Device for coupling the light of multiple light sources

• US 20070014124A1
• Filed: 07/17/2006
• Published: 01/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Naamloze Vennootschap Barco
• Original Assignee: Naamloze Vennootschap Barco
• Inventors: Gerets, Peter, Colpaert, Chris
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/560
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1033 having a single light modulator for all colour channels
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/2013 Plural light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/208 Homogenising, shaping of the illumination light

Abstract

A device for coupling the light of multiple light sources (2, 3) that substantially consists of a reflectance surface (10, 11) for one or more of said light sources (2, 3) and at least one integration rod (14) having an incident surface (15), whereby the reflectance surfaces (10, 11) are positioned in light bundles (12) emitted by the light sources (2, 3) between said light sources (2, 3) and said integration rod (14); whereby the spot of each light source (2, 3) at its focal point has a surface that is smaller than the surface of said incident surface (15); and whereby said light bundles (12) enter the integration rod (14) at different parts of its incident surface (15).

Claims

1. A device for coupling the light of multiple light sources, comprising a reflectance surface associated with one or more of said light sources and at least one integration rod having an incident surface, so that each light source is enabled to emit a light bundle either on the corresponding reflectance surface that focuses the light on said incident surface or directly on said incident surface;

wherein the reflectance surfaces are positioned in the light bundles emitted by the light sources between said light sources and said integration rod; and

wherein the spot of each light source at its focal point has a surface that is smaller than the surface of the incident surface of the integration rod; and

further wherein the light bundles of the different light sources enter the integration rod at different and optionally overlapping, parts of its incident surface.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein a reflectance surface is provided for each light source.

3. The device according to claim 1, including two light sources, and wherein the spot at the focal point of each of said light sources has a surface that is about equal to half the surface of the incident surface of the integration rod.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are positioned at both sides of the integration rod.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the reflectance surfaces are formed by two adjacent sides of a triangular body, and wherein whereby the connection line between said sides is positioned against to or in the proximity of the center of the incident surface.

6. The device according to claim 4, wherein the reflectance surfaces of two different light sources are positioned one above the other.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein an additional rod is provided that is positioned with one end against the incident surface of the integration rod, and wherein the cross section of the additional rod is smaller than the cross section of the incident surface.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein a reflectance surface is provided that focuses the light of one or more first light sources on the uncovered part of the incident surface of the integration rod, and wherein a second reflectance surface is provided that focuses the light of one or more second light sources on an incident surface of the additional rod.

9. A device for coupling the light of multiple light sources, comprising at least one integration rod having an incident surface, and two or more additional rods each having an incident surface, wherein each light source is enabled to emit a light bundle on the incident surface of the corresponding additional rod, and wherein the additional rods are positioned with a surface against the incident surface of the integration rod;

and further wherein the spot of each light source at its focal point has a surface that is smaller than the surface of the incident surface of the integration rod;

the focal point of the light sources coinciding with the incident surface of the corresponding additional rod; and

wherein the light bundles of the different light sources enter the integration rod at different, and optionally overlapping parts of its incident surface.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the side walls of the adjacent additional rods are spaced apart.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein an angle defined between the longitudinal direction of each of the additional rods and the direction perpendicular on the incident surface of the integration rod is the same for every additional rod.