[0001] This invention relates to a high-performance lighting fixture with optimum light
distribution which can be installed on the ceiling and on the wall.
[0002] More specifically, the invention refers to an innovative lighting apparatus, which
uses power led light sources and which can be utilized for the simple lighting or
for the emergency lighting, which includes at least one composite surface reflector,
suitable to define an optics such as to assure the optimal distribution of the light,
both in the case the fixture is wall installed, and in the case the fixture itself
is ceiling installed.
[0003] A lighting apparatus of this type boasts an important content of lighting engineering
and a remarkable aesthetic content.
[0004] A proper lighting has to guarantee, in the field of vision, high sufficiently and
rationally distributed luminance to allow the perception of the important areas, as
well as of the details, and minimise any form of dazzling.
[0005] In particular, the emergency lighting apparatus has to assure a sufficiently intense
and concentrated luminous flux to make it possible to identify easily and quickly
the way out, specially in case of danger. Luminance is defined as the ratio between
the intensity of a light source in a given direction, and its apparent surface seen
from the same direction; its value depends on the illumination, the reflection characteristics
of the surfaces and the directions of lighting and observation.
[0006] Due to the dependence on the mentioned factors, the luminance is extremely difficult
to calculate so, in practice, in the design of a lighting fixture, normally they always
refer to the illumination.
[0007] The illumination in a point of a surface is defined as the ratio between the luminous
flux which affects an element of the surface around the point and the surface of the
element itself; therefore, the illumination can be easily envisaged and measured (by
means of a luxmeter or an illuminometer), so it can be conveniently and simply used
to deal with technical issues, such as for example the design of a lighting fixture.
[0008] The performance of a lighting apparatus, particularly an emergency lamp, are usually
assessed by assigning a given illumination on a work or use top, consisted, by convention,
of a horizontal plane placed at a certain distance from the floor; when the light
reaches such a work top directly from the light source (at least 90% of the luminous
flux), it is said that there's direct illumination, while, instead, when the light
reaches the work top after being reflected from the walls and/or ceiling of the premises
for several times too (at least 90% of the luminous flux), it is said there's indirect
lighting. Of course, there a lot of intermediate cases where the luminous flux reaches
the work top in direct and indirect percentages, which present intermediate values
with respect to those cited above.
[0009] Apparatus for the direct lighting are widely utilized for the artificial lighting
of buildings for civilian and industrial use, both as a main source of light, and
as an emergency or safety source.
[0010] Such lighting apparatus include usually a hollow body in which a light source, such
as a fluorescent tube, can be accommodated, connecting it to terminals which allow
the power supply; the body is closed by transparent protective screens associable
in a removable way in order to always permit the access to the light source and the
terminals.
[0011] The lighting apparatus of the known type, in particular the emergency ones, currently
have an illumination distribution on the work top not very uniform and substantially
unhomogeneous, even in relation to the relative position assumed by an observer with
respect to the light source; moreover, the illumination is relatively concentrated
and little intense, so it is not possible, in practice, to obtain an acceptable compromise
between the intensity of the luminous flux and the concentration of the beam, important
parameters in case an emergency situation occurs in the civil and work environments
and it is necessary to resort to the lighting of the same with substitutive fluorescent
lamps.
[0012] Finally, the performance of lighting apparatus of the known type depend on the positioning
of the light source used, and, thus, from the positioning of the apparatus itself;
consequently, the design of a lighting apparatus, suitable to realize an optimal distribution
of light in case the cited apparatus is wall installed, does not provide the same
performance in case the same apparatus is ceiling installed, and vice versa, forcing
the designer to realize at least two different optics to carry out the desired installations.
[0013] Therefore, an aim of the present invention is to overcome the abovementioned disadvantages
and, in particular, to realize a high-performance lighting fixture with optimum light
distribution, which allows to achieve an illumination uniform and concentrated and
intense enough at the same time, both in the case the fixture is ceiling installed
and in the case such fixture is wall installed.
[0014] Another aim of the present invention is to create a high-performance lighting fixture
with optimum light distribution, which is fixable to ceiling and to wall which allows
to obtain, in any case, a desired illumination distribution and a considerable optics
efficiency.
[0015] Another aim of the present invention is to realize a high-performance lighting fixture
with optimum light distribution, which is fixable to ceiling and to wall, which, besides
boasting an important illuminating-engineered content, as previously indicated, is
strongly distinguished under the aesthetical point of view, both with the light source
on and with the light source off.
[0016] These and other aims, according to the present invention, are achieved by realizing
a high-performance lighting fixture with optimum light distribution, which can be
installed in the ceiling and wall, according to the attached claim 1; further technical
features are contained in the subsequent dependent claims.
[0017] Advantageously, the reflecting surface adopted in accordance with the present invention
allows to illuminate very wide areas, assuring in any case a substantially uniform
illumination on the work top, whether the lighting fixture is wall installed, or the
same is wall installed; furthermore, it allows to obtain relatively concentrated light
fluxes in a front direction of the diffusive screen.
