权利要求：
1. A luminaire, comprising:
(a) at least one light source;
(b) a mounting rail;
wherein said mounting rail features right and left housing engagement tangs;
wherein said right housing engagement tang features a right lower catadioptric lens retention surface and wherein said left housing engagement tang features a left lower catadioptric lens retention surface;
(c) a housing assembly comprising a right housing side panel, a left housing side panel and a lower diffusing lens element;
wherein each of said right and left housing side panels are immediately adjacent to said lower diffusing lens element and connect to said lower diffusing lens element at a right diffusing lens junction and at a left diffusing lens housing junction;
wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature a housing support wing;
wherein each of said housing support wings bear a mounting rail attachment tang and a lower lends engagement tang;
wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature an upper mounting rail engagement tang that engages with one of said right and left housing engagement tangs located on said mounting rail element;
wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature a lower lens attachment tang that engages with a right and left lower lens engagement region to secure a right and left side of a catadioptric lens element in place between each of a right and left side upper mounting rail tangs each having an upper lens engagement region, and said right and left lower engagement tangs;
(d) a catadioptric lens; wherein said catadioptric lens has right and left edge support regions; wherein each of said right and left edge support regions feature a lower and upper engagement surface; and
(e) a left and right luminaire end cap located adjacent to the left and right sides of said housing assembly; and
(e) a power supply means capable of energizing said light source.
2. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein each of said housing support wings further comprises a light reflecting element located on a bottom facing surface of said housing support wing and extending from said diffusing lens housing junction to said housing lower lens engagement tang.
3. The luminaire of claim 2, wherein said light source is selected from a point source, a linear source, and a linear array of point sources.
4. The luminaire of claim 3, wherein said linear light source is selected from an incandescent lamp, fluorescent tube, linear LED, linear LED array, linear Lambertian emitter, and linear fiber optic light guide.
5. The luminaire of claim 4, wherein said point source is selected from a solid state LED, Lambertian emitter, and 2π emitter.
6. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein said right and left housing side panels are opaque; and wherein said diffusing lens element is at least partially light transmitting.
7. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein said left and right luminaire end caps each feature a first and second end cap engagement element that reversibly secures each end cap to at least one end of said housing assembly.
8. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein said power supply means is a power coupling element connecting said at least one light source to a power source selected from a battery, control circuit, printed circuit control board, alternating current source, capacitor, and combinations thereof.
9. The luminaire of claim 1, wherein said catadioptric lens has an upper lens section, an intermediate main lens region and a lower lens section disposed opposite the upper lens section; wherein the light from said light source is directed onto said upper lens section and is subsequently emitted from said lower lens section; wherein the upper lens section comprises a first and second bilaterally symmetric upper lens lobe each with surfaces exhibiting positive curvatures situated about a center optical axis A that is normal and perpendicular with respect to a cross-sectional plane through the upper lens section; wherein said lower lens section features a single symmetric lower lens lobe with a surface exhibiting negative curvature situated about said center optical axis A; wherein said first and second upper lens lobes are joined at the center optical axis A and are contiguous with and adjacent to right and left upper lobe transition regions, respectively; wherein said right and left upper lobe transitions regions are each contiguous with and adjacent to right and left edge support regions, respectively;
wherein said lower lens lobe is contiguous and adjacent to right and left lower linear transition regions; and
wherein said right and left lower transitions regions are contiguous and adjacent to said right and left edge support regions, respectively.
10. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of either said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections of said catadioptric lens is composed of materials having different optical properties from said main lens region.
11. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein said upper lens section comprises an upper coextruded top layer adjacent to and contiguous with said upper lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
12. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein said lower lens section comprises a lower coextruded bottom layer adjacent to and contiguous with said lower lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
13. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein said upper lens section comprises an upper coextruded top layer adjacent to and contiguous with said upper lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region; and
wherein said lower lens section comprises a lower coextruded bottom layer adjacent to and contiguous with said lower lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
14. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein said portion of either of said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections comprises a contiguous film of uniform thickness of a material having different optical properties from said main lens region.
15. The luminaire of claim 9, wherein said upper lens lobes have upper surfaces exhibiting a surface curvature corresponding to a segment selected from a circle, ellipse and parabola; and wherein said lower lens lobe has a lower surface exhibiting a surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle.
16. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a radius of R2.
17. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of an ellipse have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a major radius of R2 and a minor radius of R3.
18. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a parabola have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a radius of R2 and a parabolic constant of n.
19. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said lower lens lobe with a lower surface exhibiting a concave surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle has a center of origin C1 located on a normal perpendicular axis A, and having a radius of R1.
20. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of an ellipse have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a major radius of R2 and a minor radius of R3; and
wherein said lower lens lobe with a lower surface exhibiting a concave surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle has a center of origin C1 located on a perpendicular optical axis A, and having a radius of R1.
21. The luminaire of claim 15, wherein said second and third centers of origin C2 and C3 are located on a horizontal plane bisecting said upper lens section and said lower lens section; with a first center of origin located on said perpendicular optical axis A;
wherein said first, second and third centers of origin C1, C2 and C3 are positioned in a triangular relationship; wherein C1, C2 and C3 are located on the vertices of a hypothetical equilateral triangle wherein C1 is located on said perpendicular optical axis A; wherein C1 is located below said horizontal plane; and
wherein C2 and C3 are located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections.
背景技术：
[0002]It is known to use light emitting sources, including for example, but not limited to, incandescent lamps, fluorescent tubes, and solid state light sources including, but not limited to light emitting diodes (LEDs), LED arrays, Lambertian emitters, 2π emitters, and fiber optic light guides, in a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, retail and commercial lighting applications where a uniform lighting field is desirable. Specifically, linear LED sources and LED arrays are increasingly finding applications in retail, commercial, and general lighting applications since their radiative light outputs have increased exponentially, prices have fallen significantly over the past few years and reliability of the materials have improved significantly, leading to lower installation and less frequent repair and replacement. LEDs are attractive due to their small size and the fact that they consume less power relative to incandescent and fluorescent light sources. The popularity of LEDs as light sources is expected to continue and increase as their potential benefits are further developed, particularly with respect to increased light output.
[0003]Available LEDs come in different sizes and different emitting cone angles. An emitting cone angle is typically referred to as 2φ. LEDs emit light over a wide range of cone angles, ranging from 15 degrees (forward emitting or side emitting) to 180 degrees (hemispherical emitting). It is therefore very important to construct efficient light dispersal assemblies to harness the maximum possible light output from LEDs and direct it in a predetermined and controlled manner. Generally, these LED arrays are simply substituted into existing luminaires as an improved light source, but uniformity of the emitted light, even with a typical diffuser lens in place, is poorer due to the nature of the point source emissivity of the LEDS, even when combined and spaced at closer distances such as in a linear LED array designed to replace a fluorescent tube.
[0004]There is a need in the lighting systems field to create lighting systems and luminaires with improved and more uniform field illumination and which can be used with any type of light source or solid state light source such as an LED to direct light in a predetermined manner. According, there is also a need for improved lenses and light dispersion means that function better with point source emission devices, like LEDs and as well with linear LED arrays, that are able to better disperse incident light to create a brighter, more uniform and improved field of illumination.
[0005]Embodiments of this present invention provide such an improved LED dispersing lens system in the form of a luminaire featuring a housing configuration suitable for hosting a batwing-style catadioptric lens in combination with a light source, mounting means, supporting structure and augmented internally reflective light elements acting in concert with a light diffusing lens element to increase and optimize the overall luminosity and uniformity of illumination provided by the luminaire assemblies of the present invention.
具体实施方式：
[0025]A corresponding Figure Key detailing the specific component parts, regions and configuration of embodiments of the inventive disclosure is attached to this Application in an Appendix, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.
DESCRIPTION
[0026]Generality of Invention
[0027]This application should be read in the most general possible form. This includes, without limitation, the following:
[0028]References to specific techniques include alternative and more general techniques, especially when discussing aspects of the invention, or how the invention might be made or used.
[0029]References to “preferred” techniques generally mean that the inventor contemplates using those techniques, and thinks they are best for the intended application. This does not exclude other techniques for the invention, and does not mean that those techniques are necessarily essential or would be preferred in all circumstances.
[0030]References to contemplated causes and effects for some implementations do not preclude other causes or effects that might occur in other implementations.
[0031]References to reasons for using particular techniques do not preclude other reasons or techniques, even if completely contrary, where circumstances would indicate that the stated reasons or techniques are not as applicable.
[0032]Furthermore, the invention is in no way limited to the specifics of any particular embodiments and examples disclosed herein. Many other variations are possible which remain within the content, scope and spirit of the invention, and these variations would become clear to those skilled in the art after perusal of this application.
[0033]Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. In addition, the present disclosure may repeat reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed.
[0034]Embodiments of the inventive disclosure presented herein include a catadioptric lens assembly for use with various light emitting sources. The lens assembly includes an upper section and a lower section that are both coplanar about a horizontal axis, and which are symmetrically centered about a vertical (normal) optical axis perpendicular to the longitudinal optical axis and a plane corresponding to these said two axes. The upper section includes two lobes whose surfaces feature a generally positively curved elliptical, circular or parabolic shape, being bilaterally symmetric about the vertical optical axis, and connecting to symmetric upper linear transition regions on both sides of the upper section further transitioning to corresponding edge support regions. The lower section of the inventive lens assembly features a single lobe whose surface features a generally negatively curved circular shape, the single lobe being bilaterally symmetric about the vertical optical axis, connecting to symmetric lower linear transition regions on both sides of the lower section transitioning to corresponding edge support regions, the upper and lower sections sharing said left and right edge support regions at the extreme left and right sides of the lens assembly. The top surface of the upper section of the lens assembly is the area of the lens assembly that is axially closest to the light emitting source. Co-extrusion of materials to form either a top, or bottom or dual coextruded layer integral to the surface of the catadioptric main lens enables uniform reflection and refraction of light incident to the top surface of the inventive lens assembly to be dispersed over a larger and more uniformly illuminated surface on the opposite or distal side (lower) of the inventive lens assembly. In various embodiments of the present invention as disclosed herein, the coextruded top and bottom layers may be of the same material, optical properties and optical density or alternatively the same material treated to have different optical properties, such as decreased translucency or transmission density to increase light scattering and dispersion properties, or may alternatively be of a different material, being compatible for co-extrusion and lamination onto the coextruded main lens region, but having different optical properties or densities. Examples include, but are not limited to, coextruded polymers having an added scattering material, or surface treatments to the coextruded polymer layers than provide translucency, such as frosting, etching, texturing, knurling and related surface modifications that provide for increased incident light dispersion.
[0035]Further inventive embodiments include a lens assembly with a single extruded main lens region which has optionally either a top, bottom or dual top and bottom layer of material intimately applied to the main lens region in a similar manner as illustrated for coextruded portions as disclosed herein, where the optional top and bottom layers are selected having differing optical properties than that of the main lens region.
[0036]One inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly comprising (a) a lens configured to receive light from a light source; wherein said lens has an upper lens section and a lower lens section disposed opposite the upper lens section; wherein said upper and lower lens sections encompass a intermediate mains lens region; wherein the light from said light source is directed onto said upper lens section and is subsequently emitted from said lower lens section; wherein the upper lens section features a first and second bilaterally symmetric upper lens lobe each with surfaces exhibiting positive curvatures situated about a center optical axis A that is normal and perpendicular with respect to a cross-sectional plane through the upper lens section; wherein said lower lens section features a single symmetric lower lens lobe with a surface exhibiting negative curvature situated about said center optical axis A; wherein said first and second upper lens lobes are joined at the center optical axis A and are contiguous with and adjacent to right and left upper lobe transition regions, respectively; wherein said right and left upper lobe transitions regions are each contiguous with and adjacent to right and left edge support regions, respectively; wherein said lower lens lobe is contiguous and adjacent to right and left lower linear transition regions; wherein said right and left lower transitions regions are contiguous and adjacent to said right and left edge support regions, respectively; and (b) a light source; wherein said light source is selected from a point source, a linear source, and a linear array of point sources.
[0037]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein at least a portion of either said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections is composed of materials having different optical properties from said main lens region.
[0038]Yet another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens section comprises an upper coextruded top layer adjacent to and contiguous with said upper lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
[0039]A further inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said lower lens section comprises a lower coextruded bottom layer adjacent to and contiguous with said lower lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
[0040]Yet a further inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens section comprises an upper coextruded top layer adjacent to and contiguous with said upper lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region; and wherein said lower lens section comprises a lower coextruded bottom layer adjacent to and contiguous with said lower lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
[0041]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said portion of either of said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections comprises a contiguous film of uniform thickness of a material having different optical properties from said main lens region.
[0042]A further inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens lobes have upper surfaces exhibiting a surface curvature corresponding to a segment selected from a circle, ellipse and parabola; and wherein said lower lens lobe has a lower surface exhibiting a surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle.
[0043]Yet a further inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a radius of R2.
[0044]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of an ellipse have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a major radius of R2 and a minor radius of R3.
[0045]Yet another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a parabola have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a radius of R2 and a parabolic constant of n.
[0046]An additional inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said lower lens lobe with a lower surface exhibiting a concave surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle has a center of origin C1 located on a normal perpendicular axis A, and having a radius of R1.
[0047]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said upper lens lobes with upper surfaces exhibiting a convex surface curvature corresponding to a segment of an ellipse have centers of origin C2 and C3 located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections, and have a major radius of R2 and a minor radius of R3; and wherein said lower lens lobe with a lower surface exhibiting a concave surface curvature corresponding to a segment of a circle has a center of origin C1 located on a perpendicular optical axis A, and having a radius of R1.
[0048]Yet another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said second and third centers of origin C2 and C3 are located on a horizontal plane bisecting said upper lens section and said lower lens section; with a first center of origin located on said perpendicular optical axis A; wherein said first, second and third centers of origin C1, C2 and C3 are positioned in a triangular relationship; wherein C1, C2 and C3 are located on the vertices of a hypothetical equilateral triangle wherein C1 is located on said perpendicular optical axis A; wherein C1 is located below said horizontal plane; and wherein C2 and C3 are located on a horizontal plane parallel to a plane bisecting said upper and lower lens sections.
[0049]One additional inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a catadioptric lens assembly wherein said portion of either said upper and lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections is composed of materials that exhibit light scattering properties; and wherein said main lens is composed of an optically clear material.
[0050]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a luminaire or luminaire housing assembly, featuring the combination of (a) at least one light source; (b) a catadioptric lens assembly configured to receive light from at least one solid state light source; wherein said lens assembly has an upper lens section, an intermediate main lens region and a lower lens section disposed opposite the upper lens section; wherein the light from said light source is directed onto said upper lens section and is subsequently emitted from said lower lens section; wherein the upper lens section comprises a first and second bilaterally symmetric upper lens lobe each with surfaces exhibiting positive curvatures situated about a center optical axis A that is normal and perpendicular with respect to a cross-sectional plane through the upper lens section; wherein said lower lens section features a single symmetric lower lens lobe with a surface exhibiting negative curvature situated about said center optical axis A; wherein said first and second upper lens lobes are joined at the center optical axis A and are contiguous with and adjacent to right and left upper lobe transition regions, respectively; wherein said right and left upper lobe transitions regions are each contiguous with and adjacent to right and left edge support regions, respectively; wherein said lower lens lobe is contiguous and adjacent to right and left lower linear transition regions; wherein said right and left lower transitions regions are contiguous and adjacent to said right and left edge support regions, respectively; and (c) a housing supporting said light source and said catadioptric lens assembly.
[0051]Another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a luminaire wherein said light source is a solid state light source selected from an LED, LED array, Lambertian emitter, 2π emitter, and fiber optic light guide.
[0052]Yet another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a luminaire wherein said light source is a linear light source selected from an incandescent lamp, fluorescent tube, linear LED, linear LED array, linear Lambertian emitter, and linear fiber optic light guide.
[0053]A further inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a luminaire wherein at least a portion of either said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections is composed of materials having different optical properties from a main lens region located between said upper and lower lens surfaces; wherein said upper lens section comprises an upper coextruded top layer adjacent to and contiguous with said upper lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region; and wherein said lower lens section comprises a lower coextruded bottom layer adjacent to and contiguous with said lower lens section and extending from a first left edge support region to a second right edge support region.
[0054]Yet another inventive embodiment of the present disclosure is a luminaire wherein at least a portion of either said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections is composed of materials having different optical properties from a main lens region located between said upper and lower lens surfaces; and wherein said portion of either of said upper or lower surfaces of said upper and lower lens sections comprises a contiguous film of uniform thickness of a material having different optical properties from said main lens region.
