BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp forming a light
distribution mode of an approximate parallel optical array by using lens condensing,
and a street lamp using the same, which belongs to the field of lighting technology.
[0002] In the wide areas of outdoor roads and squares, conventional lighting lamps are high-pressure
sodium lamps or metal halide lamps. The high-pressure sodium lamps or metal halide
lamps have a luminous efficiency of 60-80 lm/W, and have a service life of about 6000
hours (h). Currently, the LED lamps have a luminous efficiency of 100-120 lm/W, and
have a service life of up to over 25000 h, and do not contain hazardous metal mercury.
With the development of semiconductor technologies, such performance of the lamps
has been increasingly enhanced. Thus, in recent years, energy-saving and environment-friendly
LED lighting lamps have gradually become popular in the market.
[0003] The existing LED lighting lamps mainly have two implementations: one is placing an
LED light source (briefly referred to as LED) within a conventional lamp; the other
is laying out LEDs uniformly, and using a partial reflector or a partial lens for
controlling the light. Unfortunately, the above two implementations still cannot overcome
the defects of the conventional lighting lamps as follows. Firstly, the directivity
of the illumination is poor. The regionality of the illumination is not obvious, that
is to say, the lamp illuminates undesirable regions. Thus, in the case of providing
the same luminous flux, the brightness of the region requiring the illumination is
decreased. Secondly, the brightness is non-uniform, which results in a phenomenon
of being bright at a close area and being dark at a distant area. As a result, the
luminance of the distance area cannot reach the standard level, or the luminance of
the close area is far beyond the standard level. Due to the non-uniform distribution
of the illumination, a light source with a higher power and a higher luminous flux
has to be adopted in design, so as to enable dark areas at both sides of the road
and between two lamps reach the lighting standard level, thereby meeting the luminance
requirements of the dark areas, which results in wastes of electric energy. Thirdly,
the glare phenomenon cannot be eliminated. The so-called glare phenomenon refers to
that when people observe a certain visual object, a dazzling light-emitting spot existing
in the visual field may affect the observing effect, which makes people feel uncomfortable.
Fourthly, the heat-dissipation problem is not well solved. Currently, about more than
80% of the energy consumption of the LEDs is converted into heat energy, and the semiconductor
elements are not high temperature resistant. A lot of LEDs are concentrated in a relative
small space, and the continuously increased heat makes the temperature of the LED
chip become excessively high. If the generated heat energy cannot be dissipated timely,
the luminous efficiency and the service life of the LED may be severely decreased
under a high temperature. In most of the existing LED lamps, radiators are disposed
horizontally, which have a poor heat convection effect.
[0004] The basic reasons for causing the above defects include that, the prior art cannot
make full use of the light directionality of LEDs, cannot effectively and reasonably
control the light rays generated by the LEDs, and cannot effectively dissipate the
heats for the LED lamps.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an LED lamp forming a light distribution
mode of an approximate parallel optical array by using lenses, which has excellent
directivity of illumination and uniform brightness.
[0006] The present invention is further directed to a street lamp using the LED lamp.
[0007] In order to achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following
technical solutions.
[0008] An LED lamp forming a light distribution mode of an approximate parallel optical
array by using lenses is provided, which includes substrates for mounting LEDs, reflectors,
a power source, and a top cover.
[0009] A condenser lens is mounted in front of each of the LEDs, and the condenser lenses
are used for converging beam angles of the LEDs.
[0010] The plurality of LEDs is arranged in a matrix to form the approximate parallel optical
array.
[0011] The reflectors each have a curved surface for performing reflection and light controlling
on light rays reflected and controlled by a curved wall.
[0012] The LED lamp further includes radiators, and each of the radiators has a plurality
of heat dissipation fins arranged in a horizontal direction, in which the heat dissipation
fins extend along a direction perpendicular to the ground surface.
[0013] The substrates and the reflectors are mounted on the radiators.
[0014] Two substrates, two reflectors, and two radiators exist, which are symmetrically
mounted on two sides of the LED lamp, and the radiators are mounted at an outer side,
the substrates are mounted in the middle, and the reflectors are mounted at an inner
side.
[0015] The curved surface of each of the reflectors has a vertical curvature for reflecting
light rays from a plurality of LEDs along a vertical direction into a first predetermined
range, and in the first predetermined range, a ratio of the number of LEDs distributed
in each position to the number of LEDs along the vertical direction is in direct proportion
to a square of a distance from the position to the LED.
[0016] The curved surface of each of the reflectors has a horizontal curvature for reflecting
light rays from a plurality of LEDs along a horizontal direction into a second predetermined
range, and in the second predetermined range, a ratio of the number of LEDs distributed
in each position to the number of LEDs along the horizontal direction is in direct
proportion to a square of a distance from the position to the LED.
