Illumination techniques and devices
First Claim
1. A lightguide comprising:
- a bulk of optical material; and
a plurality of internal light extraction features provided completely within an internal region of the bulk of optical material, wherein the plurality of internal light extraction features is configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide wherein the lightguide is curved, rounded, or non-planar.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Techniques are disclosed for extracting light from within a lightguide by providing therein a plurality of internal light extraction features. A broad range of internal light extraction feature configurations (e.g., geometries/shapes, materials, refractive index changes, etc.) can be provided, and a variety of processes/techniques (e.g., 3-D printing, laser cutting/etching, injection molding, embossment, layer stacking, extrusion, etc.) can be used to do so. The features can be configured to achieve any desired set of photometric performance criteria (e.g., single/double-sided emission, optical efficiency, energy efficiency, spatial/angular luminance distribution, intensity gradients, etc.) for a given lightguide-based fixture/device. In some cases, internal and surficial light extraction features can be used together to extract light. Also, a wide variety of lighting fixtures/devices (e.g., panels, bulbs, tubes, rings, containers, three-dimensional structures/sculptures, multi-layered, multi-sectioned, etc.) can be produced using the disclosed techniques. In some cases, transparent/semi-transparent devices can be produced.
72 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A lightguide comprising:
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a bulk of optical material; and a plurality of internal light extraction features provided completely within an internal region of the bulk of optical material, wherein the plurality of internal light extraction features is configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide wherein the lightguide is curved, rounded, or non-planar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of making a lightguide, the method comprising:
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providing a bulk of optical material; providing a plurality of internal light extraction features completely within an internal region of the bulk of optical material, wherein the plurality of internal light extraction features is configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide; dividing the lightguide into a plurality of zones including at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the first zone encompasses a first sub-set of the plurality of internal light extraction features and the second zone encompasses a second sub-set of the plurality of internal light extraction features, and wherein the internal light extraction features of the first sub-set are configured differently from the internal light extraction features of the second sub-set wherein the internal light extraction features of the first zone comprise a material different from the internal light extraction features of the second zone. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A multi-sectioned lighting device comprising:
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two or more lighting devices arranged in a laterally adjacent configuration with each lightguide comprising; a bulk of optical material; and a plurality of internal light extraction features provided completely within an internal region of the bulk of optical material, wherein the plurality of internal light extraction features is configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide; and one or more light sources configured to couple light into the lightguide. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A lighting device comprising:
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a lightguide comprising; a bulk of optical material; and a plurality of internal light extraction features provided completely within an internal region of the bulk of optical material, wherein the plurality of internal light extraction features is configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide; and one or more light sources configured to couple light into the lightguide wherein the lighting device is transparent or semi-transparent and is configured to function as a window and a lighting fixture. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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Specification