[0055]A further embodiment of the present invention is a batwing-style lens containing luminaire that has (a) at least one light source; (b) a mounting rail; wherein said mounting rail features right and left housing engagement tangs; wherein said right housing engagement tang features a right lower catadioptric lens retention surface and wherein said left housing engagement tang features a left lower catadioptric lens retention surface; (c) a housing assembly comprising a right housing side panel, a left housing side panel and a lower diffusing lens element; wherein each of said right and left housing side panels are immediately adjacent to said lower diffusing lens element and connect to said lower diffusing lens element at a right diffusing lens junction and at a left diffusing lens housing junction; wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature a housing support wing; wherein each of said housing support wings bear a mounting rail attachment tang and a lower lends engagement tang; wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature an upper mounting rail engagement tang that engages with one of said right and left housing engagement tangs located on said mounting rail element; wherein said right and left housing side panels each feature a lower lens attachment tang that engages with a right and left lower lens engagement region to secure a right and left side of a catadioptric lens element in place between each of a right and left side upper mounting rail tangs each having an upper lens engagement region, and said right and left lower engagement tangs; (d) a catadioptric lens; wherein said catadioptric lens has right and left edge support regions; wherein each of said right and left edge support regions feature a lower and upper engagement surface; and (e) a left and right luminaire end cap located adjacent to the left and right sides of said housing assembly; and (e) a power supply means capable of energizing said light source.
[0056]Another embodiment of the present invention is a luminaire wherein each of the housing support wings further comprises a light reflecting element located on a bottom facing surface of said housing support wing and extending from said diffusing lens housing junction to said housing lower lens engagement tang, the light reflecting element acting to increase the total emitted luminosity of the luminaire by redirecting internally reflecting light onto the diffusing lens element.
[0057]In additional embodiments of the present invention, the luminaire may employ a light source is selected from a point source, a linear source, and a linear array of point sources. Suitable linear light sources include an incandescent lamp, fluorescent tube, linear LED, linear LED array, linear Lambertian emitter, and linear fiber optic light guide, and for point sources, suitable light emitters include solid state LEDs, Lambertian emitters, and 2π emitters.
[0058]In some embodiments of the present invention, the luminaire's right and left housing side panels may be opaque, so that no light is emitted from the side panels, while the diffusing lens element may be optically clear or at least partially light transmitting, including being optically clear or transparent, or alternatively slightly limiting with respect to light transmission, being frosted, patterned, translucent and combinations thereof having the capability of transmitting light but not necessarily being perfectly clear.
[0059]In related embodiments of the present invention, the luminaire's right and left housing side panels may be partially light transmitting.
[0060]In yet further embodiments of the present invention, the luminaire may be terminated on one or both ends with a end cap to finish the luminaire housing assembly, and end caps may each feature a first and second end cap engagement element that reversibly secures each end cap to at least one end or terminus of the luminaire assembly.
[0061]In related embodiments to that immediately above, two luminaires may be positioned end-to-end and attached together by other means to secure the connection and provide a visually seamless connection between a first and second luminaire by using a Light Injected Terminal Lensing and Coupling Device as disclosed and claimed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/694,435, filed Nov. 25, 2019, which acts to eliminate any visual gap in lighting between adjacent luminaires, enabling the chain coupling of luminaires in an end-to-end fashion for larger length applications exceeding the length of a single luminaire assembly.
[0062]In embodiments of the present invention, power is supplied to the light source using any acceptable means including use of wires, power leads, printed circuit boards and the like, and the electrical power as a power source may include use of a battery, control circuit, printed circuit control board, alternating current source, capacitor, and combinations thereof, capable of switching or controlling the electrical power provided by a power supply to the light source, in order to turn it on and off and to control its intensity, as desired. In related embodiments employing LED light strips, arrays and similar devices where multiple-color LEDs may be combined, the power supply may be controlled so as to energize any combination of LEDs, and control their relative emitted light intensity, so as to enable the production of any RGB (Red-Green-Blue) color in the human color spectrum of visual perception.
[0063]In further embodiments of the present invention wherein the batwing-style catadioptric lens is combined into an integrated luminaire assembly as disclosed herein, the catadioptric lens features an upper lens section, an intermediate main lens region and a lower lens section disposed opposite the upper lens section; wherein the light from said light source is directed onto said upper lens section and is subsequently emitted from said lower lens section; wherein the upper lens section comprises a first and second bilaterally symmetric upper lens lobe each with surfaces exhibiting positive curvatures situated about a center optical axis A that is normal and perpendicular with respect to a cross-sectional plane through the upper lens section; wherein said lower lens section features a single symmetric lower lens lobe with a surface exhibiting negative curvature situated about said center optical axis A; wherein said first and second upper lens lobes are joined at the center optical axis A and are contiguous with and adjacent to right and left upper lobe transition regions, respectively; wherein said right and left upper lobe transitions regions are each contiguous with and adjacent to right and left edge support regions, respectively; wherein said lower lens lobe is contiguous and adjacent to right and left lower linear transition regions; and wherein said right and left lower transitions regions are contiguous and adjacent to said right and left edge support regions, respectively. In these embodiments, the right and left edge support regions are engaged by the corresponding right and left lens engagement tangs of the present invention, secured between upper and lower engagement tangs which define right and left pairs of upper and lower engagement regions, holding the catadioptric lens securely in between by engaging the respective right and left edge support regions on their respective top (upper) and bottom (lower) surfaces. The combination of engagement tangs and their corresponding lens engagement regions serves to secure the catadioptric lens in the desired orientation and relative position for maximum alignment and spacing with respect to the light source in order to produce the optimum luminosity pattern and maximize the intensity of light emitted by the lens.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0064]FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional representation of one inventive embodiment of a catadioptric lens assembly 100. The lens assembly 100 continues longitudinally along an optical longitudinal axis B that is perpendicular to an optical vertical axis A and extends along the length of the lens assembly (not shown) for any desired length, L. The lens assembly 100 includes an upper section 101 and a lower section 109, section 101 being above the horizontal lens axis C, section 109 starting immediately below the horizontal lens axis C, as shown in FIG. 1. The upper section 101 and lower section 109 are both coplanar about the horizontal axis C, but not symmetric to this axis or a plane along this axis. The upper section and lower section are also both bilaterally centered about the vertical optical axis A that is perpendicular to the longitudinal optical axis B. The upper section includes two lobes 103 whose surfaces have a generally positively curved (convex) circular, elliptical or parabolic shape, the two lobes being bilaterally symmetric to the vertical optical axis A at a lens center transition plane 102 (see also FIG. 4 A/B plane), the distal ends of each of the two upper lens lobes 103 connecting via a upper lobe transition plane 104 to symmetric upper linear transition regions 105 on both sides of the upper section further transitioning to corresponding edge support regions 106 that terminate with outer lens edges 108. The lower section 109 features a single lower lens lobe 110 that has a generally negatively curved (concave) spherical shape, the single lobe being bilaterally symmetric about the vertical optical axis A, connecting via lower lobe transition planes 111 to symmetric linear transition regions 112 on both sides of the lower section transitioning to corresponding edge support regions 114, the upper and lower section sharing left and right edge support regions 106.
[0065]Note that in FIG. 1 and corresponding figures and descriptions of the inventive embodiments herein, only one side of a symmetric element or feature may be labeled in the figure to avoid congestion, but its left- or right-handed counterpart symmetric about the indicated axis or plane is referred to herein as X′, relating to X by symmetry of projection with respect to the indicated axis or plane.
[0066]Accordingly, the inventive lens assembly 100 is bilaterally symmetric with respect to the normal or perpendicular optical vertical axis A, both left and right sides of the lens assembly being identical mirror images with respect to each other. The lens assembly 100 is linearly contiguous and uniform about its cross-section along the longitudinal axis (B) that is coincident to, and extends along the length, L.
[0067]The top surface of the upper section of the lens assembly is the area of the lens assembly that is axially closest to the light emitting source, whose axis is centered around the optical vertical axis A.
[0068]In a luminaire configuration featuring a linear array of light emitting sources, the orientation of the linear array is coincident to the optical longitudinal axis B, or in other words, is positioned parallel with the longitudinal axis B that is coincident to the length dimension of the lens assembly.
[0069]In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the lens assembly features a coextruded upper layer 120 attached to a proximal or top side of the extruded lens region 125, with a second coextruded lower layer 130 attached to a distal or bottom side of the intermediate extruded lens region 125. In one embodiment, the coextruded top layer 120 is contiguous with and extends along the entire top lens section 101 from the left upper linear transition region (105) to the right upper linear transition region 105 (as labeled). In another related embodiment, the coextruded top layer 120 is contiguous with and extends along the entire top lens section 101 from the left edge support region (106) to the right edge support region 106, or extends to intermediate positions between each of said right and left regions 105 and 106, respectively. Generally, neither the coextruded top layer 120 nor the coextruded bottom layer 130 extend to the extreme edge of the lens assembly 100 denoted as the left outer edge (108) and right outer edge 108 (as labeled), as the edge support regions are used to support the lens assembly and not generally exposed to, or within the optical path of light.
[0070]In further related embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 2, the optional coextruded layers can be applied singly to one or either side of the extruded mains lens region 225, as shown in two embodiments labeled A and B. 200A shows one embodiment of the present disclosure featuring a lens assembly with lower coextruded bottom layer 230 only, with no upper coextruded layer or surface treatment to the upper section or surface of the upper lens section 201 and not modifying the surface of either of the upper lens lobes (left and right) 203 having a Lens center transition plane 202 at the junction of said upper lens lobes 202 and left and right upper lobe transition planes 104 also lacking a coextruded top layer or surface treatment in the embodiment 200A shown in example A.
[0071]A second embodiment 200B shown in example B in FIG. 2 features a coextruded lens having only a coextruded top layer 220 that is contiguous with the top surface of upper lens section 201 of extruded main lens region 225 and extends along the entire top lens section 201 from the left edge support region (206) to the right edge support region 206, or extends to intermediate positions between each of said right and left regions 205 and 206, respectively. Generally, neither the coextruded top layer 220 nor the coextruded bottom layer 230 extend to the extreme edge of the lens assemblies 200(A,B) denoted as the left outer edge (208) and right outer edge 208 (as labeled).
[0072]In related embodiments, an optional Coextruded top layer 220 and Coextruded bottom layer 230 may be formed onto the extruded main lens region 225 as either a contiguous coextruded layer or as a contiguous surface treatment the surface of the extruded mains lens region 225, said surface treatment extending across the same surface area as represented by the respective top and bottom coextruded layer regions of the lens assemblies 200 (A, B).
[0073]In further related embodiments of the present disclosure, as shown in FIG. 3, the optional coextruded layers can be applied singly to one or either side of the extruded mains lens region 325, as shown in two embodiments labeled A and B. 300A shows one embodiment of the present disclosure featuring a lens assembly with both a lower coextruded bottom layer 330 only and upper coextruded layer 320 or surface treatment to the upper section or surface of the upper lens section 301.
[0074]A second embodiment 300B shown in example B in FIG. 3 features a coextruded lens having a coextruded top layer 320 that is contiguous with the top surface of upper lens section 301 of extruded main lens region 325 and extends along the entire top lens section 301 from the left edge support region (306) to the right edge support region 306, or extends to intermediate positions between each of said right and left regions 305 and 306, respectively. Generally, neither the coextruded top layer 320 nor the coextruded bottom layer 330 extend to the extreme edge of the lens assemblies 300(A,B) denoted as the left outer edge (308) and right outer edge 308 (as labeled).
[0075]In the example embodiment 300A, the coextruded top layer 320 extends to the junction of the upper transition region 305 and the edge support region 306. In the example embodiment 300B, the coextruded top layer 320 extends slightly beyond the junction of the upper transition region 305 and the edge support region 306, to a point intermediate between the outer edge 308 and the upper linear transition region 305, for both the left and right symmetric sides of the lens assemblies 300.
[0076]In related embodiments, an optional coextruded bottom layer 330 may be formed onto the extruded main lens region 325 as either a contiguous coextruded layer contacting the lower surface of the extruded mains lens region 325, said bottom layer 330 being coextruded with a greater cross-sectional thickness compared to the top layer 320. In related embodiments, the thickness of an upper or lower coextruded layer can vary according to need, from 0.001″ to 0.25″ in thickness for example. In related embodiments wherein the upper and lower layers are not coextruded but are applied as films or layers to a center extruded mains lens section, the thickness can also vary according to need, from about 0.001″ to about 0.10″ in thickness, depending on the laminate or film thickness employed. In related embodiments wherein the upper and lower layers are not coextruded but are post-treated to change their optical properties, such treatments including etching, frosting, knurling, templating and other such sur