Faceted reflector, reflector configuration, and method for producing the reflector

• US 7,416,315 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Original Assignee: Osram Opto Semiconductors GmbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Blumel, Simon
• Primary Examiner(s): Choi; Jacob Y
• Application Number:
  US10/287,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20030103281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,122 Days
• Field of Search: 362/327, 362/339, 362/307, 362/308, 362/244, 362/245, 362/326, 362/331, 362/145, 362/147, 362/317, 362/800
• US Class Current: 362/327
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/559 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: E01F 9/615 illuminated
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/235 Light guides
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/02 of prismatic shape F21V5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/05 plane
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/107 of the exterior of buildings
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2101/00 Point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 17/006 Systems in which light light is reflected on a plurality of parallel surfaces, e.g. louvre mirrors, total internal reflection [TIR] lenses Fresnel mirrors G02B5/09, Fresnel lenses G02B3/08

Abstract

A faceted reflector includes a plurality of individual reflectors embedded in a carrier, one main area of the carrier being a light entry side, and another main area being a light exit side. The individual reflectors may be cavities in the carrier, which, preferably, have a prismatic form. The radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of the cavity interfaces.

Claims

1. A faceted reflector for reflecting radiation along an optical path, comprising:

a carrier having;

a first main area forming an entry area for the radiation to be reflected; and

a second main area forming an exit area for the radiation to be reflected, said carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the optical path of the radiation to be reflected; and

a plurality of cavities formed in said carrier, said cavities having interfaces forming individual reflectors each embedded in said carrier and said cavities being completely enclosed by said carrier; and

wherein the radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of said interfaces of said cavities.

2. The faceted reflector according to claim 1, wherein said cavities are prisms.

3. The faceted reflector according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said individual prismatic cavities has edges; and

said edges of said individual prismatic cavities are parallel to one another.

4. The faceted reflector according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said cavities has an edge; and

said edges of said cavities are parallel to one another.

5. The faceted reflector according to claim 2, wherein:

said prisms have base areas; and

said base areas are triangular.

6. The faceted reflector according to claim 3, wherein:

said prisms have base areas; and

said base areas are triangular.

7. The faceted reflector according to claim 1, wherein:

said reflectors have areas at which the radiation is reflected; and

said areas of said reflectors are parallel to one another.

8. The faceted reflector according to claim 1, wherein said cavities are completely enclosed by said carrier.

9. The faceted reflector according to claim 1, wherein said carrier is of a plastic selected from one of the group consisting of a transparent plastic and a semitransparent plastic.

10. A reflector configuration, comprising:

two faceted reflectors for reflecting radiation respectively along an optical path, each of said reflectors having;

a carrier having;

a first main area forming an entry area for the radiation to be reflected; and

a second main area forming an exit area for the radiation to be reflected, said carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the respective optical path of the radiation to be reflected; and

a plurality of cavities formed in said carrier, said cavities having interfaces forming individual reflectors each embedded in said carrier and said cavities being completely enclosed by said carrier; and

wherein the radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of said interfaces of said cavities; and

said first main areas of each of said two faceted reflectors are connected in an angled manner along an edge.

11. The configuration according to claim 10, wherein:

said first main areas form an angle defining an inner region; and

a light source is disposed in said inner region of said angle formed by said reflectors.

12. The configuration according to claim 11, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode.

13. The configuration according to claim 11, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

14. A radiation reflecting configuration, comprising:

a light source emitting radiation;

at least one faceted reflector reflecting the radiation along an optical path, said reflector having;

a carrier having;

a first main area forming an entry side for the radiation to be reflected; and

a second main area forming an exit side for the radiation to be reflected, said carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of said optical path of the radiation to be reflected; and

a plurality of cavities formed in said carrier, said cavities having interfaces forming individual reflectors each embedded in said carrier and said cavities being completely enclosed by said carrier; and

wherein the radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of said interfaces of said cavities; and

wherein said light source is disposed on said entry side.

15. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said light source is a light-emitting diode.

16. The configuration according to claim 14, wherein said light source is a plurality of light-emitting diodes.

17. A method for producing a faceted reflector, which comprises:

providing a casting mold with a recess into which projecting elements protrude for forming cavities in the faceted reflector;

filling the recess with a radiation-transmissive molding compound to at least partly encapsulate the projecting elements and form in the recess a faceted reflector for reflecting radiation along an optical path, the reflector having a carrier with;

a first main area forming an entry area for the radiation to be reflected;

a second main area forming an exit area for the radiation to be reflected, the carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the optical path of the radiation to be reflected; and

embedded cavities completely enclosed by said carrier and each having interfaces, the radiation to be reflected being subjected to total reflection at a part of the interfaces of the cavities;

curing the molding compound; and

removing the casting mold from the formed faceted reflector.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the casting mold is in two parts.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the casting mold is an injection molding casting mold.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein the casting mold is a transfer molding casting mold.

21. A method for marking, which comprises:

providing a light source emitting radiation;

directing the radiation of the light source to an entry side of at least one faceted reflector having a carrier with a first main area forming the entry side, a second main area forming an exit side, and individual embedded reflectors formed as cavities in the carrier, the cavities being completely enclosed by the carrier and the cavities each having interfaces, the carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the optical path of the radiation to be reflected in the reflector;

reflecting the radiation along the optical path through the reflector, thereby subjecting the radiation to total reflection at a part of the interfaces of the cavities, and out the exit side of the carrier; and

placing the reflector at a road as one of a self-luminous road marker and a roadway edge marker.

22. A method for marking a facade, which comprises:

providing a light source emitting radiation;

directing the radiation of the light source to an entry side of at least one faceted reflector having a carrier with a first main area forming the entry side, a second main area forming an exit side, and individual embedded reflectors formed as cavities in the carrier, the cavities being completely enclosed by the carrier and the cavities each having interfaces, the carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the optical path of the radiation to be reflected in the reflector;

the radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of said interfaces of said cavities,

reflecting the radiation along the optical path through the reflector, thereby subjecting the radiation to total reflection at a part of the interfaces of the cavities, and out the exit side of the carrier; and

placing the reflector at the faç

ade for illuminating the faç

ade.

23. A method for marking a building, which comprises:

providing a light source emitting radiation;

directing the radiation of the light source to an entry side of at least one faceted reflector having a carrier with a first main area forming the entry side, a second main area forming an exit side, and individual embedded reflectors formed as cavities in the carrier, the cavities being completely enclosed by the carrier and the cavities each having interfaces, the carrier being formed in one piece at least for a part of the optical path of the radiation to be reflected in the reflector;

reflecting the radiation along the optical path through the reflector, thereby subjecting the radiation to total reflection at a part of the interfaces of the cavities, and out the exit side of the carrier; and

placing the reflector at the building for illuminating at least sides of the building.