阅读说明：本技术 发光设备 (Light emitting device ) 是由 E·P·布尼坎普 L·J·L·海宁 J·J·瑞恩 于 2020-05-27 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种适于将光束(15)投影到目标表面上的发光设备(1),该发光设备(1)包括：光引擎(2),其包括光源(3)；光混合室(4)；和光学组件(5),其具有带有弯曲光接收表面(51)的球形形状。其中光源(3)被布置成在操作中朝向至少一个光混合室的光出射窗(41)发射光,至少一个光混合室(4)的光出射窗(41)由此充当具有弯曲发光表面的扩展光源,其中光学组件(5)被设置成邻近光混合室的光出射窗(41),并且其中至少一个光混合室(4)的弯曲发光表面与光学组件(5)的弯曲光接收表面(51)共形,并与光学组件(5)的焦表面(52)重合。(A light emitting device (1) adapted to project a light beam (15) onto a target surface, the light emitting device (1) comprising: a light engine (2) comprising a light source (3); a light mixing chamber (4); and an optical component (5) having a spherical shape with a curved light receiving surface (51). Wherein the light source (3) is arranged to emit light in operation towards the light exit window (41) of the at least one light mixing chamber, the light exit window (41) of the at least one light mixing chamber (4) thereby acting as an extended light source having a curved light emitting surface, wherein the optical component (5) is arranged adjacent to the light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber, and wherein the curved light emitting surface of the at least one light mixing chamber (4) is conformal to the curved light receiving surface (51) of the optical component (5) and coincides with the focal surface (52) of the optical component (5).)

1. A light emitting device (1) adapted to project a light beam (15) onto a target surface, the light emitting device (1) comprising:

a light engine (2) comprising a light source (3),

a light mixing chamber (4), and

an optical component (5) having a spherical shape with a curved light receiving surface (51),

wherein the light source (3) is arranged to emit light in operation towards a light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber, the light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber (4) thereby acting as an extended light source with a curved light emitting surface,

wherein the optical component (5) is arranged adjacent to a light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber and

wherein the curved light emitting surface of at least one light mixing chamber (4) is conformal to the curved light receiving surface (51) of the optical component (5) and coincides with the focal surface (52) of the optical component (5).

2. A light emitting device according to claim 1, wherein the optical component (5) is a ball lens, a ball lens or a dielectric sphere.

3. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein said light source (3) comprises any one of at least one LED, an LED array, a mini-LED array and a micro-LED array.

4. The light emitting device according to claim 3, wherein each LED of the array of LEDs, mini-LEDs and/or micro-LEDs is individually controllable.

5. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, comprising two or more light engines (2).

6. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein the light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber is rectangular.

7. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein the light mixing chamber (4) comprises a reflective wall (42; 43).

8. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein a diffuser (12) is arranged at a light exit window (41) of the light mixing chamber.

9. A light emitting device according to claim 8, wherein the shape of the diffuser (12) is conformal to the shape of the optical component.

10. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein the light mixing chamber (4) is divided into at least two compartments (9, 10).

11. A light emitting device according to claim 10, wherein at least two compartments (9, 10) of the light mixing chamber are separated by means of a diffusely or specularly reflective wall (11).

12. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein the light mixing chamber (4) comprises any one of a mixing rod, a tapered mixing rod, a light guide, a tapered hexagonal collimator and a square array of mixing rods.

13. A light emitting device according to any one of the above claims, wherein the optical component (5) is or comprises a lens array.

14. A light emitting device according to claim 13, wherein each lens of the array of lenses is associated with a light source (3).

15. A lamp, luminaire, or luminaire comprising the light emitting apparatus of any of the above claims.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a light emitting device adapted to project a light beam onto a target surface, the light emitting device comprising at least one light engine comprising at least one light source adapted to emit light in operation, at least one light mixing chamber and an optical assembly.

As used herein, a light mixing chamber is intended to mean a chamber, cavity, tube, or box, etc., that is adapted or capable of mixing light originating from one or more light sources and propagating therethrough to form an output that is a mixture of light from the one or more light sources.

Background

Interest in dynamic LED lighting systems is rapidly increasing, wherein the light beam changes its shape depending on the needs of the user. The light beam may be controlled by a smartphone or a remote control. The current example of beam control uses a Liquid Crystal (LC) element to control the shape of the collimated LED beam. Other examples have small built-in motors to control the movement of optical components within the light fixture. Dynamic light beams are also possible by using pixelated LED light sources. These configurations work very well, but require multiple optical components (such as condenser lenses, plano-convex lenses, and diffuser films) to shape the final beam.

For example, the prior art document US-4727457 discloses a device with a ball lens and an LED. The LED may be located in the focal point of the ball lens, or within the focal distance. However, this device is an omnidirectional light source for decorative lighting and is not capable of projecting sharp images.

In addition, all known concepts for remotely adjusting the light beam are either expensive or require a lot of effort to construct and maintain a rather long lifetime (e.g. over 50000 hours).

It is therefore desirable to provide a light emitting device of the kind mentioned by way of introduction which has a simpler construction, is cheap, easy to construct and which requires little or no maintenance during its lifetime.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the present invention to overcome this problem and to provide a light emitting device suitable for projecting a light beam onto a target surface, which light emitting device has a simpler construction, is cheap, easy to construct and which light emitting device requires little or no maintenance during its lifetime.

According to a first aspect of the invention, this and other objects are achieved by means of a light emitting device adapted to project a light beam onto a target surface, the light emitting device comprising: a light engine comprising a light source; a light mixing chamber; and an optical assembly having a spherical shape with a curved light receiving surface. The light source is arranged to, in operation, emit light towards the light exit window of the light mixing chamber, the light exit window of the light mixing chamber thereby acting as an extended light source having a curved light emitting surface, the optical component is arranged adjacent to the light exit window of the light mixing chamber, and the curved light emitting surface of the light mixing chamber is conformal (conformal) to the curved light receiving surface of the optical component and coincides with the focal surface of the optical component.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which makes it possible to provide an adjustable light beam using a single optical component (i.e. a spherical optical component) which is combined with a shaped extended light source (due to the provision of at least one light mixing chamber). Such a light emitting device has a very simple construction, requires few components and is cheap to manufacture.

In particular, by arranging the curved light emitting surface of the light mixing chamber to conform to the curved light receiving surface of the optical assembly and further to coincide with the focal surface of the optical assembly, a light emitting device is provided which is particularly simple to construct and assemble and which requires little or no maintenance during its lifetime. Such a light emitting device is capable of projecting very sharp images.

Furthermore, as will be clear from the following, patterned (dynamic) illumination becomes possible, since the extended light source may be divided into pixels or domains. This approach has great potential for retail/store lighting, architectural lighting and outdoor lighting.

In an embodiment, the optical component is a ball lens, a ball lens or a dielectric sphere.

Such an optical assembly is very useful for illumination purposes and provides not only a particularly simple construction of the light emitting device but also a particularly clear projected image.

In an embodiment, the light source comprises any one of at least one LED, an LED array, a mini-LED array and a micro-LED array.

The construction of such a light-emitting device is particularly simple. Furthermore, the provision of an array of LEDs, mini-LEDs and micro-LEDs provides a particularly uniform light output of the extended light source and thus of the light beam exiting the light mixing chamber.

In an embodiment, each LED of the array of LEDs, mini-LEDs and/or micro-LEDs is individually controllable.

In addition to the above, this provides for enabling fine tuning of the light output of the extended light source, and thus of the light beam exiting the light mixing chamber.

In an embodiment, the lighting device comprises two or more light engines.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which has greater versatility with respect to variations in obtainable light output, and which may thus meet a wider range of user requirements.

In an embodiment, the light exit window of the light mixing chamber is rectangular.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which allows for providing more complex and customizable illumination patterns, especially in combination with employing more than one light source.

In an embodiment, the light mixing chamber comprises reflective walls.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which minimizes or completely avoids light losses in the light mixing chamber and with which the light output of the light mixing chamber is particularly uniform.

In an embodiment, the diffuser is arranged at the light exit window of the light mixing chamber.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided with which the light delivered to the optical component is particularly uniform and furthermore free of artifacts (artifacts).

In an embodiment, the shape of the diffuser conforms to the shape of the optical component.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which is particularly simple in construction and which requires little or no maintenance during its lifetime. Furthermore, such a light-emitting device is capable of projecting particularly sharp images.

In an embodiment, the light mixing chamber is divided into at least two compartments.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which has greater versatility with respect to the possible illumination patterns that may be obtained, and which may thus meet a larger range of user requirements.

In an embodiment, at least two compartments of the light mixing chamber are separated by means of diffusely or specularly reflective walls.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which enables individual control of the light output of each compartment of the light mixing chamber and which thus has a great versatility with respect to variations in the obtainable light output. Furthermore, by providing the partition wall as a reflective or specular wall, a light emitting device is provided which minimizes or completely avoids light loss at the partition wall and with which the light output of the light mixing chamber is thus particularly uniform.

In an embodiment, the light mixing chamber comprises any one of a mixing rod, a tapered mixing rod, a light guide, a tapered hexagonal collimator, and a square array of mixing rods.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which has a particularly large versatility with respect to the possible illumination patterns that can be obtained, since in principle any illumination pattern can be obtained depending on the specific configuration and distribution of the components of the light mixing chamber.

Furthermore, the optical efficiency of the light emitting device is improved by collimating the light output of the light mixing chamber.

In an embodiment, the optical component is or comprises a lens array.

This embodiment is particularly advantageous for spotlight modules and provides a further improved versatility in terms of the illumination patterns that are made possible.

In an embodiment, each lens of the array of lenses is associated with a light source.

Thereby, a light emitting device is provided which has a reduced thickness and which has excellent thermal properties.

Furthermore, in a second aspect, the invention relates to a lamp, luminaire or lighting device comprising the light emitting apparatus according to the invention.

Such a lamp, luminaire or lighting device may be a lamp, luminaire or lighting device, e.g. a spotlight module, for retail or shop lighting, for architectural lighting or for outdoor lighting purposes.

It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims.

Drawings

This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing embodiment(s) of the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a light emitting device according to the present invention.

Fig. 2A shows a cross-sectional side view of a second embodiment of a light emitting device according to the invention.

Fig. 2B shows a bottom view of the light emitting device according to fig. 2A.

Fig. 2C shows a perspective view of the light mixing chamber of the light emitting device according to fig. 2A.

Fig. 3A illustrates a light pattern obtained with the light emitting device according to fig. 2A, and fig. 3B illustrates an intensity distribution obtained with the light emitting device according to fig. 2A.

Fig. 4A shows a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of a light emitting device according to the invention.

Fig. 4B shows a bottom view of the light emitting device according to fig. 4A.

Fig. 4C shows a perspective view of the light mixing chamber of the light emitting device according to fig. 4A.

Fig. 5A illustrates a light pattern obtained with the light emitting device according to fig. 4A, and fig. 5B illustrates an intensity distribution obtained with the light emitting device according to fig. 4A.

Fig. 6A shows a cross-sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of a light emitting device according to the invention and comprising two light sources adapted to emit light having mutually different color temperatures.

Fig. 6B shows a cross-sectional side view according to another viewing angle of the light emitting device of fig. 6A.

Fig. 6C shows a bottom view of the light emitting device according to fig. 6A.

Fig. 7A-7C illustrate three different exemplary light patterns (top) and intensity distributions (bottom) obtainable with the light emitting device according to fig. 6A. Fig. 7A illustrates the result of both light sources being turned on, fig. 7B illustrates the result of the light source having a higher color temperature being turned on, and fig. 7C illustrates the result of the light source having a lower color temperature being turned on.

Fig. 8A shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of a light emitting device according to the invention and comprising a light mixing chamber with two compartments.

Fig. 8B shows a perspective view of the light emitting device according to fig. 8A.

Fig. 9A and 9B illustrate two different exemplary intensity distributions obtainable with the light emitting device according to fig. 8A. Fig. 9A illustrates the result of the light sources arranged in two compartments being turned on, while fig. 9B illustrates the result of the light sources arranged in one compartment being turned on and the light sources arranged in the other compartment being turned off.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a light emitting device according to the present invention.

Fig. 11A shows a perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a light emitting device according to the present invention.

Fig. 11B shows a cross-sectional side view of the light emitting device according to fig. 11A.

Fig. 12A and 12B illustrate two different exemplary light patterns obtainable with the light emitting device according to fig. 11A.

Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional side view of an eighth embodiment of a light emitting device according to the invention and comprising a plurality of light engines.

Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

Note that throughout the drawings, see for example figure 3A,representing the illumination on a projection surface, such as a floor or wall, and see for example figure 3B,a far field intensity profile (profile) obtained with the light emitting device is shown.

Detailed Description

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and to fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled person.

Fig. 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

Generally, and independently of the embodiment, the light emitting device 1 is of a type suitable for projecting a light beam 15 onto a target surface. The lighting device 1 comprises at least one light engine 2. The light engine 2 comprises one or more light sources 3, at least one light mixing chamber 4 and an optical assembly 5. The optical component 5 has a spherical shape.

Generally, and independently of the embodiment, the at least one light mixing chamber 4 is arranged between the at least one light source 3 and the spherical optical component 5, when seen along the optical axis 6 of the light emitting device 1.

Furthermore, the light emitting device may comprise a housing 7 with a front window 8. The housing 7 may be a black absorbing housing or tube. The front window 8 is transparent and may for example be made of transparent polycarbonate or textured PMMA, optionally provided with a diffusing component (such as a diffuser film).

Typically, and independently of the embodiment, the at least one light source 3 comprises one or more LEDs. The LEDs may be adapted to emit light of any feasible color. In embodiments comprising two or more LEDs, the LEDs may be adapted to emit light of the same color temperature or of two or more different color temperatures. The at least one LED may also be an adjustable LED.

Generally, and independently of the embodiment, the at least one light mixing chamber comprises a light exit surface or window 41, a bottom surface 43, and a peripheral surface 42 extending between the light exit window 41 and the bottom surface 43. The bottom surface 43 and the perimeter surface 42 are non-light emitting surfaces.

The light emitting device 1 of fig. 1 comprises a light mixing chamber 4 and a light source 3. At least one light source 3 is arranged on the bottom surface 43 of the light mixing chamber.

Typically, and independently of the embodiment, the at least one light source 3 is arranged to emit, in operation, light in a direction substantially towards the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 4, such that the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 4 thereby acts as an extended light source.

Typically, and independently of the embodiment, the optical assembly 5 is arranged adjacent to the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 4. The light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber comprises a curved surface configured to conform to the curvature of the outer surface 51 of the optical component 5. See also fig. 2C and 4C, which better show the curvature of the light exit window 41. Furthermore, the light exit window 41 is positioned so as to coincide with the focal surface 52 of the optical component 5.

As schematically illustrated in fig. 1, the optical component 5 may be a dielectric sphere, a spherical lens or a spherical lens. The optical assembly is characterized by having a radiusAnd refractive index. The optical component 5 further comprises a diameter. FIG. 1 shows the focus of a parallel incident beam. Focal pointLocated on the focal plane 52. The focal surface 52 is a spherical surface. Thus, the focal lengthSatisfies the relationship:

{1}。

the focal surface (or focal surface) of a spherical lens is typically located close to the spherical lens surface. For example, if the refractive indexAnd 2, the focal plane is located exactly on the surface of the spherical lens. Such lenses are commonly used for fiber-to-fiber coupling.

Spherical lenses and ball lenses are very useful for lighting applications. Since the focal plane is very close to the spherical lens surface, it is possible to project the image of the extended light source on the floor or wall in an efficient manner. A prerequisite is that the surface of the extended light source, and thus in the present invention the surface of the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 4, follows the shape of the focal surface 52.

Fig. 2A shows a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 100 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2B shows a bottom view of the light emitting device 100 according to fig. 2A, and fig. 2C shows a perspective view of the light mixing chamber of the light emitting device 100 according to fig. 2A. The light emitting apparatus 100 differs from the light emitting apparatus of fig. 1 described above in that the light mixing chamber 400 of the light emitting apparatus 100 is provided with a square cross-sectional shape.

The reason for providing the light mixing chamber 400 of the light emitting device 100 with a square cross-sectional shape is to provide a square illumination pattern. However, and as illustrated in fig. 3A, such a light mixing chamber 400 actually provides a square light pattern with concave sides. Fig. 3B illustrates an intensity distribution of the pattern of fig. 3A.

