Glint Photonics, Inc.

Luminii Corp.

Christopher Gladden

Peter Kozodoy

Andrew Kim

Barbara Kruse

John T Lloyd

Victor Chub

Michael Pavilonis

Christopher Rhodes

Light fixture

A luminaire for providing configurable static lighting or dynamically-adjustable lighting. The luminaire uses an array of focusing elements that act on light provided via a corresponding array of sources or via an edge-lit lightguide. Designs are provided for adjusting the number of distinct beams produced by the luminaire, as well as the angular width, angular profile, and pointing angle of the beams. Designs are also provided for systems utilizing the adjustable luminaires in various applications.

Adjustable-beam luminaires

A steerable illumination fixture includes an emitting source and a refractive optical system that steers an emitted beam by relative translation of the emitting source against the optical system. The light emitting source may be placed along an optical axis of one or more lenses to produce an output beam along that axis, or translated in-plane (orthogonal to the optical axis) relative to the lenses to produce a steered beam. The optical system may include refractive lenses or mixing channels and/or one or more baffles with apertures. A round, uniform beam results that retains approximately the same power level and beam width as it is steered. A second lens having a diameter equal to or larger than a first lens may be provided and configured with an effective focal plane of the two lenses located approximately at the plane of the light emitting source.

Configurable luminaires and components

Adjustable-beam luminaire

A mechanical actuation system for a light fixture that allows for translation of an array of optics relative to an array of light sources in a defined plane. The system can prevent undesired movement such as rotation or out-of-plane motion. A simple and intuitive user interface enables a user to point a resulting light beam in a desired direction without requiring an understanding of the internal mechanical system. The user interface may include a manually manipulated touch point such as a joystick, knob, or other interface.

Planar mechanical actuation system for adjustable luminaires

A steerable illumination fixtures include an emitting source and a refractive optical system that steers an emitted beam by relative translation of the emitting source against the optical system. The light emitting source may be placed along an optical axis of one or more lenses to produce an output beam along that axis, or translated in-plane (orthogonal to the optical axis) relative to the lenses to produce a steered beam. The optical system may include refractive lenses and in some embodiments mixing channels and/or one or more baffles with apertures. The design is typically optimized to produce a round, uniform beam that retains approximately the same power level and beam width as it is steered. It is beneficial, but not required, that a second lens have a diameter equal to or larger than a first lens. The lenses may be configured so that the effective focal plane of the two lenses together is located approximately at the plane of the light emitting source.

Adjustable-beam luminaires with automatic beam controller

An array of LEDs is supported by a support mechanism that both supports conductors leading to the LEDs and sinks heat from the LEDs. The support mechanism may be a transparent heat-conducting sheet or an array of cantilevered arms at different angles that support the LEDs and sink heat. This reduces the blockage of light. The LEDs are positioned generally in the focal plane of an array of concave mirrors that collimate the light. The LEDs and array of mirrors are translatable with respect to one another to steer the aggregate light beam to customize the emission. The LEDs may be variably oriented with respect to the associated mirror apertures so as to create different light beams emitted from different ones of the mirrors.

Configurable luminaire with light sources variably oriented with respect to an array of concave mirrors

An array of LEDs is supported by a support mechanism that both supports conductors leading to the LEDs and sinks heat from the LEDs. The support mechanism may be a transparent heat-conducting sheet or an array of cantilevered arms at different angles that support the LEDs and sink heat. This reduces the blockage of light. The LEDs are positioned generally in the focal plane of an array of concave mirrors that collimate the light. The LEDs and array of mirrors are translatable with respect to one another to steer the aggregate light beam to customize the emission. In another embodiment, multiple LEDs are positioned over each mirror in the mirror array, and the combination of LEDs illuminated over each mirror is used to steer the aggregate light beam from the luminaire.

Configurable luminaire

The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses, opposing concave focusing mirrors, and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The lenses and mirrors have an asymmetric shape, such as having aspect ratios of 3:4 or 1:2, so as to have an asymmetric aperture to better receive light at the different ranges of angles of the sun's rays over the course of a year. The long axis of the apertures is generally oriented in an East-West. The movable sheet contains small angled mirrors, and the sheet is translated to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an output of the collection system. A position sensor provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

Sunlight collection system with asymmetric catadioptric optics

The system captures and concentrates sunlight for transmission to interior spaces or to a PV system. A solar collector uses arrayed refractive lenses and opposing concave focusing mirrors and a movable coupling sheet forming part of a lightguide. The transparent sheet contains small angled mirrors, where each angled mirror corresponds to a particular set of the lenses/focusing mirrors and is in the focal plane. The lightguide also includes a fluid surrounding the transparent sheet, and lower index cladding layers sandwich the fluid. The sheet is translated within the fluid by an actuator to position the angled mirrors at the focal points of the sunlight for maximum deflection of the sunlight to an edge of the lightguide for extraction to a light transmission system or to a PV system. A position sensor on the sheet provides feedback regarding the position of the angled mirrors relative to the focal points.

Growing community of inventors

San Mateo, CA, United States of America

Christopher Gladden