Compact Light Collection System and Method
First Claim
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1. A light collection system, comprising:
- a light tunnel having reflective walls for directing light to an exit face of the light tunnel;
a light source located at least partially within the light tunnel, for emitting light; and
a collimating plate positioned over at least a portion of the light tunnel'"'"'s exit face, the collimating plate including;
a light input surface in optical communication with the exit face;
a light output surface from which collimated light is output from the light collection system;
a plurality of optical elements located between the light input and output surfaces and arranged to receive and pass light emitted from the exit face, the optical elements outputting the collimated light wherein the collimated light is more collimated than the light received by the optical elements; and
a partially reflective layer between the light input surface and the optical elements, for passing a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel into the optical elements and reflecting a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel back into the light tunnel so that the reflected light is recycled within the light tunnel.
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Abstract
A light collection system includes at least one light source, a light tunnel having reflective walls and a collimating plate at the light output end of the tunnel. The collimating plate includes an optical element array. The element array receives the light emitted from the light source and outputs part of the light at a desired cone angle and reflects the remainder back into the tunnel toward the light source. The light is “recycled” in the tunnel until the light either exits the collection system through the collimating plate or gets absorbed within the collection system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A light collection system, comprising:
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a light tunnel having reflective walls for directing light to an exit face of the light tunnel;
a light source located at least partially within the light tunnel, for emitting light; and
a collimating plate positioned over at least a portion of the light tunnel'"'"'s exit face, the collimating plate including;
a light input surface in optical communication with the exit face;
a light output surface from which collimated light is output from the light collection system;
a plurality of optical elements located between the light input and output surfaces and arranged to receive and pass light emitted from the exit face, the optical elements outputting the collimated light wherein the collimated light is more collimated than the light received by the optical elements; and
a partially reflective layer between the light input surface and the optical elements, for passing a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel into the optical elements and reflecting a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel back into the light tunnel so that the reflected light is recycled within the light tunnel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of producing collimated light, comprising:
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providing a light tunnel having reflective walls for directing light to an exit face of the light tunnel;
providing a light source located at least partially within the light tunnel, for emitting light;
providing a collimating plate positioned over at least a portion of the light tunnel'"'"'s exit face, the collimating plate including;
a light input surface in optical communication with the exit face;
a light output surface from which the collimated light is output;
a plurality of optical elements located between the light input and output surfaces and arranged to receive and pass light emitted from the exit face, the optical elements outputting the collimated light wherein the collimated light is more collimated than the light received by the optical elements; and
a partially reflective layer between the light input surface and the optical elements, for passing a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel into the optical elements and reflecting a portion of the light emitted from the exit face of the light tunnel back into the light tunnel so that the reflected light is recycled within the light tunnel, whereby producing the collimated light. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification