Illumination – Light source and modifier – Louvered or grid type modifier
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-27
2001-10-23
Sember, Thomas M. (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Light source and modifier
Louvered or grid type modifier
C362S291000, C362S342000, C362S297000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06305824
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a luminaire comprising:
reflectors which are situated mutually substantially parallel opposite one another and whose edges at one side define a light emission window;
means for holding an electric lamp between the reflectors;
a plurality of light-scattering lamellae between the reflectors, transverse to the reflectors and to the light emission window, which lamellae are provided each with a lateral edge, an inner edge, an outer edge in the light emission window, and a relief.
Such a luminaire is known from European patent EP 0 286 890 B1. The lamellae in the known luminaire have a relief of folds which extend along the outer edge and which have a profile depth. The profile depth in the known lamp is a level difference in the surface of the lamella which is obtained through deformation of the lamella surface. The folds comprise a portion facing the observer and a portion facing away from the observer, which portions have a comparatively high and a comparatively low brightness, respectively, during the operation of the accommodated lamp. The folds give the lamellae in general an average, comparatively low brightness as compared with non-undulated lamellae, which brightness in the case of non-undulated lamellae is often perceived as too high by the observer. Those portions of the folds which are situated adjacent the lateral edges of the lamellae lead to an image of the lamellae being projected on the reflectors in the form of a light spot with brightness differences. The brightness differences form a light-dark striped pattern. A disadvantage of the known luminaire is that the light spot with a light-dark pattern is visible to the observer during operation of the accommodated electric lamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a luminaire of the kind described in the opening paragraph in which the image of the lamella surface in the form of a light spot with a light-dark pattern on the reflectors is reduced.
According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a luminaire of the kind described in the opening paragraph is characterized in that the lamella has a relief which decreases in the direction towards the lateral edge. The measure has a twofold effect. On the one hand, it is achieved thereby that brightness differences in the light-dark pattern resulting from the fact that the surface adjacent the lateral edges is not plane are reduced thanks to the reduced relief, and accordingly are imaged on the reflectors with smaller brightness differences. On the other hand, the brightness of the lamella surface is evened out thereby, since the decrease in brightness of this surface caused by an increasing distance of this surface to the electric lamp is compensated for by the profile which is reduced in the direction towards the lateral edge. The decreasing relief may be decreasing owing to a decreasing profile depth, or alternatively it may be decreasing in that the profile has a pattern which is repeated over an increasing distance each time, in which case the profile depth may be constant. The relief of the lamella may be built up from, for example, folds, but it may alternatively be designed as a sunken relief of, for example, pits or holes in the lamella.
In an embodiment, the luminaire is characterized in that the relief shows a decreasing trend in the direction towards the outer edge. A further equalization in the brightness of the lamellae from the inner edge to the outer edge is achieved thereby, so that also an equalization in the brightness of the image of the lamellae on the reflector is achieved.
In an alternative embodiment, the luminaire is characterized in that the relief is at least substantially absent at the lateral edge. This means that the lamella is at least substantially flat at the lateral edge of the lamella, so that brightness differences in the light-dark pattern adjacent the lateral edge of the lamella are yet further reduced. A further evening out of the image of the lamellae on the reflector is also achieved thereby.
In a further embodiment, the luminaire is characterized in that a decrease in the relief in a direction substantially parallel to the outer edge starts at a distance of 1 to 2 cm from the lateral edge. The reflectors are usually provided with a comparatively diffusely reflecting material, for example aluminum which may be frosted by anodization. The images of the lamellae become blurred owing to the diffuse reflective of the reflectors. Images of portions of the lamellae having a relief situated at a distance greater than 1 to 2 cm from the reflectors are accordingly no longer observable as images with light-dark patterns. A gradual change in the relief can accordingly remain limited to a portion of the lamella starting from 1 to 2 cm from the lateral edges. The gradual change may also be discontinuous and consist in that the relief has an abrupt transition from the relevant portion of the lamella to another portion of the lamella which is at least substantially without relief, i.e. the lamella in the other portion is at least substantially plane. The equalization of the lamella brightness is then indeed changed abruptly by the discontinuous change from a portion with relief to a portion with an at least substantially plane surface, but this is counterbalanced by the fact that brightness differences in the light-dark pattern in the image of the lamellae on the reflector are at least substantially prevented.
In a favorable embodiment, the luminaire is characterized in that the relief comprises folds which extend substantially parallel to the outer edge, or depressions and elevations. An attractive property of lamellae provided with reliefs in this manner is that they can be obtained in one operation, cut and profiled, during their manufacture from, for example, metal tape. A crest of a fold or a depression at the one surface of the lamella then is a valley or an elevation at the other surface of the lamella.
The luminaire according to the invention may be designed, for example, for accommodating a straight tubular electric lamp, for example a fluorescent lamp, such as a low-pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp. The luminaire may alternatively be designed for an elongate lamp in which, for example, two straight, interconnected tubular portions extend next to one another. Depending on the number of pairs of substantially parallel, mutually facing reflectors in the luminaire, a lamella may be subdivided into several sub-lamellae, which sub-lamellae will each have a change in their profiles analogous to that of a single (sub-)lamella. If the luminaire is at least substantially round or square, the lamellae may be provided crosswise in the light emission window. The luminaire may or may not have a housing in which the reflectors are accommodated. The lamellae may be manufactured by means of deformation of, for example, metal plating, but alternatively they may be manufactured by injection molding.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6220729 (2001-04-01), Holten
patent: 0286890 (1988-10-01), None
Alavi Ali
Halajian Dicran
Sember Thomas M.
U.S. Philips Corporation
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