Light output device with movable lightguide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9274270-B2
Application number	US-201214006973-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2012
Priority date	Mar 28, 2011
Publication date	Mar 1, 2016
Grant date	Mar 1, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a light-output device ( 1; 10; 30 ) controllable to provide different light-output functions. The light-output device comprises a light-source arrangement ( 12; 31 ) configured to emit light; and a light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) arranged to receive the light and configured to guide the light to at least one light-output surface of the light-guiding system. The light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) comprises at least a first light-guide ( 11 b ; 37 ) and a second light-guide ( 11 a; 40, 41 ); and the light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) is movable relative to the light-source arrangement ( 12; 31 ) between at least a first position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the first light-guide ( 11 b ; 37 ) to provide a first light-output function, and a second position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the second light-guide ( 11 a ; 40, 41 ) to provide a second light-output function, different from the first light-output function. The present invention is based on the realization that different light-output functions conveniently and intuitively can be achieved by moving a light-guiding system comprising at least two light-guides relative to a stationary light-source arrangement. Hereby, different light-output functions can be achieved with a single stationary light-source arrangement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light-output device controllable to provide different light-output functions, comprising:
a light-source arrangement configured to emit light; and
a light-guiding system arranged to receive said light and configured to guide said light to at least one light-output surface of the light-guiding system, wherein:
said light-guiding system comprises at least a first light-guide and a second light-guide; and
said light-guiding system is movable relative to said light-source arrangement between at least a first position where light output by said light-source arrangement is guided by said first light-guide to provide a first light-output function, and a second position where light output by said light-source arrangement is guided by said second light-guide to provide a second light-output function, different from the first light-output function, and
said light-guiding system further comprising at least a first light-mixing chamber for providing light from said light-source arrangement to said first light-guide and a second light-mixing chamber for providing light from said light-source arrangement to said second light-guide.

2. The light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein said light is output through a first light-output surface of the light-guiding system to provide said first light-output function and through a second light-output surface of the light-guiding system, different from the first light-output surface, to provide said second light-output function.

3. The light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second light-guides is configured to guide light from an incoupling surface of the light-guide to an outcoupling surface of the light-guide through multiple reflections of said light at a boundary surface of said light-guide.

4. The light-output device according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one light-guide is configured to guide said light through total internal reflection.

5. The light-output device according to claim 3 , wherein said first light-guide has a cross-section area that decreases with increasing distance from said incoupling surface.

6. The light-output device according to claim 5 , wherein said light-guiding system further comprises a third light-guide, and wherein:
said first light-guide is sandwiched between said second light-guide and said third light-guide; and
each of said second and third light-guides has a cross-section area that increases with increasing distance from said incoupling surface, in such a way that a total cross-section area of said light-guiding system is substantially constant along said light-guiding system.

7. The light-output device according to claim 6 , wherein said second light-guide comprises a reflector arranged to direct said light through the outcoupling surface of the second light-guide.

8. The light-output device according to claim 7 , wherein said light-guiding system is rotatable relative to said light-source arrangement around an axis of rotation.

9. The light-output device according to claim 8 , wherein said light-guiding system is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation.

10. The light-output device according to claim 8 , wherein said light-guiding system is arranged substantially in parallel with said axis of rotation.

11. The light-output device according to claim 10 , wherein said light-source arrangement comprises a light-source arranged offset from said axis of rotation.

12. The light-output device according to claim 7 , wherein said light-guiding system is displaceable relative to said light-source arrangement.

13. The light-output device according to claim 12 , wherein said light-guiding system comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being rotatable relative the second portion.

14. The light-output device according to claim 13 , wherein said light-source arrangement comprises a light-emitting diode, a heat sink arranged in thermal connection with said light-emitting diode, and a driver for providing power to the light-emitting diode.

15. A light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein the light mixing devices are light mixing chambers.

Assignees

• Vissenberg Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie
• Van Gorkom Ramon Pascal
• Bukkems Peter Johannes Martinus
• Verhoeven Mark Johannes Antonius
• Duijmelink Andreas Aloysius Henricus
• De Wilt Monica Antonia Maria
• Foederer Richard Josephus Arnoldus Maria
• Koninkl Philips Nv

Inventors

• Vissenberg Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie
• Van Gorkom Ramon Pascal
• Bukkems Peter Johannes Martinus
• Verhoeven Mark Johannes Antonius
• Duijmelink Andreas Aloysius Henricus
• De Wilt Monica Antonia Maria
• Foederer Richard Josephus Arnoldus Maria

Classifications

• G02B6/0006

  Coupling light into the fibre (in general G02B6/4298) · CPC title

• F21S6/002

  Table lamps, e.g. for ambient lighting · CPC title

• G02B6/0001

  specially adapted for lighting devices or systems (lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/3504

  Rotating, tilting or pivoting the waveguides, or with the waveguides describing a curved path (rotary joint G02B6/3628) · CPC title

• F21V14/02

  by movement of light sources {(in vehicle head lamps F21S41/657)} · CPC title