VARIABLE LIGHT EMISSION LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

 A variable light emission modular lighting system (1), comprising at least one base element (2) comprising a support structure (3) and a lighting body (4), supported by the structure (3) and provided with a plurality of elementary light sources (5) defining respective modules of the system (1); and a control unit (13) operating on the elementary light sources (5); the control unit (13) controls individually each elementary light source (5) so as to selectively operate at least one operation parameter of each elementary light source (5).

Description

CLAIM TO PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application no. 102017000035933 filed on 31 March 2017.

[0002] The present invention relates to a variable light emission modular lighting system, in particular for ambient lighting (internal and/or external).

[0003] Several variable emission lighting systems are known which allow the photometric quantities of the emitted light (such as amount of light, illuminance, luminance, etc.) to be changed.

[0004] Modular lighting systems comprising a plurality of variably composable modules are also known.

[0005] The known systems, however, are not fully satisfactory, in particular from the point of view of the simplicity and efficiency in the control of the photometric performance and the versatility, and of the light variation effects and modes enabled thereby.

[0006] In particular, the known systems do not allow the recreation of lighting fluctuations and variations that characterise natural light.

[0007] In fact, natural light is not fixed and static, but changeable.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting system which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art described herein; in particular, it is an object of the invention to provide a lighting system which is not only fully efficient, simple to manufacture and install, but which allows the photometric quantities to be varied in a simple and fully effective manner, also obtaining newly-designed luminous effects, for example by generating random or pre-established fluctuations of the emitted light and also recreating the typical fluctuations of natural light.

[0009] The present invention therefore relates to a lighting system as defined in appended claim 1.

[0010] Further preferred features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0011] The invention provides a lighting system which is not only simple to manufacture and install, but is also fully efficient and highly versatile in the control of the photometric quantities, which can be varied in a simple and fully effective manner, also obtaining newly-designed luminous effects, such as for example (random or pre-established) fluctuations of the emitted light, which can also recreate the typical fluctuations of natural light, but also random artificial light situations.

[0012] In fact, the lighting system of the invention makes it possible to customize the light according to the different needs and spaces, freeing, as much as possible, the light function from the shape of the device emitting it.

[0013] The lighting system comprises base elements (for example, but not necessarily, substantially linear in shape), which may have different sizes (for example, different lengths) to create systems that are appropriate for each installation environment; each element consists of multiple modules or elementary light sources, capable of emitting light with characteristics that are variable and controllable independently over time both in intensity and colour shade, so as to provide different and variable emissions.

[0014] The single module or elementary light source can be composed of several LEDs, for example warm white LEDs, cold white LEDs, coloured LEDs (with different colours), in different combinations.

[0015] The system of the invention also allows the light, for example white light (but also coloured light) to be varied in a discontinuous and dynamic way and therefore so that it is perceived in the environment with shades resulting from a light addition of the colour temperatures of the various sources of the system.

[0016] The flexibility in the control of the elementary light sources is also articulated in spatial terms: the possibility of controlling each individual elementary light source, i.e. each module of the system, within the physical support structure which develops in the environment makes it possible to vary the position and therefore the direction of the emission.

[0017] All the parameters of the elementary light sources can be managed actively and punctually (thus according to preset schemes and programs), or else it is possible to activate a "random" behaviour (or according to pre-established programs simulating a random pattern) within predetermined parameters.

[0018] In essence, the system makes it possible to change the light intensity, position/distribution, colour with the desired modes, including (but not only) modes that reproduce the naturally occurring light fluctuations, thereby introducing a perceptive experience increasingly resembling that experienced with natural light.

[0019] In nature, in fact, the light is "dynamic", i.e. in motion both in time and in space, as is evident by observing its variation during the days and seasons. The shadows that are generated are also always in slow, yet constant motion, as well as the colours of the illuminated objects.

[0020] In addition to emotional effects, the system has high functionality and technical versatility.

[0021] Instead of using a traditional-type control, for example of the dimmer type, the quantity of light emitted by the system is simply changed by varying the number of elementary light sources turned on, as well as selecting those in the most suitable positions.

[0022] Once a constant lighting intensity has been set, the position of the on and off LEDs on the surface of the system may be varied continuously in slow motion, optionally enriched by the colours of the slightly different individual modules, with an approximate fluctuation of a few Kelvins, for example within +10 K and -10 K (merely exemplary values: the fluctuations may be different), so that the average is always substantially the same, but the light is not fixed.

[0023] The possibilities offered by the system are many: for example, photometry variable in space: high/low, direct/indirect light; tone variable in time to follow the circadian rhythms; application of pseudo-random variations to the position and colour parameters in order to induce a perceptive experience more similar to that experienced with natural light.

[0024] Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

• Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a base element of the lighting system according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the base element in Figure 1.

[0025] In the appended figures, the numeral 1 indicates, as a whole, a lighting system for lighting indoor and/or outdoor environments.

[0026] The system 1 includes at least one base element 2 comprising a support structure 3 and a lighting body 4, supported by the structure 3 and provided with a plurality of elementary light sources 5 defining respective modules of the system 1.

[0027] The system 1 may include several base elements 2, optionally having different dimensions from one another, in order to achieve different spatial distributions also depending on the system 1 installation environment. The figures show a single base element 2 by way of example. It is to be understood that the system 1 may include one or more base elements 2, equal to and/or different from one another.

[0028] The shape of the base element 2 can also vary with respect to what is shown purely by way of example.

[0029] In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the base element 2 has a substantially linear conformation and extends along an axis A, which is for example substantially rectilinear.

[0030] The support structure 3 can also take various forms: in the non-limiting example shown, the structure 3 is configured so as to hang the base element 2 from a ceiling. In particular, the structure 3 comprises a bar 6 which extends along the axis A, is provided with an attachment 7 for fixing to the ceiling, and is fixed to a longitudinal (top) end of the lighting body 4.

[0031] It is to be understood that the structure 3 can be variously shaped, for example also so as to be fixed to the wall or to support the lighting body 4 on a floor or other support surface.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the lighting body 4 extends along and around the axis A and comprises a central core 10 on which the elementary light sources 5 are positioned; and an optical element 11 associated with the elementary light sources 5.

[0033] The core 10 also carries components and connections (not shown for simplicity) for supplying and controlling the elementary light sources 5.

[0034] The elementary light sources 5 are arranged on the core 10 and are axially (longitudinally) spaced apart along the axis A and also preferably (but not necessarily) around the axis A.

[0035] In the example shown, the elementary light sources 5 are positioned on two opposite faces of the core 10 and are arranged in two rows substantially parallel to the axis A and diametrically opposite, and are evenly spaced along the axis A. It is to be understood that the elementary light sources 5 can be variously placed on the lighting body 4, being axially spaced along the axis A and angularly spaced around the axis A differently from what described and illustrated herein purely by way of example.

[0036] The optical element 11 comprises, in the embodiment shown (but not necessarily), a substantially tubular diffuser 12 placed around the elementary light sources 5 and made of a diffusing material. It is to be understood that the optical element 11 can be of another type and that the elementary light sources 5 can also be associated with respective optical elements.

[0037] Each elementary light source 5 comprises a plurality of LEDs, equal to or different from one another.

[0038] For example, in one embodiment, each elementary light source 5 comprises one or more pairs of warm and cold LEDs (i.e. at least one pair of LEDs comprising a warm-light LED and a cold-light LED), for example three warm LEDs (i.e. emitting warm white light, for example with a colour temperature of about 2200 K) and three cold LEDs (i.e. emitting cold white light, for example with a colour temperature of about 4000 K).

[0039] The elementary light sources 5 can however comprise a different number of LEDs, arranged in pairs or not, as well as LEDs of other types, with white or coloured light.

[0040] The elementary light sources 5, no matter how realized, are arranged and spaced on the lighting body 4 so as to define respective separate and distinct modules.

