(12) United States Patent
`Begemann et al.
`
`USOO6250774B1
`(10) Patent No.:
`US 6,250,774 B1
`(45) Date of Patent:
`*Jun. 26, 2001
`
`(54) LUMINAIRE
`(75) Inventors: Simon H. A. Begemann; Albertus J.
`H. M. Kock, both of Eindhoven (NL)
`(73) Assignee: U.S. Philips Corp., New York, NY
`(US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`This patent issued on a continued pros-
`ecution application filed under 37 CFR
`1.53(d), and is subject to the twenty year
`patent term provisions of 35 U.S.C.
`154(a)(2).
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/012,319
`(22) Filed:
`Jan. 23, 1998
`(30)
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`Jan. 23, 1997 (EP) ................................................. 972OO149
`(51) Int. Cl." ........................................................ F21V 7/09
`(52) U.S. Cl. .......................... 362/231; 362/240; 362/245;
`362/800
`(58) Field of Search ..................................... 362/230, 231,
`362/236, 237, 240, 241, 243, 244, 245,
`251, 800
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`10/1987 Sakai et al. .......................... 362/800
`4,698,730
`4/1992 Smith ................................... 340/468
`5,105,179
`4/1995 Klinke et al. ........................ 362/249
`5,404.282
`12/1996 Suzuki et al. ........................ 362/240
`5,580,156
`4/1999 Uchio et al. ......................... 362/244
`5,893,633
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3022974A1
`1/1982 (DE).
`3806217A1
`9/1989 (DE).
`4431750
`3/1996 (DE).
`0748979A1
`12/1996 (EP).
`WO9523313
`8/1995 (WO).
`* cited by examiner
`Primary Examiner Y. Quach
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Dicran Halajian
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`A luminaire (1) comprises a housing (10) with a light
`emission window (11), and at least one lighting module (2)
`accommodated in the housing for illuminating an object.
`The lighting module comprises a set of lighting units (20)
`which each comprise at least an LED chip (30) and an
`optical System (40) coupled thereto. The lighting units
`illuminate respective portions of an object. The LED chips
`Supply a luminous flux of at least 5 lm each.
`15 Claims, 8 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`VWGoA EX1006
`U.S. Patent No. 9,955,551
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 26, 2001
`
`Sheet 1 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
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`
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`O O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O. O.
`
`1.
`
`FIG. 1B
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 26, 2001
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`Sheet 2 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
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`-44
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`45
`40
`1-1
`-- 43b
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 26, 2001
`Jun. 26, 2001
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`Sheet 3 of 8
`Sheet 3 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
`US 6,250,774 BI
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 26,
`
`2001
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`US 6,250,774 B1
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`FIG.5
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`

`

`Jun. 26, 2001
`Jun. 26, 2001
`
`Sheet 5 of 8
`Sheet 5 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
`US 6,250,774 B1
`
`FIG.8
`
`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`
`
`320,3520*
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 26, 2001
`Jun. 26, 2001
`
`Sheet 6 of 8
`Sheet 6 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
`US 6,250,774 B1
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`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 26, 2001
`Jun. 26, 2001
`
`Sheet 7 of 8
`Sheet 7 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
`US 6,250,774 B1
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 26, 2001
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`Sheet 8 of 8
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`US 6,250,774 B1
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`502I
`502I 502I 510
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`551
`552
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`US 6,250,774 B1
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`1
`LUMINAIRE
`
`2
`neous lighting result, for example illuminance or luminance.
`Overlaps of the portions to be illuminated may also be
`desirable for achieving an even light distribution. A measure
`for the overlaps is the overlap factor (O) defined as
`O=(XS2-C2)/G2 where XS2 is the Sum of the beam angles
`of the lighting units, and G2 is the optical Solid angle
`covered by the object to be illuminated with respect to the
`luminaire. The beam angle of a lighting unit is defined here
`as the Solid angle of that portion of the beam generated by
`the lighting unit within which 65% of the luminous flux of
`the lighting unit is contained and within which the luminous
`intensity is greater than or equal to that outside it. A lighting
`unit may illuminate portions of the object remote from one
`another, for example as a result of components which Split
`up the beam of the lighting unit. In that case the beam angle
`is the Sum of the Solid angles of those portions of the beam
`within which in total a 65% fraction of the luminous flux of
`the lighting unit is contained and within which the luminous
`intensity is greater than or equal to that outside Said portions.
