Illumination apparatus

• US 8,657,467 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Issued: 02/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epistar Corporation
• Original Assignee: Epistar Corporation
• Inventors: Hsieh, Min-Hsun, Yin, Chou-Chih, Chen, Chun-Chang, Wang, Jen-Shui, Tsai, Chia-Fen, Chen, Yi-Ming
• Primary Examiner(s): CARIASO, ALAN B
• Application Number:
  US12/007,745
• Publication Number:
  US 20080112156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 362/97.1, 362/97.2, 362/97.3, 362/97.4, 362/240, 362/608, 362/609, 362/610, 362/612, 362/613, 362/244, 362/245, 362/246, 362/327, 362/555, 362/558, 362/559, 362/621, 362/330, 362/331
• US Class Current: 362/240
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• 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 19/0071 adapted to illuminate a complete hemisphere or a plane extending 360 degrees around the source
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0018 Redirecting means on the surface of the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0021 for housing at least a part of the light source, e.g. by forming holes or recesses
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0033 Means for improving the coupling-out of light from the light guide
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/01322 Eutectic Alloys, i.e. obtained by a liquid transforming into two solid phases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31551 Of polyamidoester [polyurethane, polyisocyanate, polycarbamate, etc.]

Abstract

An illumination apparatus is disclosed in the invention. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity with a diffusion surface, a light source, a light-spreading device, and at least one optically-conditioning surface with a wave-like array formed thereon. The light-spreading device and the optically-conditioning surface spread the light generated by the light source. The light-spreading device includes a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, a recess located away from the light incident surface, and an optically-conditioning surface including a wave-like array, wherein the wave-like array has a wavefront direction.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of light sources for providing light;

a light-spreading device disposed above the light sources;

a first optically-conditioning surface disposed between the light sources and the light-spreading device, and having a first wave-like array propagating in a first array direction; and

a second optically-conditioning surface substantially parallel to the first optically-conditioning surface and having a second wave-like array propagating in a second array direction different from the first array direction.

2. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a cavity having a bottom and a sidewall, the cavity accommodating the light sources therein.

3. The light-spreading device of claim 2, further comprising:

a reflective surface formed on at least one of the bottom and the sidewall.

4. The illumination apparatus of claim 2, further comprising:

a diffuser substantially parallel to the bottom.

5. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light-spreading device has a wing-shaped protrusion part, a light incident surface, and a recess opposite the light incident surface.

6. The illumination apparatus of claim 5, wherein the wing-shaped protrusion part extends in a longitudinal direction.

7. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wave-like array comprises a lens having a diameter substantially between 50 μ

m and 60 μ

m.

8. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources comprise one of a red light-emitting diode, a blue light-emitting diode, and a green light-emitting diode.

9. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged periodically.

10. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged in an array.

11. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged in a curved pattern.

12. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the light sources are arranged in a cluster.

13. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wave-like array and the second wave-like array are formed in different directions.

14. The illumination apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wave-like array and the second wave-like array are stacked with each other to form a Moiré

pattern.