# US 2010/0165633 A1 · Lamp Using a Light Emitting Diode (LED) as a Light Source > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2010/0165633 A1 - Document ID: US20100165633A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 11/885,694 - Filed: 2006-02-27 - Published: 2010-07-01 - Earliest claimed: 2005-03-01 - Assignees: Hd Developments (Proprietary) Limited - Inventors: Jacobus Philippus Moolman; Tymen Nagel - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20100165633A1 ## CPC - F21V 11/08: using diaphragms containing one or more apertures - F21V 7/0008: {providing for indirect lighting} - F21V 7/0025: {Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source (array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083)} - F21V 7/0016: {on lighting devices that also provide for direct lighting, e.g. by means of independent light sources, by splitting of the light beam, by switching between both lighting modes} - F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED] - F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - 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 ## Abstract This invention relates to a lamp (80) using a light emitting diode (LED) (30) as a light source. The lamp includes a framework (12), and an LED holder (31) mounted on the framework for holding the LED. A primary reflector (34), having a primary reflecting surface (36) for reflecting at least a portion of light emitted by the LED, is mounted on the framework, being located in a path along which light is emitted by the LED. A secondary reflector (26) is also mounted on the framework, being located relative to the primary reflector such that light reflected by the primary reflector is reflected on to the secondary reflector. The secondary reflector has at least a secondary reflecting surface (28) which is shaped to reflect light reflected thereonto in a forward direction of he lamp and for focusing said light into a substantially focused beam. The invention extends to method of focusing light emitted by and LED. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of focusing light emitted by a light emitting diode (LED), the method including reflecting at least a portion of the light emitted by the LED, such that the reflected light radiates away from a focal point, and, after the light has been reflected, focusing at least a portion of the reflected radiated light into a beam by again reflecting the light to direct it into the beam. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the reflecting and directing of said portion of the light emitted by the LED away from the focal point and into the beam is effected by means of a pair of reflecting surfaces, one reflecting surface being a primary reflecting surface and the other reflecting surface being a secondary reflecting surface, each of the reflecting surfaces being shaped to have a focal point, and the reflecting surfaces being relatively aligned and spaced such that their focal points coincide to form said focal point away from which the reflected light radiates. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A method as claimed in claim 2, in which the reflecting of said portion of the light emitted by the LED is effected by the primary reflecting surface, and the method, simultaneously with said reflecting, including directing the light to radiate away from the focal point. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) A method as claimed in claim 3, in which the focusing of said portion of the light after it radiates away from the focal point is by means of the secondary reflecting surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the directing of said portion of the light emitted by the LED to radiate away from the focal point is by passing it through the focal point, away from which it then radiates towards the secondary reflecting surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) A method as claimed in claim 4, in which the reflecting of said portion of the light emitted by the LED includes intercepting the light emitted by the LED before it reaches the focal point, and reflecting the intercepted light, the directing of said portion of the light so that it radiates away from the focal point, being by directing the intercepted light so that it radiates away from the focal point and towards the secondary reflecting surface. ### Claim 7 A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the focusing of the reflected radiated light into the beam is such that the light in the beam is substantially collimated. ### Claim 8 A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes reflecting a portion of the light emitted by the LED to form a peripheral light zone surrounding the beam. ### Claim 9 A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes permitting a portion of the light emitted by the LED to be emitted without being reflected, said unreflected portion of the light forming part of the light beam. ### Claim 10 A lamp, the lamp having an operatively front end for facing in a forward direction, and the lamp including: a framework; a light emitting diode (LED) holder mounted on the framework for holding an LED; a primary reflector mounted on the framework and located in a path along which light is emitted by an LED held by the holder, the primary reflector having a primary reflecting surface for reflecting at least a portion of the emitted light; and a secondary reflector mounted on the framework and located relative to the primary reflector such that light reflected by the primary reflector, in use, is reflected on to the secondary reflector, the secondary reflector having a secondary reflecting surface, and the secondary reflecting surface being shaped for reflecting light reflected thereonto in the forward direction of the lamp and for focusing said light into a substantially focused beam. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A lamp as claimed in claim 10, in which the LED holder is positioned relative to the framework such that an LED held thereby in use is directed for emitting light in the general forward direction of the lamp, the primary reflector being located in front of the LED holder such that the primary reflecting surface generally faces in a rearward direction of the lamp, for reflecting said portion of the light emitted in use by the LED in a general rearward direction of the lamp, and the secondary reflector being located behind the primary reflector such that the secondary reflecting surface generally faces in the forward direction of the lamp, the secondary reflector being shaped generally to cup an LED held by the LED holder, and the primary reflector being smaller than the secondary reflector, to permit passing therearound, in the forward direction of the lamp, of the substantially focused light beam reflected by the secondary reflecting surface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A lamp as claimed in claim 11, which has a central optical axis extending in the fore-and-aft directions of the lamp, the LED holder being located such that an LED held thereby in use is located on the central optical axis, and the primary reflecting surface and the secondary reflecting surface being concentric about the central optical axis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A lamp as claimed in claim 12, in which the primary reflector and the secondary reflector are shaped such that the primary and the secondary reflecting surfaces have generally dome-shaped profiles, each of the primary reflecting surface and the secondary reflecting surface having a focal point, and the primary reflector and the secondary reflector being relatively spaced such that the focal points of the primary reflecting surface and the secondary reflecting surface coincide, being located on the central optical axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A lamp as claimed in claim 13, in which the primary reflecting surface has a concavely domed profile, facing in the rearward direction of the lamp towards the secondary reflector and the LED holder, the primary reflector and the secondary reflector being relatively spaced such that the focal points of the primary and the secondary reflecting surfaces are located between the primary and the secondary reflecting surfaces and in front of an LED held by the LED holder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A lamp as claimed in claim 13, in which the primary reflecting surface has a convexly domed profile, facing in the rearward direction of the headlamp towards the secondary reflector and the LED holder, the primary reflector and the secondary reflector being relatively spaced such that the focal points of the primary and the secondary reflecting surfaces are located in front of the primary reflector, on the side of the primary reflector opposite to that side thereof on which the secondary reflector and the LED holder are located. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13, 14, 15) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 13-15 inclusive, in which the primary reflector is provided with a circular opening co-axial with and concentric about the central optical axis, for permitting a portion of the light emitted by an LED held by the LED holder to be emitted, without being reflected by the primary reflector, in the forward direction of the lamp, for forming part of said substantially focused beam. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13, 14, 15, 16) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 13-16 inclusive, in which the secondary reflector is provided with a secondary reflector opening co-axial with and concentric about the central optical axis, and in which opening the LED holder is received, such that, in use, an LED held by the holder projects through the secondary reflector opening towards the front end of the lamp. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) A lamp as claimed in claim 17, in which the secondary reflector has at least one tertiary reflecting surface, each tertiary reflecting surface being concentric about the central optical axis and having a generally convex profile, for reflecting a portion of the light emitted by an LED held by the LED holder generally in the forward direction of the lamp for forming a peripheral light zone surrounding said substantially focused beam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A lamp as claimed in claim 18, in which the secondary reflector has two tertiary reflecting surfaces, one tertiary reflecting surface framing the secondary reflector opening and the other tertiary reflecting surface framing the secondary reflecting surface, such that the secondary reflecting surface is located radially between the two tertiary reflecting surfaces. ### Claim 20 (depends on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 10-19 inclusive, which includes a transparent shield located at the front end of the lamp in front of the LED holder and the secondary reflector, and through which shield light is emitted, in use, in the forward direction of the lamp, the shield having an inner face which faces the LED holder and the secondary reflector, and an outer face which faces away from the LED holder and the secondary reflector. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A lamp as claimed in claim 20, in which the primary reflector is mounted on the shield, being located on the inner face of the shield. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) A lamp as claimed in claim 20, in which the primary reflector is integrally formed with the shield, being located on the inner face of the shield. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20, 21, 22) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 20-22 inclusive, which includes a casing providing the framework of the lamp, the casing having a front end providing the front end of the lamp, and the casing defining a cavity opening towards the front end of the lamp and in which cavity the LED holder, the primary reflector and the secondary reflector are housed, the shield closing the opening of the cavity. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) A lamp as claimed in claim 23, which includes at least one seal for sealing off the interior of the cavity of the casing from the surroundings of the casing. ### Claim 25 (depends on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 10-24 inclusive, which is in the form of a headlamp for securing to the head of a user, the framework of the lamp being provided with a securing formation for securing the headlamp to the head of a user. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) A lamp as claimed in claim 25, which is in the form of a cap lamp for securing to a safety cap for a miner, the lamp being secured to the head of a user via the safety cap. ### Claim 27 (depends on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26) A lamp as claimed in any one of claims 10-26 inclusive, which includes an LED, the LED being held by the LED holder. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) A method of focusing light emitted by an LED as claimed in claim 1, substantially as herein described and illustrated. ### Claim 29 (depends on 10) A lamp as claimed in claim 10, substantially as herein described and illustrated.