Multi-function lighting apparatus

Abstract

A multi-function lighting apparatus comprising a support structure, a light engine mounted on the structure, and a control unit controlling the light engine; the light engine comprising a first group of warm LEDs having color temperature ranging between 2000 and 2500 K and color rendering index ranging between 85 and 95; and a second group of cold LEDs having color temperature of at least 5000 K and color rendering index ranging between 65 and 75; the control unit being a two-channel driver control unit which controls independently the warm LEDs and the cold LEDs and is configured to control the light engine to emit white light with variable color temperature and luminous flux according to at least three different modes performing a lighting function, a plant maintenance function, and a sanification function respectively, as the color temperature and the luminous flux emitted by the light engine vary.

Claims

1. A multi-function lighting apparatus comprising a support structure (2), a light engine (3) mounted on the structure (2), and a control unit (4) controlling the light engine (3); the light engine (3) comprising a first group of warm LEDs (6) and a second group of cold LEDs (7) carried by a printed circuit board (8); characterized in that the warm LEDs (6) have color temperature ranging between 2000 and 2500 K, preferably about 2200 K, and color rendering index (CRI) ranging between 85 and 95, in particular about 90; and the cold LEDs (7) have color temperature equal to or higher than 5000 K, preferably about 6500 K, and color rendering index (CRI) ranging between 65 and 75, in particular about 70; the control unit (4) being a two-channel driver control unit which controls independently the warm LEDs (6) and the cold LEDs (7) and is configured to control the light engine (3) to emit white light with variable color temperature and luminous flux according to at least three different modes performing a lighting function, a plant maintenance function, and a sanification function respectively having different color temperature and luminous flux emitted by the light engine (3); characterized in that the control unit (4) is configured to control the light engine (3) so that the light engine (3) operates selectively in three modes: a first lighting mode in the presence of users, with color temperature ranging between 2000 K and 5000 K, total power ranging between 20 and 30 W, and luminous flux ranging between 2500 and 3000 lm; a second plant maintenance mode, with color temperature ranging between 3500 and 4000 K, total power ranging between 60 and 80 W, and luminous flux ranging between 3000 and 4000 lm for the warm LEDs (6) and between 5000 and 6000 K for the cold LEDs (7); a third sanification mode, with color temperature equal to or higher than 5000 K, in particular ranging between 5000 and 6500 K, total power of at least 70 W, and luminous flux of at least 10000 lm for the cold LEDs.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warm LEDs (6) have color temperature 2200 K and color rendering index 90; and the cold LEDs (7) have color temperature 6500 K and color rendering index 70.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light engine (3) is configured to emit white light with three different spectra at different color temperatures: a warmer color temperature between 2000 and 2500 K, indicatively about 2200 K, for the lighting function; an intermediate color temperature between 3200 and 3700 K, indicatively about 3500 K, for the plant maintenance function; a colder color temperature, higher than or equal to 5000 K, indicatively about 6500 K, for the sanification function.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein all the LEDs (6, 7) are carried by a single board (8) and form a module (5) which can be combined with other identical modules.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the warm LEDs (6) and the cold LEDs (7) are arranged aligned along two side-by-side parallel rows; in each row the warm LEDs (6) and the cold LEDs (7) are arranged alternately and the rows have facing LEDs of different types, i.e., a warm LED (6) of a row is placed side-by-side with a cold LED (7) of the other row.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (4) is configured to adjust the power supplied to the warm LEDs (6) and the cold LEDs (7) so as to adjust the total luminous flux of the light engine (3).

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the plant maintenance mode the light engine (3) is configured to operate with color temperature 3500 K; total power 70 W; current to the warm LEDs (6), having color temperature 2200 K, 750 mA; current to the cold LEDs (7), having color temperature 6500 K, 750 mA; luminous flux 3500 lm for the warm LEDs (6) at 2200 K and 5500 lm for the cold LEDs (7) at 6500 K.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in the sanification mode the light engine (3) is configured to operate with color temperature 6500 K; total power 70 W; current to the warm LEDs (6) at 2200 K 0 mA; current to the cold LEDs (7) at 6500 K 750 mA; luminous flux 10500 lm for the cold LEDs (7) at 6500 K.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising an optical group (9) comprising a plurality of lenses positioned in front of respective LEDs (6, 7), and an anti-glaring shield having a plurality of cells positioned about respective lenses.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) has a beam angle lower than or equal to 2?35?; luminance lower than or equal to 1000 cd/m{circumflex over ()}2 over 50?; efficacy higher than or equal to 150 lm/W.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) has light output ratio higher than or equal to 80%, preferably 85%.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus (1) has UGR lower than or equal to 16.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the appended drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a multi-function lighting apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a graph that shows the spectral power distribution (SPD) of an apparatus according to the invention, operating in different functioning modes.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

(4) With reference to FIG. 1, the number 1 denotes in its entirety a multi-function lighting apparatus, namely intended for lighting of indoor environments (domestic and work environments).

(5) The device 1 comprises a support structure 2, a light engine 3 mounted on the structure 2, and a control unit 4.

(6) Advantageously, the apparatus 1 has a modular configuration and is formed of one or more modules 5.

(7) In FIG. 1, a single module 5 is shown. Clearly, the apparatus 1 may comprise any number of modules 5 variously connected and organized with each other.

(8) The structure 2 may be variously constructed and shaped, also depending on the type of apparatus 1.

(9) For example, the structure 2 is formed of an aluminum body that creates a track system and comprises a plurality of modules 5.

(10) The light engine 3 comprises a plurality of LEDs 6, 7 carried by a printed circuit board (PCB) 8.

(11) The control unit 4 is operatively connected to the LEDs 6, 7 to control functioning (switch-on/switch-off and adjustment of intensity) of the LEDs 6, 7. The control unit 4 operates with a two-channel driver that independently controls the warm LEDs 6 and the cold LEDs 7.

(12) Advantageously, the module 5 comprises an optical group 9, only schematically shown in FIG. 1, arranged facing the LEDs 6, 7, to collect and convey the light emitted by the LEDs 6, 7. In particular, the optical group 9 comprises a plurality of lenses, for example in PMMA, positioned in front of respective LEDs 6, 7, and an anti-glaring shield having a plurality of cells positioned about respective lenses.

(13) The apparatus 1 of the invention has a single light engine 3 configured to provide all the desired functions: a lighting function (with variable modes, such as to follow the circadian cycle, for example), a sanification function, a plant maintenance function.

(14) In particular, the light engine 3 is configured to emit white light with a color temperature variable according to need and, in particular, with three different spectra at different color temperatures: a warmer color temperature ranging between 2000 and 2500 K, indicatively about 2200 K, for the lighting function; an intermediate color temperature ranging between 3200 and 3700 K, indicatively about 3500 K, for the plant maintenance function; a colder color temperature, higher than or equal to 5000 K, indicatively about 6500 K, for the sanification function.

(15) For this purpose, the light engine 3 comprises two groups of LEDs: a first group of LEDs is formed of warm LEDs 6 having color temperature ranging between 2000 and 2500 K, preferably about 2200 K, and color rendering index (CRI) ranging between 85 and 95, in particular about 90; and a second group of LEDs is formed of cold LEDs 7 with color temperature equal to or higher than 5000 K, preferably about 6500 K, and color rendering index (CRI) ranging between 65 and 75, in particular about 70.

(16) In a preferred embodiment, the warm LEDs 6 have color temperature 2200 K and color rendering index 90; and the cold LEDs 7 have color temperature 6500 K and color rendering index 70.

(17) All the LEDs 6, 7 are advantageously carried by the same board 8 and form the module 5. The module 5 therefore comprises a plurality of warm LEDs 6 and a plurality of cold LEDs 7, as defined above. Preferably, the module 5 comprises the same number of warm LEDs 6 and cold LEDs 7.

(18) In the preferred embodiment shown, the warm LEDs 6 and the cold LEDs 7 are arranged aligned along two side-by-side parallel rows; in each row, the warm LEDs 6 and the cold LEDs 7 are arranged alternately and the rows have facing LEDs of different types (i.e., a warm LED 6 of a row is placed side-by-side with a cold LED 7 of the other row).

(19) Clearly, the module 5 and therefore the light engine 3 may comprise a different number of LEDs 6, 7, organized in a different manner and arranged differently to what is indicated as an example.

(20) In the example shown, the light engine 3 comprises eight warm LEDs 6 and the same number of cold LEDs 7 arranged alternatively on two parallel rows; the two rows have side-by-side LEDs 6, 7, of a different type.

(21) According to the invention, the apparatus 1 has: light output ratio (ratio between total flux emitted by the apparatus and the luminous flux emitted by the light sources functioning without apparatus, measured in the same conditions) higher than or equal to 80%, preferably 85%; UGR lower than or equal to 16; beam angle (beam angle emitted by the apparatus) lower than or equal to 2?35?, for example ranging between 2?30? and 2?35?, preferably lower than or equal to 2?33?; luminance lower than or equal to 1000 cd/m{circumflex over ()}2 over 50?; efficacy, i.e., ratio between radiant power (luminous flux expressed in lumen) and absorbed electrical power (expressed in watts) higher than or equal to 150 lm/W, preferably higher than or equal to 155 lm/W.

(22) The light engine 3 is controlled by a two-channel driver control unit 4 which controls independently the warm LEDs 6 and the cold LEDs 7, having respective different color temperatures, in a manner to define a Tunable White system that allows the overall color temperature emitted by the light engine 3 to be controlled by varying the contribution of the warm LEDs 6 and the cold LEDs 7. Furthermore, the control unit 4 adjusts the power supplied to the various LEDs 6, 7, so as to adjust the total luminous flux.

(23) The light engine 3 is therefore configured to emit white light at a color temperature variable between 2000 K, using only the warm LEDs 6, and 6500 K (or above), using only the cold LEDs 7, and also at all the intermediate temperatures, using combinations of warm LEDs 6 and cold LEDs 7; and to emit a variable luminous flux at the various color temperatures.

(24) In particular, the light engine 3 operates in three modes: 1) warm white light for lighting in the presence of users: color temperature ranging between 2000 K and 5000 K; total power ranging between 20 and 30 W; luminous flux ranging between 2500 and 3000 lm, for example about 2700 lm, at the color temperature selected; the warm LEDs are active and, optionally, the cold LEDs, in order to have the desired color temperature; the light engine is therefore supplied power with a variable current intensity for the warm LEDs (e.g. 2200 K) and the cold LEDs (e.g. 6500 K); 2) white light for plant maintenance: color temperature ranging between 3500 and 4000 K, for example about 3500 K; total power ranging between 60 and 80 W, for example about 70 W; luminous flux ranging between 3000 and 4000 lm for the warm LEDs (e.g. 2200 K) and between 5000 and 6000 lm for the cold LEDs (e.g. 6500 K); both the warm LEDs and the cold LEDs are active; for example, the light engine operates with color temperature 3500 K, total power 70 W, current to warm LEDs (2200 K) 750 mA, current to cold LEDs (6500 K) 750 mA, luminous flux 3500 lm for the warm LEDs (2200 K) and 5500 lm for the cold LEDs (6500 K); 3) white light for microbial containment: color temperature higher than or equal to 5000 K, in particular ranging between 5000 and 6500 K; total power of at least 70 W; only the cold LEDs are active, whereas the warm LEDs are switched off; luminous flux higher than or equal to 10000 lm, for example about 10500 lm, for the cold LEDs; for example, the light engine operates with color temperature 6500 K, total power 70 W, current to warm LEDs (2200 K) 0 mA, current to cold LEDs (6500 K) 750 mA, luminous flux 10500 lm for the cold LEDs (6500 K).

(25) In conclusion, it is clear that further changes and variants may be made to the lighting apparatus described and shown here without deviating from the scope of the appended claims.