Separate optical device for directing light from an LED
First Claim
1. A separate optical device operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising:
- an entrance surface to receive light from an LED;
an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface, wherein the exit surface has an area that is within 10% of a minimum area necessary to fully conserve radiance for a selected half-angle;
a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall has a plurality of sections, each section based on a different curve and adapted to reflect light having a straight transmission path to that section in a corresponding angular sub-tense to the exit surface so that the light is incident on the exit surface at less than or equal to the critical angle at the exit surface and wherein the separate optical device is shaped to emit at least 70% of the light entering the separate optical device through the entrance surface from the exit surface in a uniform distribution pattern in the selected half angle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention provide separate optical devices operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising an entrance surface to receive light from a separate LED when the separate optical device is coupled to the separate LED, an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface and a set of sidewalls. The exit surface can have at least a minimum area necessary to conserve brightness for a desired half-angle of light projected from the separate optical device. Furthermore, each sidewall is positioned and shaped so that rays having a straight transmission path from the entrance surface to that sidewall reflect to the exit surface with an angle of incidence at the exit surface at less than or equal to a critical angle at the exit surface.
533 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A separate optical device operable to couple to a separate LED, the separate optical device comprising:
-
an entrance surface to receive light from an LED; an exit surface opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface, wherein the exit surface has an area that is within 10% of a minimum area necessary to fully conserve radiance for a selected half-angle; a set of sidewalls, wherein each sidewall has a plurality of sections, each section based on a different curve and adapted to reflect light having a straight transmission path to that section in a corresponding angular sub-tense to the exit surface so that the light is incident on the exit surface at less than or equal to the critical angle at the exit surface and wherein the separate optical device is shaped to emit at least 70% of the light entering the separate optical device through the entrance surface from the exit surface in a uniform distribution pattern in the selected half angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An optical system comprising:
-
an LED having an emitting surface; and a separate optical device comprising an entrance surface, an exit surface and a set of sidewalls running from edges of the entrance surface to edges of the exit surface, wherein; the exit surface is opposite from and a distance from the entrance surface, wherein the exit surface has an area that is within 10% of a minimum area necessary to fully conserve radiance for a selected half-angle of light; each sidewall has a plurality of sections, each section based on a different curve and adapted to reflect light having a straight transmission path to that section in a corresponding angular sub-tense to the exit surface so that the light is incident on the exit surface at less than or equal to the critical angle at the exit surface; and the separate optical device is shaped to emit from the exit surface at least 70% of the light entering the separate optical device through the entrance surface from the exit surface in a uniform distribution pattern in the selected half angle. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification