Lighting device with variable light distribution

Abstract

A lighting device comprises at least two groups of light-emitting diodes and an electronic circuit for controlling said light-emitting diodes. The electronic circuit is configured to control each group of light-emitting diodes separately. The beam characteristic of at least one of the groups of light-emitting diodes differs from the beam characteristic of at least one of the other groups of light-emitting diodes. As a result, the light distribution of the lighting device can be switched electronically.

Claims

1. A lighting device having an electronically adjustable light distribution, the lighting device comprising: a first group of light-emitting diodes characterized as having a first beam opening angle; a second group of light-emitting diodes characterized as having a second beam opening angle; and an electronic circuit for electronically controlling said first and second groups of light-emitting diodes separately, the electronic circuit comprising: a first driver circuit configured to drive the first group of light-emitting diodes; and a second driver circuit configured to drive the second group of light-emitting diodes; wherein the first beam opening angle is of a greater full width at half maximum (FWHM) than the second beam opening angle, wherein: the FWHM of the first beam opening angle is between about 90-110; and the FWHM of the second beam opening angle is between about 30-50.

2. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one beam shaping element positioned downstream of at least one of the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes.

3. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising: at least one first beam shaping element positioned downstream of at least one of the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes; and at least one second beam shaping element positioned downstream of at least one of the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes.

4. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first beam shaping element and the at least one second beam shaping element are separate components.

5. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one first beam shaping element and the at least one second beam shaping element are integrated into a single component.

6. The lighting device according to claim 3, wherein: one of either the at least one first beam shaping element or the at least one second beam shaping element is diffusely scattering; and the other of either the at least one first beam shaping element or the at least one second beam shaping element is focusing.

7. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diodes of each of the first and second groups are arranged spatially adjacent to each other.

8. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the light-emitting diodes of the first and second groups are arranged so as to be intermixed with each other.

9. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second driver circuits is configured to be connected to a switch outside said lighting device.

10. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a control module for controlling the first and second driver circuits, wherein the control module is configured to be connected to one or more switches outside said lighting device.

11. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the electronic circuit further comprises a communication module configured for at least one of wired and wireless communication with an operating unit outside said lighting device.

12. The lighting device according to claim 11, wherein in being configured for communication with the operating unit, the communication module is configured to receive at least one control signal from the operating unit, in response to which at least one of: an overall output of the lighting device is changed; and a distribution of an overall output across the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes is changed.

13. A lighting system comprising one or a plurality of lighting devices according to claim 1.

14. The lighting system according to claim 13, further comprising an operating unit for selectively controlling the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes of the lighting devices.

15. The lighting system according to claim 14, wherein the operating unit comprises a software module for running on at least one of a computer and a smartphone.

16. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes also differ in at least one of: beam main direction; color; and color temperature.

17. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein: the FWHM of the first beam opening angle is about 100; and the FWHM of the second beam opening angle is about 40.

18. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second groups of light-emitting diodes share a common substrate.

19. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first group of light-emitting diodes is arranged concentrically about the second group of light-emitting diodes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Preferred further embodiments of the invention will be explained in greater detail using the following description of the figures. It is shown in:

(2) FIG. 1a a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 1b a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(4) FIG. 2a-c schematic representations of various operating states of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(5) FIG. 3a-c schematic representations of various operational states of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(6) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the electronic control of a lighting device according to the invention;

(7) FIG. 5 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention;

(8) FIG. 6 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention; and

(9) FIG. 7 a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(10) Preferred embodiments will be described below based on the figures. In this case, identical, similar or equivalent elements are provided with the same reference numbers in the different figures and repeated description of these elements is partly omitted to avoid redundancies.

(11) In FIGS. 1-3 described below, the arrangement of light-emitting diodes on a substrate (e.g. a circuit board) is shown. Other components of the lighting devices, e.g. housing, electronic control circuit, etc. are not shown.

(12) The luminous intensity distribution curves and brightness distributions shown in FIGS. 2-3 are of a purely qualitative type and highly simplified for better understanding.

