FACE-LIT WAVEGUIDE ILLUMINATION SYSTEMS

• US 20140226361A1
• Filed: 02/13/2013
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sergiy Victorovich Vasylyev
• Original Assignee: Sergiy Victorovich Vasylyev
• Inventors: VASYLYEV, SERGIY VICTOROVICH
• Granted Patent: US 10,030,846 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/606
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 2200/20 of light guides of a generally planar shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0015 provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0023 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/006 to produce indicia, symbols, texts or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0073 Light emitting diode [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0075 Arrangements of multiple light guides G02B6/0028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0076 Stacked arrangements of multiple light guides of the same or different cross-sectional area
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/009 of the light source in the package G02B6/0021 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G03H 2223/16 Optical waveguide, e.g. optical fibre, rod
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/049 Edge illuminated signs, boards or panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/18 Edge-illuminated signs

Abstract

A face-lit waveguide illumination system employing a planar slab or plate of an optically transmissive material. A light source is optically coupled a linear optical element which is attached to a face of the waveguide and is configured to inject light at an angle permitting for light propagation by means of a total internal reflection. Light is propagated through the waveguide towards a predetermined direction in response to optical transmission and total internal reflection. Light extraction features located along the prevailing path of light propagation extract light from the waveguide and emit such light towards a surface perpendicular. In one embodiment, the planar waveguide includes a window pane which provides light transport from one location, where light is injected through the face of the pane, to another location where light is extracted. Additional embodiments of the face-lit waveguide illumination system are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A face-lit waveguide illumination system, comprising:

a portion of light transmitting window pane;

an elongated optical element attached to a face of said window pane;

at least one light source optically coupled to said linear optical element; and

means for extracting light from said window pane;

wherein said optical element is configured for injecting light emitted by said light source into said window pane at an angle permitting for light propagation in said window pane by means of a total internal reflection.

2. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source has an elongated configuration.

3. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a linear array of light emitting diodes.

4. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said light source comprises a light collimating element.

5. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated optical element comprised a block of an optically transparent material having at least one planar surface.

6. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated optical element comprises at least one reflective face.

7. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated optical element comprises at least one surface configured to reflect light by means of a total internal reflection.

8. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated optical element comprises a block of an optically transparent material having a shape of a linear right-angle prism or wedge.

9. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein a transversal cross-section of said elongated optical element can is approximating a shape selected from the group of two-dimensional shapes consisting of squares, rectangles, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, octagons, trapezoids, circles, circular segments or sectors, half-circles, and ovals.

10. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said elongated optical element has at least one curvilinear reflective surface.

11. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said optical element comprises an optically transmissive film selected from the group of light turning films consisting of microstructured prismatic films, diffractive films, holographic films, and films with internal light redirecting structures.

12. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said linear optical element comprises an array or linear microprisms.

13. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein a width of the optical contact area of said elongated optical element with said face is approximately equal to or less than 2d/√

{square root over (n²−

1)}, where d is the thickness of said window pane and n is the refractive index of the medium of said window pane.

14. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transversal width of said elongated optical element is less than two times the thickness of said window pane.

15. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of said elongated optical element has a symmetrical configuration in a transversal cross-section.

16. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for extracting light comprises a flexible film laminated onto a face of said window pane.

17. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for extracting light comprise light scattering or light diffusing features.

18. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for extracting light comprise a textured surface.

19. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for extracting light comprise an image print.

20. An illumination system as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for blocking stay light from viewing.