# US 10,309,588 B2 · Luminaires with transition zones for glare control

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,309,588 B2
- Document ID: US10309588B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/674,797
- Filed: 2017-08-11
- Published: 2018-02-15
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-08-11
- Assignees: ABL IP Holding LLC
- Applicants: ABL IP Holding LLC
- Inventors: Yulia Tyukhova; Jon Eric Gibson; John Bryan Harvey; Jie Chen; Craig Eugene Marquardt; Daniel Vincent Sekowski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309588B2

## CPC

- F21S 8/086: {with lighting device attached sideways of the standard, e.g. for roads and highways}
- F21K 9/64: using wavelength conversion means distinct or spaced from the light-generating element, e.g. a remote phosphor layer
- F21S 19/005: {Combining sunlight and electric light sources for indoor illumination}
- F21V 5/04: of lens shape
- F21V 7/0083: {Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane (combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025)}
- F21V 7/04: Optical design
- F21V 23/003: {the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array}
- G02B 6/0036: {2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces}
- G02B 6/004: {Scattering dots or dot-like elements, e.g. microbeads, scattering particles, nanoparticles}
- G02B 6/0043: {provided on the surface of the light guide}
- G02B 6/0058: {varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide}
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/20: Controlling the colour of the light
- H05B 45/22: using optical feedback
- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- H05B 47/16: by timing means
- F21W 2131/103: of streets or roads
- F21W 2131/205: for operating theatres
- F21Y 2101/00: Point-like light sources
- F21Y 2105/12: characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21K: NON-ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES USING LUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING ELECTROCHEMILUMINESCENCE; LIGHT SOURCES USING CHARGES OF COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL; LIGHT SOURCES USING SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES AS LIGHT-GENERATING ELEMENTS; LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21W: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO USES OR APPLICATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

A luminaire includes a housing, a luminous zone coupled with the housing, and one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone. The luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area, and the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area. The first light is harsher than the second light. A method of illuminating an area includes providing a first light to the area from a luminous zone of a luminaire and providing a second light to the area from one or more transition zones disposed adjacent to the luminous zone within the luminaire. The first light is a harsher light than the second light.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A luminaire, comprising:
a housing;
a luminous zone coupled with the housing, wherein the luminous zone is characterized by a luminous zone area; and
one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone; wherein:
the one or more transition zones are characterized by a transition zone area that is at least three times the luminous zone area;
the luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area; and
the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the one or more transition zones surround the luminous zone, as viewed from within the illuminated area.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminous zone is characterized by a luminous zone area, the one or more transition zones are characterized by a transition zone area, and the transition zone area is less than or equal to the luminous zone area.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminous zone is characterized by a luminous zone area, the one or more transition zones are characterized by a transition zone area, and the transition zone area is greater than the luminous zone area.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminous zone is characterized by a luminous zone area, the one or more transition zones are characterized by a transition zone area, and the transition zone area is at least ten times the luminous zone area.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminaire comprises an arrangement of light emitters that form the luminous zone and the one or more transition zones, wherein a first subset of the light emitters forms the luminous zone and a second subset of the light emitters forms the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The luminaire of claim 6, wherein the first subset of the light emitters is of a first type, and at least some of the second subset of the light emitters are of a second type that is different from the first type.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The luminaire of claim 7, wherein the first subset of the light emitters is characterized by a first chromaticity, and the second subset of the light emitters is characterized by a second chromaticity that is different from the first chromaticity.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The luminaire of claim 6, wherein:
the first subset and the second subset of the light emitters are of the same type as one another;
the first subset of the light emitters is powered by one or more first drive circuits; and
the second subset of the light emitters is powered by one or more second drive circuits.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The luminaire of claim 9, wherein:
the one or more first drive circuits provide a first level of drive conditions to the first subset of the light emitters; and
the one or more second drive circuits provide a second level of drive conditions to the second subset of the light emitters, the second level being in a fixed ratio with respect to the first level.

### Claim 11

A luminaire, comprising:
a housing;
a luminous zone coupled with the housing, wherein a first subset of light emitters forms the luminous zone; and
one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone, wherein a second subset of light emitters forms the one or more transition zones;
the first subset and the second subset of the light emitters are of the same e as one another;
the first subset of the light emitters is powered by one or more first drive circuits;
the second subset of the light emitters is powered by one or more second drive circuits;
the luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area; and
the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area, wherein:
the one or more first drive circuits provide a first level of drive conditions to the first subset of the light emitters; and
the one or more second drive circuits provide a second level of drive conditions to the second subset of the light emitters, the second level being in an adjustable ratio with respect to the first level.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The luminaire of claim 11, further comprising a controller that adjusts the adjustable ratio based on time of day.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The luminaire of claim 11, further comprising a controller and a light sensor, and wherein the controller adjusts the adjustable ratio based at least in part on an illumination condition sensed by the light sensor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The luminaire of claim 13, wherein the light sensor is disposed so as to sense the illumination condition within the illuminated area.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The luminaire of claim 13, wherein the light sensor is disposed so as to sense the illumination condition outside of the illuminated area and does not sense light emitted by the luminaire.

### Claim 16 (depends on 6)

The luminaire of claim 6, wherein:
the first subset and the second subset of the light emitters are of the same type as one another; and
an identification of at least a portion of the light emitters as being in the first subset or the second subset is adjustable.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The luminaire of claim 16, wherein the light emitters identified as being in the first subset or the second subset are adjustable based on time of day.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The luminaire of claim 16, further comprising a light sensor, and wherein the light emitters identified as being in the first subset or the second subset are adjustable based at least in part on an illumination condition sensed by the light sensor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminous zone includes one or more light emitters, and the one or more transition zones comprise one or more reflectors disposed adjacent to the one or more light emitters.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The luminaire of claim 19, wherein one or more of the reflectors comprises a convex surface.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The luminaire of claim 19, wherein one or more of the reflectors comprises a concave surface.

### Claim 22

A luminaire, comprising:
a housing;
a luminous zone coupled with the housing;
a lens coupled with the housing, and
one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone; wherein:
the luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area;
the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area,
a central portion of the lens corresponds with the luminous zone, and
a peripheral portion of the lens corresponds with one of the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The luminaire of claim 22, wherein the peripheral portion of the lens comprises at least one of a diffusive surface, a phosphor and a filter to form the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 24

A luminaire, comprising:
a housing;
a luminous zone coupled with the housing; and
one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone;
a waveguide; and
one or more light emitters that emit light into the waveguide, and wherein:
the luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area;
the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area;
a central portion of the waveguide corresponds the luminous zone, and
a peripheral portion of the waveguide corresponds with at least one of the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The luminaire of claim 24, wherein differing light extraction features of the waveguide define the luminous zone and the at least one of the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 26 (depends on 1)

The luminaire of claim 1, wherein the luminaire uses sunlight to provide the first light.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The luminaire of claim 26, wherein the luminaire uses sunlight to provide at least part of the second light.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The luminaire of claim 26, wherein the luminaire uses an artificial light emitter to provide at least part of the second light.

### Claim 29

A luminaire, comprising:
a housing;
a luminous zone coupled with the housing; and
one or more transition zones coupled with the housing and disposed adjacent to the luminous zone;
wherein:
the luminous zone provides a first light to an illuminated area;
the one or more transition zones provide a second light to the illuminated area;
the housing comprises a top plate portion coupled with a light-diffusing surface extending downwardly from the top plate portion, so as to form a downward-facing cavity;
one or more light emitters couple with an underside of the top plate portion; and
a lens couples with the top plate surface such that the lens and the top plate portion enclose the one or more light emitters;
such that the lens forms the luminous zone and the light-diffusing surface forms the one or more transition zones.

### Claim 30

A method of illuminating an area, comprising:
providing a first light to the area, at a first intensity, from a luminous zone of a luminaire; and
providing a second light to the area, at a second intensity, from one or more transition zones disposed adjacent to the luminous zone within the luminaire, wherein:
at a first time of day, the first intensity is greater than the second intensity; and
at a second time of day, the second intensity is substantially equal to the first intensity.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein providing the second light comprises providing the second light with one of:
a net light output that is less than a net light output of the first light;
a luminous flux per unit area that is less than a luminous flux per unit area of the first light, and
a chromaticity having a lower correlated color intensity than a chromaticity of the first light.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, wherein providing the first light comprises providing the first light with a first chromaticity, and providing the second light comprises providing the second light with a second chromaticity that is different from the first chromaticity.

### Claim 33

A method of illuminating an area, comprising:
providing a first light to the area from a luminous zone of a luminaire; and
providing a second light to the area from one or more transition zones disposed adjacent to the luminous zone within the luminaire, wherein:
providing the first light comprises providing the first light with a first chromaticity;
providing the second light comprises providing the second light with a second chromaticity;
at a first time of day, the second chromaticity is different from the first chromaticity; and
at a second time of day, the second chromaticity is substantially the same as the first chromaticity.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30, further comprising sensing one or more illumination conditions, and wherein providing the second light comprises adjusting at least one of an intensity and a chromaticity of the second light in response to the illumination conditions.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34, wherein providing the first light comprises adjusting at least one of an intensity and a chromaticity of the first light in response to the illumination conditions.