Lightguide module

• US 9,574,734 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2011
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: Varroc Lighting Systems S.R.O. (Varroc Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Sousek, Pavel, Martoch, Jan, Dejmek, Wilfred
• Primary Examiner(s): Neils, Peggy
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUMEBO, TSION M
• Application Number:
  US13/198,999
• Publication Number:
  US 20120033441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,027 Days
• Field of Search: 362/555, 362/551, 362/545, 362/511, 362/543, 362/558, 362/606, 362/608
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/14 Light emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/239 plate-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/243 emitting light from one or more of its extremities
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 43/249 with two or more light sources being coupled into the light guide

Abstract

A lightguide module having a linear collimator produced from optically transparent material, a toroidal lens produced from optically transparent material, and a light source, wherein the toroidal lens is disposed between the linear collimator and the light source, at the exit of the linear collimator are found scattering elements, and wherein a light-emitting part of the light source is directed toward an entry surface of the toroidal lens and an exit surface of the toroidal lens is directed toward entry surfaces of the linear collimator. The light source may be a light-emitting diode and the toroidal lens may be a Fresnel type lens.

Claims

1. A light guide module, consisting essentially of:

a single light source having an optical center with a light-emitting part for emission of light beams;

a single toroidal lens detached and spaced from the light source having a form created by rotation of a profile of a convex lens about an axis of revolution, the axis of revolution passing through the optical center of the light source and being perpendicular to an optical axis of the light guide module, the toroidal lens having a concave entry surface for entry of the light beams of the light source and a convex exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction parallel or nearly parallel with a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution; and

a linear collimator being of plate form having in cross section one dimension substantially larger than in another direction perpendicular to it, the linear collimator having an entry surface for entry of the light beams of the toroidal lens and an exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction of the optical axis of the light guide module, and having outer reflection surfaces being parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution for total internal reflection of the light beams nearly parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution.

2. A light guide module, consisting essentially of:

a single light source detached and spaced from the light source having an optical center with a light-emitting part for emission of light beams;

a single toroidal lens detached and spaced from the light source having a form created by rotation of a profile of a convex lens about an axis of revolution, the axis of revolution passing through the optical center of the light source and being perpendicular to an optical axis of the light guide module, the toroidal lens having an entry surface for entry of the light beams of the light source and an exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction parallel or nearly parallel with a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution; and

a linear collimator being of plate form having in cross section one dimension substantially larger than in another direction perpendicular to it, the linear collimator having a concave entry surface for entry of the light beams of the toroidal lens and a convex exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction of the optical axis of the light guide module, and having outer side reflection surfaces being parallel with the axis of revolution for total internal reflection of the light beams in the direction of the optical axis of the light guide module, whereas the light beams form with a normal of the side reflection surfaces an angle being greater than a limit angle for total internal reflection.

3. A light guide module, consisting essentially of:

a single light source having an optical center with a light-emitting part for emission of light beams;

a single toroidal lens detached and spaced from the light source having a form created by rotation of a profile of a convex lens about an axis of revolution, the axis of revolution passing through the optical center of the light source and being perpendicular to an optical axis of the light guide module, the toroidal lens having a concave entry surface for entry of the light beams of the light source and a convex exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction parallel or nearly parallel with a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution; and

a linear collimator being of plate form having in cross section one dimension substantially larger than in another direction perpendicular to it, the linear collimator having an entry surface for entry of the light beams of the toroidal lens and an exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction of the optical axis of the light guide module, and having outer reflection surfaces being parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution for total internal reflection of the light beams nearly parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution, whereas the toroidal lens and the linear collimator form together a single part.

4. A light guide module, consisting essentially of:

a single light source having a light-emitting part for emission of a light beam;

a single toroidal lens detached and spaced from the light source having a form created by rotation of a profile of a convex lens about an axis of revolution, the axis of revolution passing through the optical center of the light source and being perpendicular to an optical axis of the light guide module, the toroidal lens having a concave entry surface for entry of the light beams of the light source and a convex exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction parallel or nearly parallel with a plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution; and

a linear collimator being of plate form having in cross section one dimension substantially larger than in another direction perpendicular to it, the linear collimator having an entry surface for entry of the light beams of the toroidal lens and an exit surface for exit of the light beams in a direction of the optical axis of the light guide module, and having outer reflection surfaces being parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution for total internal reflection of the light beams nearly parallel with the plane perpendicular to the axis of revolution, whereas light scattering elements are arranged on the exit surface of the linear collimator or an additional optical plate disposed adjacent the exit surface of the linear collimator.

5. A light guide module, comprising

a single light source having a light-emitting part for emission of a light beam;

a single toroidal lens detached and spaced from the light source having a concave entry surface for entry of the light beam of the light source and a single, continuous convex toroidal exit surface for exit of a light beam directed by the toroidal lens nearly parallel with a horizontal plane; and

a linear collimator having an entry surface for entry of the light beam of the toroidal lens and an exit surface for exit of the light beam nearly parallel with the horizontal plane, the linear collimator being of plate form and having outer reflection surfaces for total internal reflection of the light beam nearly parallel with the horizontal plane, the single lens being the only lens.