Illumination Devices Including Multiple Light Emitting Elements

Abstract

A variety of illumination devices are disclosed that are configured to manipulate light provided by one or more light-emitting elements (LEEs). In general, embodiments of the illumination devices feature one or more optical couplers that redirect illumination from the LEEs to a reflector which then directs the light into a range of angles. In some embodiments, the illumination device includes a second reflector that reflects at least some of the light from the first reflector. In certain embodiments, the illumination device includes a light guide that guides light from the collector to the first reflector. The components of the illumination device can be configured to provide illumination devices that can provide a variety of intensity distributions. Such illumination devices can be configured to provide light for particular lighting applications, including office lighting, task lighting, cabinet lighting, garage lighting, wall wash, stack lighting, and downlighting.

1 - 47 . (canceled) 
     
     
         48 . A light fixture, comprising:
 a plurality of luminaire modules, each of the luminaire modules configured in a curved shape and each comprising
 one or more light emitting elements, and 
 a corresponding light guide, each light guide comprising a transparent material having a length, l, extending along a z-direction and thickness, t, extending along a second direction orthogonal to the z-direction, where t>l, 
 wherein the one or more light emitting elements are arranged at an input edge of the corresponding light guide and positioned so that light emitted from each light emitting element is coupled into the input edge of the corresponding light guide, the coupled light being guided by the light guide to an output end of the light guide opposite the input end, 
   wherein the plurality of luminaire modules are arranged to collectively form a structure having a circular or elliptical contour in an x-y plane orthogonal to the z-direction.   
     
     
         49 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein at least some of the light coupled into the corresponding light guide propagates within the light guide along the z-direction due to total internal reflection at a surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         50 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein each light guide has the same length, l. 
     
     
         51 . The light fixture of  claim 50 , wherein the length l is in a range from about 1 cm to about 20 cm. 
     
     
         52 . The light fixture of  claim 50 , wherein each light guide has the same thickness, t. 
     
     
         53 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein the transparent material is an organic plastic. 
     
     
         54 . The light fixture of  claim 53 , wherein the transparent organic plastic is polycarbonate or acrylic. 
     
     
         55 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein each of the luminaire modules comprises
 an optical extractor positioned at the output end of the corresponding light guide, the optical extractor being configured to receive light exiting the light guide and to direct the received light away from the light fixture.   
     
     
         56 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein each light guide is configured to scatter at least some of the light propagating within the light guide along the z-direction out of a surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         57 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein each light guide comprises scattering centers that scatter some of the light from within the light guide through portions of a surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         58 . The light fixture of  claim 57 , wherein the scattering centers comprise prisms. 
     
     
         59 . The light fixture of  claim 57 , wherein the scattering centers comprise translucent contact points. 
     
     
         60 . The light fixture of  claim 57 , wherein the scattering centers comprise discontinuities in a surface of the light guide. 
     
     
         61 . The luminaire of  claim 48 , further comprising
 connector elements each connecting two of the luminaire modules along corresponding adjacent edges of their light guides, so the connected luminaire modules form the structure having the circular or elliptical contour.   
     
     
         62 . The light fixture of  claim 61 , wherein the connector elements are formed from a plastic or a metal. 
     
     
         63 . The light fixture of  claim 61 , wherein the connector elements are opaque. 
     
     
         64 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein the light emitting elements are LEDs 
     
     
         65 . The light fixture of  claim 64 , wherein the LEDs are white LEDs. 
     
     
         66 . The light fixture of  claim 48 , wherein each of the luminaire modules comprises
 one or more optical elements arranged and configured to couple light emitted from the one or more light emitting elements into the edge of the corresponding light guide.   
     
     
         67 . The light fixture of  claim 66 , wherein the optical elements are solid elements formed from the same transparent material as the light guides.