Apparatus for controlling the re-distribution of light emitted from a light-emitting diode

• US 9,322,515 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Korry Electronics Co. (Transdigm Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Green, John R., Humphrey, Stephen H., Leslie, Andrew B., Robinson, Timothy R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): Garlen, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US13/172,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20130003383A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,763 Days
• Field of Search: 362/257, 362/259, 362/317, 362/335, 362/336, 362/311.02, 362/311.03, 362/311.06, 362/650
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 19/0055 by screwing
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/70 characterised by passive heat-dissipating elements, e.g. heat-sinks
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/89 Metals
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/02 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/049 Patterns or structured surfaces for diffusing light, e.g. frosted surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/00 Refractors for light sources characterised by cooling arrangements F21V29/504
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0242 by means of dispersed particles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0294 adapted to provide an additional optical effect, e.g. anti-reflection or filter

Abstract

A system for re-distributing light emitted from a light source using an optical element is described. The optical element is manufactured using a bulk matrix material, and diffusing particles and/or scattering particles are embedded within the bulk material. The optical element is coupled to the light source to capture emitted light and redistribute the light in a desired angular distribution pattern depending on the ratio of total weight of diffusing particles to total weight of scattering particles.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a first angular distribution pattern;

an optical element coupled to the source, wherein the optical element comprises a bulk material, a first type of particle substantially uniformly distributed throughout the bulk material, and a second type of particle substantially uniformly distributed throughout the bulk material, wherein the first type of particle has a first concentration by weight within the bulk material, and the second type of particle has a second concentration by weight within the bulk material, and further wherein the optical element has a shape that captures the first angular distribution pattern and emits a second angular distribution pattern;

wherein the first and second angular distribution patterns provide a light distribution pattern with a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by;

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first type of particle is one or more type of scattering particles, and the second type of particle is one or more type of diffusing particles.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first angular distribution pattern does not emit radiation beyond a 180°

arc in a plane passing through a center of and normal to the source, and further wherein the second angular distribution pattern emits radiation over at least a 180°

arc in the plane passing through the center of and normal to the source.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical element is remote from the light source.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the optical element has a size and a shape substantially similar to a rounded portion of an A19 incandescent light bulb.

6. A system, comprising:

a light-emitting element;

an optical element coupled to the light emitting element, wherein the optical element is embedded substantially uniformly with a first type of particle without a gradient in concentration by weight of the first type of particle, the optical element is embedded substantially uniformly with a second type of particle without a gradient in concentration by weight of the second type of particle, and further wherein the optical element captures the light emitted by the light emitting element and re-emits the light in a distribution pattern that provides a light distribution pattern with a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by;

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first type of particle is a scattering particle, and the second type of particle is a diffusing particle.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the optical element is coupled to the light emitting element with a material having a refractive index that substantially matches a refractive index of the optical element.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the optical element is spherical.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a diameter of the spherical optical element is greater than a width of a base supporting the light emitting element.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein the light emitting element is a light emitting diode.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein the light emitting element is a laser.

13. A system, comprising:

a light-emitting element;

a solid optical element coupled to the light emitting element, wherein the optical element is formed from a bulk material, the bulk material is embedded throughout with a first type of particle, the bulk material is embedded throughout with a second type of particle, and further wherein the optical element captures the light emitted by the light emitting element and re-emits the light in a quasi-isotropic distribution pattern;

wherein the quasi-isotropic distribution pattern has a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, and further wherein the light distribution uniformity is given by

14. A method of simulating a light emission distribution of an incandescent light bulb, comprising:

generating light with a light-emitting diode (LED), wherein the LED only emits light in a forward direction;

capturing the generated light with an optical element embedded substantially uniformly with a first type of particle having a first concentration by weight within the solid optical element

re-emitting at least some of the captured light in a distribution pattern, wherein the distribution pattern includes emission in a backward direction outside the solid optical element;

wherein the distribution pattern has a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by;

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the optical element is further embedded substantially uniformly with a second type of particle having a second concentration by weight within the optical element.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first type of particle is a scattering particle, and the second type of particle is a diffusing particle.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the optical element is spherical.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the LED is mounted on a base, and further wherein a diameter of the spherical optical element is greater than a width of the base.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the LED has a substantially Lambertian emission.

20. A method of simulating a light emission distribution of an incandescent light bulb, comprising:

generating light with a light emitting element, wherein the light emitting element only emits light in a forward direction;

means for capturing the generated light with an optical element, wherein a first type of particle and a second type of particle are distributed substantially uniformly without a gradient in concentration throughout the optical element;

means for re-emitting at least some of the captured light in a distribution pattern, wherein the distribution pattern includes emission in a backward direction; and

wherein the distribution pattern has a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by;

21. A method of changing a distribution of emitted electromagnetic radiation from a source, comprising:

generating electromagnetic radiation with a source;

capturing the generated radiation with an optical element embedded with a first type of particle substantially uniformly distributed throughout the optical element without a gradient in concentration, and further wherein the optical element is embedded throughout with a second type of particle substantially uniformly throughout the entire optical element without a gradient in concentration;

re-emitting at least some of the captured light in a distribution pattern, wherein the distribution pattern is substantially uniform over a surface; and

wherein the distribution pattern has a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by;

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the first type of particle is a scattering particle, and the second type of particle is a diffusing particle.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a solid optical element formed from a bulk material, wherein the optical element has a shape that captures electromagnetic radiation emitted from a source in a first angular distribution pattern and re-distributes the electromagnetic radiation in a second angular distribution pattern;

a plurality of scattering particles, wherein the plurality of scattering particles are dispersed substantially uniformly throughout the bulk material, wherein the scattering particles have a first concentration by weight within the bulk material; and

a plurality of diffusing particles, wherein the plurality of diffusing particles are dispersed substantially uniformly with a second concentration by weight throughout the bulk material, wherein the diffusing particles have a second concentration by weight within the bulk material;

wherein the first and second angular distribution patterns provide a light distribution pattern with a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, the light distribution uniformity is given by

24. A system, comprising:

a source configured to emit electromagnetic radiation having a first angular distribution pattern;

a solid optical element coupled to the source, wherein the optical element is formed from a bulk material, and a first type of particle is distributed with a first concentration by weight throughout the bulk material, and a second type of particle is distributed with a second concentration by weight throughout the bulk material and further wherein the optical element has a shape that captures the first angular distribution pattern and emits a second angular distribution pattern;

wherein the first and second angular distribution patterns provide a light distribution pattern with a light distribution uniformity between 0.6 and 1.4, and further wherein the light distribution uniformity is given by