[0017] A street lamp is further provided, and the street lamp uses the LED lamp as defined
above.
[0018] The LED lamp provided in the present invention has excellent directivity of illumination,
uniform brightness, can eliminate the glare phenomenon, and has desirable heat dissipation
performance. In addition, the LED lamp has various advantages of a simple structure,
being conveniently mounted, energy-saving, environmental friendly, and so on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0019] The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification,
illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a street lamp using an LED lamp according to the present
invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic structural view of an LED lamp according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a schematic structural view of a condenser lens of the LED lamp shown in
FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a parallel optical array formed by a plurality of LEDs
and the condenser lenses.
FIG. 5 is an enlarged schematic structural view of a reflector of the LED lamp shown
in FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, an LED lamp provided in the present invention is mounted on a
street lamp with a height of H meters (m) (H is a natural number, which is the same
below), for road lighting. It should be understood that, the LED lamp of the present
invention may also be mounted in other indoor or outdoor lighting devices, for example,
court lamps, square lamps, or landscape lamps. The street lamp is taken as an example
below for demonstrating the structure of the LED lamp provided according to the present
invention.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 1, a lighting range of each street lamp is a range having a length
of 3.0H m along a length direction of the road (that is, an initial position is a
line segment e, and a terminating position is a line segment f) and having a length
of 1H m along a width direction (that is, an initial position is a line segment g,
and a terminating position is a line segment h) with the street lamp as a center.
The LED lamp is symmetric at left and right sides along the length direction of the
road, so that the left side part of the street lamp is omitted here, and merely the
right side part of the street lamp is discussed, that is, the range being 1.5H m long
and 1H m wide on the right side of the street lamp along the length direction of the
road. The attenuation of light rays is in direct proportion to a square of an illumination
distance. Under the same illumination intensity, the farther away from the center
of the light source of the street lamp, the smaller the brightness will be. It is
assumed that a brightness of a near point A (which seems to be approximately the location
of the street lamp) right under the LED lamp is 1 unit, so that a far point B 1.5H
m away from the street lamp has a brightness of about 0.33 units. In order to enable
the Point A and the Point B to have the same brightness, the luminous flux (illumination
intensity) three times as much as that of the near point A is required at the far
point B. Similarly, the illumination intensity of any point within the lighting range
of the LED lamp can be acquired. In order to realize the uniform distribution of the
illumination intensity within the lighting range, the light rays with the illumination
intensity needs to be distributed on the light source, that is, the LED lamp, according
to the lighting distance, and the light rays are reflected to the designated regions
along a certain direction, so that the light rays are effectively controlled to be
uniformly emitted to the required regions.
[0022] In order to meet the above requirements, the LED lamp of the present invention changes
the divergence angle of the light source to form an approximate parallel optical array
through performing condensing for a first time with a lens, and then realizes the
required light controlling effects through performing reflection light controlling
for a second time according to the directionality of the LED.
[0023] Referring to FIGs. 2 to 5, the LED lamp of the present invention is further described
below in detail.
[0024] Referring to FIG. 2, the LED lamp of the present invention includes substrates 1,
reflectors 2, radiators 3, a mounting frame 4, a power source 5, and a top cover 6.
The substrates 1 further include a plurality of condenser lenses 11, and the mounting
frame 4 further includes a front caulking 41, a retaining plate 42, and a rear caulking
43.
[0025] Referring to FIG. 3, a plurality of LEDs 10 is arranged on a substrate 1, and each
LED 10 has a condenser lens 11 mounted on a front end thereof. The condenser lens
11 is preferably a cone-shaped or cup-shaped catadioptric lens, which is capable of
performing transmission condensing right ahead, and a conical surface may collect
all the side light and reflect the side light out, such that the overlapping of the
two kinds of light (having the same angle) may obtain the perfect light ray utilization
and desired light spot effect. The use of the condenser lens 11 may converge light
emitting angles of the LED light sources, for example, a beam angle of an LED light
source is about 120 degrees, and after passing through the condenser lens 11, the
beam angle may be converged to about 10 degrees.
[0026] In practice, the condenser lens 11 may be made of silica gel, optical grade polymethylmethacrylate
(PMMA), optical grade polycarbonate (PC), and glass. Taking the outdoor street lamp
being irradiated by ultraviolet radiation, light transmittance, and easy production
into consideration, the condenser lens 11 is preferably made of optical grade PC.
However, other materials are also available according to actual demands.
[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, in order to make the LED lamp to generate parallel light with
preferred directivity, a plurality of LEDs 10 may be arranged in a matrix to form
a parallel optical array. By using this parallel optical array, diverging light having
large angle may be irradiated to the reflector 2 in a light distribution mode approximate
to parallel light, and then the reflector 2 performs precise light controlling.
[0028] Each of the reflectors 2 has a box-like overall shape, and has certain rigidity and
stability itself. The reflector 2 includes a curved surface 21, a positioning mounting
hole 22, and a light exit opening 23 for emitting the light rays, after being reflected
by the reflector 2, to the exterior. The positioning mounting hole 22 and the light
exit opening 23 are respectively located at two sides of the curved surface 21. The
positioning mounting hole 22 is disposed at an edge of the reflector 2, and is used
for directly connecting to the substrate 1, so as to effectively ensure the position
precision of the substrate 1, thereby ensuring that the position on the reflector
2 where the light emitted from the LED 10 reaches does not bias.
[0029] The curvature of the curved surface 21 is determined according to the required lighting
range and light control requirements on the uniform illumination for the LED lamp.
Specifically, the curved surface 21 has a vertical curvature for reflecting light
rays emitted by M LEDs along a quasi-vertical direction into a range from the near
point A in the length direction of the road to the far point B in the length direction
of the road, in which a ratio of the number of LEDs distributed to each position corresponding
to the length direction of the road to the total number (that is, M) of LEDs along
the quasi-vertical direction is in direct proportion to a square of a distance from
the position to the LED. Similarly, the curved surface 21 has a horizontal curvature
for reflecting light rays emitted by N LEDs along a quasi-horizontal direction into
a range from a near point C in the width direction of the road to a far point D in
the width direction of the road, in which a ratio of the number of LEDs distributed
to each position corresponding to the width direction of the road to the total number
(that is, N) of LEDs in the quasi-horizontal direction is in direct proportion to
a square of a distance from the position to the LED. The above vertical curvature
and horizontal curvature may be acquired through calculations according to the fundamental
principle in the geometrical optics, which will not be further described here in detail.
M and N are natural numbers, and the magnitudes of M and N are required to meet the
light control precision requirements and the brightness requirements.
[0030] Taking FIG. 5 for example, it is assumed that the LED lamp needs to illuminate the
range from the Point A to the Point B, and the reflector 2 needs to reflect light
rays emitted by 4n LEDs (n is a natural number, which is the same below) connected
in series. As mentioned above, in order to enable the Point A and the Point B to have
the same brightness, the illumination intensity three times as much as that of the
near point A is required at the far point B. Thus, the curved surface 21 reflects
light rays emitted by the highest n LEDs to the Point A, and reflects light rays emitted
by the other 3n LEDs to the Point B. Therefore, in one aspect, the light rays are
ensured to cover the whole region from the Point A to the Point B, without illuminating
any other undesirable region, thereby ensuring the desirable directionality of illumination;
in another aspect, it is ensured that the illumination intensity at the Point B is
the same as that of the Point A, that is, the brightness is uniform across the whole
lighting range.
[0031] Each of the radiators 3 also achieves a supporting function. Each of the radiators
3 has a plurality of heat dissipation fins 31 arranged in a horizontal direction.
The heat dissipation fins 31 extend along a direction perpendicular to the ground
surface. After the air surrounding the radiator 3 is heated, the density of the air
is reduced, so that the air rises upwards. The heat dissipation fins 31 in the radiator
3 are arranged along a direction consistent with the rising direction of the hot air,
so that the circulating path is short, the heat convection is fast, and the heat dissipation
efficiency is quite high.
[0032] The front caulking 41 on the mounting frame 4 is used for mounting the retaining
plate 42, as well as for decoration. The retaining plate 42 is used for mounting the
power source 5. The rear caulking 43 achieves a supporting function. In one aspect,
the rear caulking 43 is used for cooperating with the front caulking 41 to mount the
retaining plate 42, and in another aspect, the rear caulking 43 is used for mounting
two reflecting enclosure members (further described later) symmetric on the left and
right sides through the radiator 3. The LED lamp is mounted on a lamp post through
a lamp post connecting mechanism on the rear caulking 43.
