DISINFECTING LIGHTING DEVICE WITH IMPROVED SAFETY AND LIGHTING PERCEPTION

Abstract

The present invention relates to a disinfecting lighting device (1) arranged to emit device light. The disinfecting lighting device comprises at least one disinfecting light module (2, 2) comprising at least one first light source (3, 3) providing a first light in the UV wavelength range and a second light in the visible wavelength range, the second light having a first color point x.sub.1,y.sub.1. The disinfecting lighting device further comprises at least one second light source (4) configured to provide a third light in the visible wavelength range, the third light having a second color point x.sub.2,y.sub.2. An optical element (5) is arranged in a light-receiving relationship with the at least one disinfecting light module (2, 2) and the second light source (4). The first color point xi,yi and the second color point x.sub.2,y.sub.2 are substantially equivalent.

Claims

1. A disinfecting lighting device arranged to emit device light, said disinfecting lighting device comprising: at least one disinfecting light module comprising at least one first light source providing a first light in the UV wavelength range and a second light in the visible wavelength range, said second light having a first color point x.sub.1,y.sub.1; at least one second light source configured to provide a third light in the visible wavelength range, said third light having a second color point x.sub.2,y.sub.2; an optical element arranged in a light-receiving relationship with said at least one disinfecting light module and said second light source; wherein said first color point x.sub.1,y.sub.1 and said second color point x.sub.2,y.sub.2 are substantially equivalent.

2. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the following equations are fulfilled: $\begin{array}{cc}.Math.x_1-x_2.Math.<0.05& \left(1\right)\end{array}$ $\begin{array}{cc}.Math.y_1-y_2.Math.<0.05& \left(2\right)\end{array}$

3. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said second light has a first spectral distribution and said third light has a second spectral distribution, and wherein said first spectral distribution is different from said second spectral distribution.

4. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is a light guide, said light guide having a light in-coupling portion, a light outcoupling portion and light outcoupling means, wherein at least a first portion of said third light is coupled into the light guide at said light in-coupling portion, at least a second portion of the third light is light guided through a portion of the light guide based on total internal reflection, said at least second portion of said third light is coupled-out of said light guide at said light outcoupling portion by said light outcoupling means.

5. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said optical element is light transmissive to said first light.

6. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one disinfecting light module comprises a first light mixing chamber comprising an inner cavity and a first light exit window, and wherein said at least one first light source is arranged inside said inner cavity of said first light mixing chamber.

7. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 6, wherein said at least one second light source is arranged inside said inner cavity of said first light mixing chamber.

8. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said first light source during operation is powered and depowered in a first intermittent manner.

9. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 8, wherein said second light source during operation is powered and depowered in a second intermittent manner being inverse to said first intermittent manner.

10. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 9, wherein said second light has a first luminous flux LF.sub.1, said third light has a second luminous flux LF.sub.2, wherein 0.8<LF.sub.1/LF.sub.2<1.2.

11. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 9, wherein said third light is provided at a higher luminous flux LF.sub.2a when said first light source is powered, and at a lower luminous flux LF.sub.2b when said first light source is depowered, wherein 0.8<(LF.sub.2b+LF.sub.1)/LF.sub.2a<1.2.

12. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said disinfecting lighting device further comprises a second light mixing chamber comprising a second light exit window, and wherein said at least one disinfecting light module, said optical element and said at least one second light source are arranged inside said second light mixing chamber.

13. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 10, wherein said disinfecting lighting device comprises a reflector arranged between said optical element and said at least one disinfecting light module, wherein said optical element is arranged between said second light exit window and said reflector, and wherein said reflector comprises at least one opening being aligned with said at least one disinfecting light module.

14. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said disinfecting lighting device further comprises a controller and a sensor, wherein said controller is arranged to power said second light source and to depower said first light source when presence of a subject is detected by said sensor.

15. The disinfecting lighting device according to claim 1, wherein said second light and said third light has a purple color or a purplish white color.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0054] FIGS. 1a-1b illustrate a disinfecting lighting device according to the present invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of the disinfecting lighting device, wherein the first light source is operated in a first intermittent manner:

[0056] FIG. 3 depicts an outcoupling pattern of the disinfecting lighting device:

[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section view of the disinfecting lighting device comprising a reflector:

[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates non-linear increase in the purple light intensity:

[0059] FIGS. 6a and 6b show different embodiments of the first light mixing chamber:

[0060] FIGS. 7a-7c depict luminous flux or intensity plotted against time.

[0061] All the figures are schematic, not necessarily to scale, and generally only show parts which are necessary in order to elucidate embodiments of the present invention, wherein other parts may be omitted or merely suggested.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The present invention will now be described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplifying embodiments of the present invention are shown. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments of the present invention set forth herein; rather, these embodiments of the present invention are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, identical or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar components having a same or similar function, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0063] FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate one embodiment of the disinfecting lighting device 1 according to the present invention. The disinfecting lighting device 1 comprises two disinfecting light modules 2, 2 each comprising a first light source 3, 3 providing a first light in the UV wavelength range and a second light in the visible wavelength range. The second light has a first color point x.sub.1,y.sub.1.

[0064] The disinfecting lighting device 1 further comprises one second light source 4 configured to provide a third light in the visible wavelength range. The third light has a second color point x.sub.2,y.sub.2, being substantially equivalent to the first color point x.sub.1,y.sub.1.

[0065] The disinfecting lighting device further comprises an optical element 5 arranged in a light-receiving relationship with the disinfecting light modules 2, 2 and the second light source 4. It should be noted that in the embodiment depicted in FIGS. 1a and 1b the optical element 5 is side-lit by the third light emitted by the second light source.

[0066] According to the present invention, a portion of the optical element 5 will thus receive light from the disinfecting light modules 2, 2, while the remaining portion of the optical element 5 will receive light from the second light source 4. Since the second light emitted by the first light sources 3, 3 and the third light emitted by the second light source 4 have substantially equivalent color points, the entire optical element 5 of the disinfecting lighting device 1 will emit the light being perceived by the user as homogenous and pleasant. Therefore, the disinfecting lighting device of the present invention eliminates the disadvantage of bright and dark areas of the optical element 5.

[0067] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate a disinfecting light module 102 wherein the first light source 103 during operation is powered and depowered in a first intermittent manner. The second light source 104 is powered and depowered in a second intermittent manner being inverse to the first intermittent manner. In other words, when the first light source 103 is depowered, as shown in FIG. 2b, the second light source 104 may be powered, emitting the third light having the same color point as the second light. Therefore, the user will not notice when the first light source 103 is powered or depowered, since the disinfecting lighting device will constantly emit visible light being the second light, the third light or combinations thereof.

[0068] As may be seen in FIG. 3, the light outcoupling pattern on the portion of optical element 205 arranged in light-receiving relationship with the at least one disinfecting light module is different from the light outcoupling pattern on the remaining portion of the optical element 205.

[0069] FIG. 4 depicts a disinfecting lighting device 301 comprising a reflector 306 arranged between the optical element 305 and the disinfecting light modules 302, 302. The optical element 305 is arranged between the second light exit window 307 and the reflector 306. The reflector 306 comprises two openings being aligned with the two disinfecting light modules 302, 302.

[0070] FIG. 5 depicts intensity of purple light plotted against time. The second light source 404 will provide a non-linear increase in the total intensity of the purple light 408 when intensity of the first and the second lights emitted by the first light source 403 is increased. Thus, the increase in disinfection intensity will be visually communicated to the user.

[0071] FIG. 6a depicts a first light mixing chamber 509 comprising a first light source 503 and a second light source 504. As may be seen in FIG. 6a, the first, second and third light will be emitted through the entire area of the first light exit window 507. In this case, the first luminous flux LF.sub.1 of the second light and the second luminous flux LF.sub.2 of the third light should satisfy the inequality 0.8<LF.sub.1/LF.sub.2<1.2. i.e. these values should be substantially equivalent, as shown in FIGS. 7a-7c.

[0072] FIG. 6b illustrates a first light mixing chamber 609 comprising a first light source 603 and a second light source 604. As may be seen in FIG. 6b, the first and second light will be emitted through a first portion 607 of the first light exit window, while the third light will be emitted through a second portion 607 of the first light exit window. Accordingly, the second light has may have a first intensity I.sub.1, and the third light may have a second intensity I.sub.2. The first intensity may be substantially equivalent to the second intensity, i.e. 0.8<I.sub.1/I.sub.2<1.2, as illustrated in FIGS. 7a-7c.

[0073] Although the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is intended that the detailed description be regarded as illustrative and that the appended claims including all the equivalents are intended to define the scope of the invention. While the present invention has been illustrated in the appended drawings and the foregoing description, such illustration is to be considered illustrative or exemplifying and not restrictive: the present invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the appended claims, the word comprising does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article a or an does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.