Flat and transparent front-lighting system using microprisms

• US 5,860,722 A
• Filed: 03/25/1997
• Issued: 01/19/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CLIO Technologies
• Original Assignee: CLIO Technologies
• Inventors: Zou, Han, Tai, Ping-Kaung
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US08/824,002
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 362/26, 362/29, 362/30, 362/31, 362/98, 362/32, 362/327, 362/330, 362/339, 362/260, 349/65, 385/146, 385/901
• US Class Current: 362/603
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• 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 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/002 by shaping at least a portion of the light guide, e.g. with collimating, focussing or diverging surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0038 Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0056 for producing polarisation effects, e.g. by a surface with polarizing properties or by an additional polarizing elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133616 Front illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A system especially suitable for illuminating the front side of an object, as viewed by an observer is disclosed herein. This system includes a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces; an arrangement for directing light into the light pipe assembly in a predetermined way; and an arrangement of optical components forming part of the light pipe assembly. This latter assembly is provide for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into the light pipe in a forward direction through the forward face of the light pipe. The light pipe assembly including the arrangement of optical components is substantially transparent to visible light or electro-magnetic wave of a particular wavelength in the direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of the assembly such that the light pipe assembly can be positioned between the object being illuminated and the observer or the detector without in any significant way disrupting the observer'"'"'s or detector'"'"'s view of the object.

Claims

1. A system having a first side and a second side, said system for illuminating an object with exciting light on said first side of said illumination system to cause said object to fluoresce with light of a wavelength different from that of said exciting light, and so that said object may be viewed by an observer located on said second side of said illuminating system, said system comprising:

(a) a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces, wherein said light pipe assembly includes means for insuring that visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner, whereby the observer is able to view said object through the light pipe assembly substantially free of distortion;

(b) an arrangement for directing light into said light pipe assembly in a predetermined way, and

(c) an arrangement of optical components forming part of said light pipe assembly for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into said light pipe assembly in said predetermined way in a forward direction through the forward face of said light pipe assembly, said light pipe assembly including said arrangement of optical components being substantially transparent to light in a direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of said light pipe assembly such that said light pipe assembly can be positioned between the object being illuminated and the observer without in any significant way disrupting the observer'"'"'s view of the object.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said means for insuring that visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner includes an optical plate member extending over and adjacent to an array of immediately adjacent microprisms.

3. A light emitting goggle for generating directed illumination in a direction away from said light emitting goggle, said direction defining a forward direction, as viewed by an observer, comprising:

(a) a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces which together define a direction across said opposing forward and rearward faces, wherein said light pipe assembly includes means for insuring that the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner, whereby the observer is able to view said object through the light pipe assembly substantially free of distortion;

(b) an arrangement for directing light into said light pipe assembly in a predetermined way; and

;

(c) an arrangement of optical components forming part of said light pipe assembly for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into said light pipe assembly in said predetermined way in said forward direction through the forward face of said light pipe assembly, said light pipe assembly including said arrangement of optical components being substantially transparent to visible light in said direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of said light pipe assembly such that said light pipe assembly can be positioned over the eve of the observer without in any significant way disrupting the observer'"'"'s forward view.

4. A light emitting goggle according to claim 3 wherein said means for insuring that the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner includes an optical plate member extending over and adjacent to an array of immediately adjacent microprisms.

5. A light illuminated article such as a watch, a sign, a map, an artwork, or a reflective display, comprising;

(a) an article having a specific surface;

(b) a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces and positioned over the specific surface of said article such that the forward face of said assembly is in confronting relationship with said specific surface, said opposing forward and rearward faces defining a direction across said opposing forward and rearward faces, wherein said light pipe assembly includes means for insuring that the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner, whereby the observer is able to view said object through the light pipe assembly substantially free of distortion;

(c) an arrangement for directing light into said light pipe assembly in a predetermined way; and

(d) an arrangement of optical components forming part of said light pipe assembly for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into said light pipe assembly in said predetermined way in a forward direction through the forward face of said light pipe assembly and onto said specific surface of said article for illuminating the specific surface, said light pipe assembly including said arrangement of optical components being substantially transparent to visible light in said direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of the assembly such that said specific surface can be viewed by the observer through the light pipe assembly with at most minimal distortion.

6. A light illuminated article according to claim 5 wherein said means for insuring that the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner includes an optical plate member extending over and adjacent to an array of immediately adjacent microprisms.

7. A method of illuminating an object having a specific surface, as viewed by an observer, comprising:

(a) providing a light pipe assembly having opposing forward and rearward faces and positioning said light pipe assembly relative to said object such that its forward face is in confronting relationship with said specific surface, said opposing forward and faces defining a direction across said opposing forward and rearward faces;

(b) directing light into said light pipe assembly in a predetermined way; and

(c) incorporating into said light pipe assembly an arrangement of optical components for reflecting substantially all of the light directed into said light pipe assembly in said predetermined way in a forward direction through the forward face of the light pipe assembly and onto said specific surface of said object, said light pipe assembly including said arrangement of optical components being substantially transparent to visible light in said direction across the opposing forward and rearward faces of the assembly such that the light pipe assembly can be positioned between the object being illuminated and the observer without in any significant way disrupting the observer'"'"'s view of the object, further including the step of insuring the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly in a substantially undistorted manner, whereby the observer is able to view said object through the light pipe assembly substantially free of distortion.

8. A method of illuminating an object according to claim 7 wherein said step of insuring that the visible light passing across the opposing faces of the light pipe assembly does so in a substantially undistorted manner includes providing an optical plate member extending over and adjacent to an array of immediately adjacent microprisms.