Luminaire device

• US 6,671,452 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2001
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Emmons, Robert M., Holman, Robert L., Jacobson, Benjamin A., Winston, Roland, Gleckman, Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Palmer, Phan T. H.
• Application Number:
  US09/995,497
• Publication Number:
  US 20020061178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 385/43, 385/129-131, 385/146, 385/901, 359/559, 362/558, 362/559, 362/560, 349/61, 349/159
• US Class Current: 385/146
• 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 6/0016 Grooves, prisms, gratings, scattering particles or rough surfaces
• 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 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0023 provided by one optical element, or plurality thereof, placed between the light guide and the light source, or around the light source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• 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 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0053 Prismatic sheet or layer; Brightness enhancement element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0055 Reflecting 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: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/133536 Reflective polarizers G02F1/13362 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13355 Polarising beam splitters [PBS]
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/13362 providing polarized light, e.g. by converting a polarisation component into another one
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/00 Illuminated signs; Luminous advertising G09F9/00, G09F11/00 take precedence; control of displays in general using static means to present variable information G09G
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/0409 Arrangements for homogeneous illumination of the display surface, e.g. using a layer having a non-uniform transparency arrangements of reflectors G09F13/14
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/05 : indicating exit way or orientation
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 2013/1827 : Prismatic window
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 : Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

An optical device for collecting light and selectively outputting or concentrating the light. A layer has an optical index of referaction n₁, and top, bottom and side surfaces defining an angel of inclination φ. A back surface spans the top, bottom and side surface. A first layer is coupled to the bottom surface of the layer and has an index of refraction n₂. The first layer index n₂ causes light input through the back surface of the layer to be preferentially output into the first layer. A second layer is coupled to the bottom of the first layer and selectively causes output of light into ambient. Additional layers, such as alight polarization layer, a polarization converting layer and a post LCD diffuser layer can be used to make preferential use of polarized light of diffuse light having passed through the LCD layer to enhance viewing of the output light.

Claims

1. An optical device for collecting light from a light source and outputting the light from the optical device, comprising:

a wedge-shaped layer of optical index of refraction n₁ with a first and second surface converging to define at least one angle of inclination, Φ

, the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to the normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θ

_c relative to a normal to said surfaces; and

a first layer of index of refraction n₂ wherein said first layer is laminated to said wedge-shaped layer and has an optical index of refraction such that an effective optical dielectric interface is formed between said wedge layer and said laminated first layer and said interface has a higher critical angle θ

_c than another critical angle θ

_a characteristic of an ambient interface with said wedge-shaped layer to enable the light to enter said laminated first layer after output from said wedge-shaped layer when the light in said wedge-shaped layer achieves the angle of incidence less than the critical angle θ

_c characteristic of the effective optical interface.

2. The optical device as defined in claim 1 further including a second layer of optical index n₃ disposed adjacent to said laminated first layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device.

3. The optical device as defined in claim 2 wherein said second layer comprises a redirecting layer for acting on the light to change its direction of travel.

4. The optical device as defined in claim 2 wherein said second layer includes means for preferably transmitting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state and for preferably reflecting light of the second polarization state.

5. The optical device as defined in claim 1 wherein said laminated first layer comprises a coated film and an adhesive layer.

6. The optical device as defined in claim 1 wherein said laminated first layer comprises a laminated film material selected from the group consisting of an extruded film and a cast film.

7. An optical device for collecting light and for selectively outputting light, comprising:

a base layer for receiving light and having an optical index of refraction n₁ and said base layer further having upper and lower surfaces and the light exiting said base layer when the light achieves an angle of incidence to one of said upper and lower surfaces which is less than a critical angle θ

_c relative to a normal at the point of incidence of the light on one of said surfaces;

a laminant layer coupled to said base layer and said laminant layer having an index of refraction n_L;

a first layer having an optical index of refraction n₂ and coupled by said laminant layer to said bottom surface of said base layer, said first layer and said base layer forming an effective optical interface with a higher critical angle θ

_c than a critical angle θ

_a at an interface between said wedge layer and ambient such that light is received by said first layer from said base layer upon achieving the critical angle θ

_c of inclination in said base layer; and

a redirecting layer to output of the light into the ambient from said device.

8. The optical device as defined in claim 7 further including a second layer of optical index n₃ disposed adjacent to at least one of said first layer and said laminant layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device.

9. The optical device as defined in claim 8 wherein said second layer comprises a section taken from a roll of film.

10. The optical device as defined in claim 7 wherein said laminant layer includes a selected shape for interacting with the light to control light output from the optical device.

11. The optical device as defined in claim 7 wherein said laminant layer comprises a polymeric material laminated to at least said first layer.

12. The optical device as defined in claim 7 wherein said base layer is selected from the group of a layer having a variable index of refraction, a variable angle between said base layer upper and lower surfaces, and a roughed surface for at least one of said upper and lower surfaces.

13. An optical device for collecting light from a light source and outputting the light from the optical device, comprising:

a wedge-shaped layer of optical index of refraction n₁ with a first and second surface converging to define at least one angle of inclination, Φ

, the light exiting said base layer when the light being reflected therein decreases its angle relative to the normal to at least one of said first and second surfaces and achieves an angle of incidence less than a critical angle θ

_c relative to a normal to said surfaces;

a laminated film layer coupled to said wedge-shaped layer, the film layer having an index of refraction n_L and a shape for collectively assisting in controlling light to be output from the optical device; and

a laminant first layer of index of refraction n₂ relative to the laminated film layer having the index n_L and at least one of said laminant first layer and said film layer having an optical index of refraction such that an effective optical dielectric interface is formed between said wedge layer and said laminant first layer and said interface has a higher critical angle θ

_c than another critical angle θ

_a at an ambient interface with said wedge-shaped layer to enable the light to enter at least one of said laminant first layer and said film layer after output from said wedge-shaped layer when the light in said wedge-shaped layer achieves the angle of incidence less than the critical angle θ

_c characteristic of the effective optical interface.

14. The optical device as defined in claim 13 further including a second layer of optical index n₃ disposed adjacent to one of said laminant first layer and said laminated film layer for operating on the light before the light is output from the optical device.

15. The optical device as defined in claim 14 wherein said second layer comprises a redirecting layer for acting on the light to change its direction of travel.

16. The optical device as defined in claim 14 wherein said second layer includes means for preferably transmitting light of a first polarization state compared to a second polarization state and for preferably reflecting light of the second polarization state.

17. The optical device as defined in claim 13 wherein said laminated film layer comprises a coated film and an adhesive layer.

18. The optical device as defined in claim 13 wherein said film of said roll comprises a faceted film.

19. The optical device as defined in claim 13 wherein a coated film layer is coupled to said wedge-shaped layer using an adhesive layer.

20. The optical device as defined in claim 13 wherein said laminant first layer comprises a laminated film material selected from the group consisting of an extruded film and a cast film.