EP2401543B1 - Outdoor lighting unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an outdoor lighting unit for illuminating roads, footpaths, industrial outdoor facilities and the like (e.g., railway facilities, aircraft taxiways, parking lots, houses, campgrounds, sports fields, etc.).

For such outdoor lighting units, it is known to provide an LED light source having a plurality of light emitting diodes and is characterized by a high reliability and long life. However, when using an LED light source, it is important not to exceed a predetermined operating temperature. It is also important to protect the LED light source against dirt and weather. These measures should be achieved with a low production cost. Furthermore, the outdoor lighting unit should be easily adapted to different applications or customer requirements.

document US 2006/0250803 A1 describes a lighting unit according to the preamble of claim 1.

document WO 2009/031845 A2 describes a light-emitting diode lamp with a water cooling. The housing may have a planar mounting portion for an LED light source at the bottom and a convexly curved cooling portion with cooling channels at the top.

document US 2004/0188593 A1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source and a light sensor.

document US 2008/0068799 A1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source, a housing and a pivotable covering device on the underside of the housing.

document EP 1 916 468 A1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source having a plurality of modules which can be mounted in different combinations on a mounting portion.

document US 2008/0002399 A1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source, a housing and two cover means which are pivotally hinged to the underside of the housing. The LED light source is modular.

document FR 2 913 483 A1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source and a housing having a flat mounting portion for the LED light source on a bottom and is convexly curved at the top and provided with cooling channels.

document DE 20 2009 000 344 U1 describes a lighting unit with an LED light source and a housing, on the underside of a cover is hinged pivotally. The top of the housing is convexly curved and provided with cooling channels.

It is an object of the invention to provide an outdoor lighting unit which, with simple manufacture, ensures effective cooling of the LED light source and protection against environmental influences.

This object is achieved by an exterior lighting unit with the features of claim 1. This lighting unit has an LED light source with a plurality of light emitting diodes in a two-dimensional, ie planar arrangement. Furthermore, the lighting unit has a housing, which comprises a one-piece solid housing element.

This housing element has on a lower side (relative to the position of use of the lighting unit) at least one planar mounting portion on which a rear side of the LED light source is fixed in a flat and in heat-conducting connection. The housing element further has on the underside a peripheral edge portion which projects downwardly with respect to the plane of said mounting portion (again with reference to the position of use of the lighting unit). On an upper side, the housing member has an exposed cooling portion which is convexly curved and has a plurality of cooling channels extending along the convex curvature. In addition, the housing element comprises a holding portion by means of which the lighting unit on a holding device, for example on a mast, cantilevered is fastened.

Since the housing element is formed integrally and solidly with said various sections, the housing element serves not only for receiving the LED light source. But the housing member also forms an effective heat sink for the LED light source having a high heat capacity and a good heat conduction from the mounting portion for the LED light source to all of said other portions of the housing member. Due to the planar arrangement of the LED light source on the mounting portion of the housing element efficient transmission of waste heat of the LED light source is ensured on the housing element, wherein a direct surface contact, an indirect surface contact (eg via a thermal paste) or a slight air gap can be provided can. Due to the one-piece design, a simple production of the housing element and a simple installation of the lighting unit are possible.

By the peripheral wall portion of the housing member on the underside of a mounting volume is formed, in which the LED light source can be arranged, in particular together with a reflector device. The downwardly projecting arrangement of the wall section (again based on the position of use of the lighting unit) corresponds to a bell-like enclosure of the LED light source, whereby a particularly good protection against environmental influences is ensured.

While the entire housing element is effective as a heat sink for the waste heat of the LED light source due to its massive design, the top of the housing element (ie in the use position of the lighting unit substantially upwardly facing outside) serves as a cooling section to that of the LED light source effectively dissipate absorbed heat to the environment. This cooling section is exposed, i. he is directly exposed to the environment of the lighting unit. Due to the convex curvature of the cooling section and the formation of a plurality of cooling channels, an air flow can be utilized particularly effectively for cooling purposes. Namely, ambient air heated by the case member and flowing upward is guided along the cooling passages, resulting in an increase in the flow rate (channel effect) and an increase in the area detected by the air flow. Furthermore, cooling of the housing element and self-cleaning effects by precipitation are possible, which acts on the housing element from above and flows down along the cooling channels (rain, melted snow or molten ice).

Due to the integral formation of a holding portion on said housing member (for example, a hinge portion or a mounting flange) results in not only a particularly simple construction of the lighting unit with few components, but also a good heat transfer to the holding device, which can thus serve as an additional heat sink, especially for adjacently arranged electronic or electrical components of the lighting unit with a particularly high heat output ( eg power supply, control unit).

The LED light source optionally includes one or more modules having an anisotropic beam angle characteristic, i. in different solid angle ranges, a different radiation flux is emitted (X / Y characteristic). The mounting portion of the housing member is configured to selectively receive a single module (having a predetermined beam angle characteristic), or a plurality of modules (having a respective predetermined beam angle characteristic) in a longitudinal array, or to receive a plurality of modules of the LED light source in a transverse array. In other words, the plurality of modules may optionally be arranged side by side in a longitudinal direction or juxtaposed in a transverse direction. As a result, the lighting unit can be easily adapted to different applications or customer requirements (variable assembly of the mounting portion of the housing element according to a "modular principle").

The mounting portion of the housing member has a "+" - shape, that is, the mounting portion is substantially cross-shaped. Thus, a plurality of modules of the LED light source may optionally be mounted side by side on the mounting portion in a longitudinal arrangement or in a transverse arrangement.

Advantageous embodiments are described below and referred to in the subclaims.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the housing element extends from the said holding section along a longitudinal direction, wherein the cooling channels of the cooling section extend substantially perpendicular to this longitudinal direction. As a result, the lighting unit, which is already characterized by a high stability due to the one-piece design of the explained housing element, can withstand particularly high wind loads. If the wind does not act on the relatively narrow front or rear side, but on one of the longitudinal sides of the housing element, the reduced air resistance due to the transverse cooling channels makes itself advantageously noticeable. This is particularly important when the lighting unit is used for illuminating streets, since the lighting unit is typically arranged free-standing in this case and is supported only by a mast as a holding device, so that the lighting unit is exposed to the air currents unprotected.

A particularly cost-effective production of the housing element results when this is formed as a cast part, for example made of a light metal.

Preferably, the housing element is made of a seawater-resistant aluminum alloy, specifically without special surface treatment on the upper side, ie on the said cooling section. For this example, an AlMg or AlMgMn alloy can be used (in particular AlMg2Mn0.8 or AlMg4.5Mn). Provided that no natural oxide layer is formed on the housing element and also no anodic Oxidation (anodization) is made, namely, results in a better self-cleaning effect at the top of the housing element, which in the long term ensures better heat dissipation to the environment. Further, if no additional layers are attached to the top (eg, paint), heat insulation by outermost layers is avoided, which also contributes to good heat transfer to the environment. If this additional effect is not required for a desired application, however, a housing element made of a seawater-resistant aluminum alloy with an additional surface protection (eg paint, coating) can also be used.

In order to achieve a particularly effective overflow of the upper-side cooling section of the housing element, said cooling channels preferably have a width at least half their depth (at least about three times as large) as the width of ribs, which are formed on the cooling section between the cooling channels.

In this case, it is preferred if the said cooling channels have a width of at least 10 mm at the half of their depth, in particular a width of at least 15 mm. Furthermore, it is preferred if the cooling channels have a depth of at least 15 mm.

Due to the aforementioned proportions and widths a desired self-cleaning effect is enhanced at the top of the housing element, for example, rainwater without disturbing surface tension effects penetrate well into the cooling channels, these wet, flow out of the cooling channels and this can also entrain contaminants.

Towards the bottom, the cooling channels preferably taper, wherein the bottom of the cooling channels is concavely curved in cross section, for example with a radius of curvature of about 5 mm. As a result, air turbulences can be set at the bottom of the cooling channels, which have an advantageous effect on the heat transfer from the cooling section of the housing element to the environment.

In addition to the said housing element, the housing of the illumination unit may have a covering device which can be fastened to the underside of the wall section of the housing element and which is transparent at least in the region of the LED light source. Such a covering device serves to protect against environmental influences.

Said cover means may be thermally conductively connected to the peripheral wall portion of the housing member, so that the cover means forms a heat sink for the waste heat of the LED light source.

Preferably, the distance between the light-emitting diodes of the LED light source and the covering device is at least 10 mm, in particular at least 15 mm. This ensures that sufficient air circulation can form within the housing in order to convectively dissipate waste heat from the LEDs and to transfer them to different housing areas and thus to ensure even heat distribution.

Said cover means may be pivotally hinged to the housing member to allow easy access to the housing interior (for example, for maintenance purposes).

As far as the said LED light source is concerned, it preferably has an electrical insulating layer on the rear side in order to produce a planar mechanical one To allow connection with the mounting portion of the typically metallic housing element.

The LED light source may be screwed, riveted or glued to the mounting portion of the housing member, in particular using a thermally conductive adhesive.

The housing member may have on its underside at least two separate mounting portions for a respective module of the LED light source, the mounting portions extending along different planes (i.e., at different heights) or inclined relative to each other (i.e., at an angle other than 180 °).

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the said modules of the LED light source have, for example, a substantially square outline in order to allow a single or a multiple arrangement in different directions. However, in principle it is also possible for the modules mentioned to have, for example, a rectangular, a round or a hexagonal shape.

Furthermore, it is preferable if not only a variation with respect to different arrangements in different directions is possible. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to provide a variation of the orientation, ie a module of the light source with a specific X / Y characteristic can optionally also be fastened to the mounting section of the housing element in an orientation rotated by 90 °. This also allows the lighting unit - with otherwise unchanged structure - easily be adapted to different applications or customer requirements. Here are also any intermediate positions possible (ie angles other than 90 °), in particular if the said modules of the LED light source are round or hexagonal.

The surface of the mounting portion of the housing member has, according to another embodiment, a lower roughness than the surface of the cooling portion. While increased roughness on the surface of the cooling portion may contribute to improved heat transfer from the housing member to the environment, relatively low roughness of the surface of the mounting portion results in better heat transfer from the LED light source to the mounting portion of the housing member.

The LED light source preferably comprises a carrier device, to which the plurality of light-emitting diodes are attached in an electrically conductive and heat-conducting manner, wherein a rear side of this carrier device is arranged flat and in heat-conducting connection to the mounting portion of the housing element. Preferably, said support means is formed at least along a layer of heat conduction in order to distribute the heat generated by the light emitting diodes flat along the support means and to transmit from the support means also flat on the mounting portion of the housing member. Unwanted so-called "hot spots", which could adversely affect the performance of the LEDs, thereby effectively avoided.

Said circumferential wall section on the underside of the housing element may surround a mounting volume in which the LED light source is arranged together with an associated reflector device.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the LED light source has a plurality of reflector elements which are arranged between the plurality of light-emitting diodes and connected to the light-emitting diodes in a heat-conducting manner. The reflector elements are in this case on the side facing away from the mounting portion of the housing member side, i. in the position of use of the lighting unit, the reflector elements facing down. The reflector elements serve primarily as reflector elements to distribute the light emitted by the light emitting diodes according to a desired radiation angle characteristic. In addition, the reflector elements provide for improved heat distribution and are effective as a further cooling device by taking a part of the waste heat of the LEDs and deliver it to the interior of the housing.

On the other hand, the distance between a covering device of the housing or the already mentioned underside covering device on the one hand and said reflector elements on the other hand is at least 5 mm. As a result, sufficient air circulation is ensured in the interior of the housing to distribute absorbed by the reflector elements waste heat. Thus, the LED light source is also cooled by air flow (i.e., convective) rather than by heat conduction at the rear over the mounting portion of the housing member.

Furthermore, it is preferred if each of the said reflector elements has an edge which is inclined with respect to a surface normal to the plane of the two-dimensional arrangement of the light-emitting diodes and which is arranged in a longitudinal section parallel to this arrangement plane in a straight line. It has been found that this is a particularly suitable for outdoor lighting units radiation angle characteristic can be realized, the characteristic is adjustable by selecting the inclination angle.

In particular, the reflector elements can be web-shaped and have a substantially trapezoidal or triangular cross section, wherein the aforementioned flanks can also be concavely curved in cross section. As a result, the reflector elements have a particularly simple structure in order to simultaneously fulfill a cooling function and to effect a desired radiation angle characteristic which is selected, for example, as a function of the installation altitude of the exterior lighting unit.

Preferably, said reflector elements are formed separately from each other and also separately from said support means of the LED light source. This results in a modular design with adjustable radiation angle also with regard to the LED light source.

According to a further embodiment, the exterior lighting unit has at least one separate from the LED light source electronic or electrical component, such as a transformer and / or a control unit, which is thermally conductively connected to an associated mounting portion of the housing member. This connection can be realized, for example, via a flat contact or via fastening pins (so-called domes). Thereby, the heat generated by the above-mentioned component is discharged along the case member to both the mounting portion for the LED light source and the cooling portion. In this way it can be achieved that the heat generated by said component is utilized to rapidly bring the LED light source to the desired operating temperature after it has been switched on to bring overheating is avoided by the heat (as well as the waste heat of the LED light source) is ultimately transmitted to the cooling section of the housing member.

According to an advantageous development of this embodiment, the said attachment portion is arranged on the underside of the housing member between the mounting portion (for the LED light source) on the one hand and the explained holding portion (for the attachment of the lighting unit to a holding device) on the other hand, so that generated by the component Heat is also transmitted effectively to the associated holding device. In other words, said electronic or electrical component, which generates a particularly high heat output, is arranged adjacent to the holding section of the housing element, so that the waste heat can be effectively delivered to the associated holding device.

It is preferred if the housing element is increased in the area of said fastening section (for the electrical or electronic component) relative to the mounting section for the LED light source and / or has a greater material thickness. In this way, a higher mechanical stability can be achieved in the region of said fastening section, in particular if it is arranged between said mounting section and the holding section of the housing element, and the higher material input can also lead to a better heat distribution.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine Außenraum-Beleuchtungseinheit in einer Perspektivansicht von schräg oben.

Fig. 2

zeigt die Beleuchtungseinheit in einer Perspektivansicht von schräg unten (mit zwei Modulen der Lichtquelle in einer Queranordnung).

Fig. 3

zeigt eine Unteransicht der Beleuchtungseinheit (mit zwei Modulen der Lichtquelle in einer Längsanordnung).

Fig. 4

zeigt die Beleuchtungseinheit in einer Perspektivansicht von unten (mit einem einzigen Modul der Lichtquelle).

Fig. 5

zeigt eine Perspektivansicht der Unterseite des Gehäuseelementes der Beleuchtungseinheit gemäß Fig. 1 bis 4.

Fig. 6

zeigt eine Unteransicht des Gehäuseelements.

Fig. 7

zeigt eine Querschnittsansicht entlang der Ebene VII-VII gemäß Fig. 6.

Fig. 8

zeigt eine Perspektivansicht eines Moduls der Lichtquelle der Beleuchtungseinheit gemäß Fig. 1 bis 4.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the drawings. The following directions refer to the position of use of the described outdoor lighting unit.

Fig. 1

shows an outdoor lighting unit in a perspective view obliquely from above.

Fig. 2

shows the illumination unit in a perspective view obliquely from below (with two modules of the light source in a transverse arrangement).

Fig. 3

shows a bottom view of the lighting unit (with two modules of the light source in a longitudinal arrangement).

Fig. 4

shows the lighting unit in a perspective view from below (with a single module of the light source).

Fig. 5

shows a perspective view of the underside of the housing element of the lighting unit according to Fig. 1 to 4 ,

Fig. 6

shows a bottom view of the housing element.

