Illumination systems utilizing light emitting diodes and light recycling to enhance output radiance
First Claim
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1. An illumination system, comprising:
- a light source, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode that emits light, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is further comprised of an emitting layer that emits said light and a reflecting layer that reflects said light, wherein the reflectivity of said reflecting layer is reflectivity RS, wherein the total light-emitting area of said light source is area AS and wherein said light emitted by said light source has a maximum intrinsic source radiance;
a light-recycling envelope, wherein said light-recycling envelope at least partially encloses said light source, wherein said light-recycling envelope has reflectivity RE and wherein said light-recycling envelope reflects and recycles part of said light back to said reflecting layer of said at least one light-emitting diode; and
at least one light output aperture, wherein said at least one light output aperture is located in a surface of said light-recycling envelope, wherein the total light output aperture area is area AO, wherein said area AO is less than said area AS, wherein said light source and said light-recycling envelope direct at least a fraction of said light out of said light-recycling envelope through said at least one light output aperture and wherein said fraction of said light exits said at least one light output aperture as incoherent light having a maximum exiting radiance.
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Abstract
An illumination system has a light source that is at least partially enclosed within a light-recycling envelope. The light source is a light-emitting diode that emits light, and a fraction of that light will exit the light-recycling envelope through an aperture. The light-recycling envelope recycles part of the light emitted by the light source back to the light source in order to enhance the output radiance of the light exiting the illumination system.
147 Citations
38 Claims
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1. An illumination system, comprising:
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a light source, wherein said light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode that emits light, wherein said at least one light-emitting diode is further comprised of an emitting layer that emits said light and a reflecting layer that reflects said light, wherein the reflectivity of said reflecting layer is reflectivity RS, wherein the total light-emitting area of said light source is area AS and wherein said light emitted by said light source has a maximum intrinsic source radiance;
a light-recycling envelope, wherein said light-recycling envelope at least partially encloses said light source, wherein said light-recycling envelope has reflectivity RE and wherein said light-recycling envelope reflects and recycles part of said light back to said reflecting layer of said at least one light-emitting diode; and
at least one light output aperture, wherein said at least one light output aperture is located in a surface of said light-recycling envelope, wherein the total light output aperture area is area AO, wherein said area AO is less than said area AS, wherein said light source and said light-recycling envelope direct at least a fraction of said light out of said light-recycling envelope through said at least one light output aperture and wherein said fraction of said light exits said at least one light output aperture as incoherent light having a maximum exiting radiance. - 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, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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Specification