Illumination system using filament lamps

• US 7,618,158 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2006
• Issued: 11/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wavien, Inc.
• Inventors: Li, Kenneth K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne; Sharon E
• Application Number:
  US11/386,328
• Publication Number:
  US 20060227557A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,336 Days
• Field of Search: 362/296, 362/297, 362/298, 362/341, 362/346, 362/551, 362/560, 362/302
• US Class Current: 362/296.01
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0025 Combination of two or more reflectors for a single light source array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources F21V7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• 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: H04N 9/3152 for shaping the light beam beam shaping per se G02B27/09

Abstract

An illumination system using filament lamps including a filament lamp, a reflector having a first and second focal points, the filament lamp disposed proximate to the first focal point of the reflector to emit rays of electromagnetic radiation that reflect from the reflector and converge substantially at the second focal point, wherein a portion of the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the filament lamp impinges directly on the reflector and a portion of the electromagnetic radiation does not impinge directly on the reflector and wherein the system further includes an additional reflector constructed and arranged to reflect at least part of the portion of the electromagnetic radiation that does not impinge directly on the reflector toward the reflector through the first focal point of the reflector.

Claims

1. An illumination system using filament lamps comprising:

a first reflector comprising a first reflector portion with a first focal point, and second reflector portion with a second focal point;

a filament lamp comprising a filament, disposed proximate to said first focal point of said first reflector, for emitting rays of electromagnetic radiation that reflect from said first reflector portion and said second reflector portion to converge substantially at said second focal point of said second reflector portion;

a second reflector arranged to reflect at least part of a portion of the electromagnetic radiation that does not impinge directly on said first reflector toward said filament lamp; and

wherein said filament substantially blocks and absorbs said portion of the electromagnetic radiation, thereby heating said filament of said filament lamp to increase said electromagnetic radiation output of said filament lamp.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said second reflector comprises a spherical retro-reflector disposed on a side of said filament lamp opposite said first reflector to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted from said filament lamp received towards said first reflector.

3. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said second reflector comprises a paraboloid retro-reflector and a flat reflector and wherein said paraboloid retro-reflector being disposed on a side of said filament lamp opposite said first reflector to reflect electromagnetic radiation emitted from said filament lamp reflector towards said flat reflector, which reflects said clectromagnetic radiation towards said paraboloid retro-reflector.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a waveguide disposed substantially proximate to said second focal point to substantially collect all of said radiation.

5. The illumination system of claim 4, wherein said waveguide is selected from the group consisting of circular waveguides, polygonal waveguides, tapered waveguides and combinations thereof.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, comprising further a filter placed substantially in a path of said rays of electromagnetic radiation.

7. The illumination system of claim 6, wherein said filter reflects a pre-specified portion of a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation towards said filament lamp which is absorbed by said filament of said filament lamp.

8. The illumination system of claim 6, wherein said filter reflects ultraviolet and infrared radiation towards said filament lamp which is absorbed by said filament of said filament lamp.

9. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein said portions of the electromagnetic radiation heats said filament of said filament lamp.

10. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said portions of the electromagnetic radiation heats said filament of said filament lamp to increase temperature of said filament, thereby increasing said electromagnetic radiation output of said filament lamp.

11. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein said first reflector is coated to reflect only a pre-specified portion of a spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation.