Optical element having an integral surface diffuser

• US 6,266,476 B1
• Filed: 08/25/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminit LLC
• Original Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
• Inventors: Jannson, Tomasz P., Savant, Gajendra D., Laine, Jeffrey A., Shie, Rick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KIM, ELLEN E
• Application Number:
  US09/139,488
• Time in Patent Office: 1,064 Days
• Field of Search: 359/443-447, 359/742-743, 359/707, 359/738, 359/566-576, 385/37, 385/147, 385/133, 385/141, 385/901, 351/169
• US Class Current: 385/147
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/237 rod-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/245 emitting light from one or more of its major surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/021 the diffusion taking place at the element's surface, e.g. by means of surface roughening or microprismatic structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0221 the surface having an irregular structure G02B5/0226 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0268 characterized by the fabrication or manufacturing method
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• 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: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

A monolithic element has a substrate body and at least one macro-optical characteristic integral in a first portion of the optical element. A plurality of surface micro-structures are integral in a portion of the optical element. The micro-structures are designed to homogenize light passing through the optical element to produce a predetermined pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the optical element. The light exiting the optical element is therefore altered according to both the macro-optical characteristic of the optical element as well as the homogenizing characteristics of the micro-structures.

Claims

1. A monolithic optical element through which light is able to pass, comprising:

a substrate body through which light is able to pass;

a macro-optical characteristic integral with the substrate body; and

a plurality of micro-structures through which light is able to pass and which are random in nature and which are integral with the macro-optical characteristic, wherein the micro-structures are characterized as being not only able to homogenize light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body but also able to diffuse and shape the light, wherein the micro-structures are further characterized as being able to direct a predetermined distribution of light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body in a manner so as to shape substantially all of a light output of the monolithic optical element into a predetermined direction and distribution pattern, wherein the substrate body, the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith and the plurality of random micro-structures also integral therewith cooperate thereby to enable the monolithic optical element to produce the light output providing the predetermined direction and distribution pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the monolithic optical element, and wherein the substrate body is a Fresnel lens.

2. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the substrate body is a plastic material and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been molded integral with the plastic material.

3. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the substrate body is a hardened sol-gel solution and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been formed integral with the hardened sol-gel solution.

4. The optical element according to claim 1, wherein the substrate body and the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith are of a glass material and wherein the micro-structures are characterized as having been formed integral with the macro-optical characteristic.

5. A monolithic optical element through which light is able to pass, comprising:

a substrate body through which light is able to pass;

a macro-optical characteristic integral with the substrate body; and

a plurality of micro-structures through which light is able to pass and which are random in nature and which are integral with the macro-optical characteristic, wherein the micro-structures are characterized as being not only able to homogenize light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body but also able to diffuse and shape the light, wherein the micro-structures are further characterized as being able to direct a predetermined distribution of light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body in a manner so as to shape substantially all of a light output of the monolithic optical element into a predetermined direction and distribution pattern, wherein the substrate body, the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith and the plurality of random micro-structures also integral therewith cooperate thereby to enable the monolithic optical element to produce the light output providing the predetermined direction and distribution pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the monolithic optical element wherein the substrate body is a cylindrical lens and wherein the macro-optical characteristic is defined by a curved surface on the cylindrical lens and integral therewith.

6. The optical element according to claim 5, wherein the substrate body is a plastic material and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been molded integral with the plastic material.

7. The optical element according to claim 5, wherein the substrate body is a hardened sol-gel solution and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been formed integral with the hardened sol-gel solution.

8. The optical element according to claim 5, wherein the substrate body and the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith are of a glass material and wherein the micro-structures are characterized as having been formed integral with the macro-optical characteristic.

9. A monolithic optical element through which light is able to pass, comprising:

a substrate body through which light is able to pass;

a macro-optical characteristic integral with the substrate body; and

a plurality of micro-structures through which light is able to pass and which are random in nature and which are integral with the macro-optical characteristic, wherein the micro-structures are characterized as being not only able to homogenize light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body but also able to diffuse and shape the light, wherein the micro-structures are further characterized as being able to direct a predetermined distribution of light exiting the monolithic optical element via the macro-optical characteristic of the substrate body in a manner so as to shape substantially all of a light output of the monolithic optical element into a predetermined direction and distribution pattern, wherein the substrate body, the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith and the plurality of random micro-structures also integral therewith cooperate thereby to enable the monolithic optical element to produce the light output providing the predetermined direction and distribution pattern of smoothly varying, non-discontinuous light exiting the monolithic optical element and wherein the substrate body is a prismatic structure characterized as including a plurality of prisms integral therewith, and wherein the macro-optical characteristic is characterized as being a predetermined refractive index value for the plurality of prisms on the prismatic structure.

10. The optical element according to claim 9, wherein the substrate body is a plastic material and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been molded integral with the plastic material.

11. The optical element according to claim 9, wherein the substrate body is a hardened sol-gel solution and wherein the macro-optical characteristic and the micro-structures are each characterized as having been formed integral with the hardened sol-gel solution.

12. The optical element according to claim 9, wherein the substrate body and the macro-optical characteristic integral therewith are of a glass material and wherein the micro-structures are characterized as having been formed integral with the macro-optical characteristic.