Abstract
The invention relates to a lighting apparatus, having a quadrangular lighting surface, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a first lateral edge a and an opposing lateral edge a.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a second lateral edge b and an opposing lateral edge b.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface is constructed modularly from at least a first lighting module and further lighting modules. The at least first lighting module is triangular, wherein the base surface of the first lighting module has a lateral edge b1 and a vertex E1 opposing this lateral edge b1, wherein a connecting path between the vertex E1 and an intersection point L1 of a normal line with the lateral edge b1 is a height h1 of the first lighting module, where 0<h1a and b=b1.
Claims
1. A lighting apparatus comprising: a quadrangular lighting surface, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a first lateral edge a and an opposing lateral edge a.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a second lateral edge b and an opposing lateral edge b.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface is constructed modularly from at least three lighting modules comprising a first lighting module and further lighting modules, wherein the lighting modules interact with one another via corresponding interfaces so that the lighting modules can be easily and/or flexibly attached, removed, changed or otherwise grouped, wherein at least the first lighting module is triangular, wherein none of the lighting modules is rectangular, wherein the base surface of the first lighting module has a lateral edge b1 and a vertex E1 opposing this lateral edge b1, wherein a connecting path between the vertex E1 and an intersection point L1 of a normal line with the lateral edge b1 is a height h1 of the first lighting module, where 0<h1a and b=b1.
2. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting surface is rectangular, square, trapezoidal or parallelogram-shaped.
3. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the vertex E1 of the first lighting module corresponds to a point on the opposing lateral edge b.sub.g of the quadrangular lighting surface.
4. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the further lighting modules have a geometry which is selected from the group comprising triangles, trapezoids, parallelograms and combinations thereof.
5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the further lighting modules include a second lighting module, wherein the second lighting module is a triangle, wherein the base surface of the second lighting module has a lateral edge b2 and an opposing vertex E2, wherein a connecting path between the vertex E2 and an intersection point L2 of a normal line with the lateral edge b2 is a height h2 of the second lighting module, where 0h2a.
6. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the vertex E1 of the triangle of the first lighting module corresponds to the vertex E2 of the triangle of the second lighting module.
7. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the following equations apply: E1=E2 and h1=h2=a/2 and h1+h2=a, b1=b, b2=b.sub.g and b=b.sub.g.
8. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has an edge which extends in parallel with the first lateral edge a of the quadrangular lighting surface and includes the heights h1 and h2 of the first and second lighting modules, where: a/2h1a/4 and/or a/2h2a/4 and/or h1+h2a.
9. The lighting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the following equations apply: h1=h2a/4 and b1=b2=b=b.sub.g and h1+h2=a or h1=h2a/4 and b1=b2=b=b.sub.g and h1+h2=a.
10. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein at least some of the first, second and/or the further lighting modules or all the lighting modules have a light coupling-in part having light-emitting diodes.
11. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface is rectangular or square and is constructed modularly from the first and second lighting module, or wherein the quadrangular lighting surface is trapezoidal and is constructed modularly from the first and second lighting module and a further module.
12. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first lighting module and/or the second lighting module and/or the further lighting modules are constructed modularly from at least further lighting module subunits.
13. The lighting apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the further lighting module subunits are triangular, trapezoidal and/or parallelogram-shaped.
14. The lighting apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first and/or second lighting module and/or the further lighting modules have at least one outer surface which is not a light exit surface or a light entry surface and is at least partially provided with a reflective coating.
15. Arrangement comprising: at least one display; and a lighting apparatus, comprising a quadrangular lighting surface, wherein the lighting apparatus is in direct contact with the at least one display or is spaced apart from the at least one display, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a first lateral edge a and an opposing lateral edge a.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface has a second lateral edge b and an opposing lateral edge b.sub.g, wherein the quadrangular lighting surface is constructed modularly from at least three lighting modules comprising a first lighting module and further lighting modules, wherein the lighting modules interact with one another via corresponding interfaces so that the lighting modules can be easily and/or flexibly attached, removed, changed or otherwise grouped, wherein at least the first lighting module is triangular, wherein none of the lighting modules is rectangular, wherein the base surface of the first lighting module has a lateral edge b1 and a vertex E1 opposing this lateral edge b1, and wherein a connecting path between the vertex E1 and an intersection point L1 of a normal line with the lateral edge b1 is a height h1 of the first lighting module, where 0<h1a and b=b1.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Further advantages and advantageous embodiments and developments of the subject matter according to the invention are apparent from the exemplified embodiments described hereinafter in conjunction with the figures, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment,
(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a lateral view of a quadrangular lighting surface according to one embodiment, which is arranged behind a display,
(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a lighting module according to one embodiment,
(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a first lighting module or a further lighting module according to one embodiment, and
(12) FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section of two joined together lighting modules according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(13) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment. The quadrangular lighting surface, in this case a rectangular lighting surface, comprises the lateral edges a, a.sub.g, b, b.sub.g. In principle, it is possible for the quadrangular lighting surface to also be configured to be trapezoidal, square or parallelogram-shaped. The quadrangular lighting surface in FIG. 1 is constructed from three lighting modules. The three lighting modules include the first lighting module LM1 has a triangular surface having the lateral edge b1, the height h1 and the vertex E1. The first lighting module LM1 is an isosceles triangle. Hence: b=b1. The vertex E1 of the first lighting module LM1 lies on the lateral edge b.sub.g. The vertex E1 bisects the lateral edge b.sub.g. The first lighting module LM1 is constructed modularly with two further lighting modules LM2 and LM3 so that a quadrangular, in this case rectangular, lighting surface is produced. The two further lighting modules LM1 and LM2 are triangular, wherein these each form a right-angled triangle with the lateral edges b.sub.g/2 and a or a.sub.g. The angle of 90 of the two further lighting modules LM2 and LM3 is formed by the two lateral edges b.sub.g/2 and a or a.sub.g. In particular, the quadrangular lighting surface has a length-to-width ratio a:b of 4:3 or 16:9 or 16:10. A different length-to-width ratio a:b, e.g., 21:9, is not precluded. In this exemplified embodiment, it can be seen how three triangular lighting modules can produce a quadrangular lighting surface. These three lighting modules can be constructed in a simple and flexible manner to form a quadrangular lighting surface.
(14) Like FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to a further exemplified embodiment. The quadrangular lighting surface 100 of FIG. 2 differs from the quadrangular lighting surface 100 of FIG. 1 in that the first lighting module LM1 is not an isosceles triangle and although the vertex E1 of the first lighting module LM1 is located on the lateral edge b.sub.g, it does not bisect this lateral edge b.sub.g. Therefore, three triangular lighting modules LM1 to LM3 of different sizes, when constructed modularly, produce a quadrangular, in this case rectangular, lighting surface.
(15) Like FIG. 1, FIG. 3 also shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to a further exemplified embodiment. The quadrangular lighting surface in FIG. 3 is constructed from two lighting modules. The two lighting modules include the first lighting module LM1 which has a triangular surface having the lateral edge b1, the height h1 and the vertex E1. The first lighting module LM1 is a right-angled triangle.
(16) Hence: b=b1, h1=a.sub.g. The lateral edge of the first lighting module LM1, which opposes the intersection point L1 of a normal line, corresponds to a diagonal of the quadrangular lighting surface. Located on the lateral edge b.sub.g is the vertex E1 of the first lighting module LM1 which corresponds to a vertex of the quadrangular lighting surface. The first lighting module LM1 is constructed modularly with a further lighting module LM2, so that a quadrangular, in this case rectangular, lighting surface is produced. The further lighting module LM2 is likewise triangular, wherein LM1 and LM2 are the same size.
(17) FIG. 4 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment. A quadrangular lighting surface having the lateral edges a, a.sub.g, b and b.sub.g is constructed modularly from four lighting modules LM1 to LM4. The first lighting module LM1 is triangular and has a lateral edge b1, a vertex E1 and a height h1. The lighting module LM2 is triangular, has a lateral edge b2, a vertex E2 and a height h2. Hence: b1=b2=b=b.sub.g, E1=E2, h1=h2=a/2 and h1+h2=a. The third lighting module LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4 are likewise each configured to be triangular and have a lateral edge a or a.sub.g and a height of the respective triangle arranged perpendicular to the lateral edge a or a.sub.g and having a length b/2. In that case: a=a.sub.g. Therefore, a quadrangular lighting surface can be constructed from four triangular lighting modules in a simple and flexible manner. In this case, the first lighting module LM1 and the second lighting module LM2 or the third lighting module LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4 are congruent. It would also be feasible for the quadrangular lighting surface to be formed from four differently sized triangular lighting modules. The height h1 refers in this case to the connecting path between the vertex E1 and the intersection point L1 of a normal line. The height h2 refers in this case to the connecting path between the vertex E2 and the intersection point L2 of a normal line. e refers to half the length of the lateral edge a of the quadrangular lighting surface. c refers to half the length of the lateral edge b of the quadrangular lighting surface.
(18) FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment. The quadrangular lighting surface 100 of FIG. 5 differs from the quadrangular lighting surface 100 of FIG. 4 in that in this case: h1h2. Therefore, at least the first lighting module LM1 and the second lighting module LM2 are no longer congruent with each other and are of different sizes or have different heights. In contrast, the third lighting module LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4 are still congruent with each other. Congruent refers here and hereinafter to the congruence of the triangles with each other. Lighting modules are congruent with each other when they can be moved one inside the other by congruence mapping. In addition to movement, congruence mapping also includes parallel translation, rotation, reflection and composition of this mapping. Therefore, a quadrangular lighting surface can be constructed modularly from four triangular lighting modules, wherein at least two lighting modules are not congruent with each other. It is also feasible for all four lighting modules to have different sizes and for none of the lighting modules to be congruent with a further lighting module.
(19) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment. In this exemplified embodiment, the quadrangular lighting surface 100 has an edge parallel k which extends in parallel with the first lateral edge a of the quadrangular lighting surface and includes the heights h1 and h2 of the first and second lighting modules. In this case, the edge parallel k is at b/2. Hence: a/2h1a/4 and a/2h2a/4 and/or h1+h2a. In particular, h1=h2=a/4. Therefore, a quadrangular lighting surface can be constructed modularly from four lighting modules, wherein at least two lighting modules, e.g., the first lighting module LM1 and the second lighting module LM2 or the third lighting module LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4, are congruent or are not congruent with each other. The first lighting module LM1 and the second lighting module LM2 are triangular and the third lighting module LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4 are trapezoidal. It would be feasible for the lighting modules to be subdivided into further lighting module subunits which are triangular, quadrangular, square, trapezoidal and/or parallelogram-shaped. Thus, for example, the first lighting module LM1 and/or the second lighting module LM2 can be subdivided into further small triangles or triangles and squares or rectangles. The trapezoidal third lighting modules LM3 and the fourth lighting module LM4 can be subdivided for example into a quadratic lighting module subunit and two triangular lighting module subunits in each case. A different arrangement of lighting module subunits is likewise feasible. f or g refers to a quarter of the length of the lateral edge a of the quadrangular lighting surface.
(20) FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of a top view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment. The first, second, third and fourth lighting modules LM1 to LM4 corresponding to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 can be constructed from lighting module subunits. For instance, the first lighting module LM1 can be constructed modularly from the lighting module subunits LM1-1 and LM1-2. The second lighting module LM2 is constructed modularly from the lighting module subunits LM2-1 and LM2-2. The third lighting module LM3 is constructed modularly from the lighting module subunits LM3-1 and LM3-2. The fourth lighting module LM4 is constructed modularly from the lighting module subunits LM4-1 and LM4-2. The lighting module subunits LM1-1, LM2-1, LM3-1 and LM4-1 are triangular and the lighting module subunits LM1-2, LM2-2, LM3-2 and LM4-2 are trapezoidal. Modularly joining together the lighting module subunits produces the respective lighting modules and thus the quadrangular lighting surface. In particular, the lighting module subunits LM1-1 and LM2-1 or LM3-1 and LM4-1 are congruent with each other. The same is true for the lighting module subunits LM1-2 and LM2-2 or LM3-2 and LM4-2. h1-1 refers in FIG. 7 to the corresponding height of the lighting module subunit LM1-1. h1-2 refers in FIG. 7 to the corresponding height of the lighting module subunit LM1-2. Analogous statements apply for the lighting module subunits LM2-1, LM2-2, LM3-1, LM3-2, LM4-1 and LM4-2. In particular: h1=h1-2+h1-1 and/or h2=h2-1+h2-2. In particular: h1-1=a/4.
