Ring Light collector

• US 5,475,571 A
• Filed: 03/30/1994
• Issued: 12/12/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Dassanayake, Mahendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar, Stephen F.
• Application Number:
  US08/221,316
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 362/26, 362/61, 362/80, 385/901
• US Class Current: 362/560
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 41/24 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A ring light collector having a light source with a plurality of light pipes is located in a fixed relation with the light source. Each light pipe has a face which collectively substantially form a ring having a predetermined width between an inner diameter and an outer diameter. A concave reflecting surface having an axis of symmetry is fixed relative to the light source and plurality of light pipes. The concave reflecting surface extends in a rotated ellipsoidal fashion and is defined by the outermost surface of an ellipsoid having a major axis forming a predetermined angle with the axis of symmetry. The major axis of the ellipsoid is rotated about the axis of symmetry. The first focal point of the ellipsoid is located a predetermined distance from said axis of symmetry and a second focal point is located substantially between the outer diameter and inner diameter of the ring. The light source is located substantially at the first focal point. The light reflected from the concave reflecting surface forms a ring on the faces of the light pipes.

Claims

1. Light collector comprising:

a light source;

a plurality of light pipes located in a fixed relation with said light source, each light pipe having a face, said faces collectively substantially forming a ring having a predetermined width between an inner diameter and an outer diameter; and

a concave reflecting surface fixed relative to said light source and said plurality of light pipes and having an axis of symmetry, said concave reflecting surface extending in a rotated ellipsoidal fashion defined by the outermost surface of an ellipsoid having a major axis forming a predetermined angle with said axis of symmetry, a first focal point located a predetermined distance from said axis of symmetry and a second focal point located substantially between the outer diameter and inner diameter of said ring, said major axis of said ellipsoid rotated about said axis of symmetry, said light source located substantially at said first focal point;

whereby light reflected from said concave reflecting surface forms a ring on said faces of said light pipes.

2. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said faces of said light pipe form a substantially planar surface.

3. A light collector as recited in claim 2 wherein said light source has a base located in a predetermined position to said housing, said base having a longitudinal axis collinear with said longitudinal axis of said light source, said light source positioned on a line normal to the center point of said ring.

4. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said light pipes are located around said base of said light source, said base having an outer diameter, said ring having an inner diameter which is substantially the outer diameter of said base.

5. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined distance between said axis of symmetry and said first focal point is substantially zero.

6. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid is constant so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis of symmetry said first focal point circumscribes a circle about said axis of symmetry.

7. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid varies so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis, said first focal point circumscribes an ellipse about said axis of symmetry.

8. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said predetermined distance between said plurality of first focal points and said axis of symmetry is a constant whereby when said first focus is rotated about said axis if symmetry it forms a circle and said light source is located at substantially a point on said circle.

9. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein said light source comprises a filament located perpendicular to said axis of symmetry.

10. A light collector as recited in claim 9 wherein said filament has a portion of increased intensity, said first focus of said ellipsoid located at portion of increased intensity.

11. A light collector as recited in claim 1 wherein each face has a predetermined acceptance angle, said concave surface extends to a point where the acceptance angle and said concave surface intersect.

12. A light collector as recited in claim 1 further comprising a light filter placed on said faces of said light pipe so that light incident on said faces of said light pipe will take on a predetermined color.

13. Light collector comprising:

a light source;

a plurality of light pipes located in a fixed relation with said light source, each light pipe having a face, said faces in combination substantially forming a ring having a predetermined width between an inner diameter and an outer diameter;

a housing having an interior and exterior portion and having an aperture adapted to receive said light pipes and said light source in a predetermined relation;

said interior portion having a concave reflecting surface, said concave reflecting surface fixed relative to said light source and said plurality of said light pipes having an axis of symmetry, said surface defined by the outermost surface of an ellipsoid, having a major axis forming a predetermined angle with said axis of symmetry, a first focal point located a predetermined distance from said axis of symmetry and a second focus point located substantially between the outer diameter and inner diameter of said ring, said major axis of said ellipsoid rotated about said axis of symmetry, said light source located substantially at said first focal point;

whereby light reflected from said concave reflecting surface forms a ring on said faces of said light pipes.

14. A light collector as recited in claim 13 wherein said faces of said light pipe form a substantially planar surface.

15. A light collector as recited in claim 14 wherein said light source has a base located in a predetermined position to said housing, said base having a longitudinal axis collinear with said longitudinal axis of said light source, said light source positioned on a line normal to the center point of said ring.

16. A light collector as recited in claim 13 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid is constant so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis of symmetry said first focal point circumscribes a circle about said axis of symmetry.

17. A light collector as recited in claim 13 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid varies so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis, said first focal point circumscribes an ellipse about said axis of symmetry.

18. Light collector comprising:

a light source having a longitudinal base;

a plurality of light pipes located around said base in a predetermined relationship to said light source, each light pipe having a face, said faces in combination substantially forming a planar ring having a predetermined width between an inner diameter and an outer diameter;

a first housing member having an interior and exterior portion;

a second housing member having an aperture adapted to receive said light pipes and said light source, said second housing adapted to be connected to said first housing;

a second housing member adapted to be connected to said first housing, said second housing having exterior and an interior concave reflecting surface, said concave reflecting surface fixed relative to said light source and said plurality of light pipes and having an axis of symmetry, said concave reflecting surface extending in a rotated ellipsoidal fashion defined by the outermost surface of an ellipsoid having a major axis forming a predetermined angle with said axis of symmetry, a first focal point located a predetermined distance from said axis of symmetry and a second focal point located substantially between the outer diameter and inner diameter of said ring, said major axis of said ellipsoid rotated about said axis of symmetry, said light source located substantially at said first focal point;

whereby light reflected from said concave reflecting surface forms a ring on said faces of said light pipes.

19. A light collector as recited in claim 18 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid is constant so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis of symmetry said first focal point circumscribes a circle about said axis of symmetry.

20. A light collector as recited in claim 18 wherein said predetermined angle between said axis of symmetry and said major axis of said ellipsoid varies so that when said ellipsoid is rotated about said axis, said first focal point circumscribes an ellipse about said axis of symmetry.