Method and apparatus for light collection, distribution and zoom
DCFirst Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a light source;
a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and
a lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source to direct light into a second directed beam which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle,where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens andwhere the first and second beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source.
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Abstract
An LED or incandescent light source is positioned in a reflector arranged to reflect light from the LED or incandescent light source which is radiated from the LED or incandescent light source in a peripheral forward solid angle as defined by the reflector. A lens is disposed longitudinally forward of the LED or incandescent light source for focusing light into a predetermined pattern which is radiated from the LED or incandescent light source in a central forward solid angle as defined by the lens. The apparatus comprised of the combination projects a beam of light comprised of the light radiated in the central forward solid angle and peripheral forward solid angles.
119 Citations
55 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source to direct light into a second directed beam which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens and where the first and second beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source where the light source comprises an LED emitter and a package in which the LED emitter is disposed, which LED emitter and package provide a Lambertian illumination pattern, the package having a protective dome; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens separate from the reflector for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens, where the first and second beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle, and a lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the light source has an optical axis and where the central forward solid angle and the peripheral forward solid angle are demarcated from each other between the reflector and the lens at approximately a 0.6 π
steradians solid angle centered on a common optical axis of the reflector and lens.
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24. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source to direct light into a second directed beam which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens and where the first and second beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source, where the reflector and light source and the lens are each independently movable from each other with the reflector and light source generally movable together.
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25. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the light source has an optical axis and where the central forward solid angle and the peripheral forward solid angle are demarcated from each other between the reflector and the lens at approximately a 0.6 π
steradians solid angle centered on a common optical axis of the reflector and lens, andwhere the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source.
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26. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source where the light source comprises an LED emitter and a package in which the LED emitter is disposed, which LED emitter and package provide a Lambertian illumination pattern, the package comprising a protective dome, a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens separate from the reflector for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens, where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source, and where the lens for directing light into the second beam is integrally made with and as part of the protective dome.
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27. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source where the light source comprises an LED emitter and a package in which the LED emitter is disposed, which LED emitter and package provide a Lambertian illumination pattern, the package comprising a protective dome, a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens separate from the reflector for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens, and where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the source, and where the lens for directing light into the second beam is separate from the protective dome, and is disposed onto the protective dome.
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28. An apparatus comprising:
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a light source where the light source comprises an LED emitter and a package in which the LED emitter is disposed, which LED emitter and package provide a Lambertian illumination pattern, the package comprising a protective dome; a reflector positioned to reflect light into a first directed beam from the light source which is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and a lens for directing light into a second directed beam which directed light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where the reflector and lens collect almost all the light radiated by the light source and the first beam comprises all the light reflected from the reflector and the second beam comprises all the light directed by the lens, and where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source, where the lens for directing light into the second beam is separate from the protective dome, and is disposed onto the protective dome or is integral therewith, and where there is an air gap between the protective dome and the reflector.
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29. A method comprising:
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radiating light from a light source; reflecting light into a first directed beam by a reflector, which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle, the reflected light being optically unaffected between the light source and the reflector; and directing light into a second directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, where reflecting and directing light collects almost all the light radiated by the light source, where reflecting the light into the first beam comprises all the light reflected from a reflector and where directing the light into the second beam comprises all the light directed by a lens, and where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method comprising:
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radiating light from a light source; reflecting light into a first directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and directing light into a second directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle where reflecting the light into the first beam comprises all the light reflected from a reflector and where directing the light into the second beam comprises all the light directed by a lens, and where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source where the light source has an optical axis and where the light from the light source which is radiated into the central forward solid angle and the peripheral forward solid angle are demarcated from each other at an approximately 0 6 π
steradians solid angle centered on the optical axis.
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51. A method comprising:
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radiating light from a light source; reflecting light into a first directed beam by a reflector, which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle, the reflected light being optically unaffected between the light source and the reflector; directing light into a second directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle, and where reflecting and directing light collects almost all the light radiated by the light source, where reflecting the light into the first beam comprises all the light reflected from a reflector and where directing the light into the second beam comprises all the light directed by a lens, where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source; and moving the reflector and light source to provide zoom focusing by; (i) collectively moving the reflector and light source and (ii) moving the primary lens independently from each other with the reflector and light source generally moving together.
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52. A method comprising:
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radiating light from a light source; reflecting light into a first directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle; and directing light into a second directed beam, which light is radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle where reflecting and directing the light collects almost all the light radiated by the light source, where reflecting the light into the first beam comprises all the light reflected from a reflector and where directing the light into the second beam comprises all the light directed by a lens, where the first and second directed beams include substantially all of the light radiated by the light source, where the light source has an optical axis and where the light from the light source which is radiated into the central forward solid angle and the peripheral forward solid angle are demarcated from each other at an approximately 0.6 π
steradians solid angle centered on the optical axis.
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53. An improvement in a flashlight having a body, a power source, a light source electrically connected to the power source, and a reflector for reflecting light from the light source, light source having a radiation pattern substantially only into a forward solid angle, the improvement comprising,
a configuration of the reflector to reflect the light into a first directed beam from light radiated by the light source into a peripheral forward solid angle, the first directed beam forming part of a composite beam; - and
a refractive lens disposed longitudinally forward of the light source for directing light into a second directed beam radiated from the light source into a central forward solid angle as defined by the lens the second directed beam, forming part of the composite beam, so that the composite beam of light is entirely comprised of the light radiated into the central forward solid angle and peripheral forward solid angle from the light source, and where the composite beam includes substantially all of the light radiated by the light source. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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Specification