Outdoor and/or enclosed structure LED luminaire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9581750-B2
Application number	US-201514671512-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2015
Priority date	Mar 15, 2013
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

Abstract

A luminaire for use in lighting a large open space such as a parking lot or deck of a parking garage includes a plurality of optical waveguides disposed in side-by-side relationship and together defining a closed path and at least one LED associated with each optical waveguide and disposed at a first end of the associated optical waveguide.

First claim

We claim:

1. An optical waveguide assembly, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material that exhibits a total internal reflection characteristic wherein the body is tapered in a first direction from a first end to a second end opposite the first end and comprises a constant cross sectional shape along a width transverse to the first direction;
a light coupling portion disposed adjacent the first end of the body wherein the light coupling portion comprises refractive and reflective portions that direct light produced by a light source into the first end and in the first direction; and
light extracting features disposed on an inner side of the body of optically transmissive material and adapted to extract light out of the body of optically transmissive material;
wherein the refractive and reflective portions extend transverse to a planar surface of the first end; and
wherein the second end of the body of optically transmissive material comprises a wedge-shaped protrusion on the inner side thereof adapted to extract light out of the body and a bottom protrusion adapted to provide structural support.

2. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises at least one LED element disposed adjacent to the light coupling portion.

3. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 2 , wherein the LED element is disposed in an off-center position with respect to a center line of the first end of the body of optically transmissive material.

4. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the body of optically transmissive material further comprises one or more protrusions near the second end of the body.

5. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the refractive portion comprises a central convex portion and the reflective portion comprises a series of ridges disposed on either side of the central convex portion.

6. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 5 , wherein the reflective portion comprises one ridge disposed on a first side of the central convex portion and further comprises one ridge disposed on a second side of the central convex portion.

7. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 1 , wherein the width of the body of optically transmissive material is substantially smaller than a length along the first direction and the width extends between the inner side and the outer side, the body of optically transmissive material further comprising:
a plurality of channels and ridges disposed on the inner side between the first end and the second end opposite the first end; and
an intermediate surface disposed between and abutting each channel and each ridge, wherein the intermediate surface is transverse to the outer side, and wherein the ridge comprises a plurality of optical features disposed thereon.

8. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of optical features disposed on the ridge spread light.

9. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of optical features disposed on the ridge are discretely formed.

10. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of optical features disposed on the ridge are curved protrusions.

11. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of optical features disposed on the ridge are curved indentations.

12. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 7 , wherein the ridges comprise reflecting surfaces that are inclined relative to the center line of the body of optically transmissive material.

13. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 7 , wherein the channel and the ridge at least partially recycle light.

Assignees

• Cree Inc

Inventors

• Wilcox Kurt S
• Medendorp Jr Nicholas W
• Kinnune Brian
• Trott Gary David
• Castillo Mario A
• Lopez Peter
• Pratt S Scott
• Dixon Mark
• Dungan William L

Classifications

• F21W2131/10

  Outdoor lighting · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F21K9/61

  using light guides · CPC title

• F21W2131/103

  of streets or roads · CPC title

• G02B6/0038 Primary

  Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide · CPC title