Optical components for luminaire

• US 10,208,923 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2016
• Issued: 02/19/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IDEAL Industries Lighting, LLC (Ideal Industries Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: CREE Incorporated (Wolfspeed, Inc.)
• Inventors: Castillo, Mario A., Wilcox, Kurt S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Connelly, Michelle R
• Application Number:
  US15/369,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082269A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/03 of surface-mounted type F21S8/02, F21S8/04 take precedence; details of wall or floor bases F21V21/02
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/10 Outdoor lighting
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0035 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0048 with stepwise taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0058 varying in density, size, shape or depth along the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0065 Manufacturing aspects; Material aspects
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0075 Arrangements of multiple light guides G02B6/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 : Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like

Abstract

An optical component has an elongate length extending between first and second ends and a width transverse to and substantially smaller than the length and extending between first and second sides. The optical component includes a refractive portion disposed between the first and second sides and extending along the length between the first and second ends, and a plurality of separate reflective portions. At least one of the plurality of separate reflective portions is spaced from the refractive portion and extending along the length between the first and second ends.

Claims

1. A combination of optical elements, the combination comprising:

an optical component comprising;

an input surface, an output surface opposite the input surface, a length extending between first and second ends, and a width transverse to and substantially smaller than the length and extending between first and second sides;

a non-planar refractive portion disposed between the first and second sides and extending along the length between the first and second ends; and

a plurality of separate reflective portions disposed on opposite sides of the non-planar refractive portion and extending along the length between the first and second ends;

wherein the refractive portion and the plurality of separate reflective portions comprise at least a portion of the input surface of the optical component;

wherein each reflective portion comprises a plurality of inner and outer surfaces;

wherein each outer surface reflects light that is refracted into the optical component by each respective inner surface; and

wherein the inner surfaces are parallel to one another and transverse to the output surface; and

an optical waveguide comprising a second input surface adjacent and parallel to the output surface of the optical component.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the refractive portion is disposed between first and second groups of the plurality of reflective portions.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein the first and second groups of reflective portions have equal numbers of reflective surfaces.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the optical component further comprises a first height transverse to the length and width and defined by the input and output surfaces and wherein the refractive portion and the plurality of reflective portions comprise second and third heights, respectively, less than the first height.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the optical waveguide abuts the output surface of the optical component.

6. The combination of claim 1, wherein the refractive portion has comprises an arcuate convex shape.

7. The combination of claim 1, wherein the reflective portions comprise ridges comprising reflecting surfaces that are inclined relative to a center line of the optical component.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein the reflecting surfaces are at least substantially planar.

9. An optical waveguide assembly, comprising:

a body of optically transmissive material that exhibits a total internal reflection characteristic wherein the body is tapered in a first direction from a first end to a second end opposite the first end and comprises a constant cross sectional shape along a second direction transverse to the first direction;

a light coupling portion disposed adjacent the first end of the body wherein the light coupling portion comprises refractive and reflective portions that direct light through the light coupling portion wherein the body of optically transmissive material comprises an input surface of a first shape and an output end of the light coupling portion comprises a second shape complementary to the first shape and a majority of the output end of the light coupling portion directly abuts the input surface of the body of optically transmissive material; and

light extracting features disposed on the body of optically transmissive material and adapted to extract light out of the body of optically transmissive material;

wherein the refractive portions, the reflective portions, and the light extracting features extend along the second direction of the optical waveguide assembly;

wherein the refractive portions comprise refractive surfaces, the reflective portions comprise reflective surfaces, and the refractive surfaces and the reflective surfaces are continuous between the first end and the second end; and

wherein the refractive and reflective portions are arranged adjacent one another in a third direction transverse to both the first direction and the second direction.

10. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 9, wherein the body of optically transmissive material and the light coupling portion comprise separate elements.

11. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 10, wherein the body of optically transmissive material and the light coupling portion are made of different materials.

12. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 11, wherein the light coupling portion is made of optical grade liquid silicone rubber.

13. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 12, wherein the body of optically transmissive material comprises acrylic, air, polycarbonate, molded silicone, glass, cyclic olefin copolymers, and combinations thereof.

14. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 9, wherein the refractive portion comprises a central convex portion and the reflective portion comprises a plurality of ridges disposed on either side of the central convex portion.

15. An optical waveguide assembly, comprising:

a body of optically transmissive material that exhibits a total internal reflection characteristic wherein the body is tapered in a first direction from a first end to a second end opposite the first end and comprises a constant cross sectional shape along a second direction transverse to the first direction;

a light coupling portion disposed adjacent the first end of the body wherein the light coupling portion comprises refractive and reflective portions that direct light through the light coupling portion and into the body of optically transmissive material;

light extracting features disposed on one side of the body of optically transmissive material and adapted to extract light out of the body of optically transmissive material; and

scalloped features disposed on another side of the body opposite the one side;

wherein the refractive portions, the reflective portions, and the light extracting features extend along the second direction of the optical waveguide assembly;

wherein the light coupling portion comprises first and second tapered outer surfaces; and

wherein the light coupling portion tapers to a greater extent than the body of optically transmissive material.

16. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 15, wherein the body of optically transmissive material and the light coupling portion comprise separate elements made of different materials.

17. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 16, wherein the light coupling portion is made of optical grade liquid silicone rubber and the body of optically transmissive material comprises acrylic, air, polycarbonate, molded silicone, glass, cyclic olefin copolymers, and combinations thereof.

18. An optical waveguide assembly, comprising:

a body of optically transmissive material that exhibits a total internal reflection characteristic wherein the body is tapered in a first direction from a first end to a second end opposite the first end and comprises a constant cross sectional shape along a second direction transverse to the first direction;

a light coupling portion disposed adjacent the first end of the body wherein the light coupling portion comprises refractive and reflective portions that direct light through the light coupling portion and into the body of optically transmissive material;

light extracting features disposed on one side of the body of optically transmissive material and adapted to extract light out of the body of optically transmissive material; and

a plurality of curved indentations disposed along a length of the at least one light extracting feature;

wherein the refractive portions, the reflective portions, and the light extracting features extend along the second direction of the optical waveguide assembly;

wherein the light coupling portion comprises first and second tapered outer surfaces; and

wherein the light coupling portion tapers to a greater extent than the body of optically transmissive material.

19. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 18, wherein the body of optically transmissive material and the light coupling portion comprise separate elements made of different materials.

20. The optical waveguide assembly of claim 19, wherein the light coupling portion is made of optical grade liquid silicone rubber and the body of optically transmissive material comprises acrylic, air, polycarbonate, molded silicone, glass, cyclic olefin copolymers, and combinations thereof.