(21) FIG. 8 shows a schematic illustration of a lateral view of a quadrangular lighting surface 100 according to one embodiment, which is arranged behind a display 200. The at least one display can be at a distance d from the quadrangular lighting surface 100. It is particularly preferred if d amounts to 0 mm to 5 mm, in particular 0.05 mm to 5 mm. Therefore, with d=0, the at least one display 200 can be in direct contact with the quadrangular lighting surface 100. Alternatively, the at least one display can be spaced apart from the quadrangular lighting surface 100 with d>0, for example d amounts to 0.05 mm to 5 mm. The distance is thereby dependent upon the additional layers and/or elements used.
(22) FIG. 9 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a lighting module which is equipped with LEDs, which, at an end side of the light coupling-in part 3, couples light into the first lighting module or further lighting modules 1. Homogenisation of the light emitted by the LEDs 2 takes place in the light coupling-in part 3 before the radiation enters the lighting body 9.
(23) The tapering cross-section of the lighting body 9 ensures that light exits via the entire light exit surface.
(24) All the surfaces, through whichin contrast to the light exit surface 6 and the light entry surface 16 between the LEDs and light coupling-in partlight does not have to pass during operation, are preferably provided with a reflective coating 13, which can substantially prevent crosstalk between the lighting modules via lateral surfaces and/or reduce losses.
(25) A reflective structure 5 on or in the base surface 7 of the lighting body between the light coupling-in part 3 and the lighting body 9 facilitates the fact that light passes through reflection directly behind the step 4 to the light exit surface. The reflective structure can be developed for example in a wavelike manner. However, any other structure which facilitates the avoidance of weaker illumination of the lighting body in the region of the step is suitable.
(26) FIG. 9 shows that the end region 8 of the lighting module has the same thickness as the height of the step 4. This ensures a planar lighting surface after a plurality of individual lighting modules are joined together, as can be seen by way of example in the top view in FIGS. 1 to 7 and in the cross-section in FIG. 11.
(27) FIG. 10 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section through a first lighting module or a further lighting module or a lighting module subunit. A substantial difference with respect to the lighting module described in FIG. 9 resides in the fact that the light is coupled into the light coupling-in part 3 via the base surface 7 of the lighting module or of the lighting body. In order to ensure that the light is coupled into the entire lighting module, the side opposing the LEDs is shaped to be parabolic or parabola-shaped in the light coupling-in part 3. The light emitted by the LEDs 2 is directed at this parabolic or parabola-shaped side into the lighting body 9 of the lighting module 1. Step 4 and end region 8 of the lighting module have a height or thickness such that individual lighting modules LM1, LM2, LM3, LM4 or lighting module subunits can be joined together such that a planar upper surface of the lighting surface of the lighting apparatus is produced.
(28) FIG. 11 shows a schematic illustration of a cross-section of two joined together lighting modules or lighting module subunits.
(29) In this figure, it is shown by way of example how two lighting modules (1) overlap when constructing a lighting surface such that the light coupling-in part 3 is covered by the adjacent lighting module. A substantially planar lighting surface is produced.
(30) The invention can also be applied to all methods and lighting apparatuses which comprise the basic features of the main claim of the invention. In particular, it can be used for lighting apparatuses which do not conform to the standard of a surface diagonal which has a length of an integer number of inches. Owing to the other standards of illuminated objects allowed on the market, such as monitors for example, other dimensions of lighting surfaces and thus individual lighting modules may be required.
(31) Moreover, a multiplicity of different LEDs which couple light into the individual lighting modules can be used. Furthermore, different brightnesses and colours of individual LEDs can be combined. All reflective materials, e.g., the conventional reflective materials, and different materials for the lighting bodies can be used.
(32) Finally, within the scope of the invention, it is advantageous, but not absolutely necessary, to use LEDs as light sources. Other light sources, preferably the above-mentioned light sources such as, for example, cold-cathode lamps in the form of cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) or neon tubes, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) or electroluminescent films can also be provided instead of LEDs.
(33) The invention is not limited by the description using the exemplified embodiments. Rather, the invention also includes individual new features and any combination of features, included in particular in any combination of features in the claims, even if this feature or this combination itself is not explicitly stated in the claims or exemplified embodiments.
