LIGHT BULB WITH ADJUSTABLE LIGHT OUTPUT
A light bulb includes a base; a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces; and a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which light is input to the light guide such that light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Nos. 61/453,756 (filed Mar. 17, 2011), 61/454,221 (filed Mar. 18, 2011), and 61/602,193 (filed Feb. 23, 2012), the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
BACKGROUNDEnergy efficiency has become an area of interest for energy consuming devices. One class of energy consuming devices is lighting devices. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) show promise as energy efficient light sources for lighting devices. But control over color and light output distribution is an issue for lighting devices that use LEDs or similar light sources.
Embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. The figures are not necessarily to scale. Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
Aspects of this disclosure relate to a lighting assembly. As illustrated in
As described in greater detail below, the lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions at least one of which is associated with one of the major surfaces. Each light output region is associated with a different optical characteristic. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge to input light into the light guide. The light source and the light guide are variably positionable relative to one another to vary the location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions. In this manner, a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
In the case of the light bulb 12, the light bulb 12 additionally includes a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power.
With additional reference to
Exemplary light sources 18 include solid state devices such as LEDs, laser diodes, and organic LEDs (OLEDs). In an embodiment where the light source 18 is one or more LEDs, the LEDs may be top-fire LEDs or side-fire LEDs, and may be broad spectrum LEDs (e.g., emit white light) or LEDs that emit light of a desired color or spectrum (e.g., red light, green light, blue light, or ultraviolet light). In one embodiment, the light source 18 emits light with no operably-effective intensity at wavelengths greater than 500 nanometers (nm) (i.e., the light source 18 emits light at wavelengths that are predominantly less than 500 nm). Although not specifically illustrated, the light source assembly 16 also includes structural components (e.g., PCB 19) to retain the light sources 18. The light source assembly 16 may additionally include: circuitry, power supply and/or electronics for controlling and driving the light sources 18, a heat sink, and any other appropriate components.
The lighting assembly 10 also includes a light guide 20. Light from the light sources 18 is input into the light guide 20. The light guide 20 is a solid article made from, for example, acrylic, polycarbonate, glass, or another appropriate material. The light guide 20 also may be a multi-layer light guide having two or more layers. The light guide 20 has opposed major surfaces 22 and 24. Depending on the configuration of the light guide 20, the light guide has at least one edge. For instance, in a case where the light guide 20 is shaped like a dome, the light guide has one edge. In a case where the light guide 20 is a hollow cylinder (e.g., as shown in
One of the edges serves as a light input edge 26. In some embodiments, the light input edge 26 is an external edge of the light guide 20 (e.g., as shown in
Length and width dimensions of each of the major surfaces 22, 24 are much greater than, typically ten or more times greater than, the thickness of the light guide 20. For instance, in the rectangular embodiment shown in
With continuing reference to
Light extracting elements 27 that are in or on a major surface 22, 24 will be referred to as being “at” the major surface 22, 24. Each light extracting element 27 functions to disrupt the total internal reflection of the propagating light that is incident on the light extracting element 27. In one embodiment, the light extracting elements 27 reflect light toward the opposing major surface so that the light exits the light guide 20 through the opposing major surface. Alternatively, the light extracting elements 27 transmit light through the light extracting elements 27 and out of the major surface 22, 24 of the light guide 20 having the light extracting elements 27. In another embodiment, both of these types of light extracting elements 27 are present. In yet another embodiment, the light extracting elements 27 reflect some of the light and refract the remainder of the light incident thereon. Therefore, the light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from one or both of the major surfaces 22, 24.
Light extracting elements 27 are arranged at a major surface 22, 24 to extract light from one or more distinct light output regions 28, 30 of one or both of the major surfaces 22, 24. It is possible that a light output region occupies part or all of one of the major surfaces 22, 24.
The location of the light source 18 relative to the light guide 20, the angular range 32 of light output from the light source 18, and the configuration of the light extracting elements 27 determine the portion of the light that exits through each light output region 28, 30. The light extracting elements 27 for each light output region may be at one or both of the major surfaces 22, 24 through which light is emitted, or at the opposite major surface 22, 24. Light guides having such light extracting elements 27 are typically formed by a process such as stamping, molding, embossing, extruding, laser etching, chemical etching, or another suitable process. Light extracting elements 27 may also be produced by depositing elements of curable material on the light guide 20 and curing the deposited material using heat, UV-light or other radiation. The curable material can be deposited by a process such as printing, ink jet printing, screen printing, or another suitable process. Alternatively, the light extracting elements 27 may be inside the light guide between the major surfaces 22, 24 (e.g., the light extracting elements 27 may be light redirecting particles and/or voids disposed in the light guide).
The light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light in a defined intensity profile, such as uniform intensity, and/or a defined light ray angle distribution over the light output region. Using variations in the light extracting elements 27, each light output region need not have the same intensity profile and/or light ray angle distribution. Intensity profile refers to the variation of intensity with position within a light-emitting region (such as light output region 28 or light output region 30). Light ray angle distribution refers to the variation of intensity with ray angle (typically a solid angle) of light emitted from a light-emitting region (such as light output region 28 or light output region 30).
Exemplary light extracting elements 27 include light-scattering elements, which are typically features of indistinct shape or surface texture, such as printed features, ink jet printed features, selectively-deposited features, chemically etched features, laser etched features, and so forth. Other exemplary light extracting elements 27 include features of well-defined shape, such as V-grooves, lenticular grooves, and features of well-defined shape that are small relative to the linear dimensions of the major surfaces 22, 24, which are sometimes referred to as micro-optical elements. The smaller of the length and width of a micro-optical element is less than one-tenth of the longer of the length and width of the light guide 20, and the larger of the length and width of the micro-optical element is less than one-half of the smaller of the length and width of the light guide. The length and width of the micro-optical element is measured in a plane parallel to the major surface 22, 24 of the light guide 20 for flat light guides 20 or along a surface contour for non-flat light guides 20.
Micro-optical elements are shaped to predictably reflect light or predictably refract light. However, one or more of the surfaces of the micro-optical elements may be modified, such as roughened, to produce a secondary effect on light output. Exemplary micro-optical elements are described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,752,505 and, for the sake of brevity, will not be described in detail in this disclosure. The micro-optical elements may vary in one or more of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle, or index of refraction such that a desired light output from the light guide 20 is achieved over the corresponding light output region 28.
The first light output region 28 has an optical characteristic that is different than an optical characteristic of the second light output region 30. The optical characteristics in the embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiments, the change in optical characteristic from the first light output region 28 to the second light output region 30 is abrupt. In an embodiment, a barrier (not shown) is provided between the first light output region 28 and the second light output region 30 to reduce light leakage between the output regions. In an example, a groove extending into the light guide 20 from one or both major surfaces 22, 24 at the boundary between the output regions serves as the barrier. Reflective or opaque material may be located in the groove. For example, the groove walls may be coated with reflective material. In other embodiments, the transition between the first region 28 and the second region 30 is gradual. A gradual transition may be appropriate where at least one of the regions 28, 30 has an optical characteristic related to intensity reducing, wavelength shifting or color attenuating, but also may be used in other situations. The effect that the light output regions 28, 30 have on light that is output from the lighting assembly 10 will be described in greater detail below.
Each set of light output regions, e.g., light output regions 28, 30, has at least one light source 18 to generate light that is output through the light output regions 28, 30 in amounts apportioned between the light output regions 28, 30 dependent on the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18. More specifically, one or both of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 is variably positionable relative to the other. The location at which the light from light source 18 is input to the light guide 20 determines where the light exits the light guide 20. For example, in
In the examples shown in
The variable relative positioning illustrated in
In one embodiment, the relative positioning is varied manually by a user. In the example shown in
Once positioned, the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 remains unchanged until the user or control assembly varies the relative positioning. Since constant motion of the light guide 20 relative to the light source 18 is not contemplated during operation of the lighting assembly 10, the range of movement of the light guide 20 and/or the light source 18 may be limited. The range of movement may be limited to back-and-forth sliding that moves the regions 28, 30 in and out of alignment with the light source 18, rather than allowing infinite movement of the light guide 20 or the light source 18 in one direction.
A visual indicator may be present to provide the user with an indication of the characteristic of the light output by the lighting assembly 10. In the illustrated embodiment of
With additional reference to
With additional reference to
With additional reference to
In the embodiments of
The optical adjuster 46 has two or more optical adjuster regions. In the embodiment of
The optical adjuster region 52 of the optical adjuster 46 is aligned with the first light output region 28 of the light guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the first light output region 28. Similarly, the optical adjuster region 54 the optical adjuster 46 is aligned with the second light output region 30 of the light guide 20 and is, therefore, associated with the second light output region 30. The optical characteristics of the optical adjuster regions combine with the optical characteristics of the respective light output regions with which they are associated to modify the characteristics of the light output of the lighting assembly 10. Examples of the characteristics of the light output modified by the optical characteristics of the light output regions are intensity profile, light ray angle distribution, spectrum, polarization, and coherence.
Light output from the major surface 22 of light guide 20 is incident on the optical adjuster 46. Depending on the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20, the light incident on the optical adjuster 46 is modified by the optical characteristic of the first optical adjuster region 52 and/or is modified by the optical characteristic of the second optical adjuster region 54. As shown in
In a variation of this embodiment, the light output regions 28, 30 each have different optical characteristics. In this variation, the first light output region 28 is aligned with the first optical adjuster region 52 and the second light output region 30 is aligned with the second optical adjuster region 54, as illustrated. Alternatively, a portion of the second optical adjuster region 54 may overlap with the first light output region 28 or a portion of the first optical adjuster region 52 may overlap with the second light output region 30. In these variations, the light output from the light guide 20 is initially modified by the optical characteristic of the one or more of the first or second light output region 28, 30 through which the light passes and is further modified by the optical characteristic of the one or more of the first or second optical adjuster region 52, 54 through which the light passes.
One or more additional optical adjusters may be located between the optical adjuster 46 and the light guide 20. One or more additional optical adjusters may be located adjacent the major surface 48 of the optical adjuster 46 that faces away from the light guide 20. If present, each additional adjuster may have a single optical characteristic or multiple optical characteristics.
As illustrated in
As another example, as illustrated in
In one configuration, and as illustrated, the optical adjuster regions 52 and 68 are transmissive and the optical adjuster regions 54 and 66 are reflective. In one embodiment, in addition to being transmissive, the optical adjuster regions 52 and 68 have at least one additional optical characteristic, such as diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting or color attenuating. In this manner, light output from the first light output region 28 of first major surface 22 and incident on the first optical adjuster region 52 exits the lighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the first major surface 22 as indicated by arrow 70. As indicated by arrow 72, light output from the first light output region 28 of the second major surface 24 of light guide 20 is incident on the first optical adjuster region 66 that reflects the light back through the second major surface 24, through the light guide 20 and out through the first major surface 22 to be incident on the first optical adjuster region 52, which transmits the light. The light transmitted by the optical adjuster region 52 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof. Similarly, light output from the second light output region 30 of second major surface 24 and incident on the second optical adjuster region 68 exits the lighting assembly 10 in a direction away from the second major surface 24 as indicated by arrow 74. As indicated by arrow 76, light output from the second light output region 30 of the first major surface 22 of light guide 20 is incident on the second optical adjuster region 54 that reflects the light back through the second major surface 22, through the light guide 20 and out through the second major surface 24 to be incident on the second optical adjuster region 68, which transmits the light. The light transmitted by the optical adjuster region 68 is modified by the optical characteristic thereof. In this embodiment, the direction (e.g., as indicated by arrows 70, 72 or by arrows 74, 76) in which light is emitted by the lighting assembly 10 is controlled by the relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20.
With additional reference to
Referring additionally to
In this embodiment, the first light guide 80 outputs light with a first characteristic and the second light guide 82 outputs light with a second characteristic, which is different than the first characteristic. Exemplary characteristics of the output light are identified above. In the embodiments of
In one embodiment, the characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is light output direction. For example, with reference to
In some examples of the embodiment shown in
As another example, with reference to
With reference to all of the figures, a characteristic of the light output of the lighting assembly 10 is modified based on the variable relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide 20 (or, in some embodiments, the variable relative positioning of the light source 18 and the light guide assembly 78). The modification further depends on the optical characteristics associated with each light output region of the light guide 20 or light guide assembly 78. For example, the relative positioning may be varied to selectively provide a light output from the lighting assembly with a light ray angle distribution that is a first light ray angle distribution, or a second light ray angle distribution, different from the first light ray angle distribution, or is any intermediate light ray angle distribution between the first and second light ray angle distributions.
The color of the light output by the lighting assembly 10 may be changed using a color filter layer on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52, 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20; a color filtering material composition of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52, 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20; a dichroic filter on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52, 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20; or a wavelength shifting material on or as part of the optical adjuster 46 in one or both regions 52, 54 thereof, or on or as part of the light guide 20. In one example, the lighting assembly 10 is configured to change color temperature of the light output. Many LED light sources 18 emit light in an intended range of wavelengths to achieve a corresponding color temperature. However, within batches of LEDs having the same nominal color temperature, there is variation from LED to LED. Also, sometimes broad-spectrum LEDs (e.g., “white light” LEDs) or groups of tri-color LEDs (e.g., a red LED, a blue LED and a green LED whose outputs combine to produce white light) do not produce a color temperature that is desirable to a user or appropriate for a certain lighting application. To modify the color temperature of the light output from the lighting assembly 10, an optical characteristic associated with the first region 28, and possibly with the second region 30, may be used. For instance, the optical characteristic associated with the first region 28 may modify the light output to be warmer (either or both of more red and less blue) and the optical characteristic associated with second region 30 may modify the light output to be cooler (either or both of more blue and less red).
Some embodiments are configured to allow a user to adjust the color temperature of light output from the lighting assembly 10 in order to achieve a desired color temperature. Other embodiments are configured to allow a manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 to adjust the color temperature of light output from the lighting assembly 10 to compensate for different color temperatures associated with different lots of light sources 18. This allows the lighting assembly manufacturer to source a broader range of light sources 18 from one or more suppliers and still manufacture lighting assemblies with a defined, consistent color temperature.
In some embodiments, the relative positioning of the light guide 20 and the light source 18 is varied by the manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 until the output light has a defined characteristic (e.g., a defined color temperature is obtained). The relative positioning is then fixed by the manufacturer of the lighting assembly 10 and the lighting assembly 10 is configured in a manner that minimizes the ability of a user of the lighting assembly 10 to further vary the relative positioning. In other embodiments, the user has the ability to vary the relative positioning.
Other applications will be apparent based on using any combination of the above-noted optical characteristics and structural embodiments.
In yet another embodiment, the light source assembly 16 includes another light source that does or does not move relative to the light guide 20. In this embodiment, the additional light source is selectively illuminated to further change the location at which the light is input to the light guide 20.
Returning to
References herein to a “light bulb” are meant to broadly encompass light-producing devices that fit into and engage any of various fixtures for mechanically mounting the light-producing device and for providing electrical power thereto. Examples of such fixtures include, without limitation, screw-in fixtures for engaging an Edison light bulb base, a bayonet fixture for engaging a bayonet light bulb base, or a bi-pin fixture for engaging a bi-pin light bulb base. Thus the term “light bulb,” by itself, does not provide any limitation on the shape of the light-producing device, or the mechanism by which light is produced from electric power. Also, the light bulb need not have an enclosed envelope forming an environment for light generation. The light bulb may conform to American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or other standards for electric lamps, but the light bulb does not necessarily have to have this conformance.
Returning to
Referring now to
One or more light sources 18 are mechanically coupled to the housing 36. The light sources 18 are arranged to coordinate with one or more light guides 20 and one or more optical adjusters 110 as described in greater detail below. In one embodiment, and for the purpose of the coordination with the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110, the individual light sources 18 are grouped into a number of light source groups 103. In some embodiments, no more than a respective single light source 18 constitutes each light source group 103. In one embodiment, the light sources 18 are mounted to a printed circuit board 19 (not shown in
The light bulb 12 includes one or more light guides 20 that are mechanically coupled to the housing 36 and are variably positionable relative to the light sources 18 by an adjustment member 112 that is rotatable relative to the housing 36. Similar to the light guides described above, each light guide 20 includes opposed major surfaces 22, 24 between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge 26, and light extracting elements 27 (not specifically shown in
The light guides 20 each are positionable between a first position and a second position. In the example shown in
In one embodiment, the light extracting elements 27 are configured to extract light from the light guide 20 with a diffuse light ray angle distribution. Therefore, when the light guide 20 is in the first position, the light extracted from the light bulb 12 will illuminate a wide area. In some embodiments, the light guide 20 has a secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from the light guide 20. Exemplary secondary optical characteristics include reflective, light redirecting (such as by the addition of a light-redirecting film (not shown) adjacent at least one of the major surfaces 22, 24), polarizing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating. In some embodiments, the light guide 20 has more than one secondary optical characteristic to affect the light extracted from the light guide. In other embodiments, different ones of the light guides 20 respectively affect light with different secondary optical characteristics.
The light bulb 12 of
In one embodiment, the optical adjusters 110 are lenses. One type of lens for the optical adjusters 110 is a collimating lens configured so that when light is emitted from the light bulb 12 through the collimating lenses, the light is emitted with a narrower light ray angle distribution than when light is emitted from the light bulb 12 through the light guide 20. In other embodiments, the optical adjusters 110 impart a different characteristic or a secondary characteristic to the light. Exemplary optical characteristics of the optical adjusters 110 include specularly transmissive, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating. In some embodiments, the optical adjusters 110 have more than one optical characteristic that affects the light emitted from the light bulb 12. In other embodiments, different ones of the optical adjusters 110 respectively affect light with different optical characteristics.
The light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 of the illustrated embodiment are mechanically coupled to the adjustment member 112. The adjustment member 112 is, in turn, mechanically coupled to the housing 36. The adjustment member 112 is variably positionable relative to the housing 36 to move each light guide 20 between its first and second positions and, correspondingly, move each optical adjuster group 111 into alignment with the respective light source group 103 when the light guide 20 is in the second position. In the illustrated embodiment, the light sources 18 are arranged along the circumference of a circle in a plane normal to a longitudinal axis of the light bulb 12. The adjustment member 112 rotates about the longitudinal axis of the light bulb 12. The light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are retained by the adjustment member 112 so that the light input edges 26 of the light guides 20 and the optical adjusters 110 are arranged along the circumference of the above-described circle in a plane parallel to and adjacent the plane of the light sources 18. In the example shown, for alignment of the light input edges 26 with the light sources 18, the light guides 20 are curved in the length direction of the light input edges 26. Other layouts of the light sources 18, light input edges 26, and optical adjusters 110 other than circular arrangements are possible. In another example, the light guides 20 have non-curved light input edges 26 and the light sources 18 are arranged along one or more straight lines. In another example, the light guides 20 are non-parallel to the axis of rotation of the adjustment member 112.
In one embodiment, an example of which is shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 36 includes cooling air vents 118 through which air flows to dissipate heat generated by the light sources 118. The cooling air vents 118 allow air to pass from the outside of the housing 36 adjacent the base 102 to a region surrounded by the light guides 20, or vice versa, depending on the orientation of the bulb 12. To allow air to flow into or out of the cooling air vents 118, the adjustment member 112 includes a third set of openings 120. The third set of openings 120 of the illustrated embodiment align with the air flow vents 118 when the adjustment member 112 is positioned to place the light guides 20 in either of the first position or the second position. Also, the openings 120 of the third set and the cooling air vents 118 are configured to allow air flow through the openings 120 and the cooling air vents 118 when the adjustment member 112 is in other positions between the first and second positions.
In one embodiment, the adjustment member 112 has increased resistance to movement when positioned so that the light guides 20 are in the first and second positions relative to when the adjustment member 112 is in other positions (e.g., the light guides 20 are not in one of the first or second positions). In this manner, light bulb 12 will have a tendency to stay in the configurations in which the light guides 20 are positioned to be edge lit by the light sources 18 or the optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from respective light sources 18. Other positions of the adjustment member 112 also may have increased resistance to movement, such as when some of the optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from some of the light sources 18 (e.g., the optical adjuster groups 111 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103) and the remaining light sources 18 of the light source groups 103 edge light the light guides 20 (e.g., the light input edges 26 partially overlap with respective light source groups 103). In an example, one of the housing 36 and the adjustment member 112 includes a detent (not shown) and the other of the housing 36 and the adjustment member 112 includes an indent (not shown) that collectively provide the resistance to movement in certain positions of the adjustment member 112.
When some of the optical adjusters 110 are positioned to receive light from some of the light sources 18 and the remaining light sources 18 edge light the light guides 20, the light ray angle distribution of light emitted from the light bulb 12 is a combination of the light ray angle distribution of the light extracted from the light guides 20 and the light ray angle distribution of the light emitted by the optical adjusters 110. Also, the variable relative positioning of the adjustment mechanism 112 and the light sources 18 allows for selectively apportioning light that is output from the light bulb 12 between the light that is output by way of the light guides 20 and the light that is output by way of the optical adjusters 110.
In this disclosure, the phrase “one of” followed by a list is intended to mean the elements of the list in the alterative. For example, “one of A, B and C” means A or B or C. The phrase “at least one of” followed by a list is intended to mean one or more of the elements of the list in the alterative. For example, “at least one of A, B and C” means A or B or C or (A and B) or (A and C) or (B and C) or (A and B and C).
Claims
1. A light bulb, comprising:
- a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
- a light guide comprising opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces, each light output region being associated with a different optical characteristic; and
- a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edge to input light into the light guide, the light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
2. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the light bulb further comprises a heat sink thermally coupled to the light source.
3. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is spectrum.
4. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is color temperature.
5. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of the light output from the light bulb that is modified is light output direction.
6. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions differ in an amount of a single optical characteristic.
7. The light bulb of claim 6, wherein the optical characteristic is at least one of reflective, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, reflective polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuation.
8. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the optical characteristic associated with a first one of the light output regions imposes a first characteristic on the output light, the optical characteristic associated with a second one of the light output regions imposes a different characteristic on the output light, and the optical characteristics are at least one of reflective, diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, reflective polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuation.
9. The light bulb of claim 1, further comprising an optical adjuster comprising a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to one of the major surfaces of the light guide and wherein the association of optical characteristics with the light output regions is achieved by respective optical adjuster regions of the optical adjuster aligned with the light output regions.
10. The light bulb of claim 9, wherein the optical adjuster is a first optical adjuster and the light bulb further comprises a second optical adjuster superposed with the first optical adjuster, the second optical adjuster comprising optical adjuster regions with different optical characteristics to increase the number of light output characteristics of the light bulb based on the optical characteristics of the second optical adjuster and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
11. The light bulb of claim 9, wherein the optical adjuster is a first optical adjuster and the light bulb further comprises a second optical adjuster comprising a major surface juxtaposed with and conforming to the other of the major surfaces of the light guide, wherein the second optical adjuster has optical adjuster regions with different optical characteristics.
12. The light bulb of claim 11, wherein the first optical adjuster has a transmissive optical adjuster region and a reflective optical adjuster region, and the second optical adjuster has a reflective optical adjuster region aligned with the transmissive optical adjuster region of the first optical adjuster and has a transmissive optical adjuster region aligned with the reflective optical adjuster region of the first optical adjuster.
13. The light bulb of claim 12, wherein at least one of the transmissive optical adjuster regions additionally is at least one of diffusive, light redirecting, polarizing, intensity reducing, wavelength shifting and color attenuating.
14. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the light guide further comprises:
- first light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the first light extracting elements defining a first one of the light output regions; and
- second light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces of the light guide, the second light extracting elements defining a second one of the light output regions, the first and second light extracting elements respectively configured to achieve the different optical characteristics associated with the first light output region and the second light output region.
15. The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the first light extracting elements differ from the second light extracting elements in at least one of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle and index of refraction such that the first light output region outputs light with a different intensity profile than the second light output region.
16. The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the first light extracting elements differ from the second light extracting elements in at least one of size, shape, depth or height, density, orientation, slope angle and index of refraction such that the first light output region outputs light with a different light ray angle distribution than the second light output region.
