DESC:FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a lighting apparatus. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an illumination apparatus and a system for road illumination including such an illumination apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A road lighting apparatus that uses Light Emitting Diodes (LED) have been known for a long time. In a conventional lighting apparatus, the LEDs are arranged in a grid pattern in a housing and the lighting apparatus is mounted on a pole to illuminate a portion of the road. Similar housings are installed on the poles that installed at predefined gap from each other along the road. Further, the housing has walls to protect the LEDs from external environment factors, such as dust. Generally, the number of LEDs may depend on various factors, such as minimum lux level needed to illuminate the road.

However, there are various limitations with the currently used road lighting apparatuses. For instance, the grid arrangements of the LEDs in the housing lead to blockage of a portion of emitted light by the housing itself, thereby reducing the throughput of the road lighting apparatus. One way to mitigate this issue is to add more LEDs to counter the loss in the lux throughput. However, adding more LEDs increases the power consumption of the road lighting apparatus as well as the overall cost of the road lighting apparatus. Moreover, for achieving the predefined lux level, greater number of such road lighting apparatuses are required to be installed, which in turn increases the overall infrastructural costs of road illumination systems and their installation.
Therefore, there is a need of an improvement in the road lighting apparatuses and systems such that the blockage of light is minimized, thereby maximizing the efficiency of illumination of each apparatus.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the invention. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the invention and nor is it intended for determining the scope of the invention.

The present disclosure relates to an illumination apparatus and a system for road illumination including such an illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus includes a housing with a plurality of walls and a substrate housed within the plurality of walls. The illumination apparatus includes a first light source group and a second light source group mounted on the substrate. Further, the first and second light source groups include a first set of light sources and a second set of light sources respectively disposed on either side of a longitudinal axis of the housing. The first set of light sources is arranged in a pre-defined parabolic/U-shape arrangement, whereas the second set of light sources is arranged in an inverted parabolic/U-shape arrangement, wherein the tips of each of the parabola/U-shape face the longitudinal axis. A plurality of third light source groups is disposed longitudinally on the substrate between the first and second light source groups, and distant from a first wall of the housing, each third light source group including at least one light source including a lens. Distance of each of the plurality of third light source groups from the first wall is greater than a distance of the first and second set of light sources from the first wall.

The present invention aims towards maximization of illumination efficiency of each illumination apparatus in a road illumination system, which shall further help in maximizing the distance between each illumination apparatus to be installed along one side of a road, thereby reducing manufacturing material and the costs involved in manufacturing. The illumination apparatus disclosed herein therefore helps in maximizing the illumination on roads together with minimizing the infrastructure costs of road illumination systems.

To further clarify advantages and features of the present invention, a more particular description of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which is illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 represents an illumination apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 represents the constructional details of the illumination apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3A represents the constructional details of a lens of a light source, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
Figure 3B represents the distancing details the light source from walls of housing, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
Figure 3C represents the spreading of beam by light sources, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Further, skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the drawings are illustrated for simplicity and may not have necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, in terms of the construction of the device, one or more components of the device may have been represented in the drawings by conventional symbols, and the drawings may show only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the drawings with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated system, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are explanatory of the invention and are not intended to be restrictive thereof.

Reference throughout this specification to “an aspect”, “another aspect” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrase “in an embodiment”, “in another embodiment” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a nonexclusive inclusion, such that a process or method that comprises a list of steps does not include only those steps but may include other steps not expressly listed or inherent to such process or method. Similarly, one or more devices or subsystems or elements or structures or components proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other devices or other sub-systems or other elements or other structures or other components or additional devices or additional sub-systems or additional elements or additional structures or additional components.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

It should be understood at the outset that although illustrative implementations of the embodiments of the present disclosure are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, whether currently known or in existence. The present disclosure should in no way be limited to the illustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary design and implementation illustrated and described herein, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

The term “some” as used herein is defined as “none, or one, or more than one, or all.” Accordingly, the terms “none,” “one,” “more than one,” “more than one, but not all” or “all” would all fall under the definition of “some.” The term “some embodiments” may refer to no embodiments or to one embodiment or to several embodiments or to all embodiments. Accordingly, the term “some embodiments” is defined as meaning “no embodiment, or one embodiment, or more than one embodiment, or all embodiments.”

