Lens and omnidirectional illumination device including the lens

The present application is a national stage entry according to 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT application No.: PCT/ep2013/051588 filed on Jan. 28, 2013, which claims priority from Chinese application No.: 201210021809.3 filed on Jan. 31, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Various embodiments relate to a lens and an omnidirectional illumination device including the lens.

With the advantages of long life, energy saving, environmental friendly and shake-resistant, the LED light sources can be applied in a wide area. With the development of manufacture technology, the cost of the LEDs becomes lower and lower, and the optical efficiency is increased a lot. It is a trend that solid-state lighting (SSL) replaces the traditional lighting devices.

The US Energy Star criteria have certain requirements for omnidirectional SSL replacement lamps (shown in FIG. 1 ). Within 0° to 135° zone, luminous intensity at any angle shall not differ from the mean intensity for the entire 0° to 135° zone by more than 20%. Flux within 135° to 180° zone shall occupy at least 5% of the total flux. Measurement results should be the same in vertical plane 45° and 90° from the initial plane. Most of the LEDs' intensity distribution is lambertian rather than uniform, so secondary optical design is indispensable. For SSL replacement lamps, in order to meet those requirements, it is essential to design optical components to redistribute light.

In the related art, there are many solutions to get light source redistribution for LED lamps. The first solution is optimizing LEDs' array, and the second solution is using reflector to redistribute light.

Patent with the number of WO2009/059125A1 discloses an optical assembly including a single LED lamp and a rotationally symmetrical reflective light transformer providing an omnidirectional pattern with a pre-calculated intensity distribution.

Patent with the number of EP2180234A1 discloses an omnidirectional light bulb containing a transparent body member and a contact member at an end of the body member that could be screwed into a conventional light bulb socket for establishing electrical connections. The light bulb also contains at least a disc and a supporting pole. A number of LEDs are back-to-back configured along the circumference of each disc, so as to realize the omnidirectional illumination.

Patent with the number of US2002/0114170A1 discloses an incandescent light source replaced with omnidirectional distribution. A light guide receives and guides light output from the light source. The light guide further extends out from the light source. A reflector is positioned in the light guide and reflects the light guided through the light guide to provide appropriate edge illumination.

Among all of the above solutions, no solution is proposed for achieving omnidirectional illumination through the design of a lens.

Various embodiments provide a lens for omnidirectional illumination and an omnidirectional illumination device including the lens, which can eliminate the defects of the various solutions in the related art and have the advantages of low manufacturing cost, simple manufacturing process, uniform light distribution, and omnidirectional illumination.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a lens for omnidirectional illumination is provided, characterized in that, the lens is rotationally symmetrical and includes a light incident surface, a first refractive surface, a first reflective surface, a second refractive surface and a third refractive surface, to be rotationally symmetrical, respectively, a first portion of light which passed through the light incident surface is refracted by the first refractive surface to produce first emergent light, a second portion of the light which passed through the light incident surface is reflected by the first reflective surface to the second refractive surface, and then is refracted by the second refractive surface to produce second emergent light, and a third portion of the light which passed through the light incident surface is refracted by the third light refractive surface to produce third emergent light, the first emergent light, the second emergent light and the third emergent light jointly achieved omnidirectional illumination.

According to the present disclosure, omnidirectional illumination is provided by designing the lens to have a plurality of refractive surfaces and reflective surfaces. The first emergent light for forward illumination is provided through the first refractive surface, the third emergent light which is achieved through the third light refractive surface achieves backward illumination which is different from the forward illumination, the second emergent light for backward illumination is provided by the cooperation of the first reflective surface and the second refractive surface, to supplement the third emergent light, and thereby, omnidirectional illumination is provided.

According to various embodiments, the lens includes a bottom surface, a top surface, and side surface connecting the top surface with the bottom surface, the bottom surface is partially curved to form the light incident surface for a light source, the top surface includes the first refractive surface and the first reflective surface, and the side surface include the second refractive surface and the third light refractive surface. Forward illumination of the top region is achieved using the first refractive surface, inclinedly downward illumination in the side direction is achieved using the third light refractive surface, the deflection of the direction of the light rays is achieved using the second refractive surface and the first reflective surface, such that the light rays turn downwards for illumination, which achieves backward illumination.

Preferably, the top surface includes the first refractive surface in the center, and the first reflective surface at the edge and surrounding the first refractive surface. Thus, forward illumination within the center of the top region is achieved using the first refractive surface. Further, it is more convenient for the first reflective surface to match with the second refractive surface in the side direction.

