractor, the outer surface polished to provide reflection of incident light rays.

14. The lighting module of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of corrugations are designed to provide a direct line of sight from the LED light source to the reflector.

15. The lighting module of claim 10 , wherein the inner surface of the refractor is shorter than an outer surface of the refractor.

16. An optical assembly fora lighting module, the optical assembly comprising:
a refractor configured to be located proximate to an LED light source, wherein the refractor includes an upper surface that comprises a plurality of corrugations; and
a reflector configured to be attached to the refractor such that a lower surface of the reflector is adjacent at least a portion of the upper surface of the refractor, wherein:
the refractor is made from a material that is different than the material of the reflector,
wherein the plurality of corrugations are configured to provide a direct line of sight from the LED light source to the lower surface of the reflector, and
the optical assembly provides total internal reflection (TIR) of light rays emitted by the LED light source.

17. The optical assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
the reflector comprises a hollow body configured to form an upper part of the optical assembly that is not proximate to the LED light source; and
an inner surface of the hollow body is configured to substantially reflect light rays received from the LED light source in a light distribution pattern away from the LED light source.

18. The optical assembly of claim 16 , wherein the refractor comprises a solid body that forms a lower part of the optical assembly.

19. The optical assembly of claim 18 ; wherein the refractor further comprises an inner surface that defines a cylindrical channel extending longitudinally through the refractor, the cylindrical channel configured to be positioned over the LED light source.

20. The optical assembly of claim 18 , wherein a light ray received by the refractor, from the LED light source, traverses a path within the solid body of the refractor and exits the refractor via one of the plurality of corrugations in a desired light distribution pattern and away from the LED light source.

21. The optical assembly of claim 20 , wherein:
the light ray received by the refractor enters the solid body of the refractor via an inner surface and forms a refracted light ray; and
the refracted light ray is reflected by an outer surface of the refractor before exiting the refractor, the outer surface polished to provide reflection of incident light rays.

22. The optical assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
each corrugation of the plurality of corrugations comprising two planar faces positioned at an angle with respect to each other.

23. The optical assembly of claim 22 , wherein the angle is configured to provide total internal reflection (TIR) of light rays incident on an inner surface of the refractor.

24. The optical assembly of claim 16 , wherein:
the refractor and reflector form a parabolic shape optical assembly configured to provide an output light distribution pattern that is collimated and in a direction parallel to an axis of symmetry of the parabolic shape; and
the LED light source is located proximate to the focus of the parabolic shape.

25. The optical assembly of claim 16 , wherein the material is silicone.

Assignees

• Signify Holding Bv

Inventors

• Broughton Kevin C
• Dost Isaac P

Classifications

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21V29/763

  the planes containing the fins or blades having the direction of the light emitting axis · CPC title

• F21V29/504

  of refractors · CPC title

• F21V13/04 Primary

  the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)} · CPC title

• F21V7/06 Primary

  with parabolic curvature · CPC title