Fig. 4A shows a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 101 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4B shows a bottom view of the light emitting device 101 according to fig. 4A, and fig. 4C shows a perspective view of the light mixing chamber 401 of the light emitting device 101 according to fig. 4A. The light emitting device 101 differs from the light emitting device of fig. 1-2C described above in that the light mixing chamber 401 of the light emitting device 101 is provided with a square cross-sectional shape with concave sides. Since the concave sides are provided in order to obtain a perfectly square illumination pattern, the shape of the light exit window 41 should be adapted compared to the shape shown in fig. 2A-2C. The perimeter shape of the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 401 may be defined by the following parametric equation:

in both of the equations 2 and 3,is a parametric representation describing the perimeter of the mixing chamberThe parameter (2) of (1),is a scale factor, andis a factor that determines the shape. By way of example, in equations 2 and 3,equal to 10 mm andequal to 1.22. In the embodiment shown in the drawings, it is,equal to 15 mm and equal to 15 mm,equal to the value of 2.00 is,equal to 15 mm, andequal to 15.1 mm. The resulting illumination on a projection surface (e.g., floor or wall) is shown in fig. 5A, featuring a perfectly square pattern, and the far-field intensity profile obtained with the light emitting device 401 is illustrated in fig. 5B. In the examples illustrated in fig. 3 and 5, respectively, the distance between the light exit window 41 and the projection is 2000 mm.

In the above-described embodiments, it is assumed that the extended light source is completely uniform, that is, the light emission degree (lm/m) of the extended light source²) Is constant over the entire light emitting area. To adjust the projected illuminance (e.g., to produce a perfectly uniform illumination square), the light emittance of the extended light source may be adapted.

Another aspect is to extend the quality or uniformity of the light source. This aspect can be considered by arranging the light sources 3 as a dense array of mini-LEDs or micro-LEDs. Typical mini-LEDs are 100 and 200 microns in size. micro-LEDs are much smaller, such as 10-50 microns. These LEDs form an almost continuous light emitting surface. In the projected image, the individual LEDs are hardly visible. In this particular case, the micro-LEDs form an almost continuous light emitting area. However, there are still small slits or gaps between the LEDs that are visible when fully imaged. To avoid imaging of these slits or gaps, and thus fine tuning the uniformity of the projected light pattern, the full set of micro-LEDs can be placed slightly (e.g. +/-0.2 mm) out of focus, i.e. a little in front of or behind the focal plane. To fine tune the uniformity of the projected light pattern, the light source may be placed slightly out of focus (e.g., in front of or behind the focal plane).

Turning now to fig. 6A, a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 102 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. Fig. 6B shows a cross-sectional side view of the light emitting device 102 according to fig. 6A from another perspective, and fig. 6C shows a bottom view of the light emitting device 102 according to fig. 6A. The light emitting device 102 differs from the light emitting device described above in that two light sources 31 and 32 and two light mixing chambers 402 and 402' are provided (see fig. 6B). The two light sources 31, 32 are arranged on rectangular light mixing chambers 402, 402' arranged adjacent to each other. The light exit window 41 of the two light mixing chambers 402, 402' comprises a curvature that coincides with the curvature of the surface 51 of the optical component 5. In the example shown, this arrangement is combined with a ball lens 5, whereinEqual to 15 mm and equal to 15 mm,equal to the value of 1.80,equal to 16.9 mm, andequal to 15.5 mm. The two rectangular light exit windows 41 of the two adjacently arranged light sources 31 and 32, and thus also the light mixing chambers 402, 402', emit light with different color temperatures, such as for example 2200K and 6500K.

The two rectangular light exit windows 41 of the light mixing chamber 402, 402' yield three possible illumination configurations, as illustrated in fig. 7A (both light sources 31, 32 are on), fig. 7B (only light source 32 is on) and fig. 7C (only light source 31 is on). The distance from the light-emitting device to the projection surface is 2000 mm. This embodiment allows for more complex and customizable illumination patterns.

