CONSTRAINED FOLDED PATH RESONANT WHITE LIGHT SCINTILLATOR

• US 20110215707A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ventura Mfg1, LLC
• Original Assignee: Lumenflow Corp.
• Inventors: Bourget, Paul L., Brunt, Harold W. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 8,646,949 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 313/483
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/60 Optical arrangements integrated in the light source, e.g. for improving the colour rendering index or the light extraction
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/08 the elements being filters or photoluminescent elements and reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0033 with successive reflections from one reflector to the next or following
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/50 Wavelength conversion elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 Optical field-shaping elements

Abstract

An optical emitter enabling conversion of light from a light source. The optical emitter includes a first conic reflector defining an aperture for receiving the light source, a second conic reflector opposite the first conic reflector for collimating light emitted by the light source, and a volumetric light conversion element between at least a portion of the first reflector and at least a portion of the second reflector. The optical emitter can also include a convex mirror adjacent the vertex of the second conic reflector, and an elliptical element adjacent the first conic reflector. The light conversion element can include phosphor dispersed in a resin to convert light from a first wavelength to light of a second, longer, wavelength, wherein converted light is emitted from the light conversion element.

Claims

1. An optical emitter comprising:

a first conic reflector including a first reflector vertex and adapted to receive a light source proximate the first reflector vertex;

a second conic reflector coaxial with the first reflector, the first and second conic reflectors facing one another; and

a volumetric light conversion element between at least a portion of the first conic reflector and at least a portion of the second conic reflector.

2. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the first conic reflector defines an aperture at the first reflector vertex.

3. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the volumetric light conversion element interconnects the first and second conic reflectors.

4. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the light conversion element includes a plurality of wavelength-converting phosphors.

5. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the light conversion element includes an annular outer surface to form at least one of a cylindrical exterior and a frusto-conical exterior.

6. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the first conic reflector is elliptical.

7. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the second conic reflector is parabolic.

8. The optical emitter of claim 1 wherein the first conic reflector vertex is located at the focus of the second conic reflector.

9. The optical emitter of claim 1 further comprising a convex mirror adjacent the second conic reflector and coaxial with the first conic reflector.

10. The optical emitter of claim 1 further comprising an elliptical element coaxial with the first conic reflector, wherein the first reflector vertex is aligned with one of the elliptical element focus and the elliptical element vertex.

11. A constrained folded path cavity comprising:

a first reflector defining an aperture for a light source;

a second reflector opposite the first reflector, at least one of the first and second reflectors being a conic; and

a light conversion medium between at least a portion of the first reflector and at least a portion of the second reflector, the light conversion medium including phosphor dispersed in a resin to convert light emitted by the light source from a first wavelength to a second wavelength, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength.

12. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the light conversion medium is substantially solid.

13. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein:

the light conversion medium includes an annular outer surface; and

the converted light is emitted through the annular outer surface in a generally toroidal pattern.

14. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the light conversion medium includes at least one of cylindrical portion and a frusto-conical portion coaxial with the first and second conic reflectors.

15. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the first reflector is elliptical.

16. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the second reflector is parabolic.

17. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 further comprising a convex minor adjacent the vertex of the second reflector and coaxial with the first reflector.

18. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 further comprising an elliptical element adjacent the first reflector, the elliptical element defining an aperture coincident with the first reflector aperture to direct light from the light source to the second reflector.

19. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the first reflector is a discontinuous conic reflector.

20. The constrained folded path cavity of claim 11 wherein the light conversion medium is injection molded.

21. An optical emitter comprising:

a first conic reflector;

a second conic reflector opposite the first conic reflector;

a third conic reflector opposite the second conic reflector and adjacent the first conic reflector;

a negative minor adjacent the vertex of the second conic reflector; and

a translucent light conversion element between the first and second conic reflectors.

22. The optical emitter of claim 21 wherein the first and third conic reflectors define a coextensive aperture for a light source.

23. The optical emitter of claim 21 wherein the first, second and third conic reflectors are coaxial.

24. The optical emitter of claim 21 wherein the light conversion element extends between at least a portion of the first conic reflector and at least a portion of the second conic reflector.

25. The optical emitter of claim 21 wherein the light conversion element includes phosphor dispersed in a resin to convert light emitted by the light source from a first wavelength to a second wavelength, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength.

26. The optical emitter of claim 25 wherein:

the light conversion element includes an annular outer surface; and

the converted light is emitted through the annular outer surface in a generally toroidal pattern.