Fluorescent Volume Light Source With Air Gap Cooling
First Claim
1. An illumination system, comprising:
- a source of incoherent light capable of generating light in a first wavelength range;
an elongate body that emits light in a second wavelength range when illuminated by light in the first wavelength range, the body further including an extraction surface and a first non-extraction surface extending along at least a portion of the length of the body and disposed so as to share a common edge with the extraction surface;
wherein at least some of the light at the second wavelength is totally internally reflected at the non-extraction surface; and
at least one external reflector disposed proximate to the non-extraction surface so as to create a gap of less than 100 microns between the external reflector and the non-extraction surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An embodiment of the invention is an illumination system including a source of incoherent light capable of generating light in a first wavelength range and an elongate body that emits light in a second wavelength range when illuminated by light in the first wavelength range. The body further includes an extraction surface. A first non-extraction surface extends along at least a portion of the length of the body and is disposed so as to share a common edge with the extraction surface. At least some of the light at the second wavelength is totally internally reflected at the non-extraction surface. At least one external reflector is disposed proximate to the non-extraction surface so as to create a gap of less than 100 microns between the external reflector and the non-extraction surface.
49 Citations
10 Claims
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1. An illumination system, comprising:
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a source of incoherent light capable of generating light in a first wavelength range; an elongate body that emits light in a second wavelength range when illuminated by light in the first wavelength range, the body further including an extraction surface and a first non-extraction surface extending along at least a portion of the length of the body and disposed so as to share a common edge with the extraction surface; wherein at least some of the light at the second wavelength is totally internally reflected at the non-extraction surface; and at least one external reflector disposed proximate to the non-extraction surface so as to create a gap of less than 100 microns between the external reflector and the non-extraction surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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5. The illumination system of claim 5 and further comprising:
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a third non-extraction surface on the body; a fourth non-extraction surface on the body disposed on an opposing side of the body from the third non-extraction surface and substantially orthogonal to the first non-extraction surface; a third external reflector disposed proximate to the third non-extraction surface so as to create a gap of less than 100 microns between the external reflector and the third non-extraction surface; and a fourth external reflector disposed proximate to the fourth non-extraction surface so as to create a gap of less than 100 microns between the external reflector and the fourth non-extraction surface, wherein the source of incoherent light is disposed in a location other than between the fourth external reflector and the fourth non-extraction surface.
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Specification