LIGHTING DEVICE TO SIMULATE NATURAL LIGHT

Abstract

The present invention relates in general terms to a lighting device to simulate natural lighting, thus capable of generating at least two light components with different angular distributions having different correlated colour temperature or CCT. The lighting device to simulate natural lighting thus conceived is able to generate a light with two chromatic components having different angular distributions, however effectively preventing the light at a higher colour temperature (bluish light) from generating glare effects or from giving the environment an unnatural colouring that the natural light of the sky and the sun would not produce.

Claims

1. Lighting device (10.10′) to simulate natural lighting comprising: a first optical unit (20) comprising a primary light source (21) configured to emit primary light (22) in the visible spectrum, and dichroic separation optics (23) configured to intercept at least part of the primary light (22) generated by the primary light source (21) and emit, from a first emission surface (25), at least one first highly collimated light component (24a) having a propagation direction (A), generated starting from the primary light (22), and at least one diffuse light component (24b), the at least one first highly collimated light component (24a) and the at least a diffuse light component (24b) forming a light with chromatic components having different angular distributions (24), wherein the at least one first highly collimated light component (24a) has a first correlated colour temperature (CCT.sub.1), a total flux and a luminous intensity profile characterized by a first angular aperture (α) which is lower than 30° measured as half width at half maximum (HWHM) with reference to at least one half-plane section (X) of the dichroic separation optics (23) containing the propagation direction (A), and wherein the at least one diffuse light component (24b) has a second correlated colour temperature (CCT.sub.2) higher than the first correlated colour temperature (CCT.sub.1) and a non-zero luminous intensity profile even for angles higher than 2 times the first angular aperture (α); and a second optical unit (30) comprising secondary collimation optics (33) configured to intercept at least part of the light with chromatic components having different angular distributions (24) emitted by the first emission surface (25) and generate, starting from this light with chromatic components having different angular distributions (24), a weakly collimated light component (34b) having a luminous intensity profile, referred to the half-plane section (X), characterized by an average value, calculated with reference to an attenuation angular range comprised between an attenuation angle (γ) and 90°, which is less than the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the at least one diffuse light component (24b), calculated with respect to the same attenuation angular range, the attenuation angle (γ) being measured with respect to the propagation direction (A) and being equal to at least 2 times the first angular aperture (α) of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component (24a) emitted by the first emission surface (25), and a second highly collimated light component (34a) having substantially the same total flux as the first highly collimated light component (24a) and a second luminous intensity profile angular aperture (α′) which is equal or less than the first luminous intensity profile angular aperture (α) of the first highly collimated light component (24a) emitted by the first emission surface (25); wherein the weakly collimated light component (34b) and the second highly collimated light component (34a) form a collimated light (34) with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the second optical unit (30).

2. Lighting device (10,10′) according to claim 1, wherein the secondary collimation optics (33) are configured to generate a weakly collimated light component (34b) having a luminous intensity profile, referred to the half-plane section (X), characterized by an average value of less than 60%, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 20% of the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the at least one diffuse light component (24b), calculated with reference to the attenuation angular range; and the secondary collimation optics (33) are configured to substantially not intercept the highly collimated light component (24a) and/or not redistribute and/or not redirect the highly collimated light component (24a) outside of the first angular aperture (α), in particular to intercept and/or redistribute and/or redirect outside the first angular aperture (α) less than 10% of the total flux of the highly collimated light component (24a) exiting the first emission surface 25, preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2%.

3. Lighting device (10.10′) according to claim 1 or 2, in which the secondary collimation optics (33) are made as optical reflecting optics configured to intercept and reflect at least part of the diffuse light component (24b) and redistribute it so as to generate a weakly collimated light component (34b) having a luminous intensity profile, referred to the half-plane section (X), characterized by an average value which is lower than the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the at least one diffuse light component (24b) calculated with respect to the attenuation angular range; and/or wherein the secondary collimation optics (33) are embodied as a refractive lens configured so as to intercept and redirect at least part of the at least one diffuse light component (24b) and redistribute it so as to generate a weakly collimated light component (34b) having a luminous intensity profile, referred to the half-plane section (X), characterized by an average value which is lower than the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the at least one diffuse light component (24b) calculated with respect to the attenuation angular range; wherein the secondary collimation optics (33) are a structure comprising walls having at least a portion made of a material having a diffuse reflectance of at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%; and/or wherein the secondary collimation optics (33) are a structure comprising walls having at least a portion made of a material having an absorption coefficient in the visible range equal to at least 70%, more preferably equal to at least 80%, even more preferably equal to at least 90% of the incident light and positioned so as to intercept and absorb at least part of the diffuse light component (24b) emitted by the first emission surface (25) at angles greater than the attenuation angle (γ) .

4. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein with reference to the half-plane section (X), an angular aperture (β) of the weakly collimated light component (34b) measured as half width at half maximum (HWHM) of the luminous intensity profile is 1.2 times greater, preferably 1.5 times greater, more preferably 2 times greater than the first angular aperture (α) measured as half width at half maximum (HWHM) of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component (24a).

5. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the dichroic separation optics (23) comprise an optical element for primary collimation (23a) configured to generate the highly collimated light component (24a) having a luminous intensity profile with the first angular aperture (α) starting from the primary light (22), and a diffuse light generator (23b, 23b′, 23b″) configured to generate the diffuse light component (24b) with the second correlated colour temperature (CCT.sub.2).

6. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to claim 5, wherein the diffuse light generator (23b, 23b″) is a chromatic scattering element configured to be transparent to at least a first spectral portion of a light incident on the same and to scatter at least a second spectral portion of the incident light; and/or wherein the diffuse light generator (23b, 23b″) is a chromatic scattering element of the tunable type configured to vary principally the scattering efficiency of the chromatic scattering element in at least the second spectral portion of the incident light; and/or wherein the diffuse light generator (23b, 23b″) is a chromatic scattering element of the tunable type comprising a matrix made of polymeric material in which nanodroplets containing liquid crystals (LC) are trapped; and/or wherein the diffuse light generator (23b, 23b″) is a chromatic scattering element shaped as a panel, a film, a surface coating layer or a surface anodizing layer; and/or wherein the diffuse light generator (23b′) is a diffuse light generator of the active type.

7. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to claim 6, wherein the chromatic scattering element (23b) is placed at the first emission surface (25) or at least one surface of interaction between said primary light (22) and said primary collimation element (23a).

8. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least the optical element for primary collimation (23a) of the dichroic separation optics (23) has axial symmetry and the propagation direction is comprised in a symmetry axis of the optical element for primary collimation (23a); and the diffuse light generator (23b) has a circular or quadrilateral section, such as for example a square or rectangular, or polygonal section.

9. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the optical element for primary collimation (23a) of the dichroic separation optics (23) has an elongated shape along a development axis of the device (10, 10′) transversal to the propagation axis (A).

10. Lighting device (10, 10′) according to claim 9, wherein the first optical unit (20) comprises a plurality of primary light sources (21), for example arranged side by side and/or aligned along the development axis, and wherein the dichroic separation optics (23) comprise at least one collimation lens (23a) associated with the plurality of primary light sources (21) and configured to collimate the light emitted by each primary light source (21) around a respective propagation direction (A) of a plurality of parallel propagation directions (A).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form part of the description, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, are intended to illustrate the principles of the present invention.

[0048] In the drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0051] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a third embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0052] FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0053] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0054] FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a sixth embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a seventh embodiment of the lighting device to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention; and

[0056] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a lighting system comprising a plurality of lighting devices to simulate natural lighting according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] The following is a detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention. The exemplary embodiments described herein and illustrated in the drawings are intended to teach the principles of the present invention, enabling the person skilled in the art to implement and use the invention in different contexts and/or for different applications. Therefore, the exemplary embodiments are not intended, nor should they be considered, to limit the scope of patent protection. Rather, the scope of patent protection is defined by the attached claims.

[0058] With reference to FIG. 1, there is schematically illustrated a lighting device to simulate natural lighting, hereinafter referred to as ‘lighting device’ for brevity’s sake, according to a first embodiment of the present invention, collectively referred to as 10.

[0059] The lighting device 10 comprises a first optical unit 20 and a second optical unit 30 optically coupled to each other in such a way that the second optical unit 30 intercepts at least part of the light emitted by the first optical unit 20.

[0060] In detail, the first optical unit 20 comprises at least one primary light source 21 configured to emit a primary light 22 comprising at least one set of electromagnetic radiations having wavelengths comprised in the visible spectrum (i.e., 380 nm ≤ λ ≤ 740 nm), also referred to by the terms ‘light beam’, ‘light ray’ or ‘light’ hereafter. For example, the primary light source 21 is a solid-state light-emitting device (LED).

[0061] The first optical unit 20 further comprises at least dichroic separation optics 23 having a first light-emitting surface 25 from which light 24 is emitted with chromatic components having different angular distributions. The primary light source 21 is positioned so as to substantially introduce the primary light 22 into the dichroic separation optics 23.

[0062] The dichroic separating optics 23 are configured to generate, starting from the primary light 22 emitted by the primary light source 21, at least a first highly collimated light component 24a that crosses the first emission surface 25 and propagates along a propagation direction A, with the propagation direction A coinciding with the direction along which the first highly collimated light component 24a exhibits maximum luminous intensity, and a diffuse light component 24b that crosses the first emission surface 25 propagating in substantially all directions. For example, the diffuse light component 24b has a substantially Lambertian luminous intensity profile.

[0063] The first highly collimated light component 24a generated by the dichroic separation optics 23 is characterized by a luminous intensity profile - referred to at least one half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23 containing the propagation direction A - having an angular aperture α - measured in terms of half width at half maximum (HWHM) - which is lower than 30°, preferably lower than 20°, more preferably lower than 15°. In addition, the first highly collimated light component 24a is characterized by a first correlated colour temperature or CCT.sub.1 and by a total flux.

[0064] The dichroic separation optics 23 are further configured to generate the at least one diffuse light component 24b with a second correlated colour temperature or different CCT.sub.2, in particular higher, than the correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1 of the first highly collimated light component 24a. Specifically, the first highly collimated light component 24a has a correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1 1.2 times lower, preferably 1.3 times lower, more preferably 1.4 times lower than the correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2 of the diffuse light component 24b.

[0065] In exemplary terms, the dichroic separation optics 23 comprise an optical element for primary collimation 23a, for example a total internal reflection (TIR) lens as shown in FIG. 1 or a reflector as shown in FIG. 2, and a diffuse light generator 23b,23b′,23b″, which in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is made as a chromatic scattering element 23b, placed at the first emission surface 25 and so as to intercept the collimated light exiting the optical element for primary collimation 23a. In particular, the optical element for primary collimation 23a of the embodiment of FIG. 1 has axial symmetry, thus resulting that the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a is substantially equal with reference to a half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23 containing the propagation direction A. The chromatic scattering element 23b may also be realized with axial symmetry, for example with circular section, or may have no axial symmetry having a quadrilateral section, such as for example a square or rectangular, or regular polygonal section or not.

[0066] “Chromatic diffusing element” means a diffuser element whose light-diffusing properties depend on the wavelength of the light crossing it, such as a Rayleigh diffuser or Rayleigh-like diffuser. This type of diffuser is characterized by being substantially transparent to, or having negligible interaction with, a first spectral portion of the light incident on the same.

[0067] The first spectral portion of the incident light therefore crosses the chromatic scattering element 23b substantially unaltered and - being collimated as a result of the action of the optical element for primary collimation 23a - generates, downstream of the chromatic scattering element 23b, the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions having the lower correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1, wherein “downstream” is understood with respect to the propagation direction A. On the contrary, the chromatic scattering element 23b acts mainly on a second spectral portion of the light incident on the same, scattering it significantly and thus giving rise to the diffuse light component 24b of the light 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions which has a higher correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2, since it is substantially devoid of the wavelengths belonging to the first spectral portion.

[0068] The chromatic separation and the generation of the diffuse light component 24b with higher CCT.sub.2 (bluish light component) can be achieved by using a “thick” panel, as shown for example in FIG. 1, or a “thin” layer, illustrated in exemplary terms in FIG. 5 - which is generally referred to herein as “chromatic scattering element 23b”- comprising a layer in a host material in which transparent nanometric scattering elements (also known as “scattering elements”) are present in a predetermined amount per unit area and having a different refractive index with respect to the refractive index of the host material.

[0069] Such a chromatic scattering element may be in the form of a panel, a film, a surface coating layer or even a surface anodizing layer of a metal surface having specific structural characteristics described in detail in Italian Patent Application No. 1020200008113, filed by the same Applicant, the contents of which are herein fully referred to and incorporated by reference.

[0070] Again, the chromatic scattering element may be of the tunable type, whereby the intensity of interaction between the chromatic scattering element and the incident light may be tuned, thereby modifying the diffusion efficiency in particular of the second spectral portion of the incident light, i.e. the portion of the incident light on which the chromatic scattering element mainly acts. The chromatic diffusion elements of the tunable type comprise, for example, a matrix made of polymeric material (host material) in which so-called nanodrops containing liquid crystal (LC) molecules (diffusion nanometric elements) are trapped. The liquid crystals cause an anisotropy in the refractive index, which therefore makes it possible to tune the jump in the refractive index between the liquid crystal nanodroplets and the host material by varying an applied voltage. In general terms, the index variation is due to the fact that the liquid crystal molecules inside each nanodroplet tend to align when an electric field is applied, having a degree of alignment that can be modified according to the magnitude of the applied voltage. For further details, reference is made to International Patent Application No. WO 2018/091150 of the same Applicant and the contents of which are fully referred to and incorporated herein by reference.

[0071] Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 1, the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises a diffuse light generator 23b′ of the active type, i.e. capable of generating diffuse light 23b′ independently of the primary light source 21, placed at the first emission surface 25. In particular, the diffuse light generator 23b′ generates the diffuse light component 24b with higher correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2 than the light 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the first emission surface 25. In addition, the diffuse light generator 23b′ is made of a material that is substantially transparent to light, independently of the spectrum thereof. In this way, almost all of the collimated light exiting the optical element for primary collimation 23a intercepted by the diffuse light generator 23b′ propagates downstream of the same with respect to the propagation direction A, giving rise to the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the first emission surface 25.

[0072] The second optical unit 30 comprises at least one secondary collimation optics 33 having a light-input surface 36, placed downstream of the first light-emitting surface 25 of the first optical unit 20 and such that it intercepts at least part of the light 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the first optical unit 20, and a second light-emitting surface 35 from which collimated light 34 with chromatic components having different angular distributions is emitted.

[0073] In particular, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to interact with the diffuse light component 24b of the light 24 emitted by the first optical unit 20 so as to generate, downstream of the second light-emitting surface 35, a weakly collimated light component 34b having a luminous intensity profile, referred to the at least one half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23, characterized by an average value, calculated with reference to an attenuation angular range comprised between an attenuation angle γ and 90°, which is less than the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the at least one diffuse light component 24b, calculated with respect to the same attenuation angular range.

[0074] In detail, the attenuation angle γ is measured with respect to the propagation direction A and is equal to at least 2 times, preferably at least 2.5 times or, even more preferably, at least 3 times, the first angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a emitted by the first emission surface 25.

[0075] For example, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to generate a weakly collimated light component 34b having a luminous intensity profile referred to the half-plane section X characterized by an average value of less than 60%, preferably less than 40%, more preferably less than 20% of the average value of the luminous intensity profile of the diffuse light component 24b exiting the first emission surface 25, calculated in the attenuation angular range, i.e. the angular range comprised between the attenuation angle γ and 90°. This ensures that the lighting device 10 is characterized by a minimal glare for angles within the attenuation angular range, with reference to the at least one half-plane section X, while maintaining high luminous efficiency levels of the lighting device.

[0076] In addition, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to interact with the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light 24 emitted by the first emission surface 25 so as to generate a second highly collimated light component 34a having substantially the same total flux as the first highly collimated light component 24a and a second angular aperture α′ of the luminous intensity profile which is equal or less than the first angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a emitted by the first emission surface 25, e.g., by not intercepting the first highly collimated light component 24a, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, or by not redistributing it or by redirecting it outside its angular aperture α, as shown in FIG. 4. In other words, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to substantially maintain unaltered or at most reduce the angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a and to substantially not modify the total flux thereof. For example, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to attenuate less than 10% of the total flux of the first highly collimated light component 24a exiting the first emission surface 25, preferably less than 5%, more preferably less than 2%.

