Artificial skylight

Abstract

An artificial skylight structured to emit light for imitating a sun-sky appearance, the artificial skylight comprising a sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture comprising a diffuser frame of visible light diffusing material, the diffuser frame forming side walls of a recessed window and a first light emitting source for emitting first light through the diffuser frame, as well as a sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture comprising 5a light exit panel being of visible light transmissive material and a further light emitting source for emitting second light through the light exit panel; wherein the light exit panel is mounted on the side walls of the recessed window of the diffuser frame of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture, and wherein the artificial skylight further comprises an optical element configured to limit first light emitted by the sun-appearance imitating lighting 10 fixture from exiting via the recessed light exit panel of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture.

Claims

1. An artificial skylight structured to emit light for imitating a sun-sky appearance, the artificial skylight at least comprising: at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture comprising: a diffuser frame made from a visible light diffusing material, the diffuser frame forming side walls of a recessed window and at least one first light emitting source for emitting first light through at least part of the diffuser frame, as well as a sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture comprising: a light exit panel being made from a visible light transmissive material and having an inner portion extending over the recessed window, said inner portion is located within the diffuser frame, and at least one further light emitting source for emitting second light through the light exit panel; wherein the light exit panel is mounted on the side walls of the recessed window of the diffuser frame of the at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture, and wherein the artificial skylight further comprises: at least one optical element configured, during operation of the artificial skylight, to limit first light emitted by the at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture from exiting via the recessed light exit panel of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture, wherein the at least one optical element is part of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture, and wherein the at least one optical element provided at the light exit panel exhibits, seen in the plane formed by the recessed light exit panel, a longitudinal dimension extending past a wall thickness dimension of the diffuser frame over the inner portion of the light exit panel.

2. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is configured to block and/or absorb first light emitted by the at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture from exiting via the recessed light exit panel of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture.

3. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the light exit panel is transparent.

4. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is provided at the side of the recessed light exit panel facing towards the at least one further light emitting source.

5. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is provided at the side of the light exit panel facing away from the at least one further light emitting source.

6. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is provided where the light exit panel mechanically contacts the diffuser frame of the at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture forming the side walls around the recessed light exit panel.

7. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is made from a visible light absorbing material.

8. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the light exit panel is a transparent, blue colored panel having a color saturation in the range of 5% to 30%.

9. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal dimension of the at least one optical element extending past the wall thickness dimension of the diffuser frame over the inner portion of the light exit panel is no more than 10 mm, preferably no more than 6 mm, even more preferably no more than 4 mm.

10. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is part of the at least one sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture.

11. The artificial skylight according to claim 10, wherein the at least one optical element is provided at the diffuser frame bordering the recessed light exit panel.

12. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is formed as a visible light absorbing coating or a visible light absorbing adhesive foil, sheet or panel.

13. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is formed as an integral visible light absorbing part of the light exit panel and/or the diffuser frame.

14. The artificial skylight according to claim 1, wherein the at least one optical element is mechanically clamped between the light exit panel and the diffuser frame.

15. The artificial skylight according to claim 14, wherein the at least one optical element is structured as a profiled collar.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be discussed with reference to the schematic drawings in which some part may be exaggerated in size for the sake of explanation and/or clarity, the drawings show in:

(2) FIG. 1 a first example of a lighting fixture (or artificial skylight) according to the disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 a further example of a lighting fixture according to the disclosure;

(4) FIG. 3 another view of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 a detail of the first or further example of a lighting fixture according to the disclosure shown in FIG. 1 or 2;

(6) FIG. 5 a further detail of the first or further example of a lighting fixture according to the disclosure shown in FIG. 1 or 2;

(7) FIG. 6-8 show a cross-section of respectively a first, second and third example of a lighting fixture according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(8) For a proper understanding of the invention, in the detailed description below corresponding elements or parts of the invention will be denoted with identical reference numerals in the drawings.

(9) FIG. 1 depicts a first example of an artificial skylight, capable of imitating a sun-sky appearance mounted in the ceiling 1000 of a room. In particular, such artificial skylights are installed in rooms or apartments of for example public or office buildings, which rooms lack windows through which daylight can enter. Examples of such rooms can be e.g. control rooms, conference rooms, waiting rooms in hospitals, shops, archives, libraries, etc. Studies have shown, that the absence of windows and thus the lack of exposure to daylight causes a drop in the wellbeing of people present in such rooms. As a consequence, many countries have implemented labour regulations forbidding a prolonged presence in such rooms.

(10) This has resulted in the development of so-called artificial skylights or luminaires capable of emitting light, which light distribution imitates a sun-sky appearance. Although such artificial skylights provide a realistic imitation of a real window, their construction still allow stray light leaving the artificial skylight at unwanted locations and in undesired directions. In particular such light artefacts disturb the direct-light component of the lighting fixture. Such disturbances adversely affect the overall lighting luminance 20 imitating the sun-sky appearance as they are clearly visible for a viewer when viewing the imitated window.

(11) In the example of the disclosure as shown in FIG. 1, the artificial skylight for emitting light imitating a sun-sky appearance is denoted with reference numeral 100 and mounted in a ceiling 1000, thus imitating a blind roof window. Note, the artificial skylight 100 can also be mounted in a blind wall of the room, thus imitating a blind window.

(12) The sun-sky appearance created by the artificial skylight 100 is composed of a first light component and a second light component. Hereto, in the example of FIG. 1, the artificial skylight 100 comprises a sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture denoted with reference numeral 10, structured to emit the second light component and a sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture denoted with reference numeral 20, structured to emit the first light component.

(13) Alternatively, in the example of FIG. 2, the artificial skylight is denoted with 100 and can be considered as an artificial skylight system or assembly comprising multiple, here three individual artificial skylights 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 (100-x in general), the assembly 100 being composed ofin this examplethree sky-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 as well as and multiple, here three sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 20-1, 20-2, 20-3. However, the disclosure is not limited to configurations of artificial skylights, each composed of one or three sky-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 10 and sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 20. Other combinations of an x-number of sky-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 10-x and sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 20-x are possible, with x being 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. etc.

(14) Returning to the example of FIG. 1, the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10 comprises a light exit panel 11 being made from a visible light transmissive material, such as polycarbonate. Typically, the light exit panel is clear, i.e. transparent or non-diffusing for (visible) light. Additionally, at least one light emitting source 12 is mounted behind the light exit panel 11 as seen from a viewer present in the room in which the artificial skylight 100 is installed. The at least one light emitting source 12 serves to emit a second light component through the light exit panel 11 towards the room (and the persons present).

(15) Although in FIG. 1 one light emitting source 12 is depicted schematically at the center of the light exit panel 11, a plurality of (different) (pixelated) lighting devices 12 can be mounted behind the light exit panel 11 in an even distribution, thus creating the desired second light distribution imitating a sky-appearance. Similarly, in the example of FIG. 2, multiple second light emitting sources 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 (or in general denoted with 12-x) can be mounted behind each light exit panel 11 of each sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10-1, 10-2 and 10-3 (10-x).

(16) In FIGS. 1 and 2, the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 (20-1, 20-2, 20-3) is composed of a diffuser frame indicated with 21. The diffuser frame 21 is made from a visible light diffusing material, such as for example, acrylic (PMMA/Plexiglas), polycarbonate (Lexaan/Makrolon), PETG (Vivak). The diffuser frame 21 is composed of a construction of interconnected side walls of said visible light diffusing material, in the example of FIGS. 1 and 2 four side walls 21a-21d. The interconnected side walls 21a-21d are shaped as elongated wall elements, which are interconnected with each other at their wall ends, thus forming of the border or chambranle of a recessed (blind) window:

(17) In FIGS. 1 and 2 the diffuser frame 21 has a square or rectangular configuration, however also other (simple) polygon shaped configurations are possible, for example a diffuser frame 21 having a triangle configuration, thus composed of three interconnected side walls 21a-21b-21c. Also other polygons, such as convex regular n-gons are feasible. In a particular example the diffuser frame 21 may have a circular configuration composed of one or more circular shaped side walls.

(18) Each sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 (20-1, 20-2, 20-3 in FIG. 2 or in general denoted with 20-x) comprises at least one first light emitting source 22 (22-1, 22-2, 22-3 in FIG. 2 or in general denoted with 22-x) for emitting a first light component or first light through at least part of the diffuser frame 21. Also here, one first light emitting source 22 is depicted schematically in the middle of the length dimension of each of the side walls 21a and 21b. However, multiple (pixelated) first light emitting sources 22 can be mounted behind each side walls in an even distribution, thus creating the desired first light distribution imitating a sun-appearance.

(19) In an example the light emitting sources 12 and 22 are LED sources.

(20) Optional, the complete construction of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10 and the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 are accommodating in a housing frame of the artificial skylight 100 and 100 (FIG. 2), allowing a simple and aesthetic mounting in a flush manner in the ceiling 1000. The effect to create a realistic feeling illusion of natural skylight, having an infinite blue sky can relate to the aspect of a clear, transparent light exit window, arranged downstream of a recessed LED panel, providing a blue sky effect and to another aspect of visible Fresnel reflections on the light exit window of the inner sidewall(s) arrangement, surrounding the recessed panel and arranged downstream of the light exit window.

(21) FIG. 3 depicts the first example of the artificial skylight 100 if FIG. 3 in more detail, with the light exit panel 11 facing an observer in the room. The light exit panel 11 is mounted on the elongated side edges of the side walls 21a-21d forming the recessed window of the diffuser frame 21 of each of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures.

(22) The light exit panel 11 is combined with several light emitting sources 12-1, 12-2, 12-3 (in general 12-x), each of the single or multiple light emitting sources 12-x being allocated to one of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 10-x.

(23) The mounting of the light exit panel 11 on the elongated side edges of the side walls 21a-21d of each diffuser frame 21 presents a constructional challenge as to lightproofness. Due to the use of more or less light transmissive materials for both the light exit panel 11 and the side walls 21a-21d of each diffuser frame 21, first light emitted by in particular the several first light emitting sources 22-x positioned behind the side walls 21a-21d will exit through the side walls 21a-21d as intended, but might also leave the artificial skylight 100 (100) as stray light of the first light component via the light exit panel 11 due to internal reflection.

(24) This stray light of the first light component leaving the artificial skylight 100-100 via the light exit panel 11 of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10 creates undesired light artefacts disturbing the second light component of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10. In particular, see FIG. 4, these light artefacts created by first light emitted by the first light emitting sources 22 (22-x) of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 (20-x) are visible near the mounting edges or junctions 21q between the side walls 21a-21d and the light exit panel 11 are denoted in FIG. 4 with the capital letter L. These light spots or artefacts L disturb the direct-light distribution of the light emitting source(s) 11 (11-x) of each sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10 (10-x).

(25) In order to avoid the occurrence of such light disturbances one or more optical elements 40 are provided, which are configured, during operation of the artificial skylight 100 (100), to limit first light L emitted by the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 20 (20-x) from exiting via the recessed light exit panel 11 of each of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 10 (10-x).

(26) An example of such optical element 40 is depicted in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5. In particular the optical element 40 is part of each sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10-x, and in particular the element 40 is provided at the side of the recessed light exit panel 11 facing towards the further light emitting source(s) 12-x, and thus away from an observer present in the room in which the artificial skylight 100-100 is installed, as shown in the example of FIG. 3. In another example the optical element 40 is provided at the side of the recessed light exit panel 11 facing away the at least one further light emitting source 12-x and thus towards an observer present in the room in which the artificial skylight 100-100 is installed. More in particular and as shown in both FIGS. 3 and 5, the optical element 40 is provided at the outer periphery portion 11a of the direct-light exit panel 11.

(27) In FIGS. 3 and 5, combined with FIG. 4, it is preferred, to have the optical element 40) (or several optical elements 40) present where the light exit panel 11 mechanically contacts the diffuser frame 21-x of each sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20-x, in particular where the (outer periphery portion 11a of the) panel 11 contacts or abuts the (elongated side edges of the) side walls 21a-21d. In one example, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the at least one optical element 40 is provided at the outer periphery portion 11a of the direct-light exit panel 11, whereas in another example of the disclosure, the at least one optical element 40 is part of or present on the diffuser frame 21 bordering the recessed light exit panel 11. For example, the at least one optical element 40 is applied along the elongated side edges of the side walls 21a-21d directly contacting the light exit panel 11.

(28) In both examples, the one or more optical element 40 at locations where the light exit panel 11 mechanically contacts the diffuser frame 21 of each sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 (20-x) and in particular contacts the side walls 21a-21d around the recessed light exit panel 11, any stray first light emitted by the first light emitting sources 22 (22-x) of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20 (20-x) are blocked or absorbed by the optical element(s) 40. Such stray first light is not reflected via the light exit panel 11. Disturbing first light artefacts in the overall light luminance exiting the light exit panel 11 are blocked and/or absorbed and an improved and more realistic view of an artificial sun-sky or skylight appearance is generated.