Fig. 7

shows a cross-sectional view along the plane VII-VII according to Fig. 6 ,

Fig. 8

shows a perspective view of a module of the light source of the lighting unit according to Fig. 1 to 4 ,

In the Fig. 1 to 4 shown outdoor lighting unit (hereinafter: lighting unit) is used for lighting roads, footpaths, industrial Outdoor facilities and the like. The lighting unit has an LED light source 11 and a housing 13. The housing 13 comprises a single one-piece housing element 15, which is solid, ie substantially without cavities (apart from openings for a mechanical or electrical connection). The housing element 15 is formed as a casting of a seawater-resistant and thus weather-resistant aluminum alloy without additional surface treatment at the top, for example, AlMg4,5Mn. The housing 13 further comprises a covering device 17 in the form of a plate, which is pivotally connected to the housing element 15 by means of two hinges 19 and is designed to be transparent in the region of the LED light source 11. The cover 17 is by means of unspecified fixing in the in Fig. 2 to 4 shown closed position fixable.

The LED light source 11 has a plurality of light-emitting diodes 21 in a two-dimensional arrangement, namely in an arrangement of several rows 23. Further, the LED light source 11 comprises a plurality of web-shaped reflector elements 25, each reflector element 25 between two rows 23 of light emitting diodes 21 arranged or adjacent to an outermost row 23 of light-emitting diodes 21 is arranged (see, in particular Fig. 3 ). The LEDs 21 are attached to a planar support means 27 electrically conductive and thermally conductive. The reflector elements 25 are attached to the support means 27 thermally conductive. The LED light source 11 may comprise a plurality of modules 29, each module 29 having its own carrier device 27 with light-emitting diodes 21 and reflector elements 25 arranged thereon. In Fig. 2 and 3 two such modules 29 are shown. In Fig. 4 a single module 29 is shown.

The housing member 15 includes a plurality of portions integrally formed on the housing member 15 and fulfilling different functions. On the underside of the housing element 15, a planar, substantially "+" - shaped mounting portion 31 is provided, on which the back of the support means 27 of the LED light source 11 is attached flat and in heat-conductive connection (for example, screwed, riveted or glued). The housing member 15 further includes on the underside a peripheral wall portion 33 which cantilevers downward from the plane of extent of said mounting portion 31, i. the wall portion 33 projects downwardly with respect to the plane of the mounting portion 31. As a result, the wall section 31 surrounds a mounting volume 35 of the housing element 15, in which the LED light source 11 including the reflector elements 25 is arranged.

The housing member 15 further includes at the top an exposed cooling portion 37 which is convexly curved (for example, with respect to the plane of extent of the mounting portion 31) and has a plurality of cooling channels 39 extending along the convex curvature. Further, the housing member 15 has a holding portion 41 which cooperates with a hinge member 43 of an associated holding means 45 (e.g., mast) so that the lighting unit can be fastened to the holding means 45 in a cantilevered manner. Starting from the holding section 41, the housing element 15 extends along a longitudinal direction X. The said cooling channels 39 extend substantially perpendicular to this longitudinal direction X, i. along a transverse direction Y.

At the bottom, the housing member 15 further has a mounting portion 47 (see. Fig. 5 and 6 ). At this an electrical component 49 (eg power supply) is fixed in heat-conducting connection (see. Fig. 2 to 4 ).

A particular advantage of the external lighting unit shown consists in the one-piece massive design of the housing member 15 with the sections 31, 33, 37, 41 and 47. In this way, namely the entire and single housing element 15 with optimal heat transfer as a heat sink for the LED light source 11th serve. Since the covering device 17 rests against the underside of the circumferential wall section 33 and is thus connected in a heat-conducting manner to the wall section 33, the covering device 17 can serve as an additional heat sink for the waste heat of the LED light source 11. Heat can also be delivered to the associated holding device 45 via the holding section 41.

Due to the downwardly projecting circumferential wall portion 33, the housing member 15 further has a bell shape, wherein the LED light source 11 is provided with respect to the bottom of the wall portion 33 in an elevated arrangement, so that the LED light source 11 is particularly effectively protected from environmental influences. The voltage applied to the underside of the peripheral wall portion 33 plate-shaped cover 17 provides a simple structure for effective protection of the interior of the housing member 15 from environmental influences.

Hereinafter, further advantageous details of the lighting unit shown will be explained.