[0077] Still, the secondary collimation optics 33 is configured to substantially not modify the correlated colour temperature CCT of the light components 24 with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the first optical unit 20. At the exit from the second light-emitting surface 35, a weakly collimated light component 34b having a correlated colour temperature substantially equal to the second correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2 of the diffuse light component 24b of the light 24 emitted by the first optical unit 20 and a second highly collimated light component 34a having a correlated colour temperature substantially equal to the first correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1 of the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light 24 emitted by the first emission surface 25 are thus generated. The combination of these light components 34a, 34b forms the collimated light 34 with chromatic components having different angular distributions emitted by the second light-emitting surface 35 of the second optical unit 30.

[0078] In particular, the weakly collimated light component 34b is characterized by a luminous intensity profile with an angular aperture β greater than the angular aperture α′ of the intensity profile of the second highly collimated light component 34a, wherein both intensity profiles are referred to the at least one half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23.

[0079] For example, the angular aperture β of the weakly collimated light component 34b has a half width at half maximum (HWHM) 1.2 times greater, preferably 1.5 times greater, plus preferably 2 times greater than the half width at half maximum (HWHM) of the angular aperture α′ of the intensity profile of the second highly collimated light component 34a.

[0080] In the embodiment of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the secondary collimation optics 33 are a structure comprising internally opaque walls positioned so as to reflect diffusely at least part of the diffuse light component 24b that is emitted at angles greater than the attenuation angle γ. To this end, the material of which these walls are composed has a diffuse reflectance equal to at least 50%, preferably at least 55%, more preferably at least 60%.

[0081] With reference to FIG. 3 a different embodiment of the lighting device 10 is illustrated schematically. In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 3 differs from the first embodiment in the implementation of the dichroic separation optics 23 and of the secondary collimation optics 33.

[0082] In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the dichroic separation optics 23 comprise a diffuse light generator 23b′ of the active type. Further, the secondary collimation optics 33 are made as a reflector, thus comprising internally reflecting walls and configured so as to intercept and reflect at least part of the diffuse light component 24b and redistribute it so as to attenuate it for angles higher than the attenuation angle γ, measured with respect to the propagation direction A and equal to at least 2 times, preferably 2.5 times, more preferably 3 times, the angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a, with reference to the at least one half-plane section X. To this end, the material of which the internal walls are composed has a regular reflectance of at least 60%, preferably at least 65%, more preferably at least 70%. Furthermore, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured such that they do not intercept the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light emitted by the first emission surface 25.

[0083] With reference to FIG. 4 another embodiment of the lighting device 10 according to the invention is schematically illustrated. In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 4 differs from the previous embodiments in the implementation of the secondary collimation optics 33.

[0084] In detail, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the secondary collimation optics 33 are embodied as a refractive lens configured to interact with the diffuse light component 24b emitted by the first emission surface 25 of the first optical unit 20 so as to attenuate its luminous intensity for angles higher than the attenuation angle γ, with reference to the at least one half-plane section X. Thus, a weakly collimated light component 34b is generated downstream of the second emission surface 35 having an average value of the luminous intensity profile calculated for the angles comprised between the attenuation angle γ and 90°, which is less than the average value calculated over the same angular range of the luminous intensity profile of the diffuse light component 24b.

[0085] Furthermore, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to further collimate the first highly collimated light component 24a of the light emitted by the first emission surface 25, thereby obtaining downstream of the second emission surface 35 a second highly collimated light component 34a having a second angular aperture α′ of the luminous intensity profile which is lower than the first angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a emitted by the first emission surface 25. In other words, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured to generate the second highly collimated light component 34a starting from the first highly collimated light component 24a emitted by the first emission surface 25, keeping its total flux substantially unaltered and reducing the angular aperture of the luminous intensity profile in the reference half-plane.