(29) Preferably, the at least one optical element 40 is made from a visible light absorbing material. As shown in FIG. 5, the optical element 40 provided on either side of the light exit panel 11 has a longitudinal dimension D, which extends past (or is larger than) a wall thickness dimension d of the side walls 21a-21d of the diffuser frame 21. In a similar manner, any stray first light L (see FIG. 4) emitted by the light emitting sources 22 (22-x) of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixtures 20 (20-x) within the inner construction of the artificial skylight 100-100 towards the light exit panel 11 is blocked or absorbed by the optical element(s) 40 and thus prevented from exiting the light exit panel 11 and c100-100 through internal reflection.

(30) Disturbances or light artefacts in the overall light luminance exiting via the light exit panel 11 are avoided (blocked and/or absorbed).

(31) In particular, the longitudinal dimension D of the optical element 40 extending past the wall thickness dimension d of the side walls 21a-21d of the diffuser frame 21 over the inner portion is no more than 10 mm, preferably no more than 6 mm, even more preferably no more than 4 mm. Herewith, the optical element 40 on either side of the light exit panel 11 will be less visible for an observer, thus maintaining a realistic view of the artificial sun-sky or skylight appearance of the light exit panel 11.

(32) In exemplary embodiments, the at least one optical element 40 is formed as a visible light absorbing coating or a visible light absorbing adhesive foil, sheet or panel, provided on either side of the light exit panel 11. Also, the optical element 40 can be formed as an integral visible light absorbing part of the light exit panel 11 and/or the diffuser frame 21. Alternatively, the optical element 40 is a separate component, which is mechanically clamped between the light exit panel 11 and the diffuser frame 21.

(33) In an example of a cross sectional view of an artificial skylight according to the invention as depicted in FIG. 6, the at least one optical element 40 is structured as a separate profiled member, preferable from a flexible material, such as a rubber material. When the at least one optical element is executed as a separate part, such as a light absorbing foil or sheet of 3D compliant material (further reducing the material gap size), it may be made from materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, foam or rubber, for example. Or it may be executed as a sheet or L-shape rubber lining, for example, being mechanically clamped in between the diffuser frame of the artificial skylight and the light exit panel, arranged floating or as an adhesive fixated part. The profiled member serves as a sealing member or liner or collar, which can be mounted in a clamping manner to or around either the outer periphery portion 11a of the direct-light exit panel 11, or the elongated side edges of the side walls 21a-21d of the diffuser frame 21. The light exit panel 11 comprises an outer periphery portion 11a, surrounding an inner portion 11b of the light exit panel. The inner portion 11b extends over the recessed window 50. As shown the optical element (or profiled member) 40 extends over about a distance D over an inner portion 11b of the light exit panel 11. This is the case along the complete circumferential side wall formed by side walls 21a-21d (not visible in the cross section view) and counteracts emission of stray light due to artefacts.

(34) FIGS. 7 and 8 show similar cross sections of the artificial skylight according to the invention as shown in FIG. 8 wherein the optical element 40 extends over a distance D over the inner portion 11b of the light exit panel 11. Yet, in FIG. 7 the optical element 40 is attached to side walls 21a-21d of the diffuser frame and is part of the sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture 20. In FIG. 8 the optical element 40 is formed as a light absorbing coating, such as a spray coating, a printed layer or a (thicker) adhesive sheet, on at least a part of the inner portion 11b of the light exit panel 11, and is part of the sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture 10.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED

(35) 1000 ceiling 100 artificial skylight 100 artificial skylight system or assembly 100-x artificial skylight (with x=1, 2, 3, etc.) 10-x sky-appearance imitating lighting fixture (with x=1, 2, 3, etc.) 11 light exit panel 11a outer periphery portion of light exit panel 11b inner portion of light exit panel 12-x further light emitting source (with x=1, 2, 3, etc.) 20-x sun-appearance imitating lighting fixture (with x=1, 2, 3, etc.) 21 diffuser frame 21a-21d side walls of diffuser frame 21q corner or junction between diffuser frame and light exit panel 22-x first light emitting source (with x=1, 2, 3, etc.) 30 housing of artificial skylight 40 optical element 50 recessed window