[0041] A control unit 13 (for example housed in the lighting body 4 or placed in another position on the support structure 3 or even in a remote position) is connected to the elementary light sources 5 for controlling the elementary light sources 5.

[0042] In particular, the control unit 13 is configured so as to control the elementary light sources 5, and therefore the system 1 as a whole, to operate according to one or more of the following modes:

• selectively turning on predetermined groups of light sources 5, so as to vary the overall intensity and/or the spatial distribution of the light emitted by the system 1;
• individually controlling each elementary light source 5, i.e. each module of the system 1, for varying the position and hence the direction of the overall emission of the system 1;
• changing one or more operating parameters of the elementary light sources 5, so as to change one or more photometric quantities of the light emitted by the system 1;

• varying the intensity and/or colour tone of one or more of the elementary light sources 5;
• varying the light emitted by the system 1 discontinuously and dynamically and thus so as to be perceived in the environment with tones which are the result of a light addition of the colour temperatures of the various elementary light sources 5;
• managing the operating parameters of the elementary light sources 5 actively and punctually, or by "random" variations within preset ranges of parameters;
• once a preset lighting intensity has been set, selecting the position and/or number of elementary light sources 5 required to provide such preset lighting intensity; and varying over time (at predetermined intervals) the position of the elementary light sources 5 turned on in order to maintain the average light intensity emitted constant, equal to the preset light intensity;
• varying the emission of the elementary light sources 5 with a fluctuation (of approximately a few Kelvins, for example within +10 K and -10 K).

[0043] Lastly, it is understood that the lighting system as described and illustrated herein can be subject to further modifications and variations that do not depart from the scope of the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A variable light emission modular lighting system (1), comprising at least one base element (2) comprising a support structure (3) and a lighting body (4), supported by the structure (3) and provided with a plurality of elementary light sources (5) defining respective modules of the system (1); and a control unit (13) operating on the elementary light sources (5); wherein the control unit (13) controls individually each elementary light source (5) so as to selectively operate at least one operation parameter of each elementary light source (5).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the elementary light sources (5) are arranged on the lighting body (4) and are spaced apart from one another axially along an axis (A) and/or angularly about the axis (A).

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the base element (2) has a substantially linear configuration.

4. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting body (4) extends along and about an axis (A) and comprises a central core (10) on which the elementary light sources (5) are positioned; the elementary light sources (5) being positioned on at least two opposite faces of the central core (10) and being arranged in at least two substantially parallel and diametrically opposite rows.

5. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting body (4) comprises an optical element (11) associated with the elementary light sources (5), in particular a diffuser (12), positioned in front of the elementary light sources (5).

6. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each elementary light source (5) comprises a plurality of LEDs, equal to or different from one another.

7. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein each elementary light source (5) comprises at least one pair of LEDs including a warm-light LED and a cold-light LED.

8. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to selectively switch on preset groups of elementary light sources (5), so as to vary the overall intensity and/or spatial distribution of the light emitted by the system (1) .

9. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to control individually each elementary light source (5), i.e. each module of the system (1), for varying the position and hence the direction of the overall emission of the system (1).

10. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to change one or more operation parameters of the elementary light sources (5), so as to change one or more photometric quantities of the light emitted by the system (1) .

11. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to vary the intensity and/or colour tone of one or more of the elementary light sources (5).

12. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to vary the light emitted by the system (1) discontinuously and dynamically and thus so as to be perceived in the environment with tones which are the result of a light addition of the colour temperatures of the various elementary light sources (5).

13. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to process the operating parameters of the elementary light sources (5) actively and punctually, or by "random" variations within preset ranges of parameters.

14. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to switch on a plurality of elementary light sources (5) in number and/or positions such as to provide a preset light intensity; and to vary over time the positions of the elementary light sources (5) turned on while maintaining the average light intensity emitted substantially constant, substantially equal to the preset light intensity.

15. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (13) is configured so as to vary the emission of the elementary light sources (5) with a fluctuation of a few Kelvins.

16. The system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) includes a plurality of base elements (2), optionally having dimensions different from one another.

Drawing