The terminology and structure employed herein is for describing, teaching, and illuminating some embodiments and their specific features and elements and does not limit, restrict, or reduce the spirit and scope of the claims or their equivalents.

Reference is made herein to some “embodiments.” It should be understood that an embodiment is an example of a possible implementation of any features and/or elements presented in the attached claims. Some embodiments have been described for the purpose of illuminating one or more of the potential ways in which the specific features and/or elements of the attached claims fulfil the requirements of uniqueness, utility, and non-obviousness.

Use of the phrases and/or terms such as but not limited to “a first embodiment,” “a further embodiment,” “an alternate embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “other embodiments,” “further embodiment”, “furthermore embodiment”, “additional embodiment” or variants thereof do NOT necessarily refer to the same embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, one or more particular features and/or elements described in connection with one or more embodiments may be found in one embodiment, or may be found in more than one embodiment, or may be found in all embodiments, or may be found in no embodiments. Although one or more features and/or elements may be described herein in the context of only a single embodiment, or alternatively in the context of more than one embodiment, or further alternatively in the context of all embodiments, the features and/or elements may instead be provided separately or in any appropriate combination or not at all. Conversely, any features and/or elements described in the context of separate embodiments may alternatively be realized as existing together in the context of a single embodiment.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate different aspects of an illumination apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Specifically, Figure 1 shows the illumination apparatus 100 while Figure 2 shows a zoomed-in portion of the illumination apparatus 100. The illumination apparatus 100 may be used for illuminating a portion of a road. The illumination apparatus 100 may be mounted on a pole that is installed along a side of the road. In one embodiment, the road illumination system may include multiple poles (not shown) installed alongside the road and may include at least one illumination apparatus 100 installed on the poles.

In one example, the illumination apparatus 100 may include a housing 108 that forms a major unit of the illumination apparatus 100. The housing 108 may include a plurality of walls 108’. The illumination apparatus 100 may also include substrate 103, housed within the housing 108 between its walls 108’. The substrate 103 may be used to mount a light source 112-1, 112-2 and 112-3 collectively referred to as 112. The light sources 112 can be an LED among other examples as shown in Figure 1. In one example, the number of light sources 112 on the substrate 103 may be based on the predefined lux output of the illumination apparatus 100. Although not shown, the illumination apparatus 100 may include a driver to power the light sources 112 and a heat sink attached to the substrate 103 to dissipate the heat generated from the light source 112.

In one example, the light source 112 may be categorized into various groups that may serve different purpose(s). For instances, the light sources 112 may be categorized as a first light source group 102, a second light source group 104, and a third light source group 106. In one example, the first light source group 102 and the second source group 104 may be configured to illuminate a space towards the sides of the illumination apparatus 100. On the other hand, the third light source group 106 is adapted to illuminate the space towards which the illumination apparatus 100 is facing. According to the present disclosure, the first light source group 102, the second source group 104, the third light source group 106 are arranged on the substrate such that the emitted light passes over the walls 108’ of the housing 108 while exiting, preventing the light from being obstructed by the housing 108. Since the light is not obstructed by the housing 108, the throughput of the illumination apparatus 100 is more than a conventional lighting apparatus including the same number of light sources.

According to the present disclosure, each light source 112 includes a lens 114 integrated therewith which, owing to its optical characteristics directs the emitted light in such a way that the emitted light does not fall on the walls 108’ of the housing 108. A manner by which the lens 114 of the light source 112 helps in directing the light is explained later.

In one example, the first light source group 102 may include a first set of light sources 112-1 while the second light source group 104 may include a second set of light sources 112-2, each mounted on the substrate 103. The first and second sets of light sources 112-1, 112-2 may include lenses 114 are arranged in a parabolic arrangement or a U-shape pattern 115, 117. In one example, the first light source group 102 and second light source groups 104 may be positioned on either side of a longitudinal axis A1 of the housing 108. The first set of light sources 112-1 may be positioned in an upright parabolic/U-shape arrangement 115 with respect to the longitudinal axis A1 of the housing 108 and the second set of light sources 112-2 may be positioned in an inverted parabolic/inverted U-shape arrangement 117 with respect to the longitudinal axis A1. In other words, the tips of the parabola/U-shape arrangement 115 of both the first and second sets of light sources 112-2 may face the longitudinal axis A1.

In addition to the first and second light source groups 112-1, 112-2 forming the first and second light source groups 102, 104 on the substrate 103, the illumination apparatus 100 includes a set of light sources 113 around the first and second light source groups 102, 104. For instance, the light sources 113 may be present between the U-shape profiles 115, 117 of the first and second sets of light sources 112-1, 112-2. Further, the light source 113 may also spread the light over the walls 108’ of the housing 108 while at the same time increasing the lux output from the illumination apparatus 100.

In one example, the third light source groups 106 may be disposed longitudinally on the substrate 103 between the first and second light source groups 102, 104, and is distant from the first wall 108’ of the housing 108. Each third light source group 106 may include the light sources 112-3 including lens 114. In one example, the distance of each of the plurality of third light source groups 106 from the first wall 108’ is greater than the first and second light source groups 102, 104 from the first wall 108’.

Further, the spacing between the light sources, distancing of light sources from the walls 108’ of the housing 108 are predetermined. The optical characteristics of twin-projected beam lenses 114 and the inner profile 114' and the outer profile 114’’ of these lenses114 are adapted to spread light optimally without being obstructed.

In one example, the light sources 112 and 113 are arranged from at a pre-determined distance from each other. Referring now to Figure 1 that represents an exemplary spacing of S1, S3 between each of the plurality of light sources and the spacing S2 between light sources and the housing 108 walls 108’. The spacing S1, S3 between light sources of the first, second and third light source groups 102, 104, 106 is predetermined. The spacing S2 of light sources from the walls 108’ of the housing 108 is further planned and each light source is mounted at a predetermined distance from walls 108’ of the housing 108. The number of light sources to be installed in each of the first, second and third light source groups 102, 104, 106 may be determined based on a pre-determined lux level for illumination. Further, the average lux level of a road illuminating apparatus 100 may be calculated by using 9-point method.

By this method, any two illumination apparatuses 100 mounted on a pole each along one side of a path are taken into consideration. Imaginary nine points are taken on the path, which are in the form of the grid and equidistant from each other and lie within the boundaries of the two poles on which the two illumination apparatuses 100 are mounted. Based on the distance between the poles and the distance between each imaginary point of the nine points, an average lux of each of the illumination apparatus 100 is calculated, according to which the number of light sources to be mounted in each of the illumination apparatus 100 is determined.

The design of lenses 114 of the light sources 112 may be selected such that the light can be spread optimally without being obstructed. Referring now to Figure 3A that depicts the design of the selected lenses 114, i.e., twin-projected beam lenses 114 of the first and the second sets of light sources 112-1, 112-2. The light sources 112-3 of the third light source group 106 may include wide-light beam lenses, wherein the lenses are twin-projected beam lenses. The beam angle average of the light sources in the third light source group 106 is wider than the beam angle average of the first set of light sources 112-1 and second set of light sources 112-2. By virtue of the optical characteristics of twin-projected beam lenses 114of the light sources 112 in first, second and third light source groups 102, 104, 106, the lenses 114 are adapted to direct light beam 110 from the light sources over the walls 108’ of the housing 108, as depicted in Figure 3b. Further, each of the light source in the first, second and third light source groups 102, 104, 106 are spaced apart from each other, at a predetermined distance from each other.

