Combination light concentrating and collimating device and light fixture and display screen employing the same

• US 5,810,469 A
• Filed: 03/26/1993
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stanley H. Kremen
• Original Assignee: Steve Weinreich
• Inventors: Weinreich, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Sember, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US08/037,441
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 362/398, 362/61, 362/245, 362/247, 362/268, 362/297, 362/346, 362/347, 362/349, 362/241, 362/298, 362/301, 362/302, 362/304, 362/305, 359/48, 359/49, 359/50, 349/64, 349/70
• US Class Current: 362/298
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/005 with an elongated shape to cooperate with linear light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/09 with a combination of different curvatures
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/00 Elongate light sources, e.g. fluorescent tubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0023 at least one surface having optical power
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0033 characterised by the use
• 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 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/10 with curved faces
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133605 including specially adapted reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133621 providing coloured light G02F1/133617, G02F1/133533 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a light concentration and collimation device including a tapered body concentrator and a curved, preferably parabolic, reflective collimator combined in a unit such that the apex of the tapered body extends into the reflective collimator through its apex. The concentrator is preferably hollow with a reflective inner surface to funnel light from the base to the apex where an aperture allows the concentrated light to enter the collimator proximate to its focus. The light is then reflected from the inner surface of the collimator to form a beam of collimated light. The concentration and collimation device is particularly useful in visual display apparatus and may be combined with a spectral peak light source and a spectral distributor to produce individual collimated beams of light at specific wavelengths.

Claims

1. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a non-imaging light concentrator comprising an internally reflective body having an axis therethrough and having a polygonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to its axis and having an input end and an output end;

and,

a light collimator having an input end and an output end;

wherein the output end of said concentrator is smaller than the input end of said collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said internally reflective body has a hexagonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to its axis.

3. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a non-imaging light concentrator comprising a shaped internally reflective body having the shape of an elongated trough comprising a pair of opposed elongated side walls and having an input end and an output end;

and,

a light collimator having an input end and an output end;

wherein the output end of said concentrator is smaller than the input end of said collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said light collimator comprises a parabolic surface extending from an elongated sidewall of said trough and extending over and beyond the output end of said trough.

5. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a non-imaging light concentrator comprising a shaped internally reflective body having the shape of an elongated trough comprising a pair of opposed elongated side walls and having an input end and an output end;

and,

a light collimator having an input end and an output end;

wherein said light collimator comprises a pair of parabolic surfaces extending from each of said elongated sidewalls of said trough to thereby confine the output end of said trough therebetween;

wherein the output end of said concentrator is smaller than the input end of said collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator.

6. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a non-imaging light concentrator comprising an internally reflective body having an input end and an output end;

and

a light collimator having an input end and an output end;

wherein the output end of said concentrator is smaller than the input end of said collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator and said internally reflective body has a base forming the input end of said light concentrator, and an apex, said body further comprising an aperture in a sidewall thereof and adjacent said apex, whereby the concentrated beam of light rays formed within said body exits said body at the output end thereof through said aperture.

7. A light beam concentration and collimation apparatus comprising,

a light concentrator comprising an internally tapered body having a base forming a light inlet, and an apex, said body having an aperture in a side wall thereof adjacent said apex, said aperture forming an outlet for light entering said light concentrator;

a light collimator comprising a reflective curved surface having an input end for receiving light passing through the aperture of said light concentrator and an output end, wherein the aperture is proximate with a focus of the light collimator; and

a reflective member positioned at said aperture whereby light passing through the light concentrator is intercepted and directed through the aperture to strike the reflective curved surface of the collimator.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tapered body has a longitudinal axis and wherein said reflective member comprises a planar mirror positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the tapered body.

9. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a non-imaging light concentrator comprising an internally reflective body and having an input end and an output end;

and,

a light collimator having an input end and an output end;

wherein the output end of said non-imaging light concentrator is smaller than the input end of said collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator and comprises at least two apertures.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said at least two apertures are circumferentially spaced about the output end of the light concentrator.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said light collimator comprises a parabolic reflecting surface for each said aperture.

12. A combination light concentration and collimation apparatus comprising

a plurality of non-imaging light concentrators each comprising an internally reflective body having an input end and an output end;

and,

a plurality of light collimators each having an input end and an output end;

wherein the plurality of said light concentrators and the plurality of light collimators are joined to form an array and wherein the output end of each said concentrator is smaller than the input end of said associated collimator and is proximate to a focus of said collimator.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a light source, the output of which is directed to the input end of said plurality of light concentrators.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally reflective body having a longitudinal axis and having a polygonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said internally reflective body has a hexagonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to its axis.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally reflective body in the form of an elongated trough comprising a pair of opposed elongated side walls.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16 wherein each collimating element comprises a pair of parabolic surfaces extending from each of said elongated sidewalls of said trough to thereby confine the output end of said trough therebetween.

18. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said internally reflective body has a base forming the input end of said light concentrator, and an apex, said body further comprising an aperture in a sidewall thereof and adjacent said apex, whereby the concentrated beam of light rays formed within said body exits said body at the output end thereof through said aperture.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18 wherein said aperture is located proximate to a focus of said light collimator, whereby light passing through said aperture strikes said collimating element and is redirected as a collimated beam of light.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally tapered body having a base forming a light inlet, and an apex, said body having an aperture in a side wall thereof adjacent said apex, said aperture forming an outlet for light entering said light concentrator;

and

each collimating element comprises a reflective curved surface having an input end for receiving light passing through the aperture of said light concentrator and an output end, wherein the aperture is proximate with a focus of the collimating element; and

,

further comprising a reflective member positioned at said aperture whereby light passing through the light concentrator is intercepted and directed through the aperture to strike the reflective curved surface of the collimating element.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said tapered body has a longitudinal axis and wherein said reflective member comprises a planar mirror positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said tapered body.

22. A device for producing collimated light from an extended diffuse light source, comprising

an extended diffuse light source,

an array of collimating elements disposed to receive and largely collimate the diffuse light emanating from said light source,

said array comprising a plurality of light concentrating and collimating elements, said elements each comprising (1) an internally reflecting light concentrating body having a relatively wide base providing an inlet for receiving the diffuse light emanating from the diffuse light source and a relatively narrow outlet defining an opening through which the concentrated diffuse light formed while passing through the concentrating body from the base to the outlet exits the concentrating body and (2) a light collimator comprising a reflective curved surface extending from said light concentrating body and over the opening at the outlet thereof, said opening being located proximate to the focus of the reflective curved surface, whereby the light passing through the concentrating body and exiting from the light collimator is largely collimated.

23. A method for minimizing and largely collimating light from an extended diffuse light source comprising passing light from the light source through an array of non-imaging concentrators whereby the light entering each concentrator has a first cross-sectional area and the light exiting from each concentrator has a second cross-sectional area such that the second cross-sectional area is smaller than the first cross-sectional area and collimating the light exiting from the array of concentrators.

24. A device for providing collimated light from an extended diffuse light source comprising,

an extended diffuse light source and,

an array of collimating elements having a given depth, and disposed to receive and largely collimate the diffuse light from said light source passing therethrough in a direction through the depth of said collimating elements and, the array having a given breadth and wherein the depth through the collimating elements is less than the breadth of the array,

whereby light from the extended diffuse light source passing through the collimating elements will exit from the collimating elements as collimated light.

25. A device for providing collimated light from an extended diffuse light source comprising,

an extended diffuse light source and,

an array of collimating elements having a given depth, and disposed to receive and largely collimate the diffuse light from said light source passing therethrough in a direction through the depth of said collimating elements and, the array having a given breadth and wherein the depth through the collimating elements is less than the breadth of the array, said device further comprising an array of non-imaging light concentrators each comprising an internally reflective body having an input end and an output end;

wherein the output end of each said concentrator is proximate to a focus of a collimator in said array of collimating elements and is smaller than the input end of said collimator.

26. A device according to claim 25 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally reflective body having a longitudinal axis and a polygonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to said axis.

27. A device according to claim 26 wherein said internally reflective body has a hexagonal cross-section in a plane perpendicular to its axis.

28. A device according to claim 25 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally reflective body in the form of an elongated trough comprising a pair of opposed elongated side walls.

29. A device according to claim 28 wherein each collimating element comprises a pair of parabolic surfaces extending from each of said elongated sidewalls of said trough to thereby confine the output end of said trough therebetween.

30. A device according to claim 25 wherein said internally reflective body has a base forming the input end of said light concentrator, and an apex, said body further comprising an aperture in a sidewall thereof and adjacent said apex, whereby the concentrated beam of light rays formed within said body exits said body at the output end thereof through said aperture.

31. A device according to claim 30 wherein said aperture is located proximate to a focus of said light collimator, whereby light passing through said aperture strikes said collimating element and is redirected as a collimated beam of light.

32. A device according to claim 25 wherein each non-imaging light concentrator comprises an internally tapered body having a base forming a light inlet, and an apex, said body having an aperture in a side wall thereof adjacent said apex, said aperture forming an outlet for light entering said light concentrator;

and

each collimating element comprises a reflective curved surface having an input end for receiving light passing through the aperture of said light concentrator and an output end, wherein the aperture is proximate with a focus of the collimating element; and

,

further comprising a reflective member positioned at said aperture whereby light passing through the light concentrator is intercepted and directed through the aperture to strike the reflective curved surface of the collimating element.

33. The device of claim 32 wherein said tapered body has a longitudinal axis and wherein said reflective member comprises a planar mirror positioned at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of said tapered body.

34. A device for providing collimated light from an extended diffuse light source comprising,

an extended diffuse light source and,

an array of collimating elements having a given depth, and disposed to receive and largely collimate the diffuse light from said light source passing therethrough in a direction through the depth of said collimating elements and, the array having a given breadth and wherein the depth through the collimating elements is less than the breadth of the array;

wherein the individual collimating elements of said array are so disposed with respect to said extended diffuse light source that light emanating from a point on said light source may be collimated by two or more adjacent collimating elements.