Optical manifold for light-emitting diodes
First Claim
1. A multiwavelength light source comprising:
- at least one light source that emits light at a dominant wavelength;
an optical filter that transmits light of prescribed wavelengths and reflects other wavelengths;
an input collimating optical system that directs light from said at least one light source through said optical filter;
an output optical system coupled to receive said light throughput from said optical filter, said output optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end;
a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, said phosphor having a composition that luminesces, emitting light of wavelengths reflected by said filter in response to excitation from light generated by said at least one light source;
said phosphor patch having two surfaces, an inside surface receiving light from said output optical system and an opposing outside surface;
wherein said phosphor patch is transmissive to light from said at least one light source and so that said outside surface of said phosphor patch is operable as an emitter of said light source;
wherein said output optical system has a shape that approximately collimates backscattered luminescence from said phosphor patch by directing said backscattered luminescence to said optical filter from which it is reflected back to said exit port.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical manifold for efficiently combining a plurality of blue LED outputs to illuminate a phosphor for a single, substantially homogeneous output, in a small, cost-effective package. Embodiments are disclosed that use a single or multiple LEDs and a remote phosphor, and an intermediate wavelength-selective filter arranged so that backscattered photoluminescence is recycled to boost the luminance and flux of the output aperture. A further aperture mask is used to boost phosphor luminance with only modest loss of luminosity. Alternative non-recycling embodiments provide blue and yellow light in collimated beams, either separately or combined into white.
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Citations
65 Claims
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1. A multiwavelength light source comprising:
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at least one light source that emits light at a dominant wavelength;
an optical filter that transmits light of prescribed wavelengths and reflects other wavelengths;
an input collimating optical system that directs light from said at least one light source through said optical filter;
an output optical system coupled to receive said light throughput from said optical filter, said output optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end;
a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, said phosphor having a composition that luminesces, emitting light of wavelengths reflected by said filter in response to excitation from light generated by said at least one light source;
said phosphor patch having two surfaces, an inside surface receiving light from said output optical system and an opposing outside surface;
wherein said phosphor patch is transmissive to light from said at least one light source and so that said outside surface of said phosphor patch is operable as an emitter of said light source;
wherein said output optical system has a shape that approximately collimates backscattered luminescence from said phosphor patch by directing said backscattered luminescence to said optical filter from which it is reflected back to said exit port. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multiwavelength light source comprising:
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a plurality of LEDs that emit light at and about a dominant wavelength;
a plurality of nonimaging input collimators comprising a dielectric material, each input collimator connected respectively to one of said plurality of LEDs;
a nonimaging output concentrator, said output concentrator coupled to collectively receive the light output from each of said input collimators on one end, said output concentrator having an exit port on the opposite end;
a shortpass filter at the interface between said input collimators and said output concentrator, said shortpass filter transmitting light of wavelengths less than a prescribed wavelength and reflecting light of wavelengths greater than a prescribed wavelength; and
a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, the material of said phosphor patch having a composition that luminesces in response to excitation from light generated by said LEDs, said phosphor patch having an inside surface receiving light from said output optical system and an opposing outside surface, said phosphor patch also being partially transmissive to light from said LEDs, so that said outside surface of said phosphor patch comprises the emitter of said light source. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A multiwavelength light source comprising:
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at least one LED that emits light at a dominant wavelength;
an input optical system coupled to said at least one LED and collimating its light;
one or more mirrors that direct a first part of the collimated light from the input optical system to an output port, and directs a second part of the collimated light from the input optical system to an intermediate optical system, said intermediate optical system configured as a concentrator and having an exit port on the opposite end;
a phosphor patch formed on said exit port, the material of said phosphor patch having a composition that luminesces in response to excitation from light generated by said LEDs, light emitted by said phosphor patch being returned back through and out of said intermediate optical system, to an output port. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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Specification