LAMP FOR THE INSTALLATION IN AN ELECTRIC CABINET, ELECTRIC CABINET AND OPTICAL DEVICE

Abstract

Lamp for the installation in an electric cabinet comprising at least one electric light source, and an optical device with at least two optical portions for transmitting and redirecting light emitted from said electric light source, wherein the redirection characteristics of one of the optical portions differs from the redirection characteristics of the other optical portion, and wherein the two optical portions are discrete from each other and integrally formed or connected.

Claims

1. Lamp for the installation in an electric cabinet comprising at least one electric light source, and an optical device with at least two optical portions for transmitting and redirecting light emitted from said electric light source, wherein the redirection characteristics of one of the optical portions differs from the redirection characteristics of the other optical portion, and wherein the two optical portions are discrete from each other and integrally formed or connected.

2. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical portions redirect light emitted from said electric light source into different light patterns.

3. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein a light beam oriented at a specific angle relative to the optical device is redirected by one of the optical portions to an extent, which is different to the extent of redirection caused by the other optical portion with regard to a light beam being oriented at the same specific angle.

4. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical portions causes a redirection of light due to refraction and/or reflection.

5. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical portions has a light diverging characteristic and/or wherein at least one of the optical portions has a light converging characteristic and/or wherein at least one of the optical portions is free of a diverging or converging characteristic.

6. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the optical portions comprises a prism and/or a prism structure and/or wherein at least one of the optical portions comprises a lens and/or a lens structure.

7. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical portions are preferably provided on a single optical body.

8. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the optical device may be manufactured from a translucent and/or transparent material or wherein the optical device is matted, frosted or satin-finished.

9. Lamp according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of optical portions comprises a plurality of lenses and at least one prism or prism structure.

10. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of optical portions comprise a plurality of lenses, which preferably have parallel optical axes or which have optical axes preferably inclined towards each other.

11. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the electrical light source is arranged within or substantially within the focal point of at least one lens and/or wherein the electrical light source crosses the focal point of at least one lens, preferably the focal points of all lenses.

12. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the electrical light source has an elongated shape and/or is extended along a line, wherein the electrical light source preferably comprises a plurality of illuminants, particularly LED-lights, which are preferably arranged along a line.

13. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric light source and/or at least one of the optical portions are configured to illuminate, in an installed state of the lamp, a wall portion or a vertical surface portion being spaced apart from the lamp at a distance between 100 mm to 600 mm, particularly between 140 mm and 500 mm, more particularly 140 mm or 500 mm, the wall portion or vertical surface to be illuminated having a width of at least 600 mm, particularly more than 800 mm, more particularly 950 mm or more, and a height of at least 1500 mm, particularly more than 1750 mm, particularly 2000 mm or more.

14. Lamp according to claim 13, wherein the maximum of illumination intensity at distance of less than 150 mm from the wall portion or vertical surface is achieved in the upper in the upper third of the wall portion or vertical surface and/or wherein the maximum of illumination intensity at distance of 500 mm and more from the wall portion or vertical surface is achieved in the lower half of the wall portion or vertical surface.

15. Lamp according to claim 1, wherein the at least one electric light source and/or at least one of the optical portions are configured to illuminate, in an installed state of the lamp, a spatial portion, particularly for reading, the spatial portion being spaced apart from the lamp in a vertical orientation with a distance between 1000 mm and 1500 mm, more particularly 1250 mm, and/or wherein the spatial portion being spaced apart from the lamp in a horizontal orientation with a distance between 125 mm and 75 mm, preferably at distance of 100 mm, and/or wherein the spatial portion having a width between 150 mm and 250 mm, preferably of 200 mm.

16. Electric cabinet, in particular for the accommodation of electric switches, comprising a lamp according to claim 1.

17. Optical device, in particular for a lamp according to claim 1, comprising at least two optical portions for transmitting and/or redirecting light from an electric light source, wherein redirection characteristics of one of the optical portions differs from the redirection characteristics of the other optical portion, and wherein the two optical portions are discrete from each other and integrally formed or connected.

18. Lamp according to claim 2, wherein a light beam oriented at a specific angle relative to the optical device is redirected by one of the optical portions to an extent, which is different to the extent of redirection caused by the other optical portion with regard to a light beam being oriented at the same specific angle.

19. Lamp according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the optical portions causes a redirection of light due to refraction and/or reflection.