Preferably, the side surfaces include the second refractive surface connected with the first reflective surface, and the third refractive surface connected with the bottom surface. This design optimizes the matching of the first reflective surface and the second refractive surface, and the refraction of the third portion of the light going through the light incident surface by the third light refractive surface.

Preferably, the second refractive surface has a profile inclined with respect to and extending towards, starting from the first reflective surface, a symmetrical axis of the lens so as to form an acute angle with the first reflective surface. The design of the second refractive surface relies on the design of the first reflective surface. The numerical value of the inclination angle of the second refractive surface with respect to the first reflective surface and the degree at which the second refractive surface inclinedly extends towards the symmetrical axis of the lens rely on the size, position and specific profile of the first reflective surface. The general principle is that the emergence range of the second emergent light shall comply with the expected light distribution.

Preferably, the second refractive surface inclinedly extends towards the symmetrical axis of the lens, in such an extent that all of light rays from the first reflective surface emerge from the second refractive surface. Therefore, the second portion of the light going through the light incident surface is converted to the second emergent light at high efficiency.

According to various embodiments, the bottom surface includes the concave light incident surface in the center, and a planar supporting base surface at the edge and surrounding the light incident surface. In this way, the concave light incident surface provides an accommodation cavity for a light source, and the planar supporting base surface provides convenience for arranging a lens.

Preferably, the third light refractive surface is connected with the supporting base surface and has a profile inclined with respect to and extending towards, starting from the supporting base, the symmetrical axis of the lens so as form an acute angle with the supporting base surface, so as to try to achieve light projection of the third emergent light as backward as possible in the side direction.

Preferably, the third light refractive surface extends towards the symmetrical axis of the lens to a boundary of the second portion of the light incident upon the first reflective surface, which achieves clear demarcation between the second portion of the light and the third portion of the light, and try to achieve light projection of the third emergent light as backward as possible in the side direction.

Preferably, the first reflective surface is a planar surface or an inclined surface. The first reflective surface is designed according to the expected second emergent light.

Preferably, the first refractive surface, the second refractive surface and the third light refractive surface are respectively a spline curve in a cross section.

Preferably, the light incident surface is an arc surface in a cross section, and more preferably, the light incident surface is a semicircular surface in a cross section, which, thereby, tries not to change the distribution of the light from the light source.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, an omnidirectional illumination device is provided, characterized by including a directional light source and a lens having the above features, so as to omnidirectionally distribute the light from the directional light source by using the lens.

The lens and the omnidirectional illumination device according to the present disclosure have the advantages of low manufacturing cost, simple manufacturing process, uniform light distribution, and omnidirectional illumination.

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an SSL replacement lamp in the related art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rotationally symmetrical graph which is rotated so as to form rotationally symmetrical lens according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a complete sectional profile according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a first 3D view according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a second 3D view according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a first light distribution schematic diagram of the emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a second light distribution schematic diagram of the emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a light distribution curve of the emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure; and

FIGS. 10-12 are schematic diagrams according to the first embodiment of the omnidirectional illumination device of the present disclosure.

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawing that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a rotationally symmetrical graph which is rotated so as to form rotationally symmetrical lens according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. The lens 10 according to the present disclosure is designed to be rotationally symmetrical. Thus, FIG. 2 illustrates a rotationally symmetrical graph which is rotated so as to form rotationally symmetrical lens, viz. illustrates a diagram of a cross-sectional profile of the lens in one quadrant. The rotationally symmetrical graphic comprises a top edge, a bottom edge and side edges connecting the top edge with the bottom edge. After being rotated, the top edge, the bottom edge and side edges form a top surface of the lens 10 , a bottom surface of the lens 10 , and side surfaces of the lens 10 connecting the top surface with the bottom surface.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a complete sectional profile according to the first embodiment of the lens 10 of the present disclosure. The diagram of a complete sectional profile of the lens 10 obtained after rotation can be seen from the figure. In conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 , it can be seen that, in the present embodiment, the top surface comprises, from the center to the edge, a first refractive surface 2 and a first reflective surface 3 , and side surfaces comprise a second refractive surface 4 and a third refractive surface 5 . The second refractive surface 4 is connected with the first reflective surface 3 , and the third light refractive surface 5 is connected with the bottom surface. The second refractive surface 4 and the third light refractive surface 5 can be connected directly or can be connected by a surface.

