Optics for axially-transverse light emission

• US 9,377,178 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 06/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Luminated Glazings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robert Saccomanno
• Inventors: Saccomanno, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Negron, Ismael
• Application Number:
  US14/105,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20140098545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 13/04 the elements being reflectors and refractors for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 3/04 characterised by materials, surface treatments or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0025 Diffusing sheet or layer; Prismatic sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0031 Reflecting element, sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0036 2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0051 Diffusing sheet or layer
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0085 Means for removing heat created by the light source from the package heat extraction or cooling elements for semiconductor light sources in general H01L33/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0095 Light guides as housings, housing portions, shelves, doors, tiles, windows, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/04 Signs, boards or panels, illuminated from behind the insignia

Abstract

An illumination device includes a transparent substrate having opposite first and second surfaces, a light source positioned to face the second surface, an optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces and a second end with a non-planar reflective surface, and at least one coupling material to optically and physically couple the coplanar exit and input surfaces to the first surface, the optic and the at least one coupling material being made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air.

Claims

1. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion;

a light source located on the same side of the transparent substrate as the second surface portion;

a light transmissive and reflective optic, wherein a light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic is made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air, the optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces and having a second end with a non-planar reflective surface; and

at least one first coupling member made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air, and configured for optically coupling and physically connecting the coplanar exit and input surfaces to the transparent substrate at the first surface portion,

wherein the non-planar reflective surface has a shape so that, when the light source directs a first portion of light from the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion, through the first surface portion into the input surface of the light transmissive and reflective optic through the at least one first coupling member, and through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, the first portion of light is reflected by the reflective surface, passes back through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and enters the transparent substrate through the at least one first coupling member such that the first portion of light is incident on the second surface portion at angles greater than a critical angle relative to the normal of the second surface portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the coplanar exit and input surfaces are coincident.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of:

an LED, a laser diode, an optical fiber, fluorescent materials, and photoluminescent materials.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic and the at least one first coupling member are made of the same material.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a second coupling medium member for optically coupling and physically connecting the light source to the second surface portion of the transparent substrate.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of:

an LED, a laser diode, an optical fiber, fluorescent materials, and photoluminescent materials, such that a second portion of light from the light source is directed by the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion and is incident on the first surface portion at angles greater than the critical angle relative to the normal of the first surface portion.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the optic has a central axis normal to the first surface portion of the transparent substrate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light transmissive and reflective optic is symmetrical about the central axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the light source is centered about the central axis and the first portion of light from the light source that is reflected by the reflective surface crosses through the central axis.

10. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion;

a light source located on the same side of the transparent substrate as the second surface portion; and

a light transmissive and reflective optic, a light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic being made of a coupling media having a refractive index greater than that of air, the optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces of the coupling media, which are optically coupled and physically connected to the transparent substrate at the first surface portion, and a second end with a non-planar reflective surface,

wherein the non-planar reflective surface has a shape so that, when the light source directs a first portion of light from the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion, through the first surface portion into the input surface of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, the first portion of light is reflected by the reflective surface, passes back through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and enters the transparent substrate such that the first portion of light is incident on the second surface portion at angles greater than a critical angle relative to the normal of the second surface portion.

11. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion;

a light source located on the same side of the transparent substrate as the second surface portion;

a light transmissive and reflective optic, wherein a light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic is made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air, the optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces and a second end with a non-planar reflective surface; and

at least one first coupling member made of a material having a refractive index greater than that of air, and configured for optically coupling and physically connecting the coplanar exit and input surfaces to the transparent substrate at the first surface portion,

wherein the non-planar reflective surface has a shape so that, when the light source directs a first portion of light from the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion, through the first surface portion into the input surface of the light transmissive and reflective optic through the at least one first coupling member, and through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, the first portion of light is reflected by the reflective surface, passes back through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and enters the transparent substrate through the at least one first coupling member such that the first portion of light is incident on the second surface portion within a range of angles between a critical angle relative to the normal of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the coplanar exit and input surfaces are coincident.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of:

an LED, a laser diode, an optical fiber, fluorescent materials, and photoluminescent materials.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the light transmissive and reflective optic and the at least one first coupling member are made of the same material.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 further comprising a second coupling member for optically coupling and physically connecting the light source to the second surface portion of the transparent substrate.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the light source is selected from the group consisting of:

an LED, a laser diode, an optical fiber, fluorescent materials, and photoluminescent materials, such that a second portion of light from the light source is directed by the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion and is incident on the first surface portion at angles greater than the critical angle relative to the normal of the first surface portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the optic has a central axis normal to the first surface portion of the transparent substrate.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the light transmissive and reflective optic is symmetrical about the central axis.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the light source is centered about the central axis and the first portion of light from the light source that is reflected by the reflective surface crosses through the central axis.

20. An illumination apparatus comprising:

a transparent substrate having a first surface portion and a second surface portion directly opposite the first surface portion;

a light source located on the same side of the transparent substrate as the second surface portion; and

a light transmissive and reflective optic, a light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic being made of a coupling media having a refractive index greater than that of air, the optic having a first end with coplanar exit and input surfaces of the coupling media, which are optically coupled and physically connected to the transparent substrate at the first surface portion, and a second end with a non-planar reflective surface,

wherein the non-planar reflective surface has a shape so that, when the light source directs a first portion of light from the light source through the transparent substrate from the second surface portion, through the first surface portion into the input surface of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, the first portion of light is reflected by the reflective surface, passes back through the light transmissive portion of the light transmissive and reflective optic, and enters the transparent substrate such that the first portion of light is incident on the second surface portion within a range of angles between a critical angle relative to the normal of the second surface portion and a complementary angle to the critical angle.