`The overlap factor is preferably at most 10 in a fully
`illuminated object. The homogeneity of the lighting result
`increases only little when the overlap factor increases fur
`ther. The ratio of the overlap factor (O) to the number of
`lighting units (N) is preferably below 0.2. At a higher ratio,
`comparatively strongly widening beams are necessary, So
`that the light generated by the luminaire can be aimed leSS
`efficiently within the boundaries of the envisaged object and
`the possibilities of varying the distribution of the illumi
`nance are limited.
`It is favourable when the LED chips generate light mainly
`in a wavelength range from approximately 520 nm to
`approximately 600 nm for applications where the luminous
`efficacy plays a major role and colour rendering is of lesser
`importance, for example for lighting of roads and garages.
`LED chips may be used for this purpose, for example
`comprising an active layer of AlInGaP with an emission
`maximum at 592 nm. A combination of red-, green-, and
`blue-emitting LED chips may be used in applications where
`on the contrary the colour rendering is important, Such as
`lighting of domestic spaces, for example LED chips having
`an active layer of AlInGaP for emission in a wavelength
`range of 590-630 nm, and LED chips with an active layer
`of InCaN for emission in the wavelength ranges of 520–565
`nm and 430-490 nm. The active layers of a red-, a green
`and a blue-emitting LED chip may then be provided on a
`common Substrate, for example made of Sapphire or Silicon
`carbide, and these LED chips may have a common optical
`System. Alternatively, for example, lighting units may be
`used in which the LED chip emits UV radiation and the
`optical System of the lighting units comprises means for
`converting UV radiation into visible radiation. The means
`for converting UV radiation are formed, for example, by a
`luminescent layer provided on the LED chip.
`An attractive embodiment of the luminaire according to
`the invention is characterized in that the Set of lighting units
`comprises two or more varieties of lighting units for illu
`minating portions of the object with mutually differing
`Spectra. The Spectra of the lighting units may then be
`adapted to the optical properties, for example the reflectivity,
`of the individual portions of the object, So that an optimum
`visibility of these portions is realized. The different spectra
`in addition render it easy for an observer to orient himself.
`The luminance often lies in the mesopic vision range in
`the case of outdoor lighting Such as Street lighting, Safety
`lighting, and lighting of parking lots, i.e. between 0.001 and
`3 cd/m. The eye sensitivity to light originating from the
`periphery of the field of Vision under these circumstances is
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`The invention relates to a luminaire comprising a housing
`with a light emission window, and at least one lighting
`module for illuminating an object accommodated in the
`housing and comprising a light Source and optical means.
`Such luminaires are generally known and are used, for
`example, for Street lighting, for lighting a portion of a Street,
`or in Spotlighting, for example for lighting objects in shop
`windows.
`Aluminaire for Street lighting of the kind described in the
`opening paragraph and fitted with two lighting modules is
`known from DE 44.31 750 A1. The first lighting module is
`designed for illuminating a Surface portion of the road which
`extends to comparatively far away from the luminaire. The
`Second lighting module is designed for illuminating a Sur
`face portion close to the luminaire. The light Sources of the
`luminaire can be controlled independently of one another So
`as to illuminate a road Section optimally both in wet and in
`dry weather. The lighting modules in the known luminaire
`each have a tubular discharge lamp as the light Source and
`a reflector as the optical means. A disadvantage of Such a
`luminaire is that the light from the light sources is difficult
`to concentrate into a beam. More than 50% is often incident
`outside the object to be illuminated in practice.
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`15
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`It is an object of the invention to provide a luminaire in
`which the light generated by the light Source is utilized more
`efficiently.
`According to the invention, the lighting module com
`prises a Set, for example a few dozen, of lighting units which
`35
`each comprise at least one LED chip and an optical System
`cooperating there with, the LED chips and optical Systems
`forming the light Source and the optical means, respectively,
`while the lighting units illuminate portions of the object
`during operation, and the LED chips each Supply a luminous
`flux of at least 5 lm during operation.
`An LED chip comprises an active layer of a Semiconduc
`tor material, for example AlInGaP or InCaN, which emits
`light upon the passage of a current. Integrated units of an
`LED chip and a primary optical System are generally known
`under the name of LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes), also
`referred to as LED lamps. The surface area of the active
`layer of an LED chip is comparatively Small, for example of
`the order of a few tenths of a mm' up to a few mm . An LED
`chip thus forms a good approximation of a point Source, So
`that the light generated thereby can be easily and accurately
`concentrated into a beam. Since the LED chips jointly
`illuminate the object, each individual beam only hitting a
`portion of the object, the beams may be narrow, So that they
`can be aimed with high accuracy within the boundaries of
`the object and only little light is incident outside the object.
`The use of LED chips which each supply a luminous flux of
`at least 5 lm during operation results in a luminaire accord
`ing to the invention which, in Spite of a comparatively
`limited number of lighting units, yet offers wide application
`possibilities, for example for Street lighting, Spotlighting, or
`floodlighting. The light distribution may be adjusted in a
`flexible manner through a control of the luminous fluxes of
`lighting modules or of Separate lighting units of a lighting
`module.
`If so desired, the portions of the object to be illuminated
`may overlap one another So as to achieve a more homoge
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`3
`a maximum for a wavelength which is relatively short,
`approximately 510 nm, compared with a wavelength,
`approximately 555 nm, for which the eye sensitivity to light
`coming from the center of the field of vision is a maximum.
`A modification of the preceding embodiment which is
`particularly favorable for outdoor lighting is characterized in
`that the Set of lighting units comprises a first variety of
`lighting units for illuminating central portions of the object
`with a spectrum having a maximum at a first wavelength and
`a Second variety of lighting units for illuminating peripheral
`portions of the object with a spectrum having a maximum at
`a Second wavelength which is Smaller than the first wave
`length. This modification is particularly Suitable for road
`lighting, the first portion being, for example, a driving lane,
`and the Second portion a lane lying alongside the former
`lane. A higher visibility of the Surroundings, and a resulting
`Shorter reaction time of drivers present in the driving lane
`are obtained thereby (given a certain energy consumption).
`The different spectra provide a clear demarcation of the
`driving lane, So that drivers can easily orient themselves. It
`is favorable when the first wavelength lies in a range from
`550 to 610 nm and the second wavelength in a range from
`500 to 530 nm. It is achieved thereby that the peripheral
`portions are illuminated with a spectrum to which the eye
`Sensitivity is high. In addition, Such a spectrum can be
`generated with a high luminous efficacy by means of LED
`chips having an active layer of the InGaN type.
`A favourable embodiment of the luminaire according to
`the invention is characterized in that the Set of lighting units
`comprises two or more types of lighting units for generating
`beams which widen more and leSS Strongly. In this
`embodiment, the portions of the object to be illuminated
`may have approximately the Same Surface area and also
`approximately the same illuminance in that portions of the
`object situated close to the luminaire are illuminated with
`comparatively Strongly widening beams and portions farther
`removed with comparatively leSS Strongly widening beams.
`This renders it easier to subdivide the surface of the object
`to be illuminated into portions which are to be illuminated
`by Specific lighting units.
`The optical System of the lighting units may comprise, for
`example, reflecting, refracting, and/or diffracting optical
`elements. A practical embodiment of the luminaire accord
`ing to the invention is characterized in that the optical
`System of the lighting units comprises a primary and a
`Secondary optical System. The primary optical System is
`provided with a primary reflector on which the LED chip is
`provided and with a, for example hemispherical, transparent
`envelope in which the LED chip is embedded, and said
`Secondary optical System being provided with a Secondary,
`for example conical reflector in whose comparatively nar
`row end portion the LED chip is positioned. It is favourable
`for the generation of comparatively narrow beams when the
`Secondary reflector Supports a lens at an end opposite the
`comparatively narrow end portion.
