Lighting Assembly with LEDs and Three-Part Optical Elements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017154552-A1
Application number	US-201715429320-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 10, 2017
Priority date	Jul 30, 2012
Publication date	Jun 1, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A lighting assembly includes LEDs arranged at a surface of a substrate. Each optical element of a number of optical elements is proximate an associated LED such that each optical element overlies a single LED and each LED underlies a single optical element. Each optical element includes a first part, a second part and a third part. The first part includes a first curved surface and the second part includes a second curved surface that intersects with the first curved surface at a region between the first part and the second part. The first part and the second part each have a peak relative to the substrate, the peak being spaced from the region between the first part and the second part. The third part extends beyond the region between the first part and the second part in a direction away from the associated LED. Each optical element is configured to direct light from the associated LED so that the lighting assembly can illuminate a substantially rectangular region.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of illuminating an area using a light assembly that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a plurality of optical elements, each optical element associated with one of the plurality of LEDs and each LED associated with one of the plurality of optical elements, the method comprising:
directing light from a set of LEDs of the plurality of LEDs toward the area, wherein directing the light comprises directing the light from each LED of the set of LEDs through the associated optical element such that light is directed across the area, wherein the set of LEDs includes all or some of the LEDs; wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements includes:
a first element;
a second element that intersects with the first element in a region between the first element and the second element, wherein the first element and the second element are shaped so that at least one surface normal of the first element intersects with at least one surface normal of the second element and wherein the first and the second elements are configured so that the light from the associated LED exits the associated optical element through the first and the second elements; and
a third element extending beyond the region between the first element and the second element in a direction away from the associated LED; and
wherein directing the light from the set of LEDs toward the area comprises directing the light in a manner that does not create hot spots or result in dead spots on the area regardless of whether the set of LEDs includes all of the LEDs of the plurality of LEDs or some of the LEDs of the plurality of LEDs.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein some of the plurality of LEDs fail to operate during directing the light from the plurality of LEDs and wherein the step of directing the light comprises directing the light from operative ones of the plurality of LEDs toward the area such that the light from each operative LED is directed across the area.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the light assembly configured so that failure of one or more of the set of LEDs will cause an illumination level of light emitted from the light assembly to decrease while a uniformity of the light emitted from the light assembly remains substantially the same.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the area comprises a display surface of a billboard and wherein directing the light from the plurality of LEDs comprises illuminating the display surface of the billboard, the display surface extending between outer edges of the billboard.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the display surface of the billboard is illuminated in a manner that avoids light pollution.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the area comprises a display surface of a billboard; the billboard is 48 feet wide between outer edges of the billboard; the display surface of the billboard displays media content; directing the light from the plurality of LEDs comprises illuminating a first portion of the display surface of the billboard; the method further comprises directing light from a second light assembly to illuminate a second portion of the display surface of the billboard; and the light assembly and the second light assembly illuminate the display surface of the billboard between the outer edges of the billboard so media content on the display surface can be viewed using only the light assembly and the second light assembly.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein the display surface of the billboard is illuminated in a manner that avoids light pollution.

8 . A method of illuminating an area using a light assembly that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a plurality of optical elements, each optical element associated with one of the plurality of LEDs and each LED associated with one of the optical elements, the method comprising:
directing light away from the plurality of LEDs toward the area, wherein directing the light comprises directing the light such that light exiting from each optical element is directed across the area; and wherein each optical element includes:
a first element;
a second element that intersects with the first element in a region between the first element and the second element, wherein the first element and the second element are shaped so that at least one surface normal of the first element intersect with at least one surface normal of the second element; and
a third element extending beyond the region between the first element and the second element in a direction away from the associated LED;
wherein if some of the LEDs fail to operate during directing the light away from the plurality of LEDs, the step of directing the light comprises directing the light from operative ones of the plurality of LEDs toward the area such that the light from each operative LED is directed across the area.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the light assembly is configured so that failure of one or more of the LEDs will cause an illumination level of light emitted from the light assembly to decrease while a uniformity of the light emitted from the light assembly remains substantially the same.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein directing the light away from the plurality of LEDs comprises directing the light in a manner that does not create hot spots or result in dead spots on the area.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the area comprises a display surface of a billboard and wherein directing the light from the plurality of LEDs comprises illuminating the entire display surface of the billboard, the display surface extending between outer edges of the billboard.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the display surface is illuminated in a manner that avoids light pollution.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the area comprises a display surface of a billboard; the billboard is 48 feet wide between outer edges of the billboard; the display surface of the billboard displays media content; directing the light from the plurality of LEDs comprises illuminating a first portion of the display surface of the billboard; the method further comprises directing light from a second light assembly to illuminate a second portion of the display surface of the billboard; and the light assembly and the second light assembly illuminate the display surface of the billboard between the outer edges of the billboard so media content on the display surface can be viewed using only the light assembly and the second light assembly.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the display surface is illuminated in a manner that avoids light pollution.

15 . A method of illuminating a billboard using a first light assembly that includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) and a plurality of optical elements and a second light assembly that includes a plurality of LEDs and a plurality of optical elements, each optical element associated with one of the plurality of LEDs and each LED associated with one of the optical elements, the method comprising:
directing light from the first light assembly toward a first portion the billboard, wherein the light is directed across the first portion of the billboard; and directing light from the second light assembly toward a second portion the billboard, wherein the light is directed across the second portion of the billboard; wherein each optical element of the plurality of optical elements includes:
a first element;
a second element that intersects with the first element in a region between the first element and the second eleme

Assignees

• Ultravision Tech Llc

Inventors

• Auyeung David Siucheong
• Hall William Y
• Magarill Simon

Classifications

• F21K9/60

  Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction · CPC title

• F21V29/74

  with fins or blades · CPC title

• F21Y2105/12

  characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities · CPC title

• G09F15/00

  Boards, hoardings, pillars, or like structures for notices, placards, posters, or the like · CPC title

• F21V29/70

  characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks · CPC title