IP Library › Granted Patent US 6,902,291
Granted Patent B2
US 6,902,291 · App. 10/620,524 · Granted Jun 7, 2005

In-pavement directional LED luminaire

Assignee: Farlight LLC
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,902,291
App. No.
10/620,524
Granted
Jun 7, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An in-pavement high intensity LED-based luminaire includes a housing, a power controller, a light module and a thermoelectric cooling device. The housing includes a generally flat top surface having at least one transparent window for output light passage. The power controller has an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically connected to an airfield power infrastructure and the output is electrically connected to a light module. The light module includes multiple high flux LEDs and a non-imaging light transformer. The non-imaging light transformer includes an input end opposite an output end, a refractive member located around the LED optical axis, and a total internal reflection member. The thermoelectric cooling device provides LED temperature control for emitted luminous flux, color and spatial intensity distribution stabilization, and is electrically connected to the power controller.

Claims (35)

1. An in-pavement high intensity LED-based luminaire comprising:

a housing including a generally flat top surface having at least one transparent window for output light passage;

a power controller having an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically connected to an airfield power infrastructure and the output is electrically connected to a light module;

the light module including,

a plurality of high flux LEDs, wherein each of the LEDs is connected to the power controller and emits light with a wide divergence, said LEDs located linearly in a plane perpendicular to an LED optical axis;

a non-imaging light transformer that includes an input end opposite an output end, a refractive member located around the LED optical axis, and a total internal reflection member, wherein the light transformer collects a significant amount of light through the input end that is emitted by the LEDs that are located at a distance equal to the light transformer's focal distance from the input end, compresses and redistributes the collected light in a vertical plane with high efficiency into a predetermined pattern, and directs the compressed light outside of the light module through the output end; and

a thermoelectric cooling device providing LED temperature control for emitted luminous flux, color and spatial intensity distribution stabilization, wherein the thermoelectric device is electrically connected to the power controller.

2. A luminaire according to claim 1 , wherein the window includes a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the window and the housing.

3. A luminaire according to claim 1 , wherein the power controller is designed to interface and operate with existing airport lighting infrastructure including intensity variation by constant current regulator compliance standard regulation.

4. A luminaire according to claim 1 , further comprising a holder for supporting the LEDs and mounting the light transformer.

5. A luminaire according to claim 4 , wherein the holder is fabricated from material with low thermal resistance and is configured as a heat sink for the LEDs.

6. A luminaire according to claim 5 , wherein the thermoelectric cooling device has direct thermal contact on a cool side of the cooling device with the holder, and has direct thermal contact on a hot side of the cooling device with the housing that is configured as a radiator for the cooling device.

7. A luminaire according to claim 1 , wherein the refractive member and the total internal reflection member are integrated in a single transparent element having a mutual focal point.

8. A luminaire according to claim 1 , wherein the light transformer is shaped as a rectangular bar in a horizontal cross-section and has a precalculated profile in a vertical cross-section.

9. An in-pavement high intensity LED-based luminaire comprising:

a housing including a generally flat top surface having at least one transparent window for output light passage;

a power controller having an input and an output, wherein the input is electrically connected to an airfield power infrastructure and the output is electrically connected to a light module;

the light module including,

a plurality of high flux LEDs, wherein each of the LEDs is connected to the power controller and emits light with a wide divergence, said LEDs located linearly in a plane perpendicular to an LED optical axis;

a non-imaging light transformer that includes an input end opposite an output end, a refractive member located around the LED optical axis, and a total internal reflection member integrated in a single transparent element having a mutual focal point, wherein the light transformer is shaped as a rectangular bar in a horizontal cross-section and has a precalculated profile in a vertical cross-section, and wherein the light transformer collects a significant amount of light through the input end that is emitted by the LEDs that are located at a distance equal to the light transformer's focal distance from the input end, compresses and redistributes the collected light in a vertical plane with high efficiency into a predetermined pattern, and directs the compressed light outside of the light module through the output end;

a holder for supporting the LEDs and mounting the light transformer; and

a thermoelectric cooling device providing LED temperature control for emitted luminous flux, color and spatial intensity distribution stabilization, wherein the thermoelectric device is electrically connected to the power controller, has direct thermal contact on a cool side of the cooling device with the holder, and has direct thermal contact on a hot side of the cooling device with the housing that is configured as a radiator for the cooling device.

10. A luminaire according to claim 9 , wherein the window includes a sealing member forming a watertight seal between the window and the housing.

11. A luminaire according to claim 9 , wherein the power controller is designed to interface and operate with existing airport lighting infrastructure including intensity variation by constant current regulator compliance standard regulation.

12. A luminaire according to claim 9 , wherein the holder is fabricated from material with low thermal resistance and is configured as a heat sink for the LEDs.

13. A luminaire according to claim 9 , wherein the light module further includes a thermosensor, wherein the thermosensor is electrically connected to the power controller, said power controller including an electronic circuit which allows automatically switching “on-off” power to the thermoelectrical cooling device to provide cooling only when an optical module temperature rises above a preselected threshold.

14. A light module, comprising:

a plurality of high flux LEDs located in linear alignment with high density in a plane perpendicular to a LED optical axis, wherein each LED is connected to a power controller and emits light with a wide divergence;

a non-imaging light transformer that includes an input end opposite an output end, a refractive member located around the LED optical axis, and a total internal reflection member integrated in a single transparent element having a mutual focal point, wherein the light transformer is shaped as a rectangular bar in a horizontal cross-section and has a precalculated profile in a vertical cross-section, and wherein the light transformer collects a significant amount of light through the input end that is emitted by the LEDs that are located at a distance equal to the light transformer's focal distance from the input end, compresses and redistributes the collected light in a vertical plane with high efficiency into a predetermined pattern, and directs the compressed light outside of the light module through the output end;

a holder for supporting the LEDs and mounting the light transformer, wherein the holder is fabricated from material with a low thermal resistance and is configured as a heat sink for the LEDs; and

a thermoelectric cooling device providing LED temperature control for emitted luminous flux, color and spatial intensity distribution stabilization, wherein the thermoelectric device is electrically connected to the power controller, has direct thermal contact on a cool side of the cooling device with the holder, and has direct thermal contact on a hot side of the cooling device with a radiator.

15. A light module according to claim 14 , wherein the holder includes a LED support and a light transformer mounting, wherein the support and the mounting are joined together by a kinematic mechanism that allows mutual linear displacement of the support and the mounting in the vertical plane.

16. A light module according to claim 14 , further comprising a housing having an opening for passing light therethrough, said housing having direct thermal contact with the holder and configured as the outside radiator.

17. A light module according to claim 16 , wherein a light shaping element is dispersed along the opening.

18. A light module according to claim 17 , wherein the light shaping element is a holographic diffuser.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2011
From: ACACIA PATENT AQUISITION LLC
To: LIGHT TRANSFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES LLC
Reel/Frame 026707/0833 →
LICENSE Recorded May 12, 2009
From: FARLIGHT, LLC
To: ACACIA PATENT ACQUISITION LLC
Reel/Frame 022703/0933 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2004
From: RIZKIN, ALEXANDER; TUDHOPE, ROBERT
To: FARLIGHT LLC
Reel/Frame 014879/0081 →
Continuity (3)
Continuation In Part 1027723000 · Oct 21, 2002
Continuation In Part 0986788100 · May 30, 2001
Related Publication 20040114355A1 · Jun 17, 2004