20. Lamp according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the optical portions causes a redirection of light due to refraction and/or reflection.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a lamp for the installation in an electric cabinet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of an optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of an optical device as well as an electric light source according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic front view of a lamp illustrating its illumination characteristic from a front view.

[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of a lamp showing its illumination characteristic from a side view.

[0037] FIG. 8 is an isolux diagram corresponding to a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 9 is a further isolux diagram corresponding to a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a lamp 1 for the installation in an electric cabinet (not shown here). The lamp 1 comprises an electric light source 2. Electric light source 2 may be provided in the form of a circuit board 4, on which illuminants 6 are arranged, preferably along a line.

[0040] Furthermore, the lamp 1 comprises an optical device 8 with at least two optical portions 10 and 12 for transmitting and redirecting light emitted from said electric light source 2. The redirection characteristic of optical portion 10 differs from the redirection characteristic of the other optical portion 12 or any one of the optical portions 12. Furthermore, the two optical portions 10 and 12 are discrete from each other and integrally formed or connected. Particularly, the optical portions 10 and 12 may be provided on an optical device 8, which is formed by a single optical body 20.

[0041] The optical portion 10 redirects light emitted from said electric light source 2 into a light pattern, which is different from the optical light pattern of optical portion 12 or any one of the optical portions 12. In particular, a light beam emitted from the electric light source 2 being oriented at a specific angle relative to the optical device 8 is redirected by optical portion 10 to an extent, which is different to the extent of redirection caused by the other optical portion 12 with regard to a light beam being oriented at the same specific angle.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of an optical device 8 for lamp 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. Optical device 8 comprises an optical body 20 with side faces 21a and 21b. Side face 21a is faced toward the electric light source 2 and may be substantially planar. Also, side face 21a may be roughened. Side face 21b faces away from the electric light source 2. The specific shapes of the optical portions may be formed on side face 21b.

[0043] In particular, optical portion 10 comprises a prism structure 14 with a plurality of prisms 16a to 16n, as may be comprehended from FIG. 3. Each prism 16a to 16n may be oriented in parallel to a longitudinal extension of the electric light source 2, in particular parallel to a line 22 of the electric light source 2. The precise form of each prism 16a to 16n may vary in order to achieve a specifically desired redirection characteristic of optical portion 10. Each prism 16a to 16n may have a triangular cross-section with edges 17a and 17b, wherein the lengths of the edges 17a and 17b of an according triangular may vary between the prisms 16a to 16n.

[0044] The variations in the shapes of prisms 16a to 16n may be described with regard to a reference line 21c of the optical device 8. Reference line 21c indicates a plane 21d, which extends in parallel to prisms 16a to 16n. The electric light source 2, particularly the line 22 of the electric light source 2 may be positioned along said plane 21d. The length of edges 17a facing said plane 21d may increase with increasing distance from said plane 21d. At a distance from said plane 21d, the length of edges 17a facing said plane 21d may decrease again.

[0045] Further to this, three further optical portions 12 are provided, each one of which comprising a light converging or diverging lens 18. Each Lens 18 may be formed convex to the outside, thus in direction away from the electric light source 2. The lenses 18 may be positioned aligned with a line 24 of the light source 2.

[0046] The optical portions 10 and 12 are provided on a single optical body 20, which has a plate-shaped form. As shown in FIG. 2, the lenses 18 are surrounded by the prism structure 14 along a plane orientation of the optical body 20, wherein the lenses 18 are particularly separated from each other by the optical prism structure 14. Preferably, the lenses 18 are configured to converge or diverge light into a light cone and/or into an ellipsoidal shape, whereas the optical axes of the lenses 18 are preferably inclined towards each other. Thereby, it is possible that the light cone or ellipsoid created by lenses 18 overlap at least along a spatial reading portion.

[0047] FIG. 4 schematically shows a lamp 1 with an electric light source 2 and an optical device 8 in a plan view. It is schematically illustrated that the electrical light source 2 has an elongated shape or is extended along a line. Particularly, the electric light source 2 comprises two separate lines 22 and 24, along which a plurality of illuminants, such as LEDs, is arranged. It may be seen that line 22 is longer than line 24. Furthermore, line 24 is assigned to optical portion 12, whereas line 22 is assigned to optical portion 10.

[0048] For explanatory purposes, axes X, Y and Z have been marked in FIG. 4, whereas axis Z extends into the plane of the illustration. The arrangement of electric light source 2 and the optical device 8 is chosen such that light emitted from line 22 of electric light source 2 is redirected by optical portion 10 in a positive X and Z direction. In contrast, light emitted from line 24 is redirected by optical portion 12 in a negative X direction and a positive Z direction. This will become apparent in more detail with reference to FIG. 7 below. The length of the optical device 8 (optical body 20) along the Y direction may for example be 100 mm, the widths of the optical device 8 along an X direction may for example be 32 mm.

[0049] FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the lamp 1. It may be comprehended that the electric light source 2 is positioned at a distance relative to the optical device 8 within the casing of the lamp 1. The distance between the electric light source 2 and the optical device 8 may for example be 7 mm to 11 mm, preferably 9 mm. Said distance may be chosen such that the electric light source, in particular, its illuminants or line of illuminants are arranged within focal points of the lenses 12 or substantially cross through said focal points.

[0050] FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the illumination characteristics of lamp 1 when viewed in an X direction. For the sake of clarity, the coordinate system of FIG. 4 has logically been transferred to FIG. 6 and also to FIG. 7, which schematically shows the illumination characteristics of lamp 1 when viewed in a Y direction of the coordinate system.

[0051] It may be comprehended from FIGS. 6 and 7 that lamp 1 is arranged above (along the Z-direction) a vertical wall portion or surface 30 to be illuminated. The vertical distance 36 between lamp 1 and vertical wall portion or surface 30 to be illuminated may for example amount to 50 mm. Said vertical wall portion or surface 30 may have a width 38 in the Y direction of 950 mm, for example. The height 40 of the vertical wall portion or surface 30 may for example amount to 2000 mm. Furthermore, lamp 1 may be positioned at a horizontal distance 37 (along the X-direction) from wall portion or surface 30. Lamp 1 may for example be arranged at a horizontal distance 37 to wall portion or surface 30 of 100 mm to 600 mm, particularly between 140 mm and 500 mm, more particularly 140 mm or 500 mm.

[0052] The illumination of wall portion or surface 30 may specifically be achieved by light redirected from optical portion 10, which particularly comprises a prism structure 14. Thus, the illumination task of optical portion 10 may rather be considered as illuminating a comparably large area. For this purpose, the redirection characteristics of optical portion 10 are configured such that a light pattern 32, which is indicated in FIGS. 6 and 7, is achieved.

[0053] In contrast, the electric light source 2 as well as the redirection characteristics of the optical portion 12 are configured such that light pattern 34 is established, as also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Light pattern 34 may have a much smaller width 42 in Y-direction than light pattern 32, for example, a width 42 of 200 mm. Furthermore, light pattern 34 is directed away from wall 30 and thus in a positive X-direction. Light pattern 34 may have a cone-like shape, with a spatial reading portion being arranged at a distance 44 from lamp 1 of at least 75 mm, preferably of 100 mm, in an X-direction, and at a distance 46 of 1250 mm in Z direction. The width 48 of a spatial reading portion in an X-direction may amount to at least 50 mm.

[0054] From FIG. 7 it may be comprehended that light patterns 32 and 34 are directed in different directions with regard to the YZ-plane, said YZ-plane being orthogonal to the X-axis. Also, it is apparent from FIG. 8 that the light patterns 32 and 34 may be symmetrical with regard to XZ-plane, said XZ-plane being orthogonal to the Y-axis. Light patterns 32 and 34 may be arranged that they do not overlap.

[0055] FIGS. 8 and 9 show different isolux diagrams corresponding to the illumination characteristics of a lamp 1 with different distances to a wall portion or surface 30. The isolux diagram shown in FIG. 8 corresponds to an installation distance of 140 mm between lamp and wall. It may be seen that the illumination maximum is arranged in the upper third of the illuminated wall portion or surface 30. It may be seen that the illuminance has a greater gradient when moving upwards from the maximum, as compared with the gradient of illiminance when moving in a downwards direction of the illumination maximum. FIG. 9 shows an isolux diagram corresponding to the illumination characteristics of a lamp when installed at a distance of 500 mm between the lamp 1 and the wall or surface 30. In FIG. 9, it may be seen that the illumination maximum is arranged in the lower half of the illuminated surface 30, wherein the illumination maximum is significantly lower with regard to its absolute value as compared to the illumination maximum shown in the isolux of FIG. 8. Finally also from isolux diagrams in FIGS. 8 and 9 it may be comprehended that the light patterns 32 and 34 may be symmetrical with regard to XZ-plane, said XZ-plane being orthogonal to the Y-axis.