Lighting device with virtual light source
View Patent ↗A lighting device ( 1 ) is provided comprising a base ( 5 ), at least one light source ( 4 ) arranged at the base, at least one light transmissive optical element ( 7 ), and a light transmissive envelope ( 6 ) arranged to cover the at least one light source and the at least one optical element. At least a portion of the at least one optical element has a thickness (D) increasing in direction towards the base such that the at least one optical element refracts light emitted by the at least one light source for creating at least one virtual light source ( 8 ) spaced from the base. The present aspect is advantageous in that each one of the envelope and the optical element may be manufactured separately, e.g. by standard injection molding technique.
1. A lighting device comprising: a base, at least one light source having an optical axis and being arranged at the base, at least one light transmissive optical element, and a light transmissive envelope arranged to cover the at least one light source and the at least one optical element, wherein the at least one optical element comprises multiple portions having thicknesses increasing in a direction towards the base and being arranged laterally beside the optical axis of the at least one light source so as to refract light emitted by the at least one light source for creating multiple virtual light sources spaced from the base, the multiple portions are arranged beside each other in a radial direction of the lighting device.
2. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element and the envelope are separate parts.
3. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element is coupled to the base and extends in a direction away from the base.
4. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the envelope has a uniform thickness.
5. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the thickness of said portion of the at least one optical element increases continuously towards the base.
6. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises an additional envelope arranged to cover the at least one light source and having a thickness increasing in direction towards the base.
7. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one cylindrical portion arranged laterally around the optical axis of the at least one light source and having at least a portion with a thickness increasing towards the base.
8. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element is shaped such that an outer surface of the optical element follows an inner surface of the envelope.
9. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical element comprises at least one prism-like shaped portion.
10. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein the at least one light source is a solid state based light source.
11. The lighting device as defined in claim 1 , wherein an area in proximity to the at least one light source is white, black and/or specularly reflective.