Optical transformer for small light sources
First Claim
1. A light ejector for ejecting substantially collimated light injected by a light source, comprising:
- a plurality of partially reflective interfaces arranged along a central axis, said partially reflective interfaces also arranged symmetrically at a nonzero angle with respect to the central axis, so that substantially collimated light injected by said light source in a direction approximately longitudinally along said central axis travels through each of said partially reflective interfaces, providing an area light output comprising light reflected from each of said partially reflective interfaces.
2 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical transformer devices described herein provide a variety of area output patterns from a small light source (21). A light ejector (24) is described for transversely ejecting light injected by a light source, including a plurality of partially reflective interfaces (41) arranged along a central axis (28), the interfaces arranged so that light injected by the light source travels through each of the interfaces, the reflected light providing an area light output of the light reflected. The interfaces may utilize Fresnel reflectance or may comprise metallic or dielectric coatings. A variety of embodiments are described, such as a cylindrical configuration, a rectangular block configuration, or an N-sided polygonal configuration. In some embodiments a turning reflector (132) and polarization retarder (131) are provided to reverse the direction of light and rotate polarization on the side opposite the light source. In one embodiment, a stripe ejector (470) can be used to illuminate an LCD display.
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Citations
36 Claims
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1. A light ejector for ejecting substantially collimated light injected by a light source, comprising:
a plurality of partially reflective interfaces arranged along a central axis, said partially reflective interfaces also arranged symmetrically at a nonzero angle with respect to the central axis, so that substantially collimated light injected by said light source in a direction approximately longitudinally along said central axis travels through each of said partially reflective interfaces, providing an area light output comprising light reflected from each of said partially reflective interfaces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An optical system for ejecting light supplied from a small light source comprising:
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an ejector comprising a plurality of partially reflective interfaces arranged at a nonzero angle with respect to a central axis; and
a light injector comprising an optical system arranged to inject substantially collimated light from said light source into said ejector in a direction approximately longitudinally along said central axis so that said injected light travels through each of said partially reflective interfaces, thereby providing an area light output comprising light reflected from each of said partially reflective interfaces.
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29. An area emitter that collects light from one or more light sources and reflects it from a plurality of partially reflective interfaces that collectively define an ejector of optical radiation providing an area light output of substantially collimated optical radiation.
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30. A light ejector for transversely ejecting substantially collimated light injected by a light source, comprising:
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a plurality of partially reflective interfaces arranged along a central axis, said partially reflective interfaces also arranged symmetrically at a nonzero angle with respect to the central axis, so that substantially collimated light injected by said light source in a direction approximately longitudinally along said central axis travels through each of said partially reflective interfaces, providing an area light output comprising light reflected from each of said partially reflective interfaces;
a turning reflector formed on the ejector on the side opposite the light source, said turning reflector arranged to reverse the direction of light incident thereon; and
a polarization retarder situated to rotate polarization of longitudinally traveling light. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification