Cylindrical irradiance-mapping lens and its applications to LED shelf-lighting
AssigneePelka & Associates
InventorsWilliam A. Parkyn, David G. Pelka
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Abstract
A cylindrical irradiance-redistribution lens is positioned over a line of LEDs, and is shaped to redistribute their light for uniformly illuminating a nearby planar target, such as shelves, signs, or walls. The lens shape is calculated via matching the cumulative lateral flux functions of the line of LEDs with that of the uniformly illuminated planar target. Numerous preferred embodiments are disclosed for a variety of illumination geometries.
Claims18
A cylindrical irradiance-redistribution lens is positioned over a line of LEDs, and in combination therewith, the lens configured to redistribute multiple LED light for uniformly illuminating a nearby substantially planar target, and wherein the lens is elongated and has cross sections along lens length characterized by:
- i) a central upper convex surface dome,
- ii) a central lower concave surface dome, under the upper surface dome,
- iii) said domes angled downwardly and transversely to terminate at two flanges projecting oppositely,
- iv) the lower surface of each flange intersecting the lower surface dome at a locus beneath the upper surface dome, said locus defining the periphery of the lower surface dome, the lower surface dome everywhere facing away from the upper surface dome.
In combination, a cylindrical lens structure in combination with a series of LEDs and a flat target surface proximate the lens to receive illumination from the LEDs, and the lens configured to produce substantially uniform illumination on and over the area of said flat surface proximate said lens, the lens having
- i) a central upper convex surface dome,
- ii) a central lower concave surface dome, under the upper surface dome,
- iii) said domes angled downwardly and transversely to terminate at two flanges projecting oppositely,
- iv) the lower surface of each flange intersecting the lower surface dome at a locus beneath the upper surface dome, said locus defining the periphery of the lower surface dome, the lower surface dome everywhere facing away from the upper surface dome.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.