The spacing in combination with the optical characteristics of the twin-projected beam lenses 114 contribute to prevent overlapping of light beams 110 from adjacent light sources, as depicted in Figure 3C, thereby helping in maximizing the illumination efficiency of each illumination apparatus 100 installed in the road illumination system. Therefore, since the efficiency of illumination and spread of light by the lenses 114 is maximized, the average lux level of each illumination apparatus 100 shall be maximized too. The present arrangement further helps in maximizing the distance between each illumination apparatus 100 to be installed along one side of a street or a road, thereby reducing manufacturing material and the costs involved in manufacturing.

While specific language has been used to describe the present disclosure, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the foregoing description give examples of embodiments. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements ,CLAIMS:1. An illumination apparatus (100) comprising:
a housing (108) including a plurality of walls (108’) and a substrate (103) housed within the plurality of walls (108’);
a first light source group (102) mounted on the substrate (103) and comprising a plurality of first set of light sources (112-1) including lenses (114) thereon and arranged in a pre-defined parabolic arrangement or a U-shape arrangement (115); and
a plurality of third light source groups (106) disposed longitudinally on the substrate (103) and distant from a first wall (108’) of the housing (108), each third light source group (106) including at least one light source (112-3) including a lens (114) thereon,
wherein a distance of each of the plurality of third light source groups (106) from the first wall (108’) is greater than a distance of the first light source group (102) from the first wall (108’).

2. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a second light source group (104) mounted on the substrate (103) proximate to the first light source group (102), the second light source group (104) comprising a plurality of second set of light sources (112-2) with lenses (114) and arranged in the pre-defined parabolic arrangement or the U-shape arrangement (115).

3. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1 comprising light sources (113) around the first source group (102) and second light source group (104) in addition to light sources (112) on the substrate (103).

4. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lenses (114) in the first light source group (102) are positioned in an upright parabolic arrangement (115) with respect to a longitudinal axis (A1) of the housing (108) and the lenses (114) in the second light source group (104) are positioned in an inverted parabolic arrangement (117) with respect to the longitudinal axis (A1).

5. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the at least one light source (112-3) includes a wide-light beam lens (114), and a beam angle average of the light sources (112-3) is wider than a beam angle average of the first set of light sources (112-1) and the second set of light sources (112-2).

6. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the lenses (114) of the first light source group (102) and the third light source group (106) is positioned on the substrate (103) and adapted to direct light beam (110) from the light source over the walls (108’) of the housing (108).

7. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of light sources (112) is spaced at a predetermined distance from each other to prevent overlapping of light beams (110) from adjacent light sources (112).

8. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a number of light sources (112) is in based on a pre-determined lux level for illumination.

9. The illumination apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lenses (114) are twin-projected beam lenses.

10. A system of road illumination, comprising at least one illumination apparatus (100), the system comprising:
a housing (108) including a plurality of walls (108’) and a substrate (103) housed within the plurality of walls (108’);
a first light source group (102) mounted on the substrate (103) and comprising a plurality of first set of light sources (112-1) including lenses (114) thereon and arranged in a pre-defined parabolic arrangement or a U-shape arrangement (115); and
a plurality of third light source groups (106) disposed longitudinally on the substrate (103) and distant from a first wall (108’) of the housing (108), each third light source group (106) including at least one light source (112-3) including a lens (114) thereon,
wherein a distance of each of the plurality of third light source groups (106) from the first wall (108’) is greater than a distance of the first light source group (102) from the first wall (108’).

11. The system as claimed in claim 10, wherein the at least one illumination apparatus (100) comprising a second light source group (104) mounted on the substrate (103) proximate to the first light source group (102), the second light source group (104) comprising a plurality of second set of light sources (112-2) including lenses (114) thereon and arranged in the pre-defined parabolic arrangement or the U-shape arrangement (115).