Light guide with narrow angle light output and methods

• US 9,223,080 B2
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm MEMS Technologies Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Inventors: Holman, Robert L.
• Primary Examiner(s): McDowell, Jr., Maurice L
• Application Number:
  US13/454,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20130278611A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,344 Days
• Field of Search: 345/501, 264/1.25, 359/238, 362/611, 362/615, 362/619
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0046 Tapered light guide, e.g. wedge-shaped light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0061 to provide homogeneous light output intensity
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0078 Side-by-side arrangements, e.g. for large area displays

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for providing illumination. In one aspect, a light guide can be configured to propagate light received from a light source. The light can be propagated by total internal reflection (TIR) within the light guide. The light guide can include an output surface configured to output light and one or more light extraction elements, which are configured to redirect the light propagating in the light guide so that the light exits the light guide through the output surface. The light guide can have tapered side walls that are configured to at least partially collimate the light that is to exit out of the output surface. In some implementations, the light guide can be used to provide illumination for display devices, other electromechanical systems, or for lighting a room or task area.

Claims

1. An illumination system comprising:

a light guide substantially having a shape of a bar with a length longer than a width, and formed of a material configured to propagate light therein, the light guide including;

an elongated output surface;

an elongated back side opposite the output surface, wherein the output surface is wider than the back side;

light extraction elements dispersed along the length of the light guide, wherein the light extraction elements are configured to direct light out of the light guide through the output surface; and

one or more tapered side walls that extend from the output surface to the back side, wherein the tapered side walls are configured to partially collimate the light directed out of the output surface.

2. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein a taper of the side walls follows at least one of a tilted plane surface and a polynomially shaped surface.

3. The illumination system of claim 2, wherein the side walls have the shape of a compound parabolic concentrator (CPC) trough.

4. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein a longitudinal axis extends along the length of the light guide, and the one or more side walls of the light guide are configured to partially collimate the light directed out of the output surface such that light that exits the output surface in a plane substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis is substantially confined to a range of output angles of about ±

60°

or less relative to a direction normal to the output surface.

5. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the side walls are planar such that the light guide has a generally trapezoidal cross sectional shape.

6. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the side walls converge at the back side of the light guide such that the light guide has a generally triangular cross sectional shape.

7. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the back side includes an elongated back surface opposite the output surface.

8. The illumination system of claim 7, wherein the back surface is substantially planar.

9. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light extraction elements are reflective.

10. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the light extraction elements include one or more scattering features.

11. The illumination system of claim 9, wherein the light extraction elements include one or more reflective facets.

12. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a reflector, wherein the light extraction elements are located on the output surface of the light guide, and wherein the reflector is located proximate the back side of the light guide, wherein the light extraction elements are configured to turn incident light towards the reflector, and wherein the reflector is configured to redirect the turned light out of the output surface.

13. The illumination system of claim 1, wherein the light extraction elements are dispersed along substantially the entire length of the light guide.

14. The illumination system of claim 1, further comprising a light source configured to direct light into the light guide through a first end surface of the light guide, wherein the first end surface extends between the output surface, the back side, and the side walls.

15. A display device comprising:

the illumination system of claim 1; and

an array of display elements positioned to receive light from the illumination system.

16. The display device of claim 15, wherein the display elements are reflective.

17. The display device of claim 16, wherein the display elements include interferometric modulators (IMODs).

18. The display device of claim 15, further comprising:

a processor that is configured to communicate with the display elements, the processor being configured to process image data; and

a memory device that is configured to communicate with the processor.

19. The display device of claim 18, further comprising:

a driver circuit configured to send at least one signal to the display elements; and

a controller configured to send at least a portion of the image data to the driver circuit.

20. The display device of claim 18, further comprising an image source module configured to send the image data to the processor.

21. The display device of claim 20, wherein the image source module includes at least one of a receiver, transceiver, and transmitter.

22. The display device of claim 18, further comprising an input device configured to receive input data and to communicate the input data to the processor.

23. A method of making a light guide substantially having a shape of a bar with a length longer than a width, the method comprising:

providing a material configured to propagate light therein, the material shaped to have an elongated output surface, an elongated back side opposite the output surface, and one or more tapered side walls that extend from the output surface to the back side, wherein the output surface is wider than the back side, and wherein the tapered side walls are configured to partially collimate light directed out of the output surface; and

providing light extraction elements along the length of the light guide, wherein the light extraction elements are configured to direct light out of the light guide through the output surface.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein providing the light extraction elements includes forming the light extraction elements on the output surface of the light guide, and wherein the method further comprises:

providing a reflector proximate the back side of the light guide;

wherein the light extraction elements are configured to turn incident light towards the reflector; and

wherein the reflector is configured to redirect the turned light out of the output surface.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising optically coupling a light source to the light guide to direct light into the light guide through a first end surface of the light guide, wherein the first end surface extends between the output surface, the back side, and the side walls.