`An attractive embodiment is characterized in that the
`optical System of the lighting unit comprises a transparent
`body with a first optical part which deflects the light gen
`erated by the LED chip through refraction and a Second
`optical part which deflects the light generated by the LED
`chip through reflection.
`A favourable modification of the above embodiment is
`characterized in that the transparent body has a wide end and
`opposite thereto a comparatively narrow end portion, in
`which end portion the LED chip is embedded, while the side
`of the LED chip remote from the wide end of the transparent
`body is provided on a primary reflector. The transparent
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`body has a spherical portion which is centrally positioned
`relative to an axis, which is recessed into the wide end, and
`which forms the first optical part, while the body has a
`peripheral portion around the axis with a paraboloidal cir
`cumferential Surface around the axis which forms the Second
`optical part.
`The lighting units may be provided with means for
`adjusting a predetermined beam direction. The light distri
`bution of the luminaire may thus be readily adapted during
`manufacture to the conditions of use, for example, in the
`case of a Street lighting luminaire the width of the road and
`the interspacings of the posts on which the luminaires are
`mounted.
`A favourable embodiment is characterized in that com
`ponents of the optical Systems of different lighting units are
`mutually integrated. This simplifies the operation of assem
`bling the luminaire. Depending on the application, the
`components may, for example, deflect, narrow, and/or split
`up the beams generated by the LED chips. In a practical
`modification of this embodiment, the integrated components
`of the optical Systems are reliefs in a transparent plate in the
`light emission window. Preferably, the relief is formed by
`Substantially mirror-symmetrical ridges. Such a relief is
`capable of forming two comparatively strongly deflected
`beams from the incident beam with little stray light.
`In a favourable modification of the above embodiment,
`lighting units are arranged in rows which extend along a
`longitudinal axis, lighting units in one and the same row
`having optical axes which are directed Substantially mutu
`ally parallel and transverse to the longitudinal axis, while
`optical axes of lighting units of different rows enclose an
`angle with one another each time around a further axis
`parallel to the longitudinal axis, and the integrated compo
`nents form deflected beams, which are Substantially Sym
`metrically situated relative to a plane through the optical
`axis of the lighting unit and the further axis, from the beams
`formed by the lighting units. A comparatively large Surface
`area to be illuminated can be covered at angles around the
`longitudinal axis thanks to the mutually differing orienta
`tions of the rows, and at angles transverse to the further axis
`and transverse to the optical axis thanks to the further optical
`means. Nevertheless, the luminaire is of a comparatively
`Simple construction. The arrangement of the lighting units in
`rows, with the lighting units within one row having the same
`direction, renders possible a simple placement of the light
`ing units.
`One or Several luminaires according to the invention may
`form part of a lighting System according to the invention. An
`attractive embodiment of Such a lighting System comprises
`one or Several luminaires and a control System, the one or
`Several luminaires together having at least two lighting
`modules which are controllable independently of one
`another by means of the control System. The control System
`may receive Signals from Sensors and other Sources, So that
`the lighting situation, for example the light distribution,
`illuminance, or colour temperature, can be automatically
`adapted to the circumstances. The lighting System has the
`advantages here that the luminous flux of an LED chip is
`controllable over a wide range and that the LED chips
`generate light Substantially immediately after Switching-on.
`If the lighting System is used for Street lighting, luminaires
`for Street lighting may be connected to a common control
`System. To adapt the lighting conditions to the weather
`conditions, the control System may receive signals inter alia
`from a fog detector and from means which measure the
`reflection properties of the road Surface. A System for
`interior lighting receives Signals, for example, from a day
`
`

`

`S
`light Sensor which measures the luminous flux of incident
`daylight and from a proximity detector which detects the
`presence of perSons in the room to be illuminated.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`FIG. 1A diagrammatically shows a first embodiment of
`the luminaire according to the invention in elevation,
`FIG. 1B shows a detail of this elevation,
`FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the luminaire taken on the line
`II-II in FIG. 1B,
`FIG. 3 is a longitudinal Sectional view of a lighting unit
`of the first embodiment of the luminaire,
`FIG. 4 shows the Subdivision of the object into spatial
`portions,
`FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a lighting unit
`in a modification
`FIG. 6 shows a second embodiment,
`FIG. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line VII-VII in
`FIG. 6,
`FIG. 8 shows a third embodiment,
`FIG. 9 is a cross-section taken on the line IX-IX in FIG.
`8,
`FIG. 10A is a cross-section taken on the line X-X in
`FIG. 9,
`FIG. 10B is a cross-section taken on the line X-X in
`FIG. 10A,
`FIG. 11 shows a fourth embodiment, and
`FIG. 12 shows a lighting System according to the inven
`tion.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`A first embodiment of the luminaire 1 according to the
`invention is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 2. The luminaire
`forms part of a row of luminaires which are placed with a
`mutual interspacing of 42 m each time. The luminaire 1
`shown comprises a housing 10 with a light emission window
`11 in which a transparent plate 16 is accommodated. The
`luminaire, which is mounted to a post (not shown) with a
`height of 7 m, is designed for Street lighting. A lighting
`module for illuminating an object d (see FIG. 4) is accom
`modated in the housing. The object d to be illuminated here
`is a road section d1 with a width of 7 m and two strips d2,
`d3 on either side of the road section d1 having a width of 2.5
`m each. The road Section d1 and the two Strips extend on
`either Side of the post Over a distance of 42 m. The lighting
`module comprises a light Source and optical means.
`The lighting module 2 comprises a set of, here 144
`lighting units 20 which each comprise an LED chip 30 and
`an optical system 40 cooperating with said chip. The LED
`chips 30 and the optical systems 40 form the light source and
`the optical means, respectively. The lighting units 20 illu
`minate portions of the object. The LED chips 30 each supply
`a luminous flux of at least 5 lm, in this case 23 lm.
`A lighting unit 20 is shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The
`LED chip 30 is provided on a primary reflector 41 of metal
`which is fastened on a synthetic resin support 21. The LED
`chip 30 is accommodated in a Synthetic resin envelope 42
`which together with the primary reflector 41 forms a primary
`optical system. LED chips 30 having an active layer of
`AlInGaP are used in the embodiment shown. The active
`layer has a Surface of 0.5x0.5 mm perpendicular to an
`optical axis 44 and a thickness of 0.2 mm. The total
`light-emitting Surface area is 0.65 mm.
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`The lighting units in the embodiment shown each have a
`hemispherical mounting member 22 which is accommo
`dated in a mating receSS 12 in an aluminum heat Sink 13. The
`mounting member 22 and the receSS 12 together form means
`for adjusting a predetermined beam direction. When the
`luminaire is being assembled, the lighting units 20 are
`provided in the desired directions on the heat sink 13, the
`mounting member 22 being fixed in the receSS 12 by means
`of an adhesive agent 14.
`The LED chip 30 with its primary optical system 41, 42
`is arranged in a narrow end portion 43 of a Secondary,
`conical reflector 43 which forms a Secondary optical System.
`The Secondary reflector 43, here made of acrylate, is coated
`with a reflecting material 43, for example aluminum, on an
`internal surface thereof. The secondary reflector 43 may
`Support a lens 45 at an end 43 opposite the narrow end
`portion 43. The lens 45 and the secondary reflector 43 then
`together form a Secondary optical System. The beam angle
`may be chosen through a choice of the dimensions of the
`reflector and of the lens, if present.
`In the embodiment shown, the set of 144 lighting units 20
`comprises three types of lighting units 20, 20, 20 for
`generating beams which widen more and leSS Strongly. The
`lighting module here comprises 14 lighting units of a first
`type 20, in which the beam widens at a beam angle of 0.012
`Sr. The secondary reflector 43 in each module 20 Supports
`a lens 45 at its end 43 opposite the narrow end portion 43.
