Low-glare lighting device with concealed light source

Abstract

A device for low-glare illumination of a room is disclosed. The device comprises: a translucent body; a first lighting unit arranged on or in the translucent body, configured to illuminate a surface; and a second lighting unit arranged in the translucent body, configured to illuminate the room through the translucent body.

Description

[0001] This article presents a device and a method for low-glare lighting and / or illuminating a room and a surface.

[0002] When lights, such as ceiling spotlights, illuminate a room, an observer standing in the illuminated room is often blinded by the ceiling spotlight. This is because the light emitted by the ceiling spotlight is reflected across the walls of the room to the observer, who thus perceives a room luminance. In addition, the observer perceives a ceiling spotlight luminance from the ceiling spotlights. If the ceiling spotlight luminance exceeds the room luminance perceived by the observer, the observer is blinded by the ceiling spotlight. This effect already occurs when the observer perceives the actual ceiling light peripherally or in their outer field of vision. The room lighting is perceived as less pleasant. This is particularly important in environments where a pleasant lighting atmosphere is necessary for the observer.Generally speaking, anywhere where light is needed for a user to recognize an object. Examples include workstations in open-plan offices, workstations for technical draftsmen, or exhibition areas for art pieces in museums, or reading corners for newspapers.

[0003] There is a need for a device for low-glare lighting.

[0004] For this purpose, a device according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 19 are proposed.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a device for low-glare lighting of a room is proposed. The device comprises a translucent body. The device comprises a first lighting unit. The first lighting unit is arranged on or in the translucent body. The first lighting unit is configured to illuminate a surface, in particular directly. The device comprises a second lighting unit. The second lighting unit is configured to illuminate the room through the translucent body.

[0006] The device has the advantage, for example, that the room is illuminated with a soft, pleasant indirect light by illuminating spatial surfaces (e.g., ceiling or wall). In addition, or at the same time, a surface, such as a work area, is illuminated with a second light. An observer is hardly dazzled by the actual, for example, concealed, light source. The observer is given the impression that only a single light source is being used to illuminate the room and the surface. Furthermore, the device produces almost no disturbing glare, especially for an outside observer. Any glare fades into the background compared to the luminance of the room when the device is used to illuminate the room and the surface.

[0007] The first illumination unit may include a first concealed light source. The device may be free of a line of sight between an observer located in the room and the first concealed light source.

[0008] The device can have a longitudinal and a transverse axis. The translucent body can have a first opening, in particular arranged along the longitudinal axis and extended along the transverse axis. The first lighting unit can be designed as a concealed or hidden lighting unit or have a concealed or hidden lighting unit. For example, the first lighting unit can have a first light source that is concealed from an observer located in the room. The first lighting unit can be configured to emit a first, for example bundled, light. The first lighting unit can be designed, in particular exclusively, to illuminate a surface via the first opening.

[0009] The second lighting unit can be configured to emit a second light. The second lighting unit can be designed to illuminate the space, in particular exclusively, through the translucent body.

[0010] The translucent body can have at least one further opening, in particular arranged / extended along the longitudinal axis and / or extended / arranged along the transverse axis. The device can have at least one further lighting unit. The at least one further lighting unit can be arranged in the translucent body. The at least one further lighting unit can be configured to emit a third light. The at least one further lighting unit can be configured to illuminate a further surface, in particular exclusively, via the at least one further opening. The at least one further lighting unit can have a second light source concealed from an observer located in the room.

[0011] Surfaces can be understood as the surfaces of walls, ceiling or floor of the room and / or surfaces of objects that are in the room.

[0012] The first and / or the second concealed light source may be formed as at least one light-emitting diode.

[0013] A line of sight between the observer and the first and / or second, for example, obscured, light source may exist for a first observation angle. The first observation angle may have a value between ±90°, in particular between ±60° or ±40°, relative to the longitudinal axis.

[0014] The device may be free of a line of sight between an observer located in the room and the first and / or second concealed light source. In other words, the device may be arranged in a room such that there is / are no line of sight between an observer located in the room and the first and / or second concealed light source.

[0015] The device can have a device luminance. The translucent body can have a body luminance. The room can have a room luminance. A luminance ratio of the device luminance or the body luminance to a room luminance can be less than or equal to one. The luminance ratio can be determined with respect to an observer who is outside the first and / or the second observation angle. A luminance ratio of the device luminance or the body luminance to an average room luminance of an area (apart from the surface illuminated via the first and / or the further opening), in particular a wall or ceiling, or a part (apart from the surface illuminated via the first and / or the further opening), in particular a circular part with a radius of 1, 2, or 3 m, of an area of ​​the room, can be less than or equal to one.

[0016] The first and / or the at least one further opening can be arranged along, in particular on, the longitudinal axis. The first and the at least one further opening can be arranged, in particular, opposite one another.

[0017] The first lighting unit and the translucent body can be arranged on the longitudinal axis. A light-emitting end of the first lighting unit can be aligned, in particular flush, with the first opening of the translucent body. The at least one further lighting unit and the translucent body can be arranged on the longitudinal axis. A light-emitting end of the at least one further lighting unit can be aligned, in particular flush, with the at least one further opening.

[0018] The first and / or the at least one further opening can each have a light emission angle. The light emission angle(s) at the first and / or the at least one further opening can have a value between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±40°, relative to a perpendicular on the respective opening plane.

[0019] The first observation angle can correspond to the light emission angle.

[0020] A line of sight between the observer and the first and / or second, for example obscured, light source may exist or exist for a first observation angle that is smaller than the light emission angle(s).

[0021] The first lighting unit and the at least one further lighting unit can be connected to one another, in particular screwed together. The second lighting unit can be arranged on the first and / or the at least one further lighting unit, in particular connected / attached to / on the first and / or at least one further lighting unit.

[0022] The device can have a longitudinal and a transverse axis. The device can have a translucent body. The device can have a second lighting unit. The second lighting unit can be arranged in the translucent body. The second lighting unit can be configured to emit a second light. The second lighting unit can be configured to illuminate the room, in particular exclusively, through the translucent body. The device can have a stand unit. The stand unit or the device together with the stand unit can be in contact with a surface. The stand unit can be configured to generate a first light. The stand unit can be configured to guide the first light out of the stand unit.The stand unit can be configured to project the first light onto a portion of the surface surrounding the stand unit or the device including the stand unit. The translucent body can be arranged on the stand unit. The translucent body can be arranged on / at the stand unit or connected by a bottom side (of the translucent body) to a top side of the stand unit.

[0023] The device may have a device luminance. The translucent body may have a body luminance. The room may have a room luminance. A luminance ratio of the device luminance or the body luminance to a room luminance may be less than (equal to) one. A luminance ratio of the device luminance or the body luminance to an average room luminance of an area (apart from the surface onto which the first light is thrown), in particular a wall or ceiling, or a part (apart from the surface onto which the first light is thrown), in particular a circular part with a radius of 1, 2, or 3 m, of an area of ​​the room, may be less than or equal to one.

[0024] The stand unit may comprise a stand body. The stand body may be in contact with the surface. The stand body may be configured to conduct light, in particular a first light. A first illumination unit may be arranged in the stand body. The first illumination unit may be configured to emit a first light.

[0025] The device may include a light guide unit. The light guide unit may include a first illumination unit. The light guide unit may be arranged on or at the base body. A bottom surface of the light guide unit may be connected to a top surface of the base body. A bottom surface of the translucent body may be connected to a top surface of the light guide unit.

[0026] The light guide unit may be configured to receive the first light emitted by the first illumination unit. The light guide unit may be configured to direct the first light out of the light guide unit. The light guide unit may be configured to project the first light onto the part of the surface surrounding the device / stand unit / stand body.

[0027] The light guide unit can be arranged along the longitudinal axis between the translucent body and the base body.

[0028] The light guiding unit can be configured to project the first light at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±45°, in particular onto the part of the surface surrounding the device / stand unit / stand body.

