BACKGROUND

Light fixtures come in many different varieties and styles. Some light fixtures are relatively simple, and provide little more than a housing for a light bulb. Other light fixtures are ornate, with multi-faceted designs. Some light fixtures are designed for commercial settings, while others are designed for residential use. Coverings for light fixtures are often made of plastic, metal or glass. Glass light fixtures tend to irradiate most of the light generated by the light source, while other fixtures made of metal or plastic may diffuse or direct the light in specific directions. Light fixtures are used in nearly every room in a building and, as a result, many different configurations of styles and materials are available.

Many rooms, especially in commercial settings, are quite large and require many different light fixtures to provide sufficient light to the room. These large rooms also bring other challenges including reverberation. Indeed, conference rooms and other large gathering rooms may suffer from high levels of sound reverberation, which causes voices and other sounds to appear muddled and unclear. This reverberation, even in small amounts, can cause listeners to tune out presenters, speakers or performers, as the lack of tonal clarity makes listening more labor intensive for the audience.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein are generally directed to a sound-dampening light fixture. In one embodiment, the sound-dampening light fixture includes the following: a structural center portion that includes a housing for a light source, and at least one interconnecting ring that includes connection points for connecting panels to the interconnecting ring. The sound-dampening light fixture also includes panels arranged circumferentially around the structural center portion. The panels are connected to the interconnecting ring at the connection points. The panels are arranged at angles that are designed to dampen sound waves, and are constructed from material that further dampens sound waves coming into contact therewith.

In another embodiment, a method is provided manufacturing a sound-dampening light fixture. The method includes providing a structural center portion that includes a housing for a light source. The method also includes positioning at least one interconnecting ring around the structural center portion, where the interconnecting ring has multiple connection points for connecting panels to the interconnecting ring. Still further, the method includes connecting the panels circumferentially around the structural center portion at the connection points of the interconnecting ring, where the panels are arranged at angles that are designed to dampen sound waves, and where at least parts of the panels are constructed from sound-dampening material.

In another embodiment, a sound-dampening lighting apparatus is provided. The sound-dampening lighting apparatus includes an interior frame that provides structural support for external panels, as well as a hanging apparatus connected to the interior frame. Still further, the lighting apparatus includes an interconnecting ring that has connection points for connecting the external panels to the interior frame, where the panels extend laterally away from the interior frame. The lighting apparatus also includes lights mounted on the interior frame that are programmable to cast light in a variety of directions. A controller is also included which is electrically connected to the lights. The controller is configured to direct light from the lights in various directions as specified by a user or control routine.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from the description, or may be learned by the practice of the teachings herein. Features and advantages of embodiments described herein may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the embodiments described herein will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims.