As can be seen from FIG. 2 , the light going through the light incident surface 1 is divided into three portions, viz. a first portion A 1 , a second portion A 2 , and a third portion A 3 . The first portion A 1 corresponds to the first refractive surface 2 , and the first refractive surface 2 is used for refracting the first portion A 1 . The second portion A 2 corresponds to the first reflective surface 3 and the second refractive surface 4 , and the second portion A 2 of the light going through the light incident surface 1 emits to the first reflective surface 3 , and is reflected by the first reflective surface 3 to the second refractive surface 4 , and then emerges after being refracted by the second refractive surface 4 . The third portion A 3 corresponds to the third light refractive surface 5 , and the third light refractive surface 5 is used for refracting the third portion A 3 .

As can be seen from FIG. 3 , the bottom surface of the lens 10 is partially curved to form a light incident surface 1 for a light source. The bottom surface comprises a concave light incident surface 1 in the center, and a planar supporting base surface at the edge and surrounding the light incident surface 1 . The light incident surface 1 forms an accommodation cavity for a light source. The light going through the light incident surface 1 produces three portions of light as mentioned above, viz. a first portion A 1 , a second portion A 2 , and a third portion A 3 . In order to try not to change the direction of the light from the light source, the light incident surface is an arc surface in a cross section. In the present embodiment, the light incident surface is a semicircular surface in a cross section.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure. As can be seen from the figure, the emergent light includes three portions, viz. first emergent light B 1 , second emergent light B 2 , and third emergent light B 3 . The three portions of emergent light B 1 , B 2 and B 3 respectively correspond to the three portions of the light going through the light incident surface 1 , viz. the first portion A 1 , the second portion A 2 , and the third portion A 3 . The first portion A 1 produces the first emergent light B 1 , and the first emergent light B 1 is forward illumination, that is illumination on the top portion in the first quadrant. The second portion A 2 produces the second emergent light B 2 , and second emergent light B 2 is backward illumination partially covering the first quadrant and the fourth quadrant. The third portion A 3 produces the third emergent light B 3 , and the third emergent light B 3 is backward illumination at the sides. FIG. 4 merely illustrates a schematic diagram of emergent light in one quadrant. As the lens according to the present disclosure is rotationally symmetrical, better illumination is finally achieved through overlapping of emergent light in a circumferential direction of the lens.

In conjunction with FIG. 2 and FIG. 4 , it can be seen that, in order to achieve the above emergent light, the second refractive surface 4 has inclined profile, starting from the first reflective surface 3 and extending towards the symmetrical axis of the lens, so as to form an acute angle with the first reflective surface 3 . According to different requirements of light distribution, different first reflective surfaces 3 and different second refractive surfaces 4 can be designed, such that all of the light rays from the first reflective surfaces 3 emerge from the second refractive surface 4 . According to the present embodiment, the first reflective surface 3 is designed to be planar. The first refractive surface 2 and the third light refractive surface 5 are respectively a spline curve in a cross section.

According to the second embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure which is not shown, the first reflective surface 3 is designed to be an inclined surface.

Likewise, the third light refractive surface 5 is connected with a planar portion of the bottom surface, viz. a supporting base surface, and has an inclined profile, starting from the supporting base surface and extending towards the symmetrical axis of the lens, so as to form an acute angle with the supporting base surface. The third light refractive surface 5 extends to a boundary of the second portion A 2 of the light incident upon the first reflective surface 3 .

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 are respectively first and second 3D views according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure. The lens 10 according to the present disclosure comprises two portions, viz. a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is a first spherical crown formed by the rotation of the third light refractive surface 5 and the bottom surface, and the second portion is a second spherical crown formed by the rotation of the first refractive surface 2 , the first reflective surface 3 and the second refractive surface 4 .

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 are first and second light distribution schematic diagrams of the emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure. As can be seen from the figures, the lens 10 according to the present disclosure substantially achieves omnidirectional illumination.

FIG. 9 is a light distribution diagram of the emergent light according to the first embodiment of the lens of the present disclosure, wherein the luminous intensity is uniform in the range of −140° to 140°.

FIGS. 10-12 are schematic diagrams according to the first embodiment of the omnidirectional illumination device 100 of the present disclosure. The omnidirectional illumination device 100 is a retrofit lamp comprising a lamp housing body supporting an LED light source and an electrical connecting portion 12 , an external surface of the lamp housing body being provided with heat dissipating fins 11 . The lens 10 accommodates the LED light source, and the lens 10 can be designed to have different sizes according to the size of the LED light source and occupies small space, which, thereby, leaves large space for arranging the heat dissipating fins 11 .

While the disclosed embodiments have been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosed embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

10 lens

100 omnidirectional illumination device

1 light incident surface

2 first refractive surface

3 first reflective surface

4 second refractive surface

5 third light refractive surface

A 1 first portion

A 2 second portion

A 3 third portion

B 1 first emergent light

B 2 second emergent light

B 3 third emergent light