Optical element for a light source and lighting system using same
First Claim
1. An optical element for a lighting system, the optical element comprising:
- a flat, annular bottom surface;
an entry surface comprising at least three subsurfaces including an inverted conic subsurface and a spherical subsurface that joins the flat, annular bottom surface at a normal angle at a first corner, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays from a light source in a different direction;
an exit surface opposite the entry surface;
a Fresnel concentrator lens disposed in or on the exit surface to receive the light rays from the inverted conic subsurface near the center of the exit surface and direct the light rays towards the normal; and
an outer surface disposed between the exit surface and the flat, annular bottom surface that joins the flat annular bottom surface at a second corner;
wherein each of the three subsurfaces is shaped and positioned to direct light rays through the optical element so that many light rays exit the optic at a normal angle relative to the exit surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical element for a light source and a lighting system using the optical element are disclosed. In example embodiments, the optical element includes an entry surface and an exit surface opposite the entry surface. The entry surface includes at least three subsurfaces, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays leaving light source. Each of the three subsurfaces is geometrically shaped and positioned to receive light rays entering the optical element through that subsurface in order to direct the light passing through the optical element. In some embodiments the optical element includes a concentrator lens disposed in the exit surface. The optical element can also include a mixing treatment. A lighting system can include multiple optical elements, each paired with a light source such as an LED or LED package.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical element for a lighting system, the optical element comprising:
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a flat, annular bottom surface; an entry surface comprising at least three subsurfaces including an inverted conic subsurface and a spherical subsurface that joins the flat, annular bottom surface at a normal angle at a first corner, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays from a light source in a different direction; an exit surface opposite the entry surface; a Fresnel concentrator lens disposed in or on the exit surface to receive the light rays from the inverted conic subsurface near the center of the exit surface and direct the light rays towards the normal; and an outer surface disposed between the exit surface and the flat, annular bottom surface that joins the flat annular bottom surface at a second corner; wherein each of the three subsurfaces is shaped and positioned to direct light rays through the optical element so that many light rays exit the optic at a normal angle relative to the exit surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lighting system comprising:
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a light source; and an optical element further comprising, a flat, annular bottom surface; an entry surface near the light source, the entry surface comprising at least three subsurfaces including an inverted conic subsurface and a spherical subsurface that joins the flat, annular bottom surface at a normal angle at a first corner, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays leaving the light source in a different direction; an exit surface opposite the entry surface; a Fresnel concentrator lens disposed in or on the exit surface to receive the light rays from the inverted conic subsurface near the center of the exit surface and direct the light rays towards the normal; and an outer surface disposed between the exit surface and the flat, annular bottom surface that joins the flat annular bottom surface at a second corner; wherein each of the three subsurfaces is shaped and positioned to direct light rays through the lighting system so that many light rays exit the optic at a normal angle relative to the exit surface. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of assembling a lighting system, the method comprising:
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arranging a plurality of light sources in a pattern; and placing an optical element at each light source to receive light rays through an entry surface of the optical element comprising at least three subsurfaces including an inverted conic subsurface and a spherical subsurface that joins a flat, annular bottom surface of the optical element at a normal angle at a first corner, wherein each subsurface is disposed to receive light rays leaving the light source in a different direction, and wherein each optical element further comprises, an exit surface opposite the entry surface; a Fresnel concentrator lens disposed in or on the exit surface to receive the light rays from the inverted conic subsurface near the center of the exit surface and direct the light rays towards the normal; and an outer surface disposed between the exit surface and the flat, annular bottom surface that joins the flat annular bottom surface at a second corner, so that the three subsurfaces direct light rays entering the optical element through the lighting system to cause many light rays to exit the optic at a normal angle relative to the exit surface. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification