Pattern-projecting light-output system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9404629-B2
Application number	US-201013256235-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2010
Priority date	Mar 13, 2009
Publication date	Aug 2, 2016
Grant date	Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

A light-output system ( 1 ), for forming a controllable pattern ( 10 ) of illuminated spots ( 11 a - b ) in a distant projection plane ( 3 ). The light-output system ( 1 ) comprises a plurality of individually controllable light-output devices ( 6 a - c ) arranged in an array ( 5 ) of light-output devices with a light-output device pitch (P LS ), and an optical system ( 7 ) arranged between the array ( 5 ) of light-output devices and the projection plane ( 3 ). The optical system ( 1 ) is configured to project light emitted by the array ( 5 ) of light-output devices in the projection plane ( 5 ) as a projected array of illuminated spots ( 11 a - c ) having a projection pitch (P spot ) that is larger than the light-output device pitch (P LS ). Using this light-output system, practically all of the luminous power output by the light-output devices is used for projecting the light patterns.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A light-output system, for forming a controllable pattern of illuminated spots in a distant projection plane, said light-output system comprising:
a plurality of individually controllable light-output devices arranged in an array of light-output devices with a light-output device pitch, wherein each individually controllable light-output device comprises a plurality of light-sources; and
an optical system arranged between said array of light-output devices and said projection plane, said optical system being configured to project light emitted by said array of light-output devices in said projection plane as a projected array of the illuminated spots having a projection pitch being larger than said light-output device pitch;
wherein each of a first device and a second device of said individually controllable light-output devices includes at least a respective first light-source configured to emit light having a first characteristic and a respective second light-source configured to emit light having a second characteristic that is different from said first characteristic;
wherein said system is configured such that a majority of a first light spot having said first characteristic formed by said first light-source of said first device and a majority of a second light spot having said second characteristic formed by said second light-source of said second device overlap on said projection plane to form one of the illuminated spots
wherein the plurality of light-sources in a given one of the plurality of light-output devices are spaced apart by a distance Δ LS :

Δ
LS

=

n
⁢

⁢

z
o

z
i

⁢

P
Spot

,

where n is an integer 1, 2, 3, . . . , and z i is the optical distance between an optical element of said array of optical elements, z o is the optical distance between said given light-output device and said associated optical element, and P spot is said projection pitch.

2. The light-output system according to claim 1 , wherein said optical system comprises an array of optical elements having an optical element pitch.

3. The light-output system according to claim 2 , wherein said optical elements are focusing lenses.

4. The light-output system according to claim 2 , wherein said optical element pitch is larger than said light-output device pitch and smaller than said projection pitch.

5. The light-output system according to claim 4 , wherein said optical element pitch is larger than said light-output device pitch by a factor ranging between 1 and 1.25.

6. The light-output system according to claim 2 , wherein said optical system further comprises a beam-directing member arranged between said array of optical elements and said projection plane, said beam-directing member being configured to direct light-beams exiting from said array of optical elements towards said projected array of illuminated spots in said projection plane.

7. The light-output system according to claim 2 , wherein said optical system further comprises a beam-directing member arranged between said array of light-output devices and said array of optical elements, said beam-directing member being configured to direct light-beams emitted by said light-output devices towards said projected array of illuminated spots in said projection plane.

8. The light-output system according to claim 6 , wherein said beam-directing member comprises an array of directing optical elements, each being configured to direct a light-beam emitted by an associated light-output device in said array of light-output devices towards an associated spot in said projected array of illuminated spots in said projection plane.

9. The light-output system according to claim 1 , configured to enable relative movement between said array of light-output devices and said optical system.

10. The light-output system according to claim 9 , configured to enable adjustment of a distance between said array of light-output devices and said optical system.

11. The light-output system according to claim 1 , wherein said first characteristic is a first color and said second characteristic is a second color.

12. The light-output system according to claim 11 , wherein said first light spot and said second light spot essentially fully overlap to form said one of the illumination spots.

13. The light-output system according to claim 11 , wherein said optical system includes a first optical element that is arranged primarily in front of said first device and is configured to project light having said first characteristic from said first device to form said first light spot, and wherein said optical system includes a second optical element that is arranged primarily in front of said second device and is configured to project light having said second characteristic from said second device to form said second light spot.

Assignees

• Krijn Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael
• Vissenberg Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie
• Dekker Tim
• Koninklijke Philips Nv

Inventors

• Krijn Marcellinus Petrus Carolus Michael
• Vissenberg Michel Cornelis Josephus Marie
• Dekker Tim

Classifications

• F21V23/04

  the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00) · CPC title

• F21V5/048

  the lens being a simple lens adapted to cooperate with a point-like source for emitting mainly in one direction and having an axis coincident with the main light transmission direction, e.g. convergent or divergent lenses, plano-concave or plano-convex lenses · CPC title

• F21S10/00 Primary

  Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21Y2105/16

  square or rectangular, e.g. for light panels · CPC title