`The lighting module in addition comprises 38 lighting units
`of a Second type 20, also carrying a lens, of which the beam
`widens at a beam angle of 0.043 Sr. Finally, the lighting
`module comprises 92 lighting units of a third type 203,
`without lenses, whose beam widens at a beam angle of 0.060
`Sr. The Sum XS2 of the beam angles of the lighting units is
`7.3 Sr. The object to be illuminated occupies a Spatial angle
`G2 of 2.6 Sr relative to the luminaire. The overlap factor O
`accordingly is 1.82. The overlap factor (O) divided by the
`number of lighting units (N) is 0.012.
`The object d is symmetrically illuminated with respect to
`a plane through the post and the y-axis. The illuminance
`realized by means of the luminaire decreases evenly with the
`absolute value of the X-coordinate with respect to the post.
`Two consecutive luminaires achieve an approximately
`homogeneous distribution of the illuminance between them.
`FIG. 4 shows the Subdivision of the road section into
`portions to be illuminated by the lighting units 20 by means
`of marks at one side of the post (position x=0, y=0). Portions
`to be illuminated by means of a lighting unit of the first
`(20a), the second (20b) and the third type (20c) have been
`marked with a triangle (A), a circle (o), and a dot (O),
`respectively. The location of the mark indicates the point of
`intersection between the optical axis 44 of the relevant
`lighting unit 20 and the portion of the object d to be
`illuminated thereby. It was found that the light generated by
`the light Source in the luminaire 1 according to the invention
`is utilized efficiently. More than 95% is incident within the
`boundaries of the object to be illuminated, while still the
`object is illuminated in its entirety.
`A lighting unit 120 of a modification of the first embodi
`ment of a lighting module according to the invention is
`shown in FIG. 5. Components in this Figure corresponding
`to those in FIG. 3 have reference numerals which are 100
`higher. The optical system 140 of the lighting units 120 in
`this embodiment comprises a transparent body 149 with an
`axis 144 and a paraboloidal circumferential outer Surface
`149, around the axis. The body 149 comprises, centrally
`relative to the axis, a recessed, Spherical portion 149 at a
`
`

`

`US 6,250,774 B1
`
`7
`wide end 149 surrounded by a peripheral portion 149. The
`LED chip 130 is embedded in a narrow end portion 149 of
`the body. The LED chip 130 is provided with its side remote
`from the wide end 149 on a primary reflector 141. The
`recessed portion 149 forms a first optical part. The periph
`eral portion 149 with the paraboloidal circumferential Sur
`face 149, forms a Second optical part. The first optical part
`149 operates as a positive lens which deflects the light
`generated by the LED chip 130 through refraction. Light 1
`incident outside Said portion 149 is reflected at the circum
`ferential outer surface 149, and issues to the exterior at the
`peripheral portion 149.
`A Second embodiment of the lighting module according to
`the invention is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Components in
`these Figures corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 3 have
`reference numerals which are 200 higher. The luminaire 201
`in this embodiment comprises a Single lighting module 202
`with 25 lighting units 220. The 25 lighting units lie in one
`plane in a regular arrangement and have mutually parallel
`optical axes 244. In the embodiment shown, components
`247, here formed by reliefs, of optical systems 240 of
`individual lighting units 220 have been integrated into a
`transparent plate 246 provided in the light emission window
`211. The reliefs 247 split up the beams generated by the LED
`chips into two beams diverging from one another. In a
`modification, the light beams generated by the LED chips
`are split up into more, for example four beams. In another
`modification, the beams generated by the LED chips are not
`Split up but, for example, deflected or widened. The lumi
`naire shown is Suitable, for example, for Spotlighting.
`A third embodiment of the luminaire 301 designed for
`street lighting is shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10A and 10B.
