Bulk lens, light emitting body, lighting device and optical information system

• US 6,961,190 B1
• Filed: 07/26/2000
• Issued: 11/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Labosphere Institute
• Original Assignee: Labosphere Institute
• Inventors: Ohta, Hirao, Minato, Akihisa, Tamaoki, Satoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson, Tim
• Application Number:
  US10/048,373
• Time in Patent Office: 1,924 Days
• Field of Search: 359/726, 359/708, 359/711, 359/712, 359/869, 359/718
• US Class Current: 359/726
• CPC Class Codes: B43K 29/10 with illuminating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/233 specially adapted for generating a spot light distribution, e.g. for substitution of reflector lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/61 using light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0084 Hand tools; Toolboxes
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/045 the lens having discontinuous faces, e.g. Fresnel lenses
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/18 annular; polygonal other than square or rectangular, e.g. for spotlights or for generating an axially symmetrical light beam
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0028 refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0047 for use with a light source G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence; details of lighting devices in general F21V; non-semiconductor lasers having optical devices external to the laser cavity H01S3/005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0071 adapted to illuminate a complete hemisphere or a plane extending 360 degrees around the source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 19/0076 for use with a detector G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0011 the light guides being planar or of plate-like form
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/322 and having centering means being part of the lens for the self-positioning of the lightguide at the focal point, e.g. holes, wells, indents, nibs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• 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: H01L 2224/16225 the item being non-metallic, e.g. insulating substrate with or without metallisation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/16245 the item being metallic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 24/50 : Tape automated bonding [TAB] connectors, i.e. film carriers; Manufacturing methods related thereto thin flexible metallic tape with or without a film carrier H01L23/49572, flexible insulating substrates H01L23/4985, H01L23/5387
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0756 : Stacked arrangements of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/13 : the devices being of a type provided for in group H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 : Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12033 : Gunn diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12041 : LED
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12042 : LASER
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/12043 : Photo diode
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/14 : Integrated circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/181 : Encapsulation
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/1815 : Shape
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3011 : Impedance
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/02325 : the optical elements not being integrated nor being directly associated with the device
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/58 : Optical field-shaping elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 33/60 : Reflective elements

Abstract

The lens embraces a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface, and a well-shaped concavity is implemented in the inside of the lens body, aligned from the bottom surface toward the top surface. The lens body has geometry such as bullet-shape or egg-shape. A ceiling surface of concavity implemented in the lens body serves as a first lens surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as the second lens surface, and inside of the concavity serves as a storing cavity of a light source or a photodetector.

Claims

1. A bulk-shaped lens comprising:

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as a first lens surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as a second lens surface, and inside of the concavity serves as a storing cavity of light source or photodetector, and

wherein an outside diameter of the contour surface of the lens body is larger than 3 times and smaller than 10 times of an inside diameter of the concavity.

4. The bulk-shaped lens of claim 1, further comprising a back mirror disposed at the bottom surface of the lens body.

5. The bulk-shaped lens of claim 1, further implementing another well-shaped concavity inside of the lens body, in parallel with said well-shaped concavity.

6. The bulk-shaped lens of claim 1, wherein said lens body has a pliability or flexibility.

17. The lighting equipment of claim 15, further implementing another well-shaped concavity inside of the lens body, in parallel with said well-shaped concavity stated in claim 1, and further comprising another light source installed in the another well-shaped concavity.

2. A bulk-shaped lens comprising:

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as a first lens surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as a second lens surface, and inside of the concavity serves as a storing cavity of light source or photodetector, and

wherein, with radius R of curvature of the second lens surface, overall length L measured along optical axis direction of the bulk-shaped lens, refractive index n of the bulk-shaped lens, following relationships are satisfied;

0.93<

k(R/L)<

1.06

k=1/(0.35·

n−

0.168).

3. A bulk-shaped lens comprising:

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as first lens surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as a second lens surface, and inside of the concavity serves as a storing cavity of light source or photodetector, and

wherein, with protruding height Δ

of the first lens surface established at the ceiling surface of the concavity, outside diameter 2Ro of the contour surface of the lens body, following relationship is satisfied;

0.25<

Δ

/Ro<

0.075.

