Illumination system employing an array of multi-faceted microprisms
First Claim
1. An illumination assembly comprising:
- (a) a light transmitting means having light accepting means;
(b) a reflecting means attached to the light transmitting means, the reflecting means comprising an array of microprisms, each microprism having;
(i) a light input surface optically coupled to a surface of said light transmitting means;
(ii) a light output surface distal from said light input surface and having a surface area at least equal to a surface area of said light input surface; and
(iii) a first pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls disposed between and contiguous with said light input surface and said light output surface and at least one of said sidewalls forms a first tilt angle with respect to the normal of said light input surface and further comprises at least two faces;
wherein light reflecting through said light transmitting means enters said microprisms through said light input surface, the light is redirected by at least one sidewall and the light emerges through said light output surfaces.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical illumination system comprising a waveguide that accepts light generated by a light source and transmits the light via total internal reflection. Attached on one face of the waveguide is an array of microprisms, with each microprism having an light input surface, a light output surface and at least one sidewall which is tilted at an angle from the direction normal to the surface of the waveguide and further comprising at least two planar faces such that light escapes from the waveguide, reflects off the tilted sidewalls and emerges from the microprism as a spatially directed light source. An array of microlenses may be positioned to accept the output of the microprisms so that the light exiting from the microlenses is a substantially collimated light source. The optical illumination system is advantageous for any application that requires a non diffuse or substantially collimated light source that is both energy efficient and contained in a low profile assembly.
135 Citations
23 Claims
-
1. An illumination assembly comprising:
-
(a) a light transmitting means having light accepting means; (b) a reflecting means attached to the light transmitting means, the reflecting means comprising an array of microprisms, each microprism having; (i) a light input surface optically coupled to a surface of said light transmitting means; (ii) a light output surface distal from said light input surface and having a surface area at least equal to a surface area of said light input surface; and (iii) a first pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls disposed between and contiguous with said light input surface and said light output surface and at least one of said sidewalls forms a first tilt angle with respect to the normal of said light input surface and further comprises at least two faces; wherein light reflecting through said light transmitting means enters said microprisms through said light input surface, the light is redirected by at least one sidewall and the light emerges through said light output surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An illumination assembly comprising:
-
(a) a light transmitting means having a first light accepting surface optically coupled to a first light source, wherein said light transmitting means transports light emanating from said first light source; (b) reflecting means for redirecting said light comprising an array of microprisms wherein each microprism comprises; (i) a light input surface optically coupled to a surface of said light transmitting means; (ii) a light output surface distal from said light input surface and having a surface area greater than a surface area of said light input surface; and (iii) a first pair of oppositely disposed sidewalls disposed between and contiguous with said light input surface and said light output surface wherein each of said sidewalls forms a tilt angle to the normal of the surface of said light transmitting means and at least one sidewall further comprises at least two faces; wherein, said light reflecting through said light transmitting means and enters said microprisms through said light input surfaces, is redirected by at least one sidewall and emerges through said light output surfaces. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
-
Specification