Combined optical diffuser and light concentrator
First Claim
1. A combined optical light diffuser and light concentrator, comprising:
- a layer of optically transmissive material defining a plane, the plane having light-entering and light-exiting surfaces, the light-exiting surface including a relief pattern featuring a multiplicity of minute projections, each projection having a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane and walls sloping up from a base region, the geometry being such that if a ray of light enters a projection through its base region at a first off-axis angle, the likelihood is enhanced that it will emerge from the projection at a second off-axis angle which is smaller than the first, the size and distribution of the projections being sufficiently random that the totality of light rays emerging the light-exiting surface characterizes diffuse light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A combined optical diffuser and light concentrator uses a layer of optically transmissive material having a first surface to receive light at a range of angles of incidence and a second surface from which the light emerges at a range of angles of emergence, the second surface including a relief pattern featuring a multiplicity of minute projections, the shape and distribution of the projections resulting in diffused light at a range of angles of emergence narrower than the range of angles of incidence. The projections may be produced in accordance with various techniques, including the processing of a photoresist layer exposed to a random speckle pattern or microlithography, including e-beam/x-ray sources.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A combined optical light diffuser and light concentrator, comprising:
a layer of optically transmissive material defining a plane, the plane having light-entering and light-exiting surfaces, the light-exiting surface including a relief pattern featuring a multiplicity of minute projections, each projection having a central axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane and walls sloping up from a base region, the geometry being such that if a ray of light enters a projection through its base region at a first off-axis angle, the likelihood is enhanced that it will emerge from the projection at a second off-axis angle which is smaller than the first, the size and distribution of the projections being sufficiently random that the totality of light rays emerging the light-exiting surface characterizes diffuse light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
Specification