MINIATURE CELLULAR STRUCTURE FOR RETROFIT LED LAMP SECONDARY OPTICS
First Claim
1. An LED-based illumination source, comprising:
- a screw-in household base with an outer thread centered about an insertion axis,a directional-type illumination housing mechanically connected to the screw-in base and having a round light delivery end centered around the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the screw-in base,a plurality of LED illumination elements occupying a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing and each having an optical axis at least generally parallel with the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and facing away from the screw-in household base,a plurality of at least generally coplanar lenses having at least generally parallel optical axes each being aligned with one of the LED illumination elements and being positioned opposite from the screw-in household base with respect to the LED illumination elements, anda planar light-spreading element positioned at least generally perpendicular to the optical axes and spanning a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing different from the portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing occupied by the plurality of LED illumination elements, wherein the planar light-spreading element is optically coupled to the LED Illumination elements, wherein the planar light-spreading element includes a light-transmitting surface facing toward the screw-in household base and wherein the light-transmitting surface of the light-spreading element defines a plurality of lens elements each having an optical axis that is generally perpendicular to the light-transmitting surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In one general aspect, an LED-based illumination source is disclosed that includes a screw-in household base with an outer thread centered about an insertion axis. A directional-type illumination housing is mechanically connected to the base and has a round light delivery end centered around the insertion axis and has a diameter that is larger than the base. One or more LED illumination elements occupy a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing and each has an optical axis at least generally parallel with the insertion axis and face away from the base. One or more at least generally coplanar lenses have at least generally parallel optical axes each being aligned with one of the elements and being positioned opposite from the base with respect to the elements. A planar light-spreading element is positioned at least generally perpendicular to the optical axes and spans a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing different from the portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing occupied by the illumination elements. The planar light-spreading element is optically coupled to the illumination elements, with the planar light-spreading element including an at least generally planar light-transmitting surface facing toward the base and with the planar light-transmitting surface defining lens elements each having an optical axis that is generally perpendicular to the light-transmitting surface.
13 Citations
28 Claims
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1. An LED-based illumination source, comprising:
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a screw-in household base with an outer thread centered about an insertion axis, a directional-type illumination housing mechanically connected to the screw-in base and having a round light delivery end centered around the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the screw-in base, a plurality of LED illumination elements occupying a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing and each having an optical axis at least generally parallel with the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and facing away from the screw-in household base, a plurality of at least generally coplanar lenses having at least generally parallel optical axes each being aligned with one of the LED illumination elements and being positioned opposite from the screw-in household base with respect to the LED illumination elements, and a planar light-spreading element positioned at least generally perpendicular to the optical axes and spanning a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing different from the portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing occupied by the plurality of LED illumination elements, wherein the planar light-spreading element is optically coupled to the LED Illumination elements, wherein the planar light-spreading element includes a light-transmitting surface facing toward the screw-in household base and wherein the light-transmitting surface of the light-spreading element defines a plurality of lens elements each having an optical axis that is generally perpendicular to the light-transmitting surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An LED-based illumination method, comprising:
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receiving light from a plurality of different LED illumination elements, separately focusing light received from each of the LED illumination elements, receiving further light from the LED illumination elements, and spreading the further light around a lamp surface. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An LED-based illumination source, comprising:
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means for receiving light from a plurality of different LED illumination elements, means for separately focusing light received from each of the LED illumination elements, means for receiving further light from the LED illumination elements, and means for spreading the further light around a lamp surface.
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17. An LED-based illumination source, comprising:
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a screw-in household base with an outer thread centered about an insertion axis, a directional-type illumination housing mechanically connected to the screw-in base and having a round light delivery end centered around the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and having a diameter that is larger than a diameter of the screw-in base, an LED illumination element occupying a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing and having an optical axis at least generally parallel with the insertion axis of the screw-in household base and facing away from the screw-in household base, a lens aligned with the LED illumination elements and being positioned opposite from the screw-in household base with respect to the LED illumination element, and a planar light-spreading element positioned at least generally perpendicular to the optical axes and spanning a portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing different from the portion of the round light delivery end of the directional-type illumination housing occupied by the LED illumination element, wherein the planar light-spreading element is optically coupled to the LED Illumination element, wherein the planar light-spreading element includes a light-transmitting surface facing toward the screw-in household base and wherein the light-transmitting surface of the light-spreading element defines a plurality of lens elements each having an optical axis that is generally perpendicular to the light-transmitting surface. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification