Combining outputs of different light sources

• US 7,724,440 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
• Original Assignee: Light Prescriptions Innovators, LLC
• Inventors: Chaves, Julio C., Parkyn, William A. Jr., Falicoff, Waqidi, Miñano, Juan Carlos, Benítez, Pablo
• Primary Examiner(s): Martinez; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greece; James R
• Application Number:
  US11/891,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20080074752A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 359/641, 359/618, 359628-629
• US Class Current: 359/628
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/68 Details of reflectors forming part of the light source
• 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 19/0066 in the form of an LED array
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/143 using macroscopically faceted or segmented reflective surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/149 using crossed beamsplitting surfaces, e.g. cross-dichroic cubes or X-cubes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0028 Light guide, e.g. taper
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/315 Modulator illumination systems general applications of lighting devices F21V; general optical systems G02B; lamp houses for projectors not peculiar to the presence of an electronic spatial light modulator G03B21/20

Abstract

An embodiment of an optical manifold has first and second collimators, each arranged to receive light from a source and transmit the light to an exit port of the collimator, and a separator arranged to emit some of the light from the exit ports of the first and second collimators and to recycle some of the light into the collimators. Another embodiment has at least three collimators of substantially equal length and having central axes, respective light sources at entry ports of the collimators, the collimators being arranged with their central axes parallel and with their light sources in a common plane and reflectors positioned to direct light from exit ports of the collimators to a selectively reflective component that guides all the light into a common exit beam.

Claims

1. An optical manifold comprising:

at least three collimators of substantially equal length and having central axes;

respective light sources at entry ports of the collimators; and

a component arranged to superimpose light from said light sources into a common light output, wherein the mean optical path lengths for said light from the exit ports of the respective collimators to the common light output are substantially equal;

wherein the at least three collimators are arranged with their central axes parallel and with their light sources in a common plane; and

the manifold further comprising reflectors positioned between the exit ports of the collimators and the component arranged to superimpose the light to direct light from the exit ports of the collimators to the component arranged to superimpose the light.

2. The optical manifold according to claim 1, wherein the reflectors are prisms.

3. The optical manifold according to claim 1, wherein the light sources are not all of the same color, and the component arranged to superimpose the light comprises at least one frequency-selective mirror.

4. The optical manifold according to claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise at least one LED and at least one phosphor, further comprising an LED arranged to excite the phosphor.

5. The optical manifold according to claim 1, wherein the at least three collimators include first and second collimators, each arranged to receive light from a source and transmit the light to an exit port of the respective collimator;

and

a separator arranged to emit some of the light from the exit ports of the first and second collimators and to recycle some of the light into the collimators.

6. The optical manifold according to claim 5, wherein the separator comprises reflectors covering only parts of the exit ports of the first and second collimators.

7. The optical manifold according to claim 6, wherein the first and second collimators are arranged with their exit ports side by side, and wherein the parts of the exit ports covered by the reflectors are non-adjacent parts.

8. An optical manifold comprising:

at least three collimators of equal length and having central axes;

respective light sources at entry ports of the collimators; and

a component arranged to superimpose light from said light sources into a common light output, wherein the mean optical path lengths for said light from the exit ports of the respective collimators to the common light output are equal;

wherein the at least three collimators are arranged with their central axes parallel and with their light sources in a common plane; and

the manifold further comprising reflectors positioned between the exit ports of the collimators and the component arranged to superimpose the light to direct light from exit ports of the collimators to the component arranged to superimpose the light.

9. The optical manifold according to claim 8, wherein the reflectors are prisms.

10. The optical manifold according to claim 8, wherein the light sources are not all of the same color, and the component arranged to superimpose the light comprises at least one frequency-selective mirror.

11. The optical manifold according to claim 8, wherein the light sources comprise at least one LED and at least one phosphor, further comprising an LED arranged to excite the phosphor.

12. The optical manifold according to claim 8, wherein the at least three collimators include first and second collimators, each arranged to receive light from a source and transmit the light to an exit port of the respective collimator;

and

a separator arranged to emit some of the light from the exit ports of the first and second collimators and to recycle some of the light into the collimators.

13. The optical manifold according to claim 12, wherein the separator comprises reflectors covering only parts of the exit ports of the first and second collimators.

14. The optical manifold according to claim 13, wherein the first and second collimators are arranged with their exit ports side by side, and wherein the parts of the exit ports covered by the reflectors are non-adjacent parts.