A Lens and an Illumination Device Having the Lens Technical Field

The present invention relates to a lens for an illumination device. In addition, the present invention also relates to an illumination device having the lens.

Background Art As is known to all, LED illumination has irreplaceable advan ^¬ tages. It is energy saving, has very low power consumption, has a nearly 100% electro-optical power conversion, can save more than 80% of energy with the same illumination efficiency compared with the traditional light source, and has a long lifespan. In view of the above advantages, people more and more frequently use LEDs as light sources, for example, nu ^¬ merous LED retrofit lamps in the market. Such LED retrofit lampls have a profile of a traditional light source such as an incandescent lamp or lamp tube, such that they, as light sources, can be adapted to the existing illumination systems. In the current illumination devices, the LED light sources are widely used.

However, due to the particular configuration of the LED light sources, a single LED light source cannot achieve 360° omni- directional illumination. In order to achieve omnidirec ^¬ tional illumination, multiple solutions are used in the prior art, for example, with a quite complicated heat sink struc ^¬ tures with many LED light sources placed all around the heat sink structures, with phosphor light bulbs, with light guide structures, with reflecting structures inside the bulb. How- ever, various defects exist in the above solutions, for exam ^¬ ple, having complicated structure, being difficult to assem ^¬ ble, having high cost, or having very low efficiency. In addition, the LED retrofit lamps further need to provide uni- form light distribution over a very large area. Especially in the US market, the strict Energy Star criteria have to be met for the luminance intensity distribution.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the above technical problems, the present invention provides a lens which enables an illumination device to achieve real 360° omnidirectional illumination, while meeting the requirements of luminance intensity distribution. In addition, the present invention further provides an illumination device having the lens, the illumination device has a simple structure, can achieve 360° omnidirectional illumi ^¬ nation, and has uniform luminance intensity distribution.

The first object of the present invention is realized by a lens, viz. in a cross section, the lens comprises: a bottom surface; and a first side surface and a second side surface which respectively extend inclinedly upwards from two sides of the bottom surface and converge, wherein the bottom sur ^¬ face comprises a supporting surface and an incident surface, the incident surface defining an accommodation cavity for ac ^¬ commodating a light source of the illumination device, wherein the first side surface comprises a first emergent surface and a first reflective surface, the second side sur ^¬ face comprises a second emergent surface, wherein a first part of light from the incident surface emerges from the first emergent surface, and a second part of light from the incident surface at least emerges from the second emergent surface after reflected by the first reflective surface, such that the emergent light is distributed at an angle of 360°. In the design solution of the present invention, the omnidirectional illumination is completely achieved by the lens, and the lens of this type can also achieve uniform luminance intensity distribution.

According to the present invention, the lens is configured to be a ring shape, and is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the bottom surface. The ring lens enables the light emerging from the lens to comple- ment each other in a circumferential direction, so as to achieve real omnidirectional illumination.

Preferably, the second side surface further comprises a sec ^¬ ond reflective surface, the second part of light from the in ^¬ cident surface at least partially emerges from the second emergent surface after reflected by the second reflective surface and the first reflective surface in sequence. In the design solution of the present invention, the second reflec ^¬ tive surface can adjust the angle at which a part of light emerges from the second emergent surface, such that at least part of the light emerging from the second emergent surface deflects towards the back of the lens, viz. a direction oppo ^¬ site to the emerging direction of the light of the light source, so as to meet the requirements of omnidirectional il ^¬ lumination . Further preferably, the incident surface comprises a first incident surface portion, a second incident surface portion, and a third incident surface portion, wherein a first part of light from the light source incidents into the first incident surface portion and emerges after refracted by the first emergent surface, and one part of a second part of light from the light source incidents into the second incident surface portion and emerges from the second emergent surface after reflected by the first reflective surface, and the other part of the second part of light from the light source incidents into the third incident surface portion and emerges from the second emergent surface after reflected by the second reflec ^¬ tive surface and the first reflective surface in sequence. In the design solution of the present invention, the first incident surface portion and the first emergent surface re ^¬ fract a part of the light of the light source, such that the light from the light source deflects to the left side of the optical axis of the light source, and the second incident surface portion, the third incident surface portion, the first reflective surface, the second reflective surface, and the second emergent surface carry out refraction and at least one reflection for the rest light of the light source, such that the light of the light source deflects in a direction of the other side of the optical axis of the light source, and further deflects towards the back of the lens, viz. a direc ^¬ tion opposite to the emerging direction of the light of the light source, so as to achieve omnidirectional illumination.

Preferably, a side of the first reflective surface is con ^¬ nected with the second reflective surface via the second emergent surface, wherein the first reflective surface and the second reflective surface are arranged to partially face each other. In this way, the light from the second reflec ^¬ tive surface can be reflected to the first reflective sur ^¬ face, and emerges from the second emergent surface.

Advantageously, the other side of the first reflective sur ^¬ face is connected with the supporting surface via the first emergent surface, the supporting surface is connected with the second incident surface portion via the first incident surface portion, and the second incident surface portion is connected with the second reflective surface via the third incident surface portion.

According to the design solution of the present invention, in the cross section, the second reflective surface is arranged to be inclined with respect to the axis, and forms an angle with the third incident surface portion, wherein an angle be ^¬ tween a tangential direction of the second reflective surface and the bottom surface is greater than 90°. By adjusting the angle of the second reflective surface with respect to the bottom surface, the emerging angle of the light emerging from the second emergent surface can be changed.

Advantageously, in the cross section, the first incident sur ^¬ face portion is configured as a concave surface recessed away the light source, and the second incident surface portion is configured as a convex surface projecting towards the light source, wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are in a smooth transition.

Preferably, in the cross section, the third incident surface portion is in a linear shape and is arranged to be inclined with respect to the axis in a direction apart from the second side surface, wherein an angle between the second incident surface portion and the axis is between 2°-5°.

Optionally, the first emergent surface, the first reflective surface, the second emergent surface, and the second reflec- tive surface are in a shape of spline curve in the cross sec ^¬ tion. In the design solution of the present invention, the first emergent surface is used for allocating light energy of the light from the first incident surface portion, and the first reflective surface is used for reflecting the light collimated by the second incident surface and the second re- flective surface.

Advantageously, the first emergent surface, the first reflective surface, the second emergent surface, and the second reflective surface are in a shape of rational quadric Bezier curve in the cross section, wherein the rational quadric Bezier curve can be defined by the equation:

^{P '} (1 -i) ² u ^> ₀ + 2 l - t )w _% + t ^z w _z ' ^U ^ ^ ¹ , where v ₀ , vi , v ₂ are predetermined control vertexes, and ω ₀ , ωι , ω ₂ are predefined weights. In the design solution of the present invention, the second incident surface portion is in a shape of spline curve, conic, or arc in the cross section, which collimates the light from the light source, so as to ensure that the light refracted by the second incident surface portion can emerge vertically.

Optionally, the first incident surface portion is in an arc- shape which is tangent to the second incident surface portion in the cross section.

The other object of the present invention is achieved by an illumination device having a lens of the above type. The illumination device according to the present invention can achieve 360° omnidirectional illumination, has a simple structure, and has uniform luminance intensity distribution.

According to the present invention, the illumination device further comprises: a heat sink, an electronic assembly provided at one side of the heat sink, an LED light-emitting assembly provided at the other side of the heat sink, and a transparent bulb which defines, together with the other side of the heat sink, an accommodation space.

Preferably, the LED light-emitting assembly comprises a printed circuit board and a plurality of LED chips which are uniformly arranged in a ring shape in the vicinity of a circumferential edge of the printed circuit board. The lumi ^¬ nance intensity of the illumination device can be enhanced by using a plurality of LED chips, and the plurality of LED chips which are arranged rotationally symmetrical can cooper- ate with the lens of the present invention to achieve 360° omnidirectional illumination.

According to the present invention, a supporting surface of the lens is supported on the other side of the heat sink, and a second side surface of the lens is arranged such that a projection of the second side surface on the other side of the heat sink does not overlap a projection of the heat sink. In this way, the light emerging from the second emergent sur ^¬ face will not be blocked by the heat sink, which thereby en ^¬ sures 360° omnidirectional illumination. Preferably, the lens is fully enclosed in the accommodation space. The bulb can protect the lens, so as to prevent dirt from adhering to the lens to affect the optical properties of the lens .

Brief Description of the Drawings The drawings constitute a portion of the Description for fur ^¬ ther understanding of the present invention. These drawings illustrate the embodiments of the present invention and ex ^¬ plain the principle of the present invention together with the Description. In the drawings, the same part is repre- sented by the same reference sign. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the lens according to the pre ^¬ sent invention;

Fig. 2 is an optical pathway diagram of the lens according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a 3D schematic diagram of the lens according to the present invention; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of the illumination device according to the present invention. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the lens according to the pre ^¬ sent invention. As can be seen from the figure, the lens 100 comprises: a bottom surface 1; and a first side surface 2 and a second side surface 3 which respectively extend inclinedly upwards from two sides of the bottom surface 1 and converge, wherein the bottom surface 1 comprises a supporting surface la and an incident surface 4, the incident surface 4 defining an accommodation cavity for accommodating a light source of the illumination device, wherein the first side surface 2 comprises a first emergent surface 2a and a first reflective surface 2b, the second side surface 3 comprises a second emergent surface 3a, wherein a first part of light from the incident surface 4 emerges from the first emergent surface 2a, and a second part of light from the incident surface 4 at least emerges from the second emergent surface 3a after re ^¬ flected by the first reflective surface 2b, such that the emergent light is distributed at an angle of 360°. As can be seen from the figure, the second side surface 3 further comprises a second reflective surface 3b, the second part of light from the incident surface 4 at least partially emerges from the second emergent surface 3a after reflected by the second reflective surface 3b and the first reflective surface 2b in sequence. In addition, the incident surface 4 comprises a first incident surface portion 4a, a second inci ^¬ dent surface portion 4b, and a third incident surface portion 4c. In the present embodiment, the first incident surface portion 4a is configured as a concave surface recessed away the light source, and the second incident surface portion 4b is config ^¬ ured as a convex surface projecting towards the light source, wherein the concave surface and the convex surface are in a smooth transition.