[0086] Thus, at the exit of the second light-emitting surface 35 there are therefore the weakly collimated light component 34b with higher correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2 and the second highly collimated light component 34a with lower correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1 – the latter being characterized by a second angular aperture α′ of the luminous intensity profile which is lower than the first angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a exiting the first optical unit 20 and a total flux substantially equal to the flux of this first highly collimated light component 24a. The combination of these light components 34a, 34b forms the collimated light 34 emitted by the second light-emitting surface 35 of the second optical unit 30.

[0087] With reference to FIG. 5 another embodiment of the lighting device 10 according to the invention is schematically illustrated. In particular, the embodiment of FIG. 5 differs from the other embodiments in that the dichroic separation optics 23 are made as a reflector 23a with the walls interacting with the incident light emitted by the primary light source 21 – i.e. the internal reflecting walls – coated by a layer 23b″ made of a chromatic diffusion material. The chromatic diffusion layer 23b″ is, for example, applied by lamination if the material composing it is of the liquid crystal type. Alternatively, the layer is, for example, grown as an anodizing layer directly on the internal walls of the reflector 23a.

[0088] In this case, the light 22 emitted by the primary light source 21, incident on the internal walls of the reflector 23a, is partly collimated and partly diffused. In particular, a first spectral portion of the incident light crosses the chromatic scattering layer 23b″ two times (incident beam and reflected beam) in a substantially unaltered manner, thus undergoing almost exclusively the collimation action caused by the reflector 23a. On the contrary, a second spectral portion of the incident light interacts significantly with the chromatic scattering layer 23b″, which covers the internal walls of the reflector 23a, and is thus mainly scattered.

[0089] In this way, two chromatic components with different angular distributions exiting the dichroic separation optics 23 are generated: the first highly collimated light component 24a with lower colour correlated temperature CCT.sub.1 and the diffuse light component 24b with higher colour correlated temperature CCT.sub.2.

[0090] In order to ensure that almost all of the second spectral portion of the emitted primary light 22 interacts with the chromatic scattering layer 23b″, thereby generating the diffuse light component 24b, the lighting device 10 may comprise a screen 27 positioned downstream of the primary light source 21 with respect to the propagation direction A so as to block a direct exit of the light emitted by the primary light source 21 through the first emission surface 25.

[0091] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the lighting device 10 according to the invention in which the dichroic separation optics 23 are embodied as TIR lens with a portion of the light entry surface 26 coated with a chromatic scattering layer 23b″.

[0092] In this case, the light 22 emitted by the primary light source 21, crossing the portion of the light entry surface 26, is partly collimated and partly diffused. In particular, a first spectral portion of the light crosses the portion of the light input surface 26 – and so also the chromatic scattering layer 23b″ – substantially unaltered, thereby undergoing the collimation action given by the lens 23a. A second spectral portion of the light incident on the chromatic scattering layer 23b″, on the contrary, interacts significantly with the same, thus being mainly scattered.

[0093] This results in the generation of two chromatic components with different angular distributions exiting the dichroic separation optics 23: the first highly collimated light component 24a with lower colour correlated temperature CCT.sub.1 and the diffuse light component 24b with higher colour correlated temperature CCT.sub.2.

[0094] Furthermore, in the embodiment of FIG. 6 the secondary collimation optics 33 are made as a structure comprising internally absorbing (dark) walls, positioned so as to absorb at least part of the diffuse light component 24b emitted at angles greater than the attenuation angle γ, with reference to the at least one half-plane section X. To this end, the material of which said walls are composed has an absorption coefficient in the visible range of at least 70%, more preferably 80%, even more preferably 90% of the light incident upon it.

[0095] With reference to FIG. 7 a further embodiment of the lighting device 10′ according to the invention is shown, presenting an elongated development, perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 7.

[0096] In detail, the first optical unit 20 of the device of FIG. 7 comprising a plurality of primary light sources 21 preferably arranged side by side and aligned along the elongated development of the device 10′, and dichroic separation optics 23 comprising at least collimation optics 23a, associated with the plurality of primary light sources 21 and configured to collimate the light emitted by the plurality of primary light sources 21 around a plurality of parallel propagation directions A, each associated with and crossing a respective primary light source 21 of the plurality of primary light sources, so as to generate a first highly collimated light component 24a in at least a plurality of parallel half-plane sections X of the dichroic separation optics 23 each containing a propagation direction A of the plurality of parallel propagation directions, and a diffuse light generator 23b′ configured to generate a diffuse light component 24b having a different, in particular higher, correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.2 than a correlated colour temperature CCT.sub.1 of the first highly collimated light component 24a.

[0097] The first highly collimated light component 24a generated by the dichroic separation optics 23 is characterized by a luminous intensity profile with an angular aperture α of less than 30°, preferably less than 20°, more preferably less than 15°, with reference to the at least one half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23 containing the propagation direction A.

[0098] In view of the non-axial symmetry of the lighting device 10′ with elongated development, it is to be considered that the first highly collimated light component 24a generated by the dichroic separation optics 23 has a luminous intensity profile with an angular aperture of less than or equal to 30° (20° or 15°, respectively) with respect to a subset of half-plane sections X of the dichroic separation optics 23 containing the propagation direction A, inclined to each other around the propagation direction A. In particular, the subset of half-plane sections X for which this condition is satisfied comprises half-planes that are inclined to each other within an angular range of at least 20°.

[0099] The second optical unit 30 of FIG. 7 comprises secondary collimation optics 33 made as a reflecting, opaque and/or absorbing screen positioned so as to intercept only the diffuse light component 24b of the light 24 emitted by the first optical unit 20. The action exerted by the secondary collimation optics 33 is to attenuate the luminous intensity of the diffuse light component 24b for angles higher than the attenuation angle γ in the at least one half-plane of section X of the dichroic separation optics 23. In this way, with reference to the particular installation of the lighting device 10′ in FIG. 7 it is possible to reproduce a natural lighting effect, preventing the blueish diffuse light component 24b from being projected unnaturally onto the ceiling.

[0100] In addition, the secondary collimation optics 33 are configured so as to maintain substantially unaltered the first highly collimated light component 24a emitted by the first optical unit 20, substantially by not varying or at most reducing the angular aperture α of the luminous intensity profile and by not modifying the total flux.

[0101] Thus, a weakly collimated light component 34b and a second highly collimated light component 34a exiting the second light-emitting surface 35 are thus generated which form the collimated light 34 emitted by the second optical unit 30, thus exiting the lighting device 10′ according to the invention. In particular, the highly collimated light component 34a exiting the second optical unit 30 has an angular aperture α′ of the luminous intensity profile equal or less than the angular aperture α of the intensity profile of the first highly collimated light component 24a exiting the first optical unit 20 and the total flux substantially equal to that of this first highly collimated light component 24a.

[0102] In particular, the weakly collimated light component 34b is characterized by a luminous intensity profile with an angular aperture β greater than the angular aperture α′ of the intensity profile of the second highly collimated light component 23a, wherein both intensity profiles are referred to the at least one half-plane section X of the dichroic separation optics 23.

[0103] FIG. 8 shows a lighting system 100 to simulate natural lighting comprising a plurality of lighting devices 10 of the type illustrated in FIG. 2 wherein in particular the optical element for primary collimation 23a of the dichroic separation optics 23 has axial symmetry and wherein the lighting devices 10 are arranged so that the symmetry axes of the respective optical element for primary collimation 23a are arranged parallel to each other. Further, the lighting devices 10 are arranged in an extended structure on a plane perpendicular to each of the symmetry axes of the optical element for primary collimation 23a.

[0104] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the secondary collimation optics 33 may be realised as a structure comprising partly absorbing and partly reflecting internal walls, or partly opaque and partly reflecting or again, partly opaque and partly absorbing, being in any case configured so as to absorb at least part of the diffuse light component 24b intercepted by the optics 33, and to reflect at least another part of the diffuse light component 24b intercepted by the optics 33, so as to attenuate the luminous intensity of the diffuse light component 24b for angles higher than the attenuation angle γ in the at least one half-plane section X.

[0105] In conclusion, all the details can be replaced with other technically-equivalent elements.