Uniform light source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A light source comprising:
- a lamp having an aperture for emission of light;
a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output thereof; and
a panel light emitter for receiving light from the output of said transition member, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel, the output of said transition member being optically coupled to an edge of said transparent panel, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition member being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said panel.
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Abstract
A light source in which a lamp aperture is arranged to illuminate a large panel provided with a reflective surface by having light rays from the aperture pass through a trough wherein such rays are changed so they are all substantially at angles greater than the critical angle necessary for total internal reflection. Light reflected from the panel is emitted through a window with the aid of light scatterers.
89 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A light source comprising:
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a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output thereof; and a panel light emitter for receiving light from the output of said transition member, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel, the output of said transition member being optically coupled to an edge of said transparent panel, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition member being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said panel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A light source comprising:
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a lamp having an aperture for emission of light; and a panel light emitter for receiving light emitted through the aperture of said lamp, said panel light emitter including a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface, said panel light emitter comprising a substantially transparent panel and including a transition portion for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp, the aperture in said lamp having a width that is less than the thickness of said transparent panel, said transition portion being tapered from the width of said aperture to the thickness of said transparent panel. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A light source comprising:
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a tubular lamp having an elongated aperture for emission of light; a transition member for receiving light that is emitted through the aperture of said lamp and for transmitting the light through an output of the transition member; and a flat panel light emitter including an edge for receiving light from the output of the transition member, a light-emitting surface, scattering means for redirecting light through said light-emitting surface, and total internal reflection means for containing light within said panel light emitter except when said light is incident on said scattering means and is redirected by said scattering means through said light-emitting surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification