Multiple wavelength light processor

• US 5,655,832 A
• Filed: 05/22/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: InnoLux Corporation
• Original Assignee: TIR Technology LP
• Inventors: Parkyn, William A. Jr., Pelka, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones, Larry
• Application Number:
  US08/445,892
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 126/698, 126/692, 126/693, 126/694, 126/695, 362/800, 362/806, 362/812, 362/341, 362/296, 362/298, 362/32, 362/259
• US Class Current: 362/296.09
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 2023/832 curved
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/00 Arrangements for concentrating solar-rays for solar heat collectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/31 having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 50/20 for tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/006 Systems in which light light is reflected on a plurality of parallel surfaces, e.g. louvre mirrors, total internal reflection [TIR] lenses Fresnel mirrors G02B5/09, Fresnel lenses G02B3/08
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0042 for use with direct solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0047 for use with a light source G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence; details of lighting devices in general F21V; non-semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0052 the light source comprising a laser diode coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S5/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0085 for use with both a detector and a source , e.g. in a transceiver, G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/009 for use with infrared radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/12102 Lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/09 Beam shaping, e.g. changing the cross-sectional area, not otherwise provided for adapting the beam shape of a laser diode G02B19/0052; adapting the beam shape of an LED G02B19/0061; coupling into light guides using intermediate optical elements G02B6/4204; beam shaping specially adapted for lasers H01S3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/00 Simple or compound lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/08 with discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lens diffractive Fresnel lenses G02B5/1876
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/003 Lens or lenticular sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0068 : Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4206 : Optical features G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/44 : Heat exchange systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 : Light emitting diode
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 : Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light; an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter; a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from the secondary emitter.

Claims

1. A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising in combination:

a) at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light,

b) an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter,

c) a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from said secondary emitter,

d) said cavity having light reflective wall means.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said receiver is a TIR lens.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said wall means is diffusively reflective.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said optical cavity is located between said sources and said light receiver.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein there are three of said sources.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said three sources provide red, green and blue light.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein said sources are clustered.

9. The combination of claim 6 wherein said sources are LED dice.

10. The combination of claim 1 including control means for controlling electrical energization of said sources.

11. The combination of claim 9 including control means for controlling electrical energization of said LED dice.

13. The combination of claim 9 wherein said receiver is a TIR lens.

8. A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising in combination:

a) at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light,

b) an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter,

c) a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from said secondary emitter,

d) said sources being LED dice.

12. A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising in combination:

a) at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light,

b) an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter,

c) a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from said secondary emitter,

d) and wherein said receiver includes a TIR lens.

14. The combination of claim 12 wherein said receiver is a mirror associated with said cavity to reflect light originating at said secondary emitter toward said TIR lens.

15. A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising in combination:

a) at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light,

b) an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter,

c) a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from said secondary emitter,

d) there being thee of said sources providing red, green and blue light,

e) and including control means operatively connected with said sources to drive them in accordance with one of the following;

i) all three dice are driven simultaneously to produce white light emitted from the secondary emitter,

ii) the three dice are relatively driven to produce a selected color light emitted from the secondary emitter,

iii) the three dice are driven in sequence to produce red, green and blue light emitted on different time increments by the secondary emitter.

16. A radiant energy redirecting system, comprising in combination:

a) at least two light-emitting sources, each emitting different frequency light,

b) an optical cavity receiving light output from the sources, to mix therein, and act as a secondary emitter,

c) a light receiver positioned to be illuminated by light from said secondary emitter,

d) and wherein said receiver comprises;

i) a radiant energy transmitting body means,

ii) 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.

17. The combination of claim 16 wherein

iii) said body means is located for 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.

18. The combination of claim 17 including

iv) first lens means associated with at least one of said faces for redirecting radiant energy passing between said entry and exit faces via said Totally Internally Reflecting face, said redirected radiant energy being collimated,

v) and second lens means spaced from said exit face to receive said collimated radiant energy and to redirect same toward said target zone.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said first lens means is defined at least in part by said Totally Internally Reflecting face.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein said second lens means is a focusing Fresnel lens.

21. The system of claim 20 including a wavelength selection filter in the path of said radiant energy collimated and redirected toward said target zone.

22. The system of claim 16 wherein the Totally Internally Reflecting face is a body boundary, so that the index of refraction "n" of the substance of said transparent body means at said boundary gives total internal reflection of all radiant energy whose incident angle with the normal of said boundary at the point of incidence exceeds Brewster'"'"'s angle, which equals the inverse sine of the reciprocal of "n".

23. The system of claim 16 wherein said perimeters of said elements project from said cross section to extend linearly, in parallel relation, said entry faces facing said incident radiant energy, said exit faces facing said target zone.

24. The system of claim 16 wherein said perimeters of said elements project from said cross section to extend annularly about, and define a common axis, said entry faces facing said incident radiant energy, said exit faces facing said target zone.

25. The system of claim 16 including a Fresnel lens associated with said body means and located in a mid-portion of said body means so as to redirect radiant energy through relatively small angles toward the target zone.

26. The system of claim 17 including a retroreflecting means spaced behind and facing said target zone so as to redirect radiant energy upon said target zone.

27. The system of claim 16 including a radiant energy redirecting means located to redirect light originating at said secondary emitter toward said TIR lens.

28. In combination:

a) a TIR lens,

b) a light source means for said lens, and optically coupled therewith,

c) said source means comprising LED means,

d) and optical cavity means receiving light output from said source means to reflect light for mixing in said cavity means for illuminating said TIR lens.

29. The combination of claim 28 wherein said LED means includes multiple LED dice that emit light at different frequencies, when energized.