By forming the cooling channels 39 on the convexly curved cooling section 37, not only an enlargement of the surface is achieved, but the heating of the ambient air at the top of the housing member 15 causes an increase of the heated air, wherein cooler air along the extending also in the vertical direction cooling channels 39 can flow continuously. As a result, substantially the entire surface of the upper-side cooling section 37 is utilized for effective heat transfer to the ambient air. It is important here that the width of the cooling channels 39 (based on half of their depth) is at least 2.5 times as large as the width of ribs 51 (relative to half the height of the ribs) which are located on the cooling section 37 between the Cooling channels 39 are formed.

The formation of cooling channels 39 with such width ratios is also of particular advantage in terms of stability against wind loads acting along the longitudinal sides of the housing 13. Due to the wide cooling channels 39 results namely (despite the longitudinal shape of the housing 13) along the transverse direction Y only a small air resistance.

Further, the wide cooling channels 39 help to effectively remove the precipitate from the top of the housing 13 to form a self-cleaning effect.

As far as the cooling of the LED light source 11 is concerned, it is also of particular advantage that the reflector elements 25 are thermally conductively connected to the light emitting diodes 21 (directly or via the carrier device 27). The reflector elements 25 thus serve as additional cooling device.

In this context, it is also advantageous that the interior of the housing 13 has a large clearance. In other words, a sufficient distance between the light emitting diodes 21 or the reflector elements 25 on the one hand and the top of the cover 17 on the other hand provided to allow the formation of air circulation in the interior of the housing 13. For example, the distance between the bottom (ie, the top) of the reflector elements 25 and the cover 17 at least 5 mm. As a result, an effective air flow around the light-emitting diodes 21 is made possible for the purpose of convective cooling.

Due to the arrangement of the fixing portion 47 between the mounting portion 31 for the LED light source 11 on the one hand and the holding portion 41 on the other hand, the waste heat generated by the electrical component 49 can be used so that the LED light source 11 reaches its predetermined thermal operating point quickly after switching ,

A particular advantage is with regard to the interaction of the modules 29 of the LED light source 11 with the associated mounting portion 31 of the housing member 15. The substantially square modules 29 have due to the web-shaped reflector elements 25 namely an anisotropic Abstrahlwinkelcharakteristik, ie along a first direction is significantly more light emitted as along a second direction perpendicular thereto. On the one hand, the modules 29 can be fastened in different angular positions on the mounting section 31 (ie the reflector elements 25 run parallel or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X). On the other hand, either a single module 29 or a plurality of modules 29 can be attached in a longitudinal arrangement or in a transverse arrangement to the "+" - shaped mounting portion 31 (ie side by side along the longitudinal direction X or side by side along the transverse direction Y). By varying these parameters (angular position, arrangement direction) can thus be adjusted while maintaining the same basic structure and using the same components, the radiation angle characteristic of the lighting unit in a simple manner to different applications or customer requirements.

Finally, based on the Fig. 8 the exact structure of an LED light source 11 explained in more detail. Fig. 8 shows that the light-emitting diodes 21 are attached to the carrier device 27 according to a two-dimensional grid (for example, soldered, bonded or adhesively bonded). The light-emitting diodes 21 are in this case arranged in a plurality of rows 23, wherein between two adjacent rows 23, a respective web-shaped reflector element 25 is fixed to the support means 27 (eg screwed). Each reflector element 25 is thus effective for a plurality of LEDs 21 as a reflector. The light-emitting diodes 21 typically emit visible light having a substantially white emission spectrum at a nominal emission angle of approximately 120 °. These are light-emitting diodes 21 with high luminous flux in order to be able to illuminate large areas.

The carrier device 27 is a printed circuit board or another type of carrier plate having a plurality of metallic interconnects 61 and a plurality of connection surfaces (ie, solder surfaces) 63. The carrier device 27 has a heat-conducting surface in order to distribute the heat generated by the light-emitting diodes 21 in a planar manner along the carrier device 27 and from the carrier device 27 flat on the mounting portion 31 of the housing member 15 (FIGS. Fig. 1 to 7 ) transferred to. For this purpose, the conductor tracks 61 together with the connection surfaces 63 form a partially interrupted heat-conducting layer 62 on the front side of the carrier device 27. Additional heat-conducting layers (in particular full-length, ie continuous heat-conducting layers) can also be provided within the carrier device 27. The metallic interconnects 61 are largely covered with a front thin insulating layer 64. The insulating layer 64 effects electrical insulation and at the same time enables effective thermal coupling of the reflector elements 25 via the said heat-conducting layer 62 (ie via the conductor tracks 61) with the rear side of the light-emitting diodes 21, so that the reflector elements 25 serve as a cooling device for the light-emitting diodes 21. For this purpose, the light emitting diodes 21 partially sit on the tracks 61, and the reflector elements 25 overlap (via said insulating layer 64) with lateral areas of the tracks 61. At the rear, the carrier device 27 of the LED light source 11 has an electrical insulating layer 65 to a reliable to cause electrical insulation of the mounting portion 31 of the housing member 15.

The reflector elements 25 have a trapezoidal cross-section, wherein the reflector elements 25 are tapered with increasing distance from the carrier device 27, ie along a surface normal of the carrier device 27. Each reflector element 25 has along its two longitudinal sides a respective edge 67, which forms the actual reflector surface. These flanks 67 are inclined with respect to the surface normal of the support means 27 by a predetermined inclination angle. Out Fig. 8 It can be seen that the flanks 67 are formed in a longitudinal section parallel to the plane of extension of the support means 27 rectilinear.

Since the reflector elements 25 are formed separately from the support means 27, the LED light source 11 has a modular construction. This makes it possible to optionally equip a respective LED light source with one of a plurality of different sets of reflector elements 25, which differ in particular with regard to the said angle of inclination of the flanks 67. In this way, an additional adaptation of the outdoor lighting unit to different applications or customer requests can take place.

Of particular advantage here is that due to the use of the web-shaped reflector elements 25 no further optical elements are absolutely necessary. In particular, the LED light source 11 may be formed without separate lenses. It is sufficient a simple transparent cover (cover 17) as protection against contamination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

11

LED light source

13

casing

15

housing element

17

cover

19

hinge

21

led

23

line

25

reflector element

27

support means

29

module

31

mounting portion

33

wall section

35

mounting volumes

37

cooling section

39

cooling channel

41

holding section

43

joint element

45

holder

47

attachment section

49

electrical component

51

rib

61

conductor path

62

heat conducting

63

terminal area

64

insulating

65

insulating

67

flank

X

longitudinal direction

Y

transversely

Claims (15)

1. An outdoor lighting unit for lighting streets, sidewalks, outdoor industrial installations and the like, having an LED light source (11) which includes a plurality of light emitting diodes (21) in a two-dimensional arrangement and having a housing (13), wherein the housing has a single-part solid housing element (15) which has at least one planar installation section (31) at its lower side, with a rear side of the LED light source (11) being arranged areally and in a thermally conductive connection at said installation section, wherein the housing element furthermore has a peripheral wall section (33) at the lower side which projects downward from the plane of the installation section (31), wherein the housing element furthermore has an exposed cooling section (37) at an upper side which is convexly curved and has a plurality of cooling passages (39) which extend along the convex curvature, and wherein the housing element has a holding section (41) by means of which the lighting unit is fastenable in a self-supporting manner to a holding device (45),
   characterized
   in that the LED light source (11) selectively has one or more modules (29) which have an anisotropic radiation angle characteristic, wherein the installation section (31) of the housing element (15) is formed to selectively receive a single module, or a plurality of modules in a lengthways arrangement, or a plurality of modules in a transverse arrangement, so that the lighting unit can be adapted to different applications by variable configuration of the installation section (31), wherein the installation section (31) of the housing element (15) has a "+" shape.
2. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 1,
   wherein the modules (29) of the LED light source (11) have a substantially square outline.
3. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2,
   wherein the respective module (29) is selectively fastenable in a lengthways orientation or in a transverse orientation to the installation section (31) of the housing element (15).
4. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing element (15) is a casting,
   and/or
   wherein the housing element (15) is produced from an aluminum alloy resistant to sea water and without surface treatment at the cooling section (37),
   and/or
   wherein the surface of the installation section (31) of the housing element (15) has a smaller roughness than the surface of the cooling section (37).
5. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing element (15) extends, starting from the holding section (41), along a lengthways direction (X), wherein the cooling passages (33) extend substantially perpendicular to the lengthways direction,
   and/or
   wherein the cooling passages (39) have a width at half their depth which is at least 2.5 times as large as the width of ribs (51) which are formed at the cooling section (37) between the cooling passages,
   and/or
   wherein the cooling passages (39) have a width of at least 10 mm at half their depth,
   and/or
   wherein the cooling passages (39) have a depth of at least 15 mm, and/or
   wherein the base of the cooling passages (39) is curved concavely in cross-section.
6. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing (13) furthermore has a cover device (17) which is fastenable to the lower side of the wall section (33) of the housing element (15) and which is transparent at least in the region of the LED light source (11).
7. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 6,
   wherein the cover device (17) is thermally conductively connected to the peripheral wall section (33) of the housing element (15) so that the cover device also forms a heat sink for the waste heat of the LED light source (11),
   and/or
   wherein the spacing between the light emitting diodes (21) of the LED light source (11) and of the cover device (17) amounts to at least 10 mm so that air circulation can form within the housing (13) for the purpose of a convective cooling of the LED light source (11), and/or
   wherein the cover device (17) is pivotably connected to the housing element (15).
8. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the LED light source (11) has an electric insulation layer at the rear side,
   and/or
   wherein the LED light source (11) is screwed, riveted or adhesively bonded to the installation section (31) of the housing element (15), and/or
   wherein the housing element (15) has at least two installation sections (31) for a respective module (29) of the LED light source (11), with the installation sections (31) extending along different planes or being arranged mutually inclined,
   and/or
   wherein the LED light source (11) is made without separate lenses.
9. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the LED light source (11) has a carrier device (27) to which the light emitting diodes (21) are electrically conductively and thermally conductively connected, with a rear side of the carrier device being arranged areally and in a thermally conductive connection to the installation section (31) of the housing element (15).
10. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 9,
    wherein the carrier device (27) is made areally thermally conductive to distribute the heat generated by the light emitting diodes (21) areally along the carrier device and to transfer it areally from the carrier device to the installation section (37) of the housing element (25).
11. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims,
    wherein the LED light source (11) has a plurality of reflector elements (25) which are arranged between the light emitting diodes (21) and are thermally conductively connected to the light emitting diodes so that the reflector elements act as an additional cooling device.
12. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 11,
    wherein the spacing between a or the cover device (17) of the housing (15) at the lower side and the reflector elements (25) amounts to at least 5 mm so that air circulation can form within the housing (13) for the purpose of a convective cooling of the LED light source (11),
    and/or
    wherein each reflector element (25) has at least one flank (67) which is inclined to the arrangement plane of the light emitting diodes (21) with respect to a surface normal and which is formed in a straight line parallel to the arrangement plane of the light emitting diodes in a longitudinal section,
    and / or
    wherein the reflector elements (15) are web-shaped and have a trapezoidal or triangular cross-section.
13. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 11 or 12,
    wherein each reflector element (25) is arranged adjacent to a row (23) of light emitting diodes (21) or between two rows of light emitting diodes,
    and/or
    wherein the reflector elements (26) are formed separately from one another,
    and/or
    wherein the LED light source (11) has a carrier device (27) having a thermally conductive layer (62), wherein the light emitting diodes (21) are thermally conductively connected to the thermally conductive layer (62), and wherein the reflector elements (25) are also thermally conductively connected to the thermally conductive layer (62).
14. A lighting unit in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lighting unit has at least one electronic or electrical component (49) which is separate from the LED light source (11) and which is thermally conductively connected to a fastening section (47) of the housing element (15) so that the heat generated by the component is output both to the installation section (51) for the LED light source (11) and to the cooling section (37).
15. A lighting unit in accordance with claim 14,
    wherein the fastening section (47) for the component (49) is arranged at the lower side of the housing element (15) between the installation section (31) for the LED light source (11) and the holding section (41) so that the heat generated by the component can also be effectively transferred to the holding device (45),
    and/or
    wherein the housing element (15) is higher in the region of the fastening section (17) for the component (49) relative to the installation section (31) for the LED light source (11) and/or has a larger material thickness.

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