Illumination apparatus

• US 10,088,113 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2017
• Issued: 10/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
• Inventors: Chen, Kuang-Vu, Wang, Yen-Chang
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago, Mariceli
• Application Number:
  US15/856,056
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0684 using light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/07 using light-conductive means, e.g. optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/272 Details of end parts, i.e. the parts that connect the light source to a fitting; Arrangement of components within end parts F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/275 Details of bases or housings, i.e. the parts between the light-generating element and the end caps; Arrangement of components within bases or housings F21K9/278 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/62 using mixing chambers, e.g. housings with reflective walls
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/17 characterised by the admission of light into the guide
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/043 with cylindrical surface
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 23/2461 Illumination
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0096 the lights guides being of the hollow type

Abstract

An illumination apparatus includes an outer tube, an inner tube, and a light source. The outer tube has a reflecting inner wall. The inner tube is disposed in the outer tube and coaxial with the outer tube. The inner tube has a reflecting outer wall. A ring-shaped light channel is formed between the outer tube and the inner tube. The ring-shaped light channel has a light entrance and a light exit corresponding to two ends of the outer tube respectively. A segment of the inner tube protrudes from the light exit. The light source is disposed at the light entrance. A light beam emitted from the light source enters the ring-shaped light channel through the light entrance, is reflected multiple times by the reflecting inner wall of the outer tube and the reflecting outer wall of the inner tube, and travels out of the illumination apparatus through the light exit.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

an outer tube having a reflecting inner wall;

an inner tube disposed in the outer tube and coaxial with the outer tube, wherein the inner tube has a reflecting outer wall, a ring-shaped light channel is formed between the outer tube and the inner tube, the ring-shaped light channel has a light entrance and a light exit corresponding to two ends of the outer tube respectively, and a segment of the inner tube protrudes from the light exit; and

a light source disposed at the light entrance, wherein a light beam emitted from the light source enters the ring-shaped light channel through the light entrance, is reflected multiple times by the reflecting inner wall of the outer tube and the reflecting outer wall of the inner tube, and then travels out of the illumination apparatus through the light exit.

2. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a material of the outer tube and the inner tube comprises a metal.

3. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises a light-guiding optical fiber bundle or a light guide.

4. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

5. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a light diffusion structure disposed in the ring-shaped light channel.

6. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a transparent material and has a rough surface.

7. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a scattering material dispersed in the light diffusion structure.

8. The illumination apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a holographic diffuser.

9. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a refractive structure disposed at the light exit of the ring-shaped light channel and connected to the outer tube, wherein the light beam travels out of the illumination apparatus in a direction away from the inner tube through the refractive structure.

10. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an outer diameter of the refractive structure is equal to an outer diameter of the outer tube, and an inner diameter of the refractive structure at a junction with the outer tube is smaller than an inner diameter of the refractive structure at an end away from the outer tube.

11. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an inner diameter of the refractive structure at a junction with the outer tube is greater than an outer diameter of the inner tube.

12. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein an inner diameter of the refractive structure at an end away from the outer tube is smaller than or equal to an outer diameter of the outer tube.

13. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when a radius of the inner tube is r1, a radius of the outer tube is r2, a tube radius difference between the outer tube and the inner tube is D, and a length of the refractive structure is H, 0.5≤

H/D≤

2, wherein D=r2−

r1.

14. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when a radius of the inner tube is r1, a radius of the outer tube is r2, a tube radius difference between the outer tube and the inner tube is D, and a distance between the refractive structure and the inner tube at the light exit is a, 0.04≤

a/D≤

0.33, wherein D=r2−

r1.

15. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, wherein when a radius of the inner tube is r1, a radius of the outer tube is r2, a tube radius difference between the outer tube and the inner tube is D, a length of the refractive structure is H, a distance between the refractive structure and the inner tube at the light exit is a, and a length of the segment that protrudes from the light exit is b, 0<

b≤

7a+0.1D and b≤

H, wherein D=r2−

r1.

16. The illumination apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a light diffusion structure disposed in the ring-shaped light channel.

17. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a transparent material and has a rough surface.

18. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a scattering material dispersed in the light diffusion structure.

19. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light diffusion structure comprises a holographic diffuser.

20. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light diffusion structure is disposed on the refractive structure and close to the light exit of the ring-shaped light channel.

21. The illumination apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the light diffusion structure and the refractive structure are integrally formed.

22. The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image capturing device disposed in the inner tube at an end close to the segment.