[0018] Additional features and advantages of a high-performance lighting fixture with optimum
light distribution which is fixable to ceiling and wall, according to the present
invention, will be more apparent from the following description of a preferred, illustrative
but not limiting, embodiment referred to the appended schematic drawings in which:
- figure 1 is a front view of a high performance lighting fixture with optimum light
distribution which can be wall installed, according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a front view of a high performance lighting fixture with optimum light
distribution, which can be ceiling installed, according to the present invention;
- figure 3 is a front view of the lighting fixture according to the present invention,
in which a rapid way of positioning of the reflector for the desired installation
of the fixture is shown;
- figure 4 is a schematic view of the reflectors placement of the lighting fixture of
figure 1, in wall installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 5 is a schematic view of the reflectors placement of the lighting fixture of
figure 2, in ceiling installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 6 shows schematically the resulting photometric solid of the lighting fixture
of figure 1, in wall installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 7 shows schematically the resulting photometric solid of the lighting fixture
of figure 2, in ceiling installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 8 shows the schematic polar chart of the lighting fixture of figure 1, in wall
installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 9 shows the schematic polar chart of the lighting fixture of figure 2, in ceiling
installation condition, according to the present invention;
- figure 10 shows schematically the profile of each reflectors used in the lighting
fixture, according to the present invention, which reports the position of the light
source and the relative virtual sources.
[0019] With particular reference to the mentioned figures, the lighting fixture 10, according
to the present invention, utilizes as light sources, in particular, power LEDs 11,
placed properly on at least one surface of each reflector 12 used in the fixture 10.
[0020] This in order to achieve an optics of limited thickness and a reduced luminous surface
of the lighting fixture 10.
[0021] The considerable and optimal lighting performance of the fixture 10 are obtained
through a composite surfaces reflectors 12, so as to define an optics which produces
a photometric solid so called universal, suitable to produce a proper illumination
by the fixture 10, similarly, for ceiling and wall installations thereof.
[0022] In particular, such performance are achieved simply by extracting and turning each
support 13 of the respective reflector 12 mounted on the fixture 10 with a given angle
(as shown in detail in figure 3), in order to accomplish in such a way an asymmetrical
optics for the wall installation of the fixture 10 (figure 4, where the light sources
11 are placed on the same plane and the reflectors 12 are one at the side of the other)
and a symmetric optics for the ceiling installation of the fixture 10 (figure 5, where
the light sources 11 are one opposed the other and the reflectors 12 are symmetrically
positioned one each other).
[0023] As mentioned, each reflector 12 of the lighting fixture 10 according the invention
presents a composite surface, whose profile is obtained as follows.
[0024] Assume that each light source 11, whether punctiform or lambertian, placed on at
least one of the surfaces of each reflector 12 and in particular consisted of at least
one power LED, with the axis of maximum light intensity parallel to the plane of installation
of the fixture 10 (wall or ceiling).
[0025] In the figures 6-9 are depicted the photometric solids and the polar charts of the
light intensity of aforesaid source 11, in both cases of the installation of the fixture
10, at wall and at ceiling respectively.
[0026] The profile of each reflector 12 (as shown in detail in figure 10) consists of at
least three segments A, B, C straight line, joined at the vertexes D, E, in order
to form a continuous interrupted line.
[0027] The mirror-like segments A, B, C, included among the lines indicated by F, G, H,
L, M, N in figure 10, act as planes of symmetry, each of which generates a correspondent
virtual source P, R, S ; each virtual source P, R, S presents its polar chart of luminous
intensity (visible in detail in figure 10).
[0028] Only the part of this chart contained among the straight lines F, G, H, L, M, N,
which join each respective virtual source P, R, S and the edges of the output pupil
of the reflector 12 is considered, as corresponding to the light which comes out of
the reflector 12 after having undergone only one reflection.
[0029] By adding the intensity of the polar charts of the virtual sources, P, R, S and of
the real source 11 and exclusively considering the directions according to which the
light comes out of the reflector 12 undergoing a single reflection, the polar charts
of the optical system are obtained, both in the case the fixture 10 is wall installed
(figure 8) and ceiling installed (figure 9), which disclose a total efficiency of
the optics of about 87% for both the installations.
[0030] An iterative procedure realizes a configuration of the interrupted line, constituent
the profile of each reflector 12, which produces a photometric solid sufficiently
similar to the desired ideal solid.
[0031] Such a configuration consists, as said, on at least three segments A, B, C, which
define:
- a first angle α, underlying the vertical T and the first segment A, which is greater
than 90° and, in particular, included between 93° and 113° and, preferably, equal
to 103°,
- a second angle β, underlying the first segment A and the second segment B, which is
include between 139° and 159° and, preferably, equal to 149°, and
- a third corner γ, underlying the second segment B and the third segment C, which is
included between 143° and 163° and, preferably, equal to 153°.
[0032] Finally, the distance between the points V (end of the segment A opposed to D) and
W (located at the same level of the point Z, end of the segment C opposed to E) of
the vertical T is equal to about 24 mm and, more in general, is included between 23
mm and 24 mm, while the distance between points W and Z is approximately 67 mm and,
more in general, is included between 65 mm and 70 mm.