In the present embodiment, the first reflective surface 2b is connected with the second reflective surface 3b via the sec ^¬ ond emergent surface 3a, wherein the first reflective surface 2b and the second reflective surface 3b are arranged to par- tially face each other, the first reflective surface 2b is connected with the supporting surface la via the first emer ^¬ gent surface 2a, the supporting surface la is connected with the second incident surface portion 4b via the first incident surface portion 4a, and the second incident surface portion 4b is connected with the second reflective surface 3b via the third incident surface portion 4c.

As can be further seen from the figure, the second reflective surface 3b is arranged to be inclined with respect to the axis, and forms an angle with the third incident surface por- tion 4c, wherein an angle between a tangential direction of the second reflective surface 3b and the bottom surface 1 is greater than 90°. In addition, the third incident surface portion 4c is in a linear shape and is arranged to be inclined with respect to the axis in a direction apart from the second side surface 3, wherein an angle between the second incident surface portion 4b and the axis is between 2°-5°.

In the present embodiment, the first emergent surface 2a, the first reflective surface 2b, the second emergent surface 3a, and the second reflective surface 3b are in a shape of spline curve in the cross section. In addition, the first emergent surface 2a, the first reflective surface 2b, the second emergent surface 3a, and the second reflective surface 3b are in a shape of rational quadric Bezier curve in the cross section, and the rational quadric Bezier curve can be defined by the equation: ί _λ ( 1 - Ι)¾½ν ₀ + 2t(l - t)w _i v _i + t ² w ₂ \ ₂ . ^

pit ) = —— — — , — » 0¾i¾l

( 1— ί)'Η½ + 2 ( 1— + w½ where o , vi , v ₂ are predetermined control vertexes, and ωο , ωι , ω ₂ are predefined weights.

In addition, the second incident surface portion is in a shape of spline curve, conic, or arc in the cross section. Fig. 2 is an optical pathway diagram of the lens 100 according to the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, a first part of light from the light source incidents into the first incident surface portion 4a and emerges after refracted by the first emergent surface 2a, and one part of a second part of light from the light source incidents into the second incident surface portion 4b and emerges from the second emergent surface 3a after reflected by the first reflective surface 2b, and the other part of the second part of light from the light source incidents into the third incident surface portion 4c and emerges from the second emergent sur ^¬ face 3a after reflected by the second reflective surface 3b and the first reflective surface 2b, so as to achieve omnidi ^¬ rectional illumination. Fig. 3 is a 3D schematic diagram of the lens 100 according to the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, the lens 100 is configured in a ring shape, and is rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis which is perpendicular to the bottom surface 1. In this way, the light emerging from the lens 100 can complement each other in a circumferential direction, so as to achieve real omnidirectional illumination and provide uniform luminance intensity distribution.

Fig. 4 is an exploded schematic diagram of the illumination device according to the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, the illumination device comprises: a heat sink 5, an electronic assembly 6 provided at one side of the heat sink 5, an LED light-emitting assembly 7 provided at the other side of the heat sink 5, and a transparent bulb 8 which defines, together with the other side of the heat sink 5, an accommodation space. As can be further seen from the figure, the LED light-emitting assembly 7 comprises a printed circuit board 7a and a plurality of LED chips 7b which are uniformly arranged in a ring shape in the vicinity of a circumferential edge of the printed circuit board 7a, wherein the lens 100 according to the present invention is disposed above the printed circuit board 7a, such that the LED chips 7b are lo ^¬ cated in the accommodation cavity of the lens 100, and the supporting surface la of the lens 100 is supported on the heat sink 5. Further, a second side surface 3 of the lens 100 is arranged such that a projection of the second side surface 3 on the other side of the heat sink 5 does not over ^¬ lap a projection of the heat sink 5, and in an assembled state, the lens 100 is fully enclosed in the accommodation space defined by the bulb 8 and the heat sink 5.

The above is merely preferred embodiments of the present in ^¬ vention but not to limit the present invention. For the per- son skilled in the art, the present invention may have vari ^¬ ous alterations and changes. Any alterations, equivalent substitutions, improvements, within the spirit and principle of the present invention, should be covered in the protection scope of the present invention.

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List of reference signs

100 lens

1 bottom surface

la supporting surface

2 first side surface

2a first emergent surface

2b first reflective surface

3 second side surface

3a second emergent surface

3b second reflective surface

4 incident surface

4a first incident surface portion

4b second incident surface portion

4c third incident surface portion 5 heat sink

6 electronic assembly

7 LED light-emitting assembly 7a printed circuit board LED bulb