`Components therein corresponding to those in FIGS. 1 to 3
`have reference numerals which are 300 higher. In the
`embodiment shown, 40 lighting units 320 are arranged in
`four rows 312, 312,312,312, often units each extending
`along a longitudinal axis 313 parallel to the Street to be
`illuminated. In the embodiment shown, lighting units in one
`row are arranged at equal mutual interSpacings parallel to
`the longitudinal axis. Alternatively, however, lighting units
`in a row may be arranged, for example, in a ZigZag pattern
`along the longitudinal axis. Lighting units 320 in one and the
`same row have optical axes 344 which are directed mutually
`Substantially parallel and which are transverse to the longi
`tudinal axis 313. Optical axes 344 of lighting units 320 of
`different rows 312, 312, enclose an angle C. With one
`another around a further axis 314 parallel to the longitudinal
`axis 313 (see FIG. 9). In this case the angles enclosed by the
`optical axes of the lighting units of two consecutive rows are
`equal to C. each time. This, however, is not necessarily the
`case. AS in the Second embodiment, components 347, i.e.
`reliefs, of the optical systems 340 of different lighting units
`have been integrated into a transparent plate 346 which is
`mounted in the light emission window 311. FIGS. 10A and
`10B show that the relief 347 is formed by ridges of trian
`gular cross-section which extend in a direction transverse to
`the longitudinal axis 313. The ridges are substantially
`mirror-symmetrical. The reliefs 346 form deflected beams
`b1 from the beams b generated by the LED chips 320, said
`deflected beams lying Substantially Symmetrically relative to
`a plane through the optical axis 344 of the relevant lighting
`unit and through the further axis 314. The reliefs 347 here
`split up the beams b into a first beam b1 and a second beam
`b2. The beams b1, b2 lie on either side of the optical axis
`344. This is shown for only one of the lighting units 320.* for
`the Sake of clarity. The light emission window has a first and
`a second further transparent plate 346', 346" which extend
`
`8
`transversely to the longitudinal axis and behind which
`further lighting units 320', 320" are positioned.
`
`A fourth embodiment is shown in FIG. 11. Components
`therein corresponding to components of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2,
`and 3 have reference numerals which are 400 higher.
`
`In the luminaire 401 shown, the set of lighting units 420
`comprise two or more varieties of lighting units 420p, 420q
`for illuminating portions of the object with mutually differ
`ing spectra.
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`The Set of lighting units here comprises a first variety of
`lighting units 420p for illuminating central portions of the
`object, driving lanes of a road in this case, with a spectrum
`having a maximum in a wavelength range from 550 to 610
`nm, i.e. at a first wavelength of 592 nm. The lighting units
`of the first variety are for this purpose equipped with LED
`chips with an active layer of AlInGaP. The set of lighting
`units 420 comprises a Second variety of lighting units 4204
`equipped with LED chips with an active layer of InCaN for
`illuminating peripheral portions of the object with a spec
`trum having a maximum in a wavelength range from 500 to
`530 nm, i.e. at a second wavelength of 510 nm, shorter than
`the first wavelength. The lighting units 420p of the first
`variety constitute a lighting module 402b. Lighting modules
`402a and 402c comprise lighting units 420g of the second
`variety. The peripheral portions do1, dc2 of the object may
`be provided with vegetation. The comparatively high reflec
`tivity thereof in the wavelength range from 500 to 530 nm
`contributes further to the visibility of any objects present in
`these locations.
`
`In FIG. 12, components corresponding to those of FIGS.
`1A, 1B, 2, and 3 have reference numerals which are 500
`higher. FIG. 12 diagrammatically shows a lighting System
`according to the invention with a luminaire 501 and a
`control system 550. The luminaire 501 forms part of a
`group of identical luminaires 501, 501, ... according to the
`invention which are arranged at equal mutual interspacings
`on posts 515 along a street to be illuminated. The luminaire
`501 a comprises six lighting modules 502, 502, 502,
`502, 502, and 502, each fitted with 24 lighting units.
`Lighting modules 502, and 502 are designed for illumi
`nating road Sections f, f, removed from the post 515 in a
`direction opposed to the driving direction r. Lighting mod
`ules 502 and 502 are designed for illuminating road
`Sections b, b, lying removed from the post 515 in the
`driving direction r. Lighting modules 502 and 502 are
`designed for illuminating a road Section c, c, lying between
`the other