17. The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the light extracting elements are light-scattering elements.
18. The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the light extracting elements have well-defined shapes.
19. The light bulb of claim 14, wherein the light extracting elements are micro-optical elements.
20. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
21. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein each light output region is associated with the same one of the major surfaces.
22. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein each light output region is associated with a respective one of the major surfaces.
23. The light bulb of claim 1, wherein one of the light output regions is associated with one of the major surfaces and the other of the light output regions is associated with an edge of the light guide opposite the light input edge.
24. A light bulb, comprising:
- a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
- a first light guide comprising opposed inner and outer major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and a light output region associated with an optical characteristic;
- a second light guide comprising opposed inner and outer major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and a light output region associated with an optical characteristic, the inner major surface of the second light guide juxtaposed and conforming to the inner major surface of the first light guide; and
- a light source electrically coupled to the base and located adjacent the light input edges, the light source and the light input edges variably positionable relative one another to selectively apportion light between an amount of light input into the first light guide and output from the light output region of the first light guide and an amount of light input into the second light guide and output from the light output region of the second light guide so that a characteristic of the light output from the light bulb is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges.
25. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein each light output region is associated with the respective one of the outer major surfaces.
26. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein each light output region is associated with the outer major surface of the other light guide.
27. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein one of the light output regions is associated with the respective one of the outer major surfaces and the other of the light output regions is associated with an edge of the respective light guide opposite the respective light input edge.
28. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein the light guides have respective light extracting elements.
29. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges determines an amount of the light that exits through the outer major surface of the first light guide and an amount of the light that exits through the outer major surface of the second light guide.
30. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein the relative positioning of the light source and the light input edges determines an amount of the light that exits through one or both of the outer major surfaces and an amount of the light that exits through an edge of one of the light guides opposite the corresponding light input edge.
31. The light bulb of claim 24, wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
32. A light bulb, comprising:
- a base configured to mechanically mount the light bulb and receive electrical power;
- a housing mechanically coupled to the base;
- a light source electrically coupled to the base and mechanically coupled to the housing; and
- a light guide mechanically coupled to the housing so as to be variably positionable relative to the light source, the light guide comprising opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and light extracting elements at at least one of the major surfaces, wherein the light guide is positionable between a first position where the light input edge is adjacent the light source such that the light guide is edge lit by the light source and a second position where the light guide is not edge lit by the light source.
33. The light bulb of claim 32, wherein the light extracting elements are configured to extract light from the light guide with a diffuse light ray angle distribution.
34. The light bulb of claim 32, further comprising an optical adjuster mechanically coupled to the housing and variably positionable relative to the light source such that when the light guide is in the second position the optical adjuster is aligned with the light source.
35. The light bulb of claim 34, wherein the optical adjuster comprises a lens.
36. The light bulb of claim 35, wherein the lens is a collimating lens.
37. The light bulb of claim 36, wherein when the light guide is in the second position, the light is emitted with a narrower light ray angle distribution than when the light guide is in the first position.
38. The light bulb of claim 34, further comprising an adjustment member mechanically coupled to the housing, wherein the light guide and the optical adjuster are coupled to the adjustment member, and the adjustment member is variably positionable relative to the housing to move the light guide between the first and second positions and move the optical adjuster into alignment with the light source when the light guide is in the second position.
39. The light bulb of claim 38, wherein the adjustment member has increased resistance to movement when the light guide is in the first and second positions relative to when the light guide is not in one of the first position or the second position.
40. The light bulb of claim 38, wherein the housing comprises cooling air vents through which air flows to dissipate heat generated by the light source and the adjustment member comprises openings that align with the cooling air vents of the housing at least when the light guide is in the first position and the second position.
41. The light bulb of claim 32, wherein the light source is a solid state light source.
42. The light bulb of claim 32, wherein the base comprises an Edison screw base.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2012
Publication Date: Sep 20, 2012
Inventors: Jeffery R. Parker (Richfield, OH), Timothy A. McCollum (Avon Lake, OH), Fumitomo Hide (San Jose, CA), Alexey Titov (Sagamore Hills, OH), Ian Hardcastle (Sunnyvale, CA)
Application Number: 13/420,926