Illumination source with variable divergence

• US 8,944,647 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2010
• Issued: 02/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optotune Consumer AG (Optotune Switzerland AG)
• Original Assignee: Optotune AG (Optotune Switzerland AG)
• Inventors: Bueeler, Michael, Aschwanden, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): RALEIGH, DONALD L
• Application Number:
  US13/820,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20130170220A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,615 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 362/343
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/69 Details of refractors forming part of the light source
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/12 Combinations of only three kinds of elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/00 Controlling the distribution of the light emitted by adjustment of elements reflectors with provision for adjusting the curvature F21V7/16; light filters or the like with provision for controlling the colour or intensity F21V9/40; screens using adjustable parallel laminae or strips F21V11/04; screens using iris-type diaphragms F21V11/10; screens using movable sheets without apertures F21V11/18; adjustable mountings for lighting devices F21V21/14
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 14/06 by movement of refractors in vehicle head lamps F21S41/635
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 17/02 with provision for adjustment F21V17/04 - F21V17/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/008 Combination of two or more successive refractors along an optical axis
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0083 Array of reflectors for a cluster of light sources, e.g. arrangement of multiple light sources in one plane combination of two or more reflectors F21V7/0025
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 7/0091 using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• 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 3/14 of variable focal length

Abstract

The illumination source has a LED light source (2) generating a first divergent light field (6). The light from the LED light source (2) is processed by a first optical element (10), in particular a first lens element, to generate a second divergent light field (19). The first divergent light field (19) is processed by a second optical element (20) having a variable lens variable focus in order to generate a third light field (35) whose divergence can be varied.

Claims

1. An illumination source comprising

an LED light source generating a first divergent light field with a first divergence,

a first optical element arranged and structured to receive said first divergent light field and to generate a second divergent light field with a second divergence, wherein said second divergence is smaller than said first divergence, and

a second optical element comprising a variable lens having a lens interface with variable curvature, wherein said variable lens is arranged and structured to receive said second divergent light field and to generate a third light field with variable divergence, and

wherein said second divergence is at least 10°

.

2. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said LED light source comprises at least one LED and a primary lens element, wherein said LED is at least partially embedded in said primary lens element, and wherein said primary lens element is separate from said first optical element.

3. The illumination source of claim 2 wherein said primary lens element is arranged at least partially in a recess in said first optical element.

4. The illumination light source of claim 1 wherein said first optical element comprises a first lens element.

5. The illumination source of claim 4 wherein said first lens element is a single lens body.

6. The illumination light source of claim 1 wherein said first optical element comprises an array of reflectors and said LED light source comprises an array of LEDs, wherein at least one LED is arranged in each reflector.

7. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said first optical element comprises light scattering structures scattering the light field from the LED light source.

8. The illumination source of claim 7 wherein said light scattering structures are arranged on a light scattering surface of said first optical element, wherein the light scattering surface faces said second optical element.

9. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein a distance between said first optical element and said second optical element is adjustable.

10. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said lens interface separates a higher refractive section from a lower refractive section, with said higher refractive section being arranged at a side of said lens interface facing said LED light source, and wherein said lens interface is a convex surface of said higher refractive section for at least some of the variable curvatures of said lens interface.

11. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said LED light source comprises a plurality of LEDs having different emission spectra.

12. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein a focal length of said second optical element can be varied over a focal range, wherein at a least part of said focal range is larger than or equal to zero.

13. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said second optical element is located at a distance from said first optical element.

14. The illumination source of claim 1 wherein said second divergence is at least 17°

.