Low Z-height LED arrays with controllable light beams
A light source useful for architectural lighting, general lighting, street lighting, or other lighting applications includes a plurality of light emitting diodes. A least some light emitting diodes can be sized between 30 microns and 500 microns. A plurality of micro-optics sized less than 1 millimeter are positioned over at least some of the plurality of light emitting diodes. A controller may be connected to selectively power groups of the plurality of light emitting diodes to provide different light beam patterns.
1. A light source comprising:
a plurality of light emitting diodes each having a light emitting surface sized between 30 microns and 500 microns; and
a plurality of micro-optics each having an optical axis and dimensions perpendicular to the optical axis of less than or equal to 1 millimeter, each micro-optic spaced apart from adjacent ones of the micro-optics by at least 1 millimeter, each micro-optic positioned over at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes to collect and direct light emitted through its light emitting surface, at least some of the micro-optics oriented with their optical axes at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the light emitting surfaces of the light emitting diodes over which they are positioned.
2. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the light emitting diodes are independently operable.
3. The light source of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the micro-optics and the light emitting diodes over which they are positioned are grouped into two or more groups to provide corresponding directional light beams, comprising a controller connected to selectively power the light emitting diodes within the groups to provide different light beam patterns.
4. The light source of claim 3 , wherein the light emitting diodes within the groups are independently operable.
5. The light source of claim 3 , wherein the micro-optics within each group are positioned at distances from each other sufficiently close that the directional light beam provided by the group is substantially uniform at a distance of 1 meter to 2 meters from the light source.
6. The light source of claim 1 , comprising a flexible substrate positioned to support the plurality of light emitting diodes and the plurality of micro-optics, the flexible substrate bendable to allow differing directionality of light beams.
7. The light source of claim 1 , comprising a flexible light guide plate defining the plurality of micro-optics.
8. The light source of claim 1 , wherein the micro-optics have a same shape as each other.
9. The light source of claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the light source perpendicular to the light emitting surfaces is less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
10. The light source of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the micro-optics is positioned over two or more of the light emitting diodes.
11. The light source of claim 10 , wherein each of the two or more light emitting diodes is independently operable.
12. The light source of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the micro-optics is positioned over a group of four of the light emitting diodes comprising a red light emitting diode, a blue light emitting diode, a green light emitting diode, and a yellow light emitting diode, each of which is independently operable to control a color of light collected and directed by the micro-optic.
13. A light source comprising:
a plurality of light emitting diodes each having a light emitting surface sized between 30 microns and 500 microns;
a plurality of micro-optics each spaced apart from adjacent ones of the micro-optics by at least 1 millimeter apart from each other, each of the micro-optics having an optical axis and dimensions perpendicular to the optical axis of less than or equal to 1 millimeter, each micro-optic positioned over at least one of the plurality of light emitting diodes to collect and direct light emitted through its light emitting surface, at least some of the micro-optics oriented with their optical axes at an angle other than 90 degrees with respect to the light emitting surfaces of the light emitting diodes over which they positioned; and
a flexible substrate positioned to support the plurality of light emitting diodes and the plurality of micro-optics, the flexible substrate bendable to allow differing directionality of light beams.
14. The light source of claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the light source perpendicular to the light emitting surfaces is less than or equal to 1 centimeter.
15. The light source of claim 14 , wherein the light emitting diodes are independently operable.
16. The light source of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the micro-optics is positioned over two or more of the light emitting diodes.