Compact folded-optics illumination lens

• US 7,152,985 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2004
• Issued: 12/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Light Engine Limited
• Original Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
• Inventors: Mun̅oz, Fernando, Benitez, Pablo, Min̅ano, Juan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US10/880,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20040246606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 359858-861, 359856-857, 359838-839, 359631-633, 359726-729, 359362-366
• US Class Current: 359/857
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 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 19/0061 the light source comprising a LED semiconductor devices with at least one potential-jump barrier or surface barrier specially adapted for light emission H01L33/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0012 Optical design, e.g. procedures, algorithms, optimisation routines
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 3/02 with non-spherical faces G02B3/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an apparatus and the apparatus being configured to convert a first distribution of an input radiation to a second distribution of output radiation. The method consists of the steps of generating a two-dimensional representation of at least three active optical surfaces of an optical device including calculating a segment of a first surface based on edge ray sets as a first generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of an entry surface based on the edge ray set as a second generalized Cartesian oval, calculating a segment of a second surface based on the edge ray set as a third generalized Cartesian oval, and successively repeating the steps of calculating the segment of the first surface and calculating the segment of the second surface in a direction towards a source, and rotationally sweeping the two-dimensional representation about a central axis providing a three-dimensional representation of the optical device.

Claims

1. A method for generating an optical beam, comprising the steps of:

refracting initial light;

internally reflecting the light;

again internally reflecting the light; and

refracting the light producing an output light that is at least partially collimated,

wherein the output light is collimated to an etendue limit defined by a relative size of aperture to effective source diameter.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the steps of internally reflecting the light includes totally internally reflecting the light.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the output light is collimated to an etendue limit defined by a relative size of aperture to effective source diameter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein both the steps of internally reflecting the light comprise totally internally reflecting the light.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the producing an output light comprises producing the output light with a central beam portion.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the central beam portion has a beam width greater than a beam width of a main beam area produced about a perimeter of the central beam portion.

7. The method as claimed claim 1, wherein the producing an output light comprises producing a portion of the output light with a central blank portion.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

generating the initial light from a circuit board mounted light source.

9. The method as claimed claim 8, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode light source.

10. A method for generating an optical beam, comprising the steps of:

refracting initial light;

internally reflecting the light;

again internally reflecting the light;

refracting the light producing an output light that is at least partially collimated;

wherein the producing an output light comprises producing the output light with a central beam portion; and

wherein the central beam portion has a beam width greater than a beam width of a main beam area produced about a perimeter of the central beam portion.