Linear indirect LED lighting system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459396-B1
Application number	US-201414487815-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Sep 16, 2014
Priority date	Oct 4, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

An edge-lit lighting apparatus includes a light source and a light guide body. The light guide body includes an input edge, the light source positioned to project light through the input edge in a primary emission direction, the light guide extending from the input edge. The light guide body includes a mean elongation plane which is angularly offset from the primary emission direction. The light guide body includes a reflective side adjacent the input edge and configured to redirect light from the light source. The light guide includes an output side configured to disperse redirected light from the reflected side. The light guide body can extend curvilinearly from the input edge. The lighting apparatus can be configured as an indirect lighting system, and can help increase efficiency for edge-lit lighting systems.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An edge-lit lighting apparatus comprising:
a light source; and
a light guide body comprising
an input edge defined by at least a first boundary and a second boundary, the light source positioned to project light through the input edge between the first and second boundaries in a primary emission direction, the light guide body extending from the first and second boundaries of the input edge in elongation directions that vary with distance of the light guide body from the input edge, the elongation directions having an average elongation direction that defines a mean elongation plane angularly offset from the primary emission direction;
a reflective side adjacent the input edge at the first boundary, the reflective side extending from the first boundary of the input edge to a distal end of the light guide body, the reflective side having a curvilinear profile configured to receive and redirect light from the light source;
an output side adjacent the input edge at the second boundary, the output side extending from the second boundary of the input edge to the distal end of the light guide body, the output side having an output portion configured to disperse redirected light from the reflective side: and
a camber line extending from the input edge to the distal end, the camber line equidistant from the reflective side and the output side, the camber line tangent to the mean elongation plane.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the light guide body extends from the input edge in a curvilinear direction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective side is a parabolic surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective side is a total internal reflective surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective side further comprises a reflective finish.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output side further comprises at least one of a diffuser, a micro lens, a micro prism, a Fresnel pattern, or a kinoform.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the reflective side includes a first reflective surface and a second reflective surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:
the input edge of the light guide body is configured to be coupled with the light source; and
the input edge includes at least one of a concave, convex, or dimpled surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second light source, the second light source positioned to project light through the input edge in the primary emission direction.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a housing at least partially enclosing the light source and the light guide body.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output side has a reflective portion and an output portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the reflective side and the reflective portion of the output side are configured to obstruct a direct view of the light source.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein:
the reflective side further comprises a first coupling surface adjacent the input edge and a primary reflective surface;
the reflective portion of the output side further comprises a second coupling surface adjacent the input edge; and
the first and second coupling surfaces are configured to redirect at least a portion of the light from the light source towards the primary reflective surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the light guide body further comprises an extrusion axis, and the light guide body has a uniform cross section along the extrusion axis.

15. An edge-lit light guide apparatus for emitting light from a light source comprising:
a light guide body comprising
an input edge having a first boundary and a second boundary, the input edge configured to receive light from a light source in a direction along an emission axis, the light guide extending from the input edge in elongation directions, which elongation directions vary with increasing angles from the emission axis as a distance of the light guide body increases from the input edge,
a mean elongation plane angularly offset from a substantially normal reference axis to the input edge, the mean elongation plane being oriented in a direction defined by an average of the elongation directions of the light guide,
a reflective side adjacent the input edge at the first boundary, the reflective side extending from the input edge to a distal end of the light guide body, the reflective side having a curvilinear profile configured to receive and redirect light from the light source when the light source projects light through the input edge, and
an output side adjacent the input edge at the second boundary, the output side extending from the second boundary to the distal end of the light guide body, the output side having an output portion configured to receive and disperse redirected light from the reflective side.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the entire output side comprises at least one of a diffuser, a micro lens, a micro prism, a Fresnel pattern, or a kinoform.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the input edge further comprises a concave portion, the concave portion configured to be coupled with the light source.

18. An edge-lit lighting apparatus comprising:
a light source; and
a curved light guide body comprising
an input edge coupled with the light source, the input edge having a first boundary and a second boundary, the light source positioned to project light through the input edge between the first boundary and the second boundary, the light projected in a primary emission direction, the light guide body extending substantially curvilinearly from the input edge,
a total internal reflective side adjacent the input edge, the total internal reflective side extending from the first boundary of the input edge to a distal end of the guide body, the total internal reflective side configured to receive and redirect light from the light source, and
an output side adjacent the input edge, the output side extending from the second boundary of the input edge to the distal end of the guide body, the output side positioned to receive and disperse redirected light from the total internal reflective side.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of light sources coupled with the input edge, the plurality of light sources projecting light through the input edge in the primary emission direction.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the curved light guide apparatus includes a mean elongation axis angularly offset from the primary emission direction.

Assignees

• Universal Lighting Tech Inc

Inventors

• Householder John R

Classifications

• G02B6/0073

  Light emitting diode [LED] · CPC title

• G02B6/0053

  Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0021

  for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses · CPC title

• G02B6/0051

  Diffusing sheet or layer · CPC title

• G02B6/0058 Primary

  varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide · CPC title