Fig. 8A shows a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 103 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 8B shows a perspective view of the light mixing chamber 403 of the light emitting device 103 according to fig. 8A. The light emitting device 103 differs from the light emitting device described above in that the light mixing chamber 403 is provided with two compartments 9 and 10 separated by an optical separation sheet or optical separation wall 11. Embodiments with more than two such compartments are also possible. Thus, a more complex and flexible system can be designed using a free-form (freeform) mixing chamber consisting of a large number of compartments that can be individually controlled. The light source 3 is placed on the flat surface 43 of the light mixing chamber 403. In this embodiment, the light mixing chamber 403 may be, inter alia, a light mixing box. Furthermore, the light mixing chamber 403 comprises highly reflective, and optionally also diffusive, walls 42. A diffuser 12 (fig. 8A) is placed at the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 403. The diffuser 12 is shaped to follow the shape of the focal surface of the spherical optical component 5. An advantage of such a light mixing chamber 403 is that the spherical optical component 5 receives uniform light from the individual light sources 3 without any artifacts.

By varying the height of the light mixing chamber 403And/or the arrangement of the light sources 3 on the flat bottom surface 43 to adjust the light emittance (lm/m) of the extended light source, i.e. the light exit window 41 of the light mixing chamber 403²). This applies in principle to all embodiments disclosed herein.

In addition, depending on the light mixing chamber403, the diffuser 12 may have different diffusing properties at corresponding positions on the light exit window 41. For example, when using a bulk diffuser, the thickness of the diffuser 12 may vary over the light exit window 41. In the example of fig. 8A and 8B, the height of the mixing chamberIs 10 mm and has a diameterIs 24 mm. In the case of a spherical optical component,equal to 15 mm and equal to 15 mm,is equal to 2.0, andequal to 15.1 mm. Ten light sources 3 are provided, each light source 3 having dimensions of 1 mm by 1 mm. These light sources 3 are placed on a circle with a radius of 10 mm on the bottom 43 of the light mixing chamber 403. The light source 3 is an LED with a lambertian emission profile.

Fig. 9A illustrates the beam shape (far field intensity profile) obtained when the light sources in both compartments 9 and 10 of the light mixing chamber 403 of the light emitting device 103 of fig. 8A-8B are switched on, and fig. 9B illustrates the beam shape (far field intensity profile) obtained when the light sources in only one compartment are switched on. The illuminance on the projected area is also indicated in fig. 9A and 9B. The projected area is 6000 mm by 6000 mm, and the distance to the projected area is 2000 mm.

Note that the separation between compartments may be rigid or flexible. Fig. 8A and 8B show a rigid separation between compartments. By using a low height (i.e. not touching the shaped diffuser over its entire length) divider sheet or wall, the transition can be made more flexible or gradual.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a light emitting device 104 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. The light emitting device 104 differs from the light emitting device described above in that the light mixing chamber is provided with a tapered configuration. More particularly, the light mixing chamber 404 is a tapered hexagonal collimator for mixing and collimating light from the two LED light sources 31, 32 having mutually different color temperatures (e.g. 2200K and 6500K). The advantage of collimated light (in addition to mixing the colors of two different LED light sources) is that a higher optical efficiency and a sharper (sharp) image formation is obtained.

Fig. 11A shows a perspective view of a light emitting device 105 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 11B shows a cross-sectional side view of the light emitting device 105 according to fig. 11A. The light emitting device 105 differs from the light emitting device described above in that the light mixing chamber 405 comprises an array of mixing rods 13, 13' having a square cross-sectional shape. In the example shown, an array of 5 by 5-or 25 in total-mixing rods 13, 13' is provided. Different array sizes are also possible. The 25 light-exit windows 41 thus formed are shaped so as to, in combination, conform to the shape of the focal surface of the spherical optical component 5. Each mixing rod 13, 13' is associated with one or more LED light sources 3. Each LED light source 3 or LED light source cluster is adapted to be individually controlled, i.e. switched on or off or even dimmed. By means of such a light emitting device 105, complex light patterns can be generated, as illustrated in fig. 12A and 12B. Fig. 12A shows the result of all light sources 3 being turned on, while fig. 12B shows the result of some light sources 3 being turned on and others being turned off.

Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional side view of a light emitting device 106 according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention. The light emitting device 106 differs from the light emitting device described above (and in particular the light emitting device described in relation to fig. 1) in that an array of spherical optical components 5 is provided, each spherical optical component 5 being associated with a light mixing chamber 4 and one or more light sources. For simplicity, fig. 13 does not show the light source. In other words, the light emitting device 106 comprises a plurality of light engines 2, in particular five light engines 2 as shown by way of non-limiting example.

The person skilled in the art realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims.

Furthermore, variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.