Radiant energy concentration by optical total internal reflection
First Claim
1. A radiant energy redirecting system comprising(a) a radiant energy transmitting body means,(b) said means comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of said energy into the interior of said perimeter, an exit face to pass said energy to the exterior of said perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of said incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to said entry and exit faces to redirect towards said exit face the radiant energy incident from said entry face,(c) said body means generally redirecting incident radiant energy for travel towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, said entry faces defining a first set and said exit faces defining a second set, the faces of one of the sets being variably angled relative to one another, and with angularity that progressively increases for successive elements, relative to the target zone,(d) the elements forming tapered gaps therebetween, said gaps having apices, the body being continuous and uninterrupted everywhere along straightlines joining successive of said apices, in planes normal to said faces.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiant energy redirecting system comprises:
(a) a radiant energy transmitting body means,
(b) said means comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of said energy into the interior of said perimeter, an exit face to pass said energy to the exterior of said perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of said incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to said entry and exit faces to redirect towards said exit face the radiant energy incident from said entry face,
(c) said body means generally redirecting incident radiant energy towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence.
226 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A radiant energy redirecting system comprising
(a) a radiant energy transmitting body means, (b) said means comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of said energy into the interior of said perimeter, an exit face to pass said energy to the exterior of said perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of said incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to said entry and exit faces to redirect towards said exit face the radiant energy incident from said entry face, (c) said body means generally redirecting incident radiant energy for travel towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, said entry faces defining a first set and said exit faces defining a second set, the faces of one of the sets being variably angled relative to one another, and with angularity that progressively increases for successive elements, relative to the target zone, (d) the elements forming tapered gaps therebetween, said gaps having apices, the body being continuous and uninterrupted everywhere along straightlines joining successive of said apices, in planes normal to said faces.
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25. A radiant energy redirecting system comprising
(a) a radiant energy transmitting body means, (b) said means comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of said energy into the interior of said perimeter, an exit face to pass said energy to the exterior of said perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of said incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to said entry and exit faces to redirect towards said exit face the radiant energy incident from said entry face, (c) said body means generally redirecting incident radiant energy for travel towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, said entry faces defining a first set and said exit faces defining a second set, the faces of one of the sets being variably angled relative to one another, (d) said elements joining contiguously to form a radiant energy transmitting cover means with an entry surface and an exit surface lying on opposed sides of said cover means, which cover means causes radiant energy leaving the exit surface to have a generally different direction than it did at incidence upon said entry surface, (e) said entry surface being smooth and unfaceted, containing thereupon said individually angled entry faces, so relatively positioned as to smoothly be a part of said entry surface.
Specification