[0029] The light guide unit can comprise a, in particular planar, light guide. The light guide can comprise a first illumination unit. The, in particular planar, light guide can be configured to receive the first light and guide it to a, in particular curved, deflecting mirror. The light guide can have a surface that is smooth, in particular polished or high-gloss. The light guide can comprise or consist of highly transparent material, in particular glass or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

[0030] The deflecting mirror can be configured to project the first light, in particular received from the light guide, onto the part of the surface surrounding the device / stand unit / stand body at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis with a value between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±45°.

[0031] The deflecting mirror can be configured to project the first light, in particular received from the light guide, onto the part of the surface surrounding the device / stand unit / stand body at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis with a value greater than ±45°, in particular ±60° or ±90°.

[0032] According to a second aspect, a method for low-glare illumination of a room is proposed. The method comprises providing a translucent body. The method further comprises providing a first lighting unit arranged on / in the translucent body. The method further comprises illuminating a surface with the first lighting unit. The method comprises providing a second lighting unit arranged in the translucent body. The second lighting unit is configured to emit a second light. The method comprises illuminating the room with the second light through the translucent body.

[0033] Further features, characteristics, advantages and possible modifications will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the following descriptions, which refer to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows an example of a lighting device for illuminating a room. Fig. Figure 1a shows an example of a ceiling installation position of the lighting device for illuminating a room. Fig. 1b shows another example of a floor installation position of the lighting device for illuminating a floor of a room. Fig. Figure 1c shows another example of a wall installation position of the lighting device for illuminating a room. Fig. 2 shows an example of a lighting device comprising two lighting units. Fig. 3 shows an example of a lighting device. Fig. 4 shows an example of a lighting device with a corresponding beam path.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows an example of a variant embodiment of the device for low-glare lighting. In the illustration, the device 100 has a translucent body 10, which in turn has a first opening 12. In the illustration, a segment of the translucent body 10 is not shown in order to allow a view into the interior thereof. The device 100 further has a first lighting unit 14, which is arranged in the translucent body 10 and emits a first light. The first light is projected exclusively onto a surface OT1 via the first opening 12. In addition to the first lighting unit 14, a second lighting unit 16 is arranged in the translucent body 10. In the example shown, the second lighting unit 16 is connected to the first lighting unit 14 and emits a second light. An inner side of the translucent body 10 is illuminated with the second light from the second lighting unit 16.The second light penetrates exclusively the translucent body 10 and illuminates / illuminates the space R. In the example shown, the first lighting unit 14 has a concealed light source 142 inside, which an observer B standing outside the device 100 only detects when the observation angle BW1 falls below a certain value (observer B1). In the present case, observer B1 can only detect the light source 142 if BW1 is within ±35°. Outside of this observation angle range (±35° relative to the longitudinal axis Ly), observer B1 does not detect the light source 142. The maximum light emission angle in the present example is ±35°.

[0035] Fig. 1a shows an example of a ceiling installation position of the device 100 for low-glare lighting in a room. In the illustration, the device 100, which is mounted on a ceiling, has a translucent body 10, which in turn has a first opening 12. A segment of the translucent body 10 is not shown in the illustration to allow a view into the interior thereof. The device 100 further has a first lighting unit 14, which is arranged in the translucent body 10 and emits a first light. The first light is projected exclusively via the first opening 12 onto a surface OT1 of the ceiling. In addition to the first lighting unit 14, a second lighting unit 16 is arranged in the translucent body 10. In the example shown, the second lighting unit 16 is connected to the first lighting unit 14 and emits a second light.An inner side of the translucent body 10 is illuminated with the second light from the second lighting unit 16. The second light penetrates exclusively the translucent body 10 and illuminates / illuminates the room R. In the example shown, the first lighting unit 14 has a concealed light source 142 inside. Because the device 100 is mounted on the ceiling of a room R, an observer B standing below on the floor of the room cannot detect the concealed light source 142. In other words, the device 100 was installed above the eye level of an average-sized observer. In addition to the illumination of the room R and the illuminated part of the ceiling, the observer B perceives a glow from the translucent body 10. In the present case, the observer B could only detect the concealed light source if he or she stood on a ladder and looked directly into the first opening 12.

[0036] Fig. Figure 1b shows an example of a floor installation position of the device 100 for low-glare lighting in a room. In the illustration, the device 100, which is mounted on a floor of the room, has a translucent body 10, which in turn has a first opening 12. A segment of the translucent body 10 is not shown in the illustration to allow a view into the interior thereof. The device 100 further has a first lighting unit 14, which is arranged in the translucent body 10 and emits a first light. The first light is projected exclusively via the first opening 12 onto a surface OT1 of the floor. In addition to the first lighting unit 14, a second lighting unit 16 is arranged in the translucent body 10. In the example shown, the second lighting unit 16 is connected to the first lighting unit 14 and emits a second light.An inner side of the translucent body 10 is illuminated with the second light from the second lighting unit 16. The second light penetrates exclusively the translucent body 10 and illuminates / illuminates the room R. In the example shown, the first lighting unit 14 has a concealed light source 142 inside. Because the device 100 is mounted on the floor of the room, an observer B standing next to the device 100 cannot detect the concealed light source 142. In other words, the device 100 was installed below the eye level of an average-sized observer B. In addition to the illumination of the room and the illuminated part of the floor, the observer B perceives a glow from the translucent body. In the present case, the observer B could only detect the concealed light source 142 if he or she lay on the floor, beneath the device, and looked directly into the first opening 12.

[0037] Fig. 1c shows an example of a wall installation position of the device 100 for low-glare lighting in a room. In the illustration, the device 100, which is mounted on a wall of the room, has a translucent body 10, which in turn has a first opening 12. A segment of the translucent body 10 is not shown in the illustration to allow a view into the interior thereof. The device 100 further has a first lighting unit 14, which is arranged in the translucent body 10 and emits a first light. The first light is projected exclusively via the first opening 12 onto a surface OT1 of the wall. In addition to the first lighting unit 14, a second lighting unit 16 is arranged in the translucent body 10. In the example shown, the second lighting unit 16 is connected to the first lighting unit 14 and emits a second light.An inner side of the translucent body 10 is illuminated with the second light from the second lighting unit 16. The second light penetrates exclusively the translucent body 10 and illuminates / illuminates the room R. In the example shown, the first lighting unit 14 has a concealed light source 142 inside. Because the device 100 is mounted on the wall of the room R, an observer B standing next to the device cannot detect the concealed light source 142. In other words, the device was installed at the eye level of an average-sized observer B. In addition to the illumination of the room R and the illuminated part of the wall, the observer B perceives a glow from the translucent body 10. In the present case, the observer B could only detect the concealed light source 142 if he or she leaned against a wall, standing between the wall and the device 100, and looked directly into the first opening 12.

[0038] The Fig. 2 shows an example of a variant embodiment in which the translucent body 10 has a further opening 22. In the illustration, the device 100 has a translucent body 10, which in turn has a first opening 12 and a further opening 22. In the illustration, a segment of the translucent body is not shown in order to allow a view into the interior thereof. The device has a first and a further illumination unit 14, 24, which are arranged in the translucent body 10 and emit a first light and a third light. The first light is projected exclusively via the first opening 12 onto a surface OT1. The third light is projected exclusively via the further opening 22 onto a further surface OT2. In addition to the first and the further illumination unit 14, 24, a second illumination unit 16 is arranged in the translucent body.

[0039] In the example shown, the second lighting unit 16 is arranged on the first and second lighting units 14 and emits a second light. An inner side of the translucent body 10 is illuminated with the second light. The second light penetrates exclusively the translucent body 10 and illuminates / illuminates the room R. In the example shown, the first and the further lighting units 14, 24 each have a concealed light source 142, 242 inside. In the present example, the device is free of a line of sight between the observer and the concealed light sources 142, 242. For this purpose, in the present case, the device 100 is mounted on a ceiling, with the surface OT2 being part of the ceiling. An observer B standing below cannot detect the concealed light source 242.If the device is mounted on a ceiling with the second opening facing forward, a ring light can alternatively be arranged in place of the lighting unit 24, since an observer is usually prevented from seeing the device mounted on the ceiling. The lighting unit 14, on the other hand, has optical elements inside, between the concealed light source 142 and the first opening 12, which guide the first light from the concealed light source 142 to the first opening, but block the observer's view of said light source. The path between the observer B and the concealed light source is free of a line of sight.

[0040] The Fig. 3 shows an example of a variant embodiment. The example has a translucent body 310 in which a second lighting unit 316 is arranged. The second lighting unit 316 emits a second light, which illuminates / brightens the room R through the translucent body 310. Due to the translucent property, the room is enveloped in a soft and warm light. The translucent body 310 is arranged on a light guide unit 322 and connected thereto. The light guide unit 322 is in turn arranged on a stand body 320 and connected thereto. The stand body 320 has a first lighting unit 314 inside. The lighting unit 314 is arranged in the stand body 320 and emits a first light.The first light is sent inside the stand body 320 to the light guide unit 322, which in turn receives the first light and guides it along the transverse axis Lx to the (own) edge of the light guide unit 322. From here, the first light from the light guide unit 322 is projected onto a part OT of the surface O, with which the device is in contact via the stand body 320. In the present illustration, the device is designed as a table / reading lamp. The room is therefore illuminated via the translucent body 310, and a book or similar item can be placed in the area illuminated by the first lighting unit 314. This creates a pleasant lighting atmosphere for the reader, as they are not dazzled by the hidden lighting unit 314.

[0041] The Fig. 4 shows a detailed representation of the example from Fig.3, in which the beam path from the illumination unit 314 out of the light-guiding unit 322 is visualized. In the example shown, the light-guiding unit 322 has the first illumination unit 314 inside it, which emits a first light in the direction of the light-guiding unit 322. In the variant shown, the light-guiding unit 322 has a planar light guide 326 and a deflecting mirror 324. The planar waveguide 326 guides the first light exclusively to the edge / ends of the planar waveguide 326. The translucent body 10 arranged on the planar waveguide 326 exclusively absorbs the second light from the second illumination unit 316. An upper side of the planar waveguide 326 is configured to block the guided first light from propagating into the translucent body.

[0042] From the edge / ends of the planar waveguide 326, the first light is projected onto the portion of the surface via the deflecting mirrors 324. An observer is free of a line of sight between himself and the illumination unit 314 arranged in the first illumination source.