(13) FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b show schematically two embodiments of a lighting device according to the invention. In the illustration according to FIG. 1a, light-emitting diodes 1 with a large opening angle (divergent beam) and light-emitting diodes 2 with a small opening angle (narrow beam) are arranged alternately in a row on a substrate 3. Here and in the following, the opening angle is illustrated schematically by the rays emanating from the light-emitting diode. The light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle form a first group of light-emitting diodes 1, the light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle form a second group of light-emitting diodes 2. The light-emitting diodes 1 of the first group can be switched on and off and dimmed, if necessary, together. The light-emitting diodes 2 of the second group can also be switched on and off and dimmed, if necessary, together. Due to the mixed arrangement of the light-emitting diodes 1,2 of the two groups, the shape and size of the light emitting area on the lighting device are largely independent of the operating state, i.e. independent of whether only the light-emitting diodes 1 of the first group, only the light-emitting diodes 2 of the second group, or the light-emitting diodes 1,2 of both groups are switched on. This applies in particular, the more light-emitting diodes are used in both groups.

(14) In the illustration according to FIG. 1b, the light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle are arranged adjacent to each other in the center of the lighting device as a first group of light-emitting diodes 2. The light-emitting diodes 2 of the first group can be switched on and off and dimmed, if necessary, together. The light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle are arranged on either side of this first group, in each case a plurality of light-emitting diodes 1 adjacent to each other as subgroups. Even if the two subgroups are separate from each other, the light-emitting diodes 1 of both subgroups can nevertheless be switched on and off and dimmed, if necessary, together as a second group. Alternatively, it can be provided that both subgroups represent separate groups which can be controlled separately from each other. The separation of a group into subgroups can also be used in other embodiments.

(15) FIGS. 2a-2c show schematically on the left various operating states of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention and in each case the associated luminous intensity distribution (center) and the shape of the light emitting area (right). In the operating states shown on the left, in each case only the light-emitting diodes which are switched on are shown. Switched off light-emitting diodes are not reproduced in this illustration, although they are, of course, present.

(16) In this embodiment, the light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle are arranged adjacent to each other in the center of the lighting device as a first group. The light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle, as the second group, surround the first group of light-emitting diodes substantially in a ring shape. The light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle are shown schematically as a circle with a central dot, the light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle are shown schematically as a circle with a concentric small circle therein.

(17) In FIG. 2b, only the outer light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle of the second group are switched on. This results in wide divergent luminous intensity distribution. The light emitting area of the lighting device shows a gap in the middle where the switched off light-emitting diodes 2 of the first group are situated and as a result has the shape of a donut.

(18) In FIG. 2c, only the inner light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle of the first group are switched on. This results in narrow luminous intensity distribution. The light emission from the lighting device only takes place in a small region in the center and has the shape of a small circular disk.

(19) In FIG. 2a, the light-emitting diodes 1,2 of both groups are switched on. The luminous intensity distribution therefore corresponds to the combination of the two cases described above, i.e. a broad divergent light distribution with an additional portion directed towards the front, i.e. along the main direction of emission. The light emission from the lighting device takes place across the entire light emitting area and as a result has the shape of a large circular disk.

(20) In FIGS. 3a-3c, schematic representations of various operating states of a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention are shown schematically on the left. The luminous intensity distribution is again shown schematically in the center, shown on the right is schematically the lighting effect in a room when the third embodiment is suspended from the ceiling in the room.

(21) The illustration of the operating states on the left shows in each case only a section through the lighting device. The lighting device can be designed as linear, round or as a polygon, even adapted to the shape of the room. The lighting device comprises a first substrate 3 substantially parallel to the room ceiling and a second substrate 4 arranged at an angle to substrate 3. On the first substrate 3, light-emitting diodes 2 with small opening angle are arranged as the first group in such a way that they emit light substantially downwards and thus produce direct lighting. On the second substrate 4, light-emitting diodes 1 with large opening angle are arranged as a second group in such a way that they emit light obliquely upwards and thus against the room ceiling, thus producing indirect lighting.

(22) FIG. 3b shows the operating state in which only the light-emitting diodes 1 of the second group are switched on (only indirect illumination by lighting up the ceiling). FIG. 3c shows the operating state in which only the light-emitting diodes 2 of the first group are switched on (only direct lighting). FIG. 3a shows the operating state in which the light-emitting diodes 1,2 of both groups are switched on. In the illustration of the lighting effect on the right, the directly lit region of the room is shown hatched in each case (assuming that two corresponding linear lighting devices extend from front to back in the schematically illustrated room, each with an illumination direction of the second group towards the respective wall, as shown in the left-hand column).

(23) If the lighting devices described above are configured to be dimmable, then not only is it possible to adjust the described operating states but also mixed states; in FIG. 2, for example, highly narrow lighting using the light-emitting diodes 2 of the first group with simultaneously weak lighting due to the widely divergent light-emitting diodes 1 of the second group. In FIG. 3, for example, strong direct lighting can be combined with weak indirect lighting. Other combinations are also possible.

(24) FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of the electronic control of a lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device comprises a first group of light-emitting diodes 1 (here with large opening angle) and a second group of light-emitting diodes 2 (here with small opening angle). For the sake of simplicity, the light-emitting diodes 1,2 of the two groups are shown here separate from each other since in this case only the connections of the electrical control are important. The groups can, however, be arranged intermixed with each other. The light-emitting diodes 1 of the first group are controlled by a first driver 5, the light-emitting diodes 2 of the second group are controlled by a second driver 6. Both drivers 5,6 are connected to the mains voltage 7 (e.g. 230 V alternating voltage) and generate therefrom the voltages or currents required for the light-emitting diodes 1,2.

(25) Both drivers 5,6 are controlled by a communication and control module 8. The communication and control module 8 controls the drivers 5,6 in such a manner that the operating state of the lighting device selected on an operating unit 9 is achieved. The information about the selected operating state is transmitted via radio from the operating unit 9 to the communication and control module 8. The operating unit 9 can be a radio remote control provided for the lighting device or a smartphone with a corresponding app. The radio communication can take place via a known radio standard such as Bluetooth, ZigBee or similar, or via a radio protocol specially created for the lighting device.

(26) In the embodiment shown, the operating unit 9 has two control elements: the overall output of the lighting device is selected via the left-hand slide control 10. The distribution of the overall output across the two groups of light-emitting diodes 1,2 is selected using the right-hand slide control 11. In its central position, the overall output is distributed evenly across both groups of light-emitting diodes 1,2. In the upper position, the second group with the narrow-emitting light-emitting diodes 2 is switched off and the first group with the wide divergent light-emitting diodes 1 is supplied. This is reversed in the lower position. The right hand slide control 11 thus enables crossfading between the two groups. As a result, the perception of a room lit in this manner can be varied from diffuse and low-shadow through to dramatic scenery in the manner of stage lighting.

(27) The two slide controls 10,11 can be configured as mechanical slide controls or as a corresponding display on a touchscreen. Other suitable components, e.g. rocker switches, rotary knobs, etc. can also be used instead of slide controls 10,11.

(28) FIG. 5 shows schematically a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device comprises ten groups of light-emitting diodes (not shown) that are arranged in two rows with five groups in each row. Different numbers and arrangements of the groups may also be possible. The light-emitting diodes of all groups may have essentially the same beam characteristics. Downstream of each group of light-emitting diodes a beam shaping element 12,13 is arranged. The lighting device comprises two types of beam shaping elements that may be arranged alternately, for example in a checkerboard pattern. The first beam shaping elements 12 may comprise diffusely transmitting areas, for example matted, frosted, or structured, such that light from the light-emitting diodes passing the first beam shaping elements is diffusely scattered in order to achieve soft illumination of a wide space. The second beam shaping elements 13 may comprise focusing areas, for example with lenses, Fresnel lenses, prisms, etc., focusing light from the light-emitting diodes passing the second beam shaping elements in order to achieve direct illumination of a smaller area.

(29) FIG. 5 shows the beam shaping elements 12,13 having a square shape and abutting each other. The beam shaping elements 12,13 may be separate components or they may be integrated into a single element, acting, for example, as translucent cover for the lighting device. In other embodiments, the beam shaping elements may be separated from each other, for example by a frame or by housing portions. In still other embodiments, the shape of the beam shaping elements may by rectangular, polygonal, circular, etc. All beam shaping elements may have the same shape or the beam shaping elements may have different shapes.

(30) FIG. 6 shows schematically a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention. The lighting device comprises two groups of light-emitting diodes 1,2. The light-emitting diodes of each group are located next to each other, for example as an LED module. The two groups are separated from each other and are installed into a common housing. The two groups may be installed on a common carrier, for example a common printed circuit board. The housing is provided with a transparent cover 14 having a first area acting as first beam shaping element 12 and a second area acting as second beam shaping element 13. The second beam shaping element 13 comprises an array of lenses and prisms and serves to focus light coming from the first light-emitting diodes 1. Such an array of lenses and prisms is for example used in OSRAM PARATHOM PAR16 LED lamps. The remaining area of the transparent cover 14 (or only portions thereof) acts as first beam shaping element 12 and may be transparent, matted, or otherwise achieving a diffuse scattering of light coming from the second group of light-emitting diodes 2.

(31) The groups of light-emitting diodes 1,2 are held in place inside the housing by one or more holding structures (not shown). Preferably, the holding structure holding the lower group of light-emitting diodes is designed to be thin, so as to obstruct the light coming from the upper group of light-emitting diodes as little as possible.

(32) The opening angle (FWHM) of the beam coming from the first group of light-emitting diodes (first LED module) may be more narrow than the opening angle (FWHM) of the beam coming from the second group of light-emitting diodes (second LED module). The opening angle of the beam of the first LED module may be approximately 36. The opening angle of the beam of the second LED module may be approximately 120.

(33) Operating only the first group of light-emitting diodes results in a focused illumination, operating only the second group of light-emitting diodes results in a broad illumination, and operating both groups of light-emitting diodes results is a broad illumination with increased illumination in the middle region.

(34) FIG. 6 shows the housing to have a circular cross section. The housing may have the shape of known lamps such as type MR11, MR16, AR111, R50, R63, R80, PAR16, PAR20, PAR30, and PAR38, each with different bases. Such lighting devices may be used as retrofit lamps in existing installations. Other types and shapes of housings may also be used.

(35) FIG. 7 shows schematically a further embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention in cross-section. The embodiment shown here essentially corresponds to the embodiment of FIG. 6, but the two groups of light-emitting diodes 1,2 are installed one behind the other. The first group of light-emitting diodes 1 is installed next to an area of the transparent housing including an array of lenses and prisms and acting as second beam shaping element 13. The remainder of the transparent cover 14, in particular the side walls 15 thereof, (or only portions thereof) acts as first beam shaping element 12 and may be transparent, matted, or otherwise achieving a diffuse scattering of light coming from the second group of light-emitting diodes 2.

(36) The opening angles of the LED modules are schematically indicated by dotted lines in FIG. 7.

(37) FIG. 7 shows the housing and in particular the transparent cover 14 to have a cylindrical shape. Other types and shapes of housings may also be used, such as bulb shapes known from traditional incandescent lamps. Such lighting devices may be used as retrofit lamps in existing installations. Although the invention has been illustrated and described in greater detail using the embodiments shown, the invention is not limited thereto and a person skilled in the art may derive other variations therefrom without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. For example, light-emitting diodes of different groups may, in addition to different beam characteristics as explained above, have different colors or color temperatures.

(38) Generally, one may be understood to mean a single figure or a plurality, particularly in the sense of at least one or one or more, etc., as long as this is not explicitly excluded, e.g. by the expression exactly one.

(39) A specified figure may also include exactly the number and also a customary tolerance range, as long as this is not explicitly excluded.

(40) Where applicable, all the individual features illustrated in the embodiments can be combined and/or replaced with each other without departing from the scope of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(41) 1 Light-emitting diode 2 Light-emitting diode 3 Substrate 4 Substrate 5 Driver 6 Driver 7 Mains voltage 8 Communication and control module 9 Operating unit 10 Controller 11 Controller 12 Beam shaping element 13 Beam shaping element 14 Transparent cover 15 Side walls