Asymmetric TIR lenses producing off-axis beams
First Claim
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1. A tilted-beam illumination lens system, comprising:
- a smooth upper surface; and
a lower surface comprising a plurality of deflective facets deployed asymmetrically about an axis tilted from the surface normal of said upper surface, said lower-surface facets receiving light from a common focal zone and forming a beam therefrom, said beam propagating upward within the body of said lens along said tilted axis, said beam exiting said upper surface with a net deflection angle relative to said surface normal of said smooth upper surface, said deflective facets comprising both refractive and totally internally reflecting facets.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to an improvement of a total internal reflection lens whereby a tilted symmetry axis leads to a net deflection of the output beam away from the surface normal of the exit surface. Linear TIR lenses have a net deflection transverse to their focal strip. Circular TIR lens profiles going beyond 90° are tilted to bring the rim level with the source, the deflected rays exiting the lens to form an off-axis beam.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A tilted-beam illumination lens system, comprising:
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a smooth upper surface; and
a lower surface comprising a plurality of deflective facets deployed asymmetrically about an axis tilted from the surface normal of said upper surface, said lower-surface facets receiving light from a common focal zone and forming a beam therefrom, said beam propagating upward within the body of said lens along said tilted axis, said beam exiting said upper surface with a net deflection angle relative to said surface normal of said smooth upper surface, said deflective facets comprising both refractive and totally internally reflecting facets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A tilted-beam illumination lens, comprising:
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a smooth upper surface; and
a lower surface having a first half and a second half, wherein said first half is a converging TIR lens and said second half is a diverging TIR lens, said converging TIR lens and said diverging TIR lens having a plurality of deflective facets, each of said facets having the same output angle such that said first and second halves form a beam substantially off-axis relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A tilted-beam Illumination lens, comprising:
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a smooth upper surface; and
a lower surface comprising a plurality of deflective facets having a bilaterally symmetric TIR lens profile wherein said TIR lens profile is titled relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface; and
a rim angle greater than 90°
such that said lens forms a beam substantially off-axis relative to the surface normal of said smooth upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of redirecting radiant energy, comprising the steps of:
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situating a lens on a body, wherein said lens has a smooth upper surface and a lower surface having a plurality of deflective facets, wherein said facets are both refractive and totally internally reflecting; and
deploying said plurality of deflective facets asymmetrically about an axis tilted from the surface normal of said upper surface; and
receiving light from a common focal zone; and
forming a beam of light from said lower surface; and
transmitting said beam of light with a net deflection angle relative to said surface normal of said smooth upper surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification