NON-INVASIVE INJECTION OF LIGHT INTO A TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE, SUCH AS A WINDOW PANE THROUGH ITS FACE

• US 20130044498A1
• Filed: 10/24/2012
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminated Glazings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Saccomanno
• Inventors: SACCOMANNO, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,727,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/317
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

Apparatus for illuminating a feature on a transparent light transmitting substrate or window: the substrate is capable of trapping light within itself and propagating the light along the substrate with total internal reflection. A light source is connected by an optical arrangement positioned with respect to one of the surfaces of the substrate for directing light into the substrate at an incident angle selected for propagation of light along the substrate. An extraction feature at a location on the surface of the substrate is configured to illuminate internal reflection at the feature, so that the feature becomes illuminated. Arrangements for the shape, orientation and adjustment of the optic, for configurations of the feature, for coupling the optic and also for coupling the feature to the substrate and particularly its surface are disclosed.

Claims

1. An apparatus for non-invasively injecting light from a source into a light transmitting medium, the medium comprising a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion,

the apparatus comprising:

a circular or toroidal optic surrounding the source and having an exit face in a plane, and at least one coupling material adjacent to the plane having a refractive index greater than air and placed for optically coupling and physically connecting the exit face to the light transmitting medium, the optic being configured such that, when the optic is optically coupled to the medium, the optic redirects a first amount of the light from the source through the first surface portion and into the medium within a range of angles between a critical angle of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle, and the optic being configured for redirecting most or all of a remaining amount of the light at angles greater than the complementary angle,

wherein the optic comprises an input surface configured to receive light from the source, and wherein the input surface is subdivided into one or more regions or zones, each region or zone having a constant or smoothly changing surface tangent, and each region or zone being bounded by a discontinuity in the surface tangent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optic is circular.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the optic is toroidal.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source is an LED.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source has a lambertian angular distribution.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmitting medium is a window.