Light output device with movable lightguide system
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a light-output device ( 1; 10; 30 ) controllable to provide different light-output functions. The light-output device comprises a light-source arrangement ( 12; 31 ) configured to emit light; and a light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) arranged to receive the light and configured to guide the light to at least one light-output surface of the light-guiding system. The light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) comprises at least a first light-guide ( 11 b ; 37 ) and a second light-guide ( 11 a; 40, 41 ); and the light-guiding system ( 10; 32 ) is movable relative to the light-source arrangement ( 12; 31 ) between at least a first position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the first light-guide ( 11 b ; 37 ) to provide a first light-output function, and a second position where light output by the light-source arrangement is guided by the second light-guide ( 11 a ; 40, 41 ) to provide a second light-output function, different from the first light-output function. The present invention is based on the realization that different light-output functions conveniently and intuitively can be achieved by moving a light-guiding system comprising at least two light-guides relative to a stationary light-source arrangement. Hereby, different light-output functions can be achieved with a single stationary light-source arrangement.
1. A light-output device controllable to provide different light-output functions, comprising:
a light-source arrangement configured to emit light; and
a light-guiding system arranged to receive said light and configured to guide said light to at least one light-output surface of the light-guiding system, wherein:
said light-guiding system comprises at least a first light-guide and a second light-guide; and
said light-guiding system is movable relative to said light-source arrangement between at least a first position where light output by said light-source arrangement is guided by said first light-guide to provide a first light-output function, and a second position where light output by said light-source arrangement is guided by said second light-guide to provide a second light-output function, different from the first light-output function, and
said light-guiding system further comprising at least a first light-mixing chamber for providing light from said light-source arrangement to said first light-guide and a second light-mixing chamber for providing light from said light-source arrangement to said second light-guide.
2. The light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein said light is output through a first light-output surface of the light-guiding system to provide said first light-output function and through a second light-output surface of the light-guiding system, different from the first light-output surface, to provide said second light-output function.
3. The light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said first and second light-guides is configured to guide light from an incoupling surface of the light-guide to an outcoupling surface of the light-guide through multiple reflections of said light at a boundary surface of said light-guide.
4. The light-output device according to claim 3 , wherein said at least one light-guide is configured to guide said light through total internal reflection.
5. The light-output device according to claim 3 , wherein said first light-guide has a cross-section area that decreases with increasing distance from said incoupling surface.
6. The light-output device according to claim 5 , wherein said light-guiding system further comprises a third light-guide, and wherein:
said first light-guide is sandwiched between said second light-guide and said third light-guide; and
each of said second and third light-guides has a cross-section area that increases with increasing distance from said incoupling surface, in such a way that a total cross-section area of said light-guiding system is substantially constant along said light-guiding system.
7. The light-output device according to claim 6 , wherein said second light-guide comprises a reflector arranged to direct said light through the outcoupling surface of the second light-guide.
8. The light-output device according to claim 7 , wherein said light-guiding system is rotatable relative to said light-source arrangement around an axis of rotation.
9. The light-output device according to claim 8 , wherein said light-guiding system is rotatable in a plane perpendicular to said axis of rotation.
10. The light-output device according to claim 8 , wherein said light-guiding system is arranged substantially in parallel with said axis of rotation.
11. The light-output device according to claim 10 , wherein said light-source arrangement comprises a light-source arranged offset from said axis of rotation.
12. The light-output device according to claim 7 , wherein said light-guiding system is displaceable relative to said light-source arrangement.
13. The light-output device according to claim 12 , wherein said light-guiding system comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being rotatable relative the second portion.
14. The light-output device according to claim 13 , wherein said light-source arrangement comprises a light-emitting diode, a heat sink arranged in thermal connection with said light-emitting diode, and a driver for providing power to the light-emitting diode.
15. A light-output device according to claim 1 , wherein the light mixing devices are light mixing chambers.