Optical system of emission of light in luminous beacons and systems of aid to the navigation (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

066 568 U

DESCRIPTION

Optical light emission system in luminous beacons and navigation aids systems.

Object of the invention

An optical system consisting of three lenses with dioptric and catadioptric elements is described, arranged in a triangular way so that each lens is focused on a light source, this being a light emitting diode (LED, OLED) or a LASER. This invention is applicable in the naval industry and maritime navigation.

The specially designed geometry of each lens results in a beam of light whose emission angle in the vertical plane varies between 3 ° and 8 ° depending on the dimensions of the light source used, and in the horizontal plane 180 ° obtaining in this plane 50% of the maximum emission in 120 °, so that when arranged in a triangular shape a 360 ° beam of light is achieved.

Background of the invention

Until a few years ago, in the lighting systems of navigation aids (beacons and beacons), Fresnel lens optical systems have been used with traditional light sources such as incandescent and halogen lamps to produce 360 ​​degree beams of light in the horizon, and between 1 ° and 10 ° of amplitude in the vertical plane.

With the emergence in the market of new light sources made up of solid-state emitting diodes known as LEDS, the optical systems for this type of products within this market have had to adapt to these new light sources. Technical problem to solve

The main problem lies in the fact that these LED light sources do not emit light at a solid angle Ω = 4π (spherical emission), as happens with lamps, but they emit their luminous flux only and at most at a solid angle Ω = 2π. Due to this characteristic, traditional optical systems do not perform adequately, since several light elements cannot be focused on a single focal point of a lens.

The optical systems that are on the market and that have been developed so far, are based on one or more lenses so that each of them does not have a focal point, but a focal axis, which also does not coincide with its axis of usually cylindrical symmetry, and they are focused on several LEDs.

The symmetry of this type of lenses or mirrors means that the focus of the flux of each diode is only correct in the axis perpendicular to the lens that passes through the LED, so the flux of the latter incident on the lens in the other directions it is not used properly.

This problem implies that the energy performance of a beacon of this type is not optimal and, taking into account that these systems are mostly powered by solar energy, the cost of batteries and solar panels to reach a certain luminous range is very high. tall.

Description of the invention

The invention that is described consists of an optical system for emitting light in beacons and navigation aids systems that comprises a luminous element and a Fresnel-type lens that covers it. The lens is made up of a dioptric element with an aspherical profile and two catadioptric elements, in the upper and lower part, as well as an aspherical profile on its face of total reflection. The Fresnel lens has cylindrical symmetry with respect to the focal axis of the lens, so that the luminous element is positioned on the axis of symmetry of the Fresnel lens, and the lens focuses the luminous element and collects the light emitted by it, In a way that redirects it, forming a beam of light of 120 ° in the horizontal plane, with an angle of between 3 ° and 8 ° in the vertical plane.

The luminous element can be an LED, an OLED or a laser and, in a preferred configuration, the system consists of three of said devices with their corresponding Fresnel lens and light source, so that said three devices are arranged in a equilateral triangle. In this way, the light beam obtained by all three devices is 360 ° in the horizontal plane, with an angle of between 3 ° and 8 ° in the vertical plane.

Explanation of the drawings

Figure 1 represents a sectional view of the lens.

Figure 2 is a side view of the lens.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the lens.

Figure 4 represents various front views from different angles.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the three lens system.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the assembly represented in Figure 5.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

The system that this invention describes comprises a Fresnel-type lens with cylindrical symmetry designed to focus a single luminous element of the LED, OLED or LASER type in such a way that the emission of the luminous flux is maximized at a solid angle Ω = 2π.

The lens collects the light emitted by the luminous element and redirects it forming a light beam of 120 ° in the horizontal plane and, depending on the dimensions of the light source (diode or laser), between 3 ° and 8 ° in the vertical plane. The emission angles in the different planes are understood to be 50% of the maximum intensity.

With these characteristics, the configuration of the complete system would be the arrangement of three lenses of this type, each one with its corresponding light source, arranged in an equilateral triangular shape, so that the light beam obtained is 360 ° in the plane. horizontal and between 3 ° and 8 ° in the vertical plane depending on the dimensions of the diode used. The system has an energy efficiency that is 100% better than the best equipment on the market today, and 250% more than most other equipment.

Figure 1 makes it possible to understand a preferred embodiment of the invention. The lens is made up of a diopter element with an aspherical profile and two catadioptric elements, in the upper and lower part, also with an aspherical profile on its face of total reflection. The operation of the lens can be easily understood in view of figure 1, which represents a section passing through its focal axis. In a focal point (1) there is a light emitting element, preferably (as indicated), an LED, an OLED or a LASER. The light beams (2) exit the focal point (1) and pass through the lens through different tra3

ES 1,066,568 U yectories; element (3) represents the lens in a section that passes through its axis of symmetry.

The lens incorporates a fixing system to be able to couple the light element (diode or laser) with the highest possible precision. It also incorporates a fixing system to be able to anchor it to an external support.

Figures 2, 3 and 4 represent different views of the lens, according to lateral, rear and front positions from various angles respectively.

A special configuration occurs when a set of three lenses is presented, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The system consists of a support in the shape of an equilateral triangle to which the lenses that already have the element incorporated are screwed. luminous (LED, OLED or LASER). In this way, the whole is compacted forming a single luminous element whose characteristics are the same as those detailed above.

In the world market for navigation aids systems, solar powered LED beacons are the ones with the greatest energy restrictions, given that their maximum range is around 5 nautical miles in the case of the most modern equipment. . Standard ranges for this type of short-range signaling are typically 3, 5, and 7 miles. Therefore, there are no beacons of this type on the market. With the system described in the present invention, using the simpler solar panels that are used in beacons that now have a range of between 2 and 3 miles, it is possible to reach more than 5 miles and with those of a beacon that now does not reach at 5 miles, you can get a range of 7 miles. This can give an idea of ​​the effectiveness of the system.