Abstract: The invention relates to a daylight illumination apparatus. A daylight collector (3) collects daylight (4), which is guided to an illumination location to be illuminated along an optical path by a light guide (5), wherein the daylight is absorbed by the light guide. A photoluminescent material (6, 8) is arranged within the optical path and emits photoluminescent light that compensates for the absorption of the daylight by the light guide. Absorption losses of the daylight