Refractive optic for uniform illumination

• US 20060061999A1
• Filed: 09/21/2004
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Current Lighting Solutions, LLC (f/k/a GE Lighting Solutions, LLC) (American Industrial Partners)
• Original Assignee: Breault Research, Gelcore (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Sommers, Mathew, Kaminski, Mark E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,410,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/335
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/164 the parts being subjected to bending, e.g. snap joints
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0012 Furniture hospital beds F21V33/0072
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]

Abstract

An apparatus for distributing light from a light source includes a support and an optic supported by the support. The optic includes a truncated axially symmetric body.

Claims

1. An apparatus for distributing light from a light source, the apparatus comprising:

a support; and

an optic supported by the support, the optic comprising a truncated axially symmetric body.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a transparent side wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the transparent side wall is axially symmetric.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the support includes a base wall having an opening for receiving the associated light source.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes a truncated generally axially symmetric side wall and at least one planar wall.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one planar side wall is glazed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes a plurality of facets formed on a top surface.

8. A method for illuminating a target plane, the method comprising:

placing an optic over a light source, wherein the optic comprises a truncated generally axially symmetrical body defined around a first axis;

passing light from the light source through the optic onto the target plane; and

directing light from the light source directly onto the target plane bypassing the optic.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising placing a support around the light source to support the optic.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising positioning the light source adjacent an end of the optic along the first axis.

11. An assembly for directing light comprising:

a support; and

an optical body mounted on the support, the optical body comprising a truncated generally axially symmetric peripheral wall and at least one other peripheral wall abutting the truncated generally axially symmetric peripheral wall.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the optical body includes a light-emitting surface normal to a central axis about which the truncated generally axially symmetric peripheral wall is centered, the light-emitting surface including a plurality of facets.

13. The assembly of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of facets is substantially parallel to at least one of the at least one other peripheral wall.

14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the support includes a cylindrical side wall.

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the side wall of the support is transparent.

16. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one other peripheral wall includes a surface having light diffusing properties.