[0033] In the LED lamp of the present invention, the condenser lenses 11 are mounted at
the front end of the LEDs 10, the substrates 1 and the condenser lenses 11 are mounted
on the radiators 3, which are then assembled into the reflecting enclosure members
together with the reflectors 2 and light transmissive plates. The two reflective enclosure
members are symmetrically mounted on the rear caulking 43 through their respective
radiators. The front caulking is mounted on the two radiators symmetric on the left
and right sides through mounting holes at two sides thereof respectively. The retaining
plate 42 is mounted on the front caulking and the rear caulking. That is, two substrates
1, two reflectors 2, and two radiators 3 exist, which are symmetrically mounted on
the rear caulking 43 through the radiators. The substrates 1 are mounted at an outer
side of the reflectors 2, and the radiators 3 are mounted at an outer side of the
substrates 1. The power source 5 is configured at a middle position above the retaining
plate 42, and the top cover 6 covers the power source 5. Through the above design
solution, the LED lamp of the present invention has a simple overall structure and
a reasonable heat dissipation structure, and further has a circular-arc-shaped external
appearance transition, which thus has a small windward surface, thereby being more
reasonable during the application in the actual environment.
[0034] The working principles of the reflectors 2 are further described below.
[0035] The light from the condenser lens 11 is completely emitted to the whole reflection
curved surface of the reflector 2, thereby realizing accurate light control effects.
As shown in FIG. 5, the light rays emitted by the highest LEDs are condensed by the
condenser lens 11, and are emitted to the curved surface 21 of the reflector 2. It
is assumed that the luminous flux of each LED is A. The light rays from n LEDs are
reflected by the corresponding regions on the reflector 2 and then reach the Point
A (a distance to the LED is H), and the illumination intensity is k.nA/H
2 (k is a proportion coefficient). The light rays from 3n LEDs are reflected by the
corresponding regions on the reflector, and then reach the Point B (a distance to
the LED is 1.5H), and the illumination intensity is k.(3nA)/[H
2+(1.5H)
2]≈k.nA/H
2. Thus, the light intensity at the Point A and the Point B are the same. Similarly,
the number of LEDs is distributed between the Point A and the Point B according to
the above principle, so as to ensure the same light intensity at any position along
the AB direction (a length direction of the road). Similarly, the same light intensity
can be ensured at any position in the width direction of the road, thereby achieving
the uniform illumination effects in a certain region.
[0036] Since no direct illumination of the light and no dramatic change of the brightness
occurs, and the light control angle design of the reflectors 2 is utilized, the LED
lamp of the present invention eliminates the unreasonable glare phenomenon, and satisfies
the requirements of the using effects in the illumination environment, thereby having
wide application prospects in the indoor and outdoor lighting.
[0037] The LED lamp forming a light distribution mode of an approximate parallel optical
array by using lenses according to the present invention has been described above
in detail. Any person skilled in the art who makes obvious modification on the present
invention without departing from the substantial sprints of the present invention
may be construed as infringing the patent rights of the present invention patent,
so as to undertake the corresponding legal responsibility.
1. A light-emitting diode (LED) lamp forming a light distribution mode of an approximate
parallel optical array by using lenses, comprising: substrates (1) for mounting LEDs,
reflectors (2), a power source (5), and a top cover (6), characterized in that
a condenser lens (11) is mounted at a front end of each of the LEDs, and the condenser
lenses (11) are used for converging beam angles of the LEDs;
the plurality of LEDs is arranged in a matrix to form an approximate parallel optical
array; and
the reflectors (2) each have a curved surface (21) for performing reflection and light
controlling on light rays reflected and controlled by a curved wall.
2. The LED lamp as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the LED lamp further comprises radiators (3), each of the radiators (3) has a plurality
of heat dissipation fins (31) arranged in a horizontal direction, and the heat dissipation
fins (31) extend along a direction perpendicular to a ground surface.
3. The LED lamp as defined in claim 2, characterized in that the substrates (1) and the reflectors (2) are mounted on the radiators (3).
4. The LED lamp as defined in claim 3, characterized in that two substrates (1), two reflectors (2), and two radiators (3) exist; the substrates
(1), the reflectors (2), and the radiators (3) are symmetrically mounted on two sides
of the LED lamp; and the radiators (3) are mounted at an outer side, the substrates
(1) are mounted in the middle, and the reflectors (2) are mounted at an inner side.
5. The LED lamp as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the curved surface (21) of each of the reflectors (2) has a vertical curvature for
reflecting light rays from a plurality of LEDs along a vertical direction into a first
predetermined range, and in the first predetermined range, a ratio of a number of
LEDs distributed in each position to a number of the LEDs along the vertical direction
is in direct proportion to a square of a distance from the position to the LED.
6. The LED lamp as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the curved surface (21) of each of the reflectors (2) has a horizontal curvature
for reflecting light rays from a plurality of LEDs along a horizontal direction into
a second predetermined range, and in the second predetermined range, a ratio of a
number of LEDs distributed in each position to a number of the LEDs along the horizontal
direction is in direct proportion to a square of a distance from the position to the
LED.
7. A street lamp, characterized in that the street lamp uses the LED lamp as defined in claim 1.