ADJUSTABLE-BEAM LUMINAIRES
A luminaire for providing configurable static lighting or dynamically-adjustable lighting. The luminaire uses an array of focusing elements that act on light provided via a corresponding array of sources or via an edge-lit lightguide. Designs are provided for adjusting the number of distinct beams produced by the luminaire, as well as the angular width, angular profile, and pointing angle of the beams. Designs are also provided for systems utilizing the adjustable luminaires in various applications.
1 . An optical system comprising:
an array of lenses;
a lightguide;
a plurality of light extraction features on the lightguide for redirecting light in the lightguide out of a surface of the lightguide;
the light extraction features having a plurality of different patterns;
wherein individual lenses in the array of lenses are configured to project light emitted from the lightguide in a light distribution that is determined by the particular pattern of the one or more light extraction features associated with each of the individual lenses, creating a plurality of projected different light distributions; and
wherein the lenses and extraction features are configured so that an aggregate of the projected different light distributions creates a desired overall light distribution from the optical system at a distance from the array of lenses.
2 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lenses comprise refractive lenses.
3 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lenses comprise reflective lenses.
4 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light extraction features are printed on a surface of the lightguide.
5 . The system of claim 1 wherein the particular pattern of the light extraction features associated with each individual lens is projected by the associated lens as an output beam.
6 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lenses have a common focal plane and the light extraction features are located in the common focal plane.
7 . The system of claim 1 wherein the projected different light distributions at least partially overlap.
8 . The system of claim 1 wherein at least portions of the light extraction features associated with each of the individual lenses are not positioned at a focal point of the individual lenses so that images formed by the light extraction features are emitted at a non-normal angle with respect to the associated lenses.
9 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light extraction features comprise half-tone printed patterns on a surface of the lightguide.
10 . The system of claim 1 wherein the array of lenses is movable with respect to the lightguide to vary the projected different light distributions.
11 . The system of claim 1 wherein the array of lenses includes lenses with a plurality of different shapes.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lens array is refractive and further comprising an array of reflective lenses, wherein the refractive and reflective lens arrays are matched and disposed on opposite sides of the lightguide.
13 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light distributions have a plurality of brightness levels.
14 . The system of claim 1 wherein the overall light distribution is steerable by controlling a position of the array of lenses relative to the lightguide.
15 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light extraction features alter the color of the light while redirecting it from the lightguide.
16 . The system of claim 1 wherein the lightguide is at least partially removable and replaceable.
17 . The system of claim 1 wherein the light extraction features are volume features that protrude into the lightguide.