Universal remote lighting system with nonimaging total internal reflection beam transformer

• US 5,629,996 A
• Filed: 04/22/1996
• Issued: 05/13/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Luminit LLC
• Original Assignee: Physical Optics Corporation
• Inventors: Rizkin, Alexander, Sadovnik, Lev S., Manasson, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US08/636,798
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 362/32, 385/15, 385/31, 385/33-37, 385/39, 385/43, 385/133, 385/147, 385/901, 359/13-15, 359/34
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: B64F 1/20 Arrangement of optical beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0252 using holographic or diffractive means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/0278 used in transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0001 specially adapted for lighting devices or systems lighting or signalling on vehicles using light guides B60Q1/00; lighting devices for vehicle dashboards B60Q3/10; lighting devices for vehicle interior using light guides B60Q3/62; lighting devices mounted on the vehicle rear part using light guides F21S43/235; measuring arrangements having light conducting pointers G01D13/265; illumination of liquid crystal displays G02F1/1336; illuminated signs G09F13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02033 Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material G02B1/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/241 Light guide terminations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 385/901 Illuminating or display apparatus

Abstract

Systems and methods for universal remote lighting systems are described. A high definition universal remote lighting system includes a light source that is coupled to a light pipe, a high efficiency nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer design and a high efficiency holographic diffuser for shaping the light. The present invention can also include an optical switch device for direct light output monitoring. The systems and methods provide advantages such as cost reduction, better monitoring and control, maintenance simplification, enhanced personnel safety, electromagnetic impulse (EMI) insensitivity, reduced radar and weight/size reduction.

Claims

1. A remote lighting system comprising:

an illuminator including

a light source; and

an input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

a first light pipe optically coupled to said input coupler; and

a first beamformer connected to said first light pipe, said first beamformer including

a first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said first light pipe; and

a first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser.

2. The remote lighting system of claim 1, wherein said input coupler includes a coupler-splitter and further comprising

a second light pipe optically coupled to said coupler-splitter;

and

a second beamformer connected to said second light pipe, said second beamformer including

a second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said second light pipe; and

a second holographic diffuser optically coupled to said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein i) light from said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said second holographic diffuser and shaped by said second holographic diffuser and ii) light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer that is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser is shaped by said first holographic diffuser.

3. The remote lighting system of claim 1, wherein said first beamformer includes a first luminair and a second luminair.

4. The remote lighting system of claim 1, wherein said first beamformer includes a color filter optically coupled to said first holographic diffuser.

5. The remote lighting system of claim 1, further comprising a direct optical regulator and an optical switch, wherein said input coupler is optically coupled to said light source through said optical switch and said direct optical regulator is connected to said optical switch.

6. The remote lighting system of claim 1, wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer includes a compound parabolic concentrator.

7. A method of making the remote lighting system of claim 1 comprising:

providing said illuminator with said input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

providing said first light pipe;

coupling said first light pipe to said input coupler;

providing said first beamformer with said first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer; and

connecting said first beamformer to said first light pipe,

wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is made by electroforming a nonimaging optical element on a sacrificial mandrel;

then trimming said nonimaging optical element to a length; and

then dissolving said sacrificial mandrel.

8. A combination system comprising at least two of the remote lighting systems of claim 1.

9. Apparatus comprising:

an illuminator including;

a light source;

an optical switch optically coupled to said light source, said optical switch including a solid state liquid crystal rotator;

a direct optical regulator connected to said optical switch; and

an input coupler optically coupled to said optical switch;

a first light pipe optically coupled to said input coupler; and

a first beamformer connected to said first light pipe, said first beamformer including;

a first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said first light pipe; and

a first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser.

10. An aircraft approach lighting system comprising:

an illuminator including

a light source; and

an input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

a first light pipe optically coupled to said input coupler; and

a first beamformer connected to said first light pipe, said first beamformer including

a first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said first light pipe; and

a first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser.

11. The aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, wherein said input coupler includes a coupler-splitter and further comprising

a second light pipe optically coupled to said coupler-splitter;

and

a second beamformer connected to said second light pipe, said second beamformer including

a second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said second light pipe; and

a second holographic diffuser optically coupled to said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein i) light from said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said second holographic diffuser and shaped by said second holographic diffuser and ii) light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer that is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser is shaped by said first holographic diffuser.

12. The aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, wherein said first beamformer includes a first luminair and a second luminair.

13. The aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, wherein said first beamformer includes a color filter optically coupled to said first holographic diffuser.

14. The aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, further comprising a direct optical regulator and an optical switch, wherein said input coupler is optically coupled to said light source through said optical switch and said direct optical regulator is connected to said optical switch.

15. The aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer includes a compound parabolic concentrator.

16. A method of making the aircraft approach lighting system of claim 10, comprising:

providing said illuminator with said input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

providing said first light pipe;

coupling said first light pipe to said input coupler;

providing said first beamformer with said first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer; and

connecting said first beamformer to said first light pipe,

wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is made by electroforming a nonimaging optical element on a sacrificial mandrel;

then trimming said nonimaging optical element to a length; and

then dissolving said sacrificial mandrel.

17. A combination system comprising at least two of the aircraft approach lighting systems of claim 10.

18. A navigation lighting system comprising:

an illuminator including

a light source; and

an input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

a first light pipe optically coupled to said input coupler; and

a first beamformer connected to said first light pipe, said first beamformer including

a first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said first light pipe; and

a first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser.

19. A combination system comprising at least two of the navigation lighting systems of claim 18.

20. The navigation lighting system of claim 18, wherein said input coupler includes a coupler-splitter and further comprising

a second light pipe optically coupled to said coupler-splitter;

and

a second beamformer connected to said second light pipe, said second beamformer including

a second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer optically coupled to said second light pipe; and

a second holographic diffuser optically coupled to said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer,

wherein i) light from said second nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is transmitted through said second holographic diffuser and shaped by said second holographic diffuser and ii) light from said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer that is transmitted through said first holographic diffuser is shaped by said first holographic diffuser.

21. The navigation lighting system of claim 18, wherein said first beamformer includes a first luminair and a second luminair.

22. The navigation lighting system of claim 18, wherein said first beamformer includes a color filter optically coupled to said first holographic diffuser.

23. The navigation lighting system of claim 18, further comprising a direct optical regulator and an optical switch, wherein said input coupler is optically coupled to said light source through said optical switch and said direct optical regulator is connected to said optical switch.

24. The navigation lighting system of claim 18, wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer includes a compound parabolic concentrator.

25. A method of making the navigation lighting system of claim 18, comprising:

providing said illuminator with said input coupler optically coupled to said light source;

providing said first light pipe;

coupling said first light pipe to said input coupler;

providing said first beamformer with said first holographic diffuser optically coupled to said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer; and

connecting said first beamformer to said first light pipe,

wherein said first nonimaging total internal reflection light transformer is made by electroforming a nonimaging optical element on a sacrificial mandrel;

then trimming said nonimaging optical element to a length; and

then dissolving said sacrificial mandrel.