Faceted totally internally reflecting lens with individually curved faces on facets
First Claim
1. A radiant energy redirecting system comprisinga) 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,d) and lens means defined by said Totally Internally Reflecting face,e) the Totally Internally Reflecting face and one of the entry face and exit face located at opposite sides of a facet defined by the module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A radiant energy redirecting system comprising a radiant energy transmitting body structure; the structure 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 the energy into the interior of the perimeter, an exit face to pass the energy to the exterior of the perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of the incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to the entry and exit faces to redirect towards the exit face the radiant energy incident from the entry face; the body structure generally redirecting incident radiant energy towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of the body relative to the side of the incidence; and lens structure associated with at least one of the faces for redirecting radiant energy passing between the entry and exit faces via the Totally Internally Reflecting face.
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Citations
53 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 towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, d) and lens means defined by said Totally Internally Reflecting face, e) the Totally Internally Reflecting face and one of the entry face and exit face located at opposite sides of a facet defined by the module.
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40. 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) and elements forming tapered gaps there between, said gaps having apices, the body being continuous and uninterrupted everywhere along straight lines joining successive of said apices, e) and lens means defined by said Totally Internally Reflecting face.
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41. 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, and 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) and elements forming tapered gaps there between, said gaps having apices, the body being continuous and uninterrupted everywhere along straight lines joining successive of said apices, in planes normal to said faces, 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, f) and lens means defined by said Totally Internally Reflecting face.
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42. 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 towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, d) the Totally Internally Reflecting face and one of the entry face and exit face located at opposite sides of a facet defined by the module, e) said lens means defined by said one of the entry and exit faces.
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48. 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 towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of said body relative to the side of said incidence, d) the Totally Internally Reflecting face and one of the entry face and exit face located at opposite sides of a facet defined by the module, e) the lens means being defined by the other of said entry and exit faces having for each element, a cusp at its intersection with the lens means on the next adjacent element.
Specification