Optics for axially-transverse light emission
First Claim
1. An apparatus configured to non-invasively inject light from a light source into a light transmitting medium having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion, the apparatus comprising:
- an optic having a planar exit surface and an input surface, the optic being symmetrical about a central axis of the optic; and
at least one coupling material adjacent to the planar exit surface and having a refractive index greater than air, and configured for optically coupling and physically connecting the planar exit surface to the light transmitting medium;
the input surface being subdivided into one or more regions or zones, each region or zone having a constant or smoothly changing surface tangent, and each region or zone being bounded by at least one discontinuity in the surface tangent so that, when the optic surrounds the light source and is optically coupled to the light transmitting medium by the planar exit surface and the at least one coupling material, the optic redirects a first amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, within a range of angles between a critical angle of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle, and redirects most or all of a remaining amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, at angles greater than the complementary angle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus, for illuminating a feature on a transparent light transmitting substrate or window, including an optical arrangement secured to one of the surfaces of the substrate for directing light into the substrate at an incident angle selected for propagation of light via total internal reflection (TIR) along the substrate. The optical arrangement has a rotationally symmetrical optic for surrounding a light source, a planar output surface, and an input surface divided into at least one curved zone bounded by a surface discontinuity, and at least one coupling material, with a refractive index greater than air, to optically and physically couple the output surface to the substrate.
97 Citations
18 Claims
-
1. An apparatus configured to non-invasively inject light from a light source into a light transmitting medium having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion, the apparatus comprising:
-
an optic having a planar exit surface and an input surface, the optic being symmetrical about a central axis of the optic; and at least one coupling material adjacent to the planar exit surface and having a refractive index greater than air, and configured for optically coupling and physically connecting the planar exit surface to the light transmitting medium; the input surface being subdivided into one or more regions or zones, each region or zone having a constant or smoothly changing surface tangent, and each region or zone being bounded by at least one discontinuity in the surface tangent so that, when the optic surrounds the light source and is optically coupled to the light transmitting medium by the planar exit surface and the at least one coupling material, the optic redirects a first amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, within a range of angles between a critical angle of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle, and redirects most or all of a remaining amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, at angles greater than the complementary angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. An illumination apparatus configured to non-invasively inject light into a light transmitting medium having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion, the illumination apparatus comprising:
-
an optic having a planar exit surface and an input surface, the optic being symmetrical about a central axis of the optic; a light source, the optic being positioned to surround the light source; and at least one coupling material adjacent to the planar exit surface and having a refractive index greater than air, and configured for optically coupling and physically connecting the planar exit surface to the light transmitting medium; the input surface being subdivided into one or more regions or zones, each region or zone having a constant or smoothly changing surface tangent, and each region or zone being bounded by at least one discontinuity in the surface tangent so that, when the optic is optically coupled to the light transmitting medium by the planar exit surface and the at least one coupling material, the optic redirects a first amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, within a range of angles between a critical angle of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle, and redirects most or all of a remaining amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, at angles greater than the complementary angle. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An optical apparatus comprising:
-
an optic having a planar exit surface and an input surface, the optic being symmetrical about a central axis of the optic; a light transmitting medium haying a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion; and at least one coupling material adjacent to the planar exit surface and having a refractive index greater than air, the at least one coupling material optically coupling and physically connecting the planar exit surface to the light transmitting medium; the input surface being subdivided into one or more regions or zones, each region or zone having a constant or smoothly changing surface tangent, and each region or zone being bounded by at least one discontinuity in the surface tangent so that, when a light source is positioned to be surrounded by the optic and is optically coupled to the light transmitting medium by the planar exit surface and the at least one coupling material, the optic redirects a first amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, within a range of angles between a critical angle of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle, and redirects most or all of a remaining amount of the light from the light source, that passes through the input surface, through the first surface portion, and into the light transmitting medium, at angles greater than the complementary angle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification