Circumferentially emitting luminaires and lens-elements formed by transverse-axis profile-sweeps
First Claim
1. An illumination lens comprising:
- a two-dimensional beam-forming lens-profile where the profile acts to deflect light rays from a light source into a relatively narrow output beam;
the lens-profile encloses a zone of higher refractive index than that of the area outside the profile where the higher refractive-index zone admits the light rays;
a transverse axis of revolution extending transversely across and outside of the lens-profile so that transverse axis extends substantially laterally with respect to a luminous centroid-direction of the output beam;
a surface of revolution formed by circularly sweeping the lens-profile about the axis of revolution forming a circumferential beam from the output beam emitted by said surface of revolution;
wherein the lens-profile comprises totally internally reflecting facets.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present embodiments provide methods and apparatuses for providing prescribed illumination. Some embodiments provide lenses that include a two-dimensional beam-forming lens-profile where the profile acts to deflect light rays from a light source into a relatively narrow output beam. A zone of higher refractive index than that of the area outside the profile is enclosed where the higher refractive-index zone admits the light rays, a transverse axis of revolution is further included and extends transversely across and outside of the lens-profile so that the transverse axis extends generally laterally with respect to a luminous centroid-direction of the output beam. The lens further includes a surface of revolution formed by circularly sweeping the lens-profile about the axis of revolution forming a circumferential beam from the output beam emitted by said surface of revolution.
257 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. An illumination lens comprising:
-
a two-dimensional beam-forming lens-profile where the profile acts to deflect light rays from a light source into a relatively narrow output beam; the lens-profile encloses a zone of higher refractive index than that of the area outside the profile where the higher refractive-index zone admits the light rays; a transverse axis of revolution extending transversely across and outside of the lens-profile so that transverse axis extends substantially laterally with respect to a luminous centroid-direction of the output beam; a surface of revolution formed by circularly sweeping the lens-profile about the axis of revolution forming a circumferential beam from the output beam emitted by said surface of revolution; wherein the lens-profile comprises totally internally reflecting facets. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method for generating a lens, comprising:
-
defining a two dimensional profile having an output surface and an input surface; defining an axis of symmetry; and circularly sweeping the profile about the axis of symmetry defining the output surface in three-dimensions, wherein the output surface is radially distanced substantially laterally with respect to the axis of symmetry, where at least a portion of the output surface both internally reflects light, and refracts light exiting the output surface. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A method for generating a light output, comprising the steps of:
-
retracting initial light through facets of an input surface; internally reflecting the light; and again refracting the light producing an output light that is circumferentially emitted. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. An apparatus for use in directing an output beam, comprising:
-
a two-dimensional profile; an axis of symmetry; a three-dimensional volume defined by rotating the two-dimensional profile about the axis of symmetry through 180°
; andan output surface defined on the three-dimensional volume such that a luminous centroid-direction of an output beam is directed lateral to the axis of symmetry from the three-dimensional volume through the output surface. - View Dependent Claims (38)
-
Specification