Configurable luminaire
View Patent ↗An array of LEDs is supported by a support mechanism that both supports conductors leading to the LEDs and sinks heat from the LEDs. The support mechanism may be a transparent heat-conducting sheet or an array of cantilevered arms at different angles that support the LEDs and sink heat. This reduces the blockage of light. The LEDs are positioned generally in the focal plane of an array of concave mirrors that collimate the light. The LEDs and array of mirrors are translatable with respect to one another to steer the aggregate light beam to customize the emission. In another embodiment, multiple LEDs are positioned over each mirror in the mirror array, and the combination of LEDs illuminated over each mirror is used to steer the aggregate light beam from the luminaire.
1. An optical system for generating light comprising:
an array of concave mirrors for receiving and reflecting light, each mirror having an aperture, where the aperture of each mirror is its light exiting surface;
an array of light sources positioned at approximately a focal plane of the array of mirrors, the array of light sources comprising one or more light sources supported over each of the apertures of the mirrors by a support structure; and
an actuator for controlling relative movement between the array of mirrors and the array of light sources, wherein a light beam emitted by one of the light sources reflected off its associated mirror has a shape and direction controlled by the relative movement between the array of mirrors and the array of light sources.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs), wherein conductive traces are provided on the support structure between the LEDs and a controller for supplying power to the LEDs.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises one of plastic, glass, ceramic, or a crystal.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure sinks heat away from the LEDs.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator controls movement of the array of light sources.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator controls movement of the array of concave mirrors.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the concave mirrors have hexagonal apertures.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the concave mirrors are comprised of a reflective coating on a transparent solid material with a planar surface opposite the reflective coating.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the light sources comprise light emitting diodes (LEDs) having rectangular shapes, and wherein the LEDs are mounted on the support structure so as to have different orientations such that edges of the LEDs are not all parallel or perpendicular to one another.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein electrical conductors on the support structure for each of the light sources extend across approximately one half a diameter of the aperture of each of the concave mirrors.
11. The system of claim 1 wherein the array of concave mirrors comprise two rows of concave mirrors, wherein electrical conductors for the light sources run parallel to the rows of concave mirrors and then extend across approximately one half a diameter of the aperture of each of the concave mirrors.
12. The system of claim 1 wherein the actuator is manually controlled.
13. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a solid transparent sheet.
14. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises arms supporting the light sources, where the arms only block a portion of the aperture.