Claims

[1] A device (100) (300) for low-glare lighting of a room (R), comprising: - a translucent body (10) (310), - a first lighting unit (14) (314) arranged on or in the translucent body, which is designed to illuminate a surface, in particular directly, - a second lighting unit (16) (316) arranged in the translucent body, which is configured to illuminate the space through the translucent body (10) (310). [2] The device (100)(300) of claim 1, wherein the first illumination unit (14)(314) comprises a first concealed light source (142)(314) and the device (100)(300) is free of a line of sight between an observer (B) located in the room and the first concealed light source. [3] The device (100) of claim 1 or 2, further comprising a longitudinal (Ly) and a transverse (Lx) axis, wherein: - the translucent body (10) further comprises a first opening (12) arranged along the longitudinal axis (Ly) and extending along the transverse axis (Lx), - the first lighting unit (14) arranged in the translucent body (10) is arranged to emit a first light via the first opening (12) and to illuminate a surface (OT1), and - the second lighting unit (16) arranged in the translucent body (10) is configured to emit a second light and to illuminate the space (R) through the translucent body (10), wherein the first lighting unit (14) has a first light source (142) concealed from an observer (B) located in the space. [4] The device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the translucent body (10) has at least one further opening (22), in particular arranged / extended along the longitudinal axis and / or arranged / extended along the transverse axis, wherein at least one further lighting unit (24) is arranged on or in the translucent body, which is configured to emit a third light and to illuminate a further surface (OT2) via the at least one further opening, wherein the at least one further lighting unit (24) has a second light source concealed from an observer (B) located in the room. [5] The device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein a line of sight exists between the observer (B1) and the first and / or second concealed light source (142), wherein a first observation angle (BW1) relative to the longitudinal axis (Ly) has a value between ±90°, in particular between ±60° or ±40°. [6] The device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the device is free of a line of sight between an observer (B) located in the room and the first and / or second obscured light source (142) (242). [7] The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a luminance ratio of a device luminance to an average room luminance of an area or part of an area of ​​the room is less than one, wherein the luminance ratio is determined with respect to an observer (B) who is outside a first and / or a second observation angle. [8] The device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a luminance ratio of a device luminance to a room luminance is less than one. [9] The device according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first and the at least one further opening are arranged along, in particular on, the longitudinal axis, in particular opposite one another. [10] The device (100) according to one of claims 3 to 9, wherein the first lighting unit (14) and the translucent body (10) are arranged on the longitudinal axis (Ly) and a light-emitting end of the first lighting unit (14) terminates, in particular flush, with the first opening (12) of the translucent body (10) and / or the at least one further lighting unit (24) and the translucent body (10) are arranged on the longitudinal axis (Ly) and a light-emitting end of the further lighting unit (24) terminates, in particular flush, with the at least one further opening (22). [11] The device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein a light emission angle at the first and / or the at least one further opening relative to a perpendicular on the respective opening plane has a value between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±40°. [12] The device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first lighting unit (16) and the further lighting unit (24) can be screwed together and / or the second lighting unit (16) is arranged on the first and / or on the further lighting unit (14) (24), in particular is connected to the first and / or the further lighting unit (14) (24). [13] The device (300) of claim 1, further comprising: - a longitudinal (Ly) and a transverse axis (Lx), - a second lighting unit (316) arranged in the translucent body (310) and configured to emit a second light and to illuminate the space (R) through the translucent body (310), and - a stand unit (318) in contact with a surface (O), which is configured to generate a first light, to direct it from the stand unit (318) and to project it onto a part (OT) of the surface (O) surrounding the stand unit. [14] The device (300) of claim 13, wherein a luminance ratio of a device luminance to an average spatial luminance of an area or an average spatial luminance of a part of an area of ​​the room is less than one. [15] The device (300) of claim 14, wherein a luminance ratio of a device luminance to an average spatial luminance of an area or an average spatial luminance of a part of an area of ​​the room is less than or equal to one, the luminance ratio being determined with respect to an observer (B) located outside the part (OT) of the surface (O) surrounding the stand unit (318). [16] The device (300) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the stand unit (318) comprises: - a base body (320) in contact with the surface (O), in which, in particular centrally in a light guide unit (322) and / or light guide (326) comprising the base body, a first illumination unit (314) is arranged, which is configured to emit a first light, and - a light guiding unit (322) arranged on or on the stand body (320), which is configured to receive the first light emitted by the first lighting unit (314) and to project it out of the light guiding unit (322) onto the part (OT) of the surface (O) surrounding the stand unit. [17] The device (300) according to claim 16, wherein the light guiding unit (322) is configured to project the first light at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis (Ly) between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±40°, onto the part (OT) of the surface (O) surrounding the base unit (318). [18] The device (300) according to claim 17, wherein the light guide unit (322) comprises: - a, in particular planar, light guide (326) which is configured to receive the first light and to guide it to a, in particular curved, deflecting mirror (324), wherein the deflecting mirror (324) and the light guide (326) are configured to project the first light at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis between ±90°, in particular ±60° or ±40°, onto the part (OT) of the surface (O) surrounding the base unit (318). [19] Method (500) for low-glare illumination of a room (R), comprising the steps: - Providing a translucent body; - Providing a first lighting unit arranged on or in the translucent body; - Illuminating a surface with the first lighting unit; - providing a second lighting unit arranged in the translucent body, which is configured to emit a second light; - Illuminate the room with the second light through the translucent body.

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