[0033] A lighting fixture 10 which can be used, particularly, for emergency lighting, shaped
as previously described, boasts an important content of lighting engineering and a
remarkable aesthetic content.
[0034] From the technical point of view, it is marked out by one or more reflectors 12,
each having a composite surface, conferred by the union of shaped interrupted surfaces,
which allows to obtain the desired illumination distribution, similarly for wall installations
and ceiling installations of the fixture 10, although in the absence of facilities
specifically dedicated to obtain the distribution itself.
[0035] Moreover, using any type of installation and having only the attention to rotate
properly at least one of the reflectors 12 (as shown in figure 3), passing from a
wall installation to a ceiling installation or vice versa, the distribution of the
illumination is advantageously devoid of alternating zones of light and dark and/or
of sudden illumination variations.
[0036] As far as the aesthetic point of view is concerned, each reflector 12 is deeply marked
out, both with the relative light source 11 (power LED) on and with the light source
11 off, since the reflections coming from the interrupted surfaces of the reflector
12 produce, through direct observation, a mosaic of miniaturized repeated images.
[0037] Practically, it was noticed that the lighting fixture 10, according to the present
invention, is particularly advantageous for the great uniformity and area of lighting
which it allows to get; furthermore, the particular interrupted profile of the reflector
12 permits to get controlled photometric performance, both in the case the fixture
10 is wall installed, and in the case the fixture 10 is ceiling installed, and, thus,
it also constitutes a reliable and versatile product for the emergency lighting.
[0038] Finally, it is clear that many other variations can be made to the high-performance
lighting fixture with optimum light distribution, object of the present invention,
without for this reason going out of the novelty principles inherent of the inventive
idea, as it is clear that, in the practical implementation of the invention, materials,
shapes and sizes of the illustrated details could be any depending on the needs and
the same could be replaced with others technically equivalent.
[0039] In particular, as previously shown yet, the lighting fixture thus realized can be
used similarly both for the punctual lighting of the environments, and for the emergency
lighting, and it can be equally applied to walls or ceilings, with the orientation
of the light beam both on the longitudinal plane and on the transversal one; such
lighting fixture can also be planned for suspension or electrified bar installation,
thanks to the high illumination level which can develop towards the ground also from
considerable heights.
1. High-performance lighting fixture with optimum light distribution, which is fixable
to ceiling and wall, of the type comprising at least one light source (11), suitable
to spread the light through at least one diffuser, characterized in that the light source (11) is placed on at least one of the surfaces of at least one reflector
(12), made with a composite surface and whose profile consists of at least three segments
of straight line (A, B, C), joined at the vertexes (D, E), in order to form a continuous
interrupted line, so as to define an optics suitable to produce a photometric solid
which gives rise to high performance of the lighting fixture (10) and an optimal distribution
of the light, both in the case the lighting fixture (10) is wall installed, and in
the case it is ceiling installed.
2. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that the light source (11) includes at least one power LED.
3. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that each reflector (12) of the lighting fixture (10) is placed on at least a removable
support (13) which can be placed in at least two different positions, reciprocally
spaced of a given angle, in order to achieve an asymmetrical optics, according to
which at least two reflectors (12) of the fixture (10) are one at the side of the
other, for wall installation of the fixture (10), or a symmetrical optics, according
to which at least two reflectors (12) of the fixture (10) are symmetrically positioned
one each other and at least two light sources (11), each of which placed on a respective
reflector (12), one opposed the other, for the ceiling installation of the fixture
(10).
4. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that each light source (11), placed on at least one of the surfaces of each reflector
(12) and consisted in particular of at least one power LED, is provided with at least
one axis of maximum light intensity parallel to the installation plane of the lighting
fixture (10).
5. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that the segments mirror-like to said three segments of straight line (A, B, C) act as
symmetry planes, each of which generates at least one respective virtual source (P,
R, S) with associated at least one respective polar chart of the luminous intensity,
at least a portion of said chart being considered, said portion corresponding to the
light which comes out of said reflector (12) after having undergone a single reflection.
6. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that said profile of each reflector (12) is realized in such a way as to produce a photometric
solid similar to a predetermined ideal solid.
7. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that said three segments (A, B, C) of the profile of each reflector (12) define at least
three respective angles greater than 90°.
8. Fixture (10) as claim 7, characterized in that a first angle (α), defined by at least one vertical (T) and at least one (A) of said
three segments (A, B, C) is included between 93 ° and 113° and, preferably, is equal
to 103°.
9. Fixture (10) as claim 7, characterized in that a second angle (β), defined by at least two (A, B) of said three segments (A, B,
C) is included between 139° and 159° and, preferably, is equal to 149°.
10. Fixture (10) as claim 7, characterized in that a third angle (γ), defined by at least two (B, C) of said three segments (A, B, C)
is included between 143° and 163° and, preferably, is equal to 153°.
11. Fixture (10) as claim 1, characterized in that it can be used similarly for the punctual lighting of the environments, and for the
emergency lighting, and it can be applied to walls, ceilings or electrified bars,
with orientation of the light beam both on the longitudinal plane and on the transversal
plane.