7. A light-emitting unit comprising:

a light source configured to emit light of predetermined wavelength;

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as an entrance surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as an exit surface, and the light source is installed in the concavity, and

wherein an outside diameter of the contour surface of the lens body is larger than 3 times and smaller than 10 times of an inside diameter of the concavity.

10. The light-emitting unit of claim 7, further comprising a back mirror disposed at the bottom surface of the lens body.

11. The light-emitting unit of claim 7, further implementing another well-shaped concavity inside of the lens body, in parallel with said well-shaped concavity, and further comprising another light source installed in the another well-shaped concavity.

12. The light-emitting unit of claim 7, wherein said light source is a resin molded LED.

13. The light-emitting unit of claim 7, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of LED chips.

14. The light-emitting unit of claim 7, wherein said lens body has a pliability or flexibility.

8. A light-emitting unit comprising:

a light source configured to emit light of predetermined wavelength;

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as an entrance surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as an exit surface, and the light source is installed in the concavity, and

wherein, with radius R of curvature of the exit surface, overall length L measured along optical axis direction of the bulk-shaped lens, refractive index n of the bulk-shaped lens, following relationships are satisfied;

0.93<

k(R/L)<

1.06

k=1/(0.35·

n−

0.168)_o.

9. A light-emitting unit comprising:

a light source configured to emit light of predetermined wavelength;

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented in the inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as an entrance surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as an exit surface, and the light source is installed in the concavity, and

wherein, with protruding height Δ

of the entrance surface established at the ceiling surface of the concavity, outside diameter 2Ro of the contour surface of the lens body, following relationship is satisfied;

0.25<

Δ

/Ro<

0.075.

15. A lighting equipment comprising:

a power supply unit;

a light source connected to the power supply unit;

a bulk-shaped lens body identified by a top surface, a bottom surface and a contour surface; and

a well-shaped concavity implemented inside of the lens body, aligned to the top surface from the bottom surface,

wherein an outside diameter of the contour surface of the lens body is larger than 3 times and smaller than 10 times of an inside diameter of the concavity, and

wherein a ceiling surface of the concavity serves as an entrance surface, the top surface of the lens body serves as an exit surface, and the light source is installed in the concavity.

16. The lighting equipment of claim 15, further comprising a back mirror disposed at the bottom surface of the lens body.

18. The lighting equipment of claim 15, wherein said light source is a resin molded LED.

19. The lighting equipment of claim 15, wherein said light source comprises a plurality of LED chips.

20. The lighting equipment of claim 15, further implementing another well-shaped concavity inside of the lens body, in parallel with said well-shaped concavity, and further comprising another light source installed in the another well-shaped concavity.

21. The lighting equipment of claim 15, wherein said lens body has a pliability or flexibility.

22. An optical information system comprising:

a light-emitting unit comprising;

a bulk-shaped first lens body identified by a first top surface, a first bottom surface and a first contour surface; and

a well-shaped first concavity implemented in the inside of the first lens body, aligned to the first top surface from the first bottom surface; and

a light source installed in the first concavity, the light source configured to emit light of predetermined wavelength; and

a light-receiving unit comprising;

a bulk-shaped second lens body identified by a second top surface, a second bottom surface and a second contour surface; and

a well-shaped second concavity implemented in the inside of the second lens body, aligned to the second top surface from the second bottom surface; and

a photodetector installed in the second concavity, the photodetector is configured to detect the light of predetermined wavelength;

wherein a first ceiling surface of the concavity serves as a first entrance surface, the first top surface of the first lens body serves as a first exit surface, the second top surface of the second lens body serves as a second entrance surface, and a second ceiling surface of the second concavity serves as a second exit surface.

23. The optical information system of claim 22, wherein outside diameter of the first contour surface of the first lens body is larger than 3 times and smaller than 10 times of the inside diameter of the first concavity, and outside diameter of the second contour surface of the second lens body is larger than 3 times and smaller than 10 times of inside diameter of the second concavity.

24. The optical information system of claim 22, further comprising a back mirror disposed at the first bottom surface of the first lens body.