Method and system for managing light from a light emitting diode
First Claim
1. An illumination system comprising:
- an optic comprising an inner surface that forms a cavity and an outer surface; and
a light emitting diode that is oriented to emit light into the cavity and that has an optical axis,wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis,wherein the inner surface comprises a refractive surface that is located on a first side of the optical axis, that bulges into the cavity, and that forms a beam within the optic, andwherein the outer surface comprises a total internally reflective surface that is located on the first side of the optical axis and that is positioned to receive the formed beam and to reflect the formed beam across the optical axis to a second side of the optical axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light source, for example a light emitting diode, can emit light and have an associated optical axis. The source can be deployed in applications where it is desirable to have illumination biased laterally relative to the optical axis, such as in a street luminaire where directing light towards a street is beneficial. The source can be coupled to an optic that comprises an inner surface facing the source and an outer surface that is opposite the inner surface. The inner surface can comprise a refractive surface that receives light headed away from the optical axis of the light source, for example opposite the street. The refractive surface can form the received light into a beam. The outer surface of the optic can reflect the beam back across the optical axis, for example so that light headed away from the street is redirected towards the street.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An illumination system comprising:
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an optic comprising an inner surface that forms a cavity and an outer surface; and a light emitting diode that is oriented to emit light into the cavity and that has an optical axis, wherein the inner surface and the outer surface are asymmetrical with respect to the optical axis, wherein the inner surface comprises a refractive surface that is located on a first side of the optical axis, that bulges into the cavity, and that forms a beam within the optic, and wherein the outer surface comprises a total internally reflective surface that is located on the first side of the optical axis and that is positioned to receive the formed beam and to reflect the formed beam across the optical axis to a second side of the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An illumination system comprising:
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a light emitting diode having an optical axis; and a lens comprising; an inner surface that faces the light emitting diode, that is asymmetric with respect to the optical axis, and that comprises a convex refractive surface disposed on a side of the optical axis; and an outer surface that is asymmetric with respect to the optical axis and that comprises an internally reflective surface, the internally reflective surface disposed on the side of the optical axis in a position to receive a beam of light formed by the convex refractive surface and to reflect the received beam across the optical axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A lens comprising:
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an inner surface forming a cavity sized to receive light from an LED source that has an optical axis; and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, wherein a cross section of the lens taken at the optical axis shows asymmetry of the inner surface with respect to the optical axis and asymmetry of the outer surface with respect to the optical axis, and wherein the cross section comprises; a first portion of the outer surface defining a total internally reflective surface located on a side of the optical axis; and a second portion of the inner surface defining a focusing element that is located on the side of the optical axis for forming a beam extending within the lens between the focusing element and the totally internally reflective surface. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification