IP Library Granted Patent US 7,461,960
Granted Patent B2
US 7,461,960 · App. 11/662,309 · Granted Dec 9, 2008

LED illumination module

Assignee: Zweibruder Optoelectronics
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,461,960
App. No.
11/662,309
Granted
Dec 9, 2008
Kind
B2
Abstract

An LED illumination module has a light-emitting diode and a rotationally symmetrical, one-piece, light-transparent adapter lens centered on a lens axis. This lens has an axially rearwardly open blind hole defined by a radially inwardly directed frustoconical light-receiving side surface and an axially rearwardly directed convex light-receiving base surface. The diode is axially shiftable in the hole. An axially forwardly directed convex light-output surface is coaxially surrounded by an axially forwardly directed and forwardly flaring frustoconical light-output surface. A radially outwardly directed and radially inwardly reflective surface extends generally from a front edge of the axially forwardly directed frustoconical light-output surface to a rear edge of the radially inwardly directed frustoconical surface.

Claims (28)

1. An LED illumination module provided with a light-emitting diode as well as with a rotationally symmetrical, one-piece, light-transparent adapter lens with an inner converging lens part and an outer reflector part

wherein a rearwardly open blind hole is defined by a frustoconical or conical side surface with an arcuate shape and by a convex base surface and has an inner diameter allowing for longitudinal movement of the LED body along the optical axis of the adapter lens within the hole,

wherein the converging lens part is formed by the convex base surface as a light incidence region and by a front light output surface that is also convex, and

wherein the reflector part is essentially formed by the side surface of the hole as another light incidence region, by an outer annular surface that reflects all light inward and a front, frustoconical, light output surface,

wherein all the light incidence regions and output surfaces refract the light rays with diagonal incidence angle such that the light emitted by the LED is more than 85% emitted to the front and that, by movement of the LED along the longitudinal axis, a light cone modification of a light cone with a cone angle of ≦12° up to a cone angle of ≧20° can be generated and wherein in at least one position of the LED relative to the hole of the adapter lens an inner section of the light cone over a cross section surface perpendicular to the optical axis is homogeneously illuminated.

2. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein a tilt angle of the reflector part is set relative to a perpendicular to the optical axis is between 35° and 40°.

3. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the smallest diameter of the frustoconical hole is ≧9 mm.

4. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the total length of the adapter lens is between 9 mm and 16 mm.

5. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the diameter of the converging lens part is at most 1 mm larger than the largest diameter of the hole of the adapter lens.

6. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 characterized wherein the reflector part has an outer annular surface extending parallel to the optical axis of the adapter lens.

7. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 in wherein the reflector part has a rear outer annular surface that extends around the hole and perpendicular to the optical axis and a front outer annular surface on the outside of the front face and perpendicular to the optical axis.

8. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the diameter of the adapter lens to its length is between 0.4 and 0.5.

9. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the ratio of the thickness of the inner converging lens to the length of the adapter lens is between 0.6 and 0.65.

10. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the ratio between the diameter of the inner converging lens part to the diameter of the adapter lens is between 0.5 and 0.55.

11. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein a light output region of the inner converging lens part has a radius of curvature that is smaller than a radius of curvature of the light incidence region.

12. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the converging lens part has an opening angle of ≧40°.

13. The LED illumination module according to claim 1 wherein the adapter lens is made of plastic or of glass.

14. An LED illumination module comprising a light-emitting diode and a rotationally symmetrical, one-piece, light-transparent adapter lens centered on a lens axis, the lens being formed with

an axially rearwardly open blind hole centered on the axis and defined by a radially inwardly directed frustoconical light-receiving side surface and an axially rearwardly directed convex light-receiving base surface, the hole receiving the light-emitting diode and having an inner diameter allowing for axial movement of the light-emitting diode in the hole,

an axially forwardly directed convex light-output surface centered on the axis,

an axially forwardly directed and forwardly flaring frustoconical light-output surface coaxially surrounding the convex surface, and

a radially outwardly directed and radially inwardly reflective surface extending generally from a front edge of the axially forwardly directed frustoconical light-output surface to a rear edge of the radially inwardly directed frustoconical surface.

15. An LED illumination module provided with a light-emitting diode as well as with a rotationally symmetrical, one-piece, light-transparent adapter lens with an inner converging lens part and an outer reflector part

wherein a rearwardly open blind hole is defined by a frustoconical or conical side surface with an arcuate shape and by a convex base surface and has an inner diameter allowing for longitudinal movement of the LED body along the optical axis of the adapter lens within the hole,

wherein the converging lens part is formed by the convex base surface as a light incidence region and by a front light output surface that is also convex, and

wherein the reflector part is essentially formed by the side surface of the hole as another light incidence region, by an outer annular surface that reflects all light inward and a front, frustoconical, light output surface,

wherein all the light incidence regions and output surfaces refract the light rays with diagonal incidence angle such that the light emitted by the LED is more than 85% emitted to the front and that, by movement of the LED along the longitudinal axis, a light cone modification of a light cone with a cone angle of ≦12° up to a cone angle of ≧20° can be generated and wherein in at least one position of the LED relative to the hole of the adapter lens an inner section of the light cone over a cross section surface perpendicular to the optical axis is homogeneously illuminated, and

wherein a tilt angle of the reflector part is set relative to a perpendicular to the optical axis is between 35° and 40°.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030241 FRAME 0716. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded May 20, 2013
From: ZWEIBRUEDER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH
To: ZWEIBRUEDER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH & CO KG
Reel/Frame 030452/0319 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Apr 18, 2013
From: ZWEIBRUEDER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH
To: ZWEIBRUEDER ELECTRONICS GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 030241/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 8, 2007
From: OPOLKA, RAINER; TIMINGER, ANDREAS
To: ZWEIBRUDER OPTOELECTRONICS GMBH
Reel/Frame 019022/0807 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 20 2005 007 500 U · May 12, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20070263390A1 · Nov 15, 2007