ANAMORPHIC OPTICAL PACKAGE

• US 20150301267A1
• Filed: 12/05/2013
• Published: 10/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Ouderkirk, Andrew J., Powers, Max, Weber, Michael F., Gabriel, Nicholas T., McDowell, Erin A.
• Application Number:
  US14/648,516
• Publication Number:
  US 20150301267A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0911 Anamorphotic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/005 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed on the light output side of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• 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 6/0081 Mechanical or electrical aspects of the light guide and light source in the lighting device peculiar to the adaptation to planar light guides, e.g. concerning packaging

Abstract

An optical package comprises a light source generating light having a first aspect ratio, an anamorphic light guide to receive the light from the light source, a diverter array to receive and divert light from the anamorphic light guide, and a concentrator to collect light received from the diverter array, wherein the concentrator outputs light having a second aspect ratio, the second aspect ratio being greater than the first aspect ratio. An effective height of the output beam is lower than an effective height of the light source.

Claims

1. An optical package, comprising:

a light source generating light having a first aspect ratio; and

a converter unit that includes an anamorphic light guide to receive the light from the light source, a diverter array to receive and divert light from the anamorphic light guide, and a concentrator to collect light received from the diverter array, wherein the concentrator outputs light having a second aspect ratio, the second aspect ratio being greater than the first aspect ratio, and wherein an effective height of the output light from the concentrator is lower than an effective height of the light emitted by the light source.

2. The optical package of claim 1, where the diverter array and concentrator are formed as part of a diverter/concentrator element that further includes a coupling portion disposed between the diverter array and concentrator.

3. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the effective height of the light output from the concentrator is substantially lower than the effective height of the light emitted from the light source.

4. The optical package of claim 1, wherein light entering the input face of the anamorphic light guide has an aspect ratio of about from about 1 to 1 to about 1 to 4 and the light exiting the output face has an aspect ratio of at least 1 to 25.

5. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the light diverting portion comprises an array of spatially separated diverting elements.

6. The optical package of claim 1, wherein each diverting element comprises a substantially reflecting facet that substantially reflects light.

7. The optical package of claim 1, wherein each diverting element includes a mirrored or TIR 45°

facet that reflects the incoming light by about a 90°

angle.

10. The optical package of claim 1, wherein each spatially separated diverting element has an upper major surface and a lower major surface bounded by a lower index material.

12. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the anamorphic light guide is formed from a generally rectilinear structure having a first major surface and second major surface, at least one of the major surfaces being a stepped surface.

13. The optical package of claim 12, wherein stepped surface comprises a plurality of step structures each having a step height from about 20 μ

m to about 80 μ

m.

14. The optical package of claim 12, wherein the light diverting portion comprises an array of spatially separated diverting elements mated with the stepped surface.

15. The optical package of claim 14, wherein an optically clear adhesive is disposed between the stepped surface and the light diverting portion.

17. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion and concentrator portion are formed from a single integrated construction.

25. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the concentrator is configured to collimate light in at least one direction.

33. The optical package of claim 1, further comprising a housing to protect and support one or more elements of the optical package.

34. The optical package of claim 33, wherein the housing includes a frame having a reflecting surface configured to direct light output from the light source into the anamorphic light guide.

39. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the light source comprises first and second LEDs, wherein the output wavelength of the first LED is different from the output wavelength of the second LED.

40. The optical package of claim 1, wherein the effective height of the output light from the concentrator is at least a factor of five lower than an effective height of the light emitted by the light source.

42. A display device comprising the optical package of claim 1.

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45. An optical package, comprising:

a light source generating light having a first aspect ratio; and

a converter unit that includes an anamorphic light guide to receive the light from the light source, a diverter array to receive and divert light from the anamorphic light guide, and a concentrator to collect light received from the diverter array, wherein the concentrator outputs light having a second aspect ratio, the second aspect ratio being greater than the first aspect ratio, wherein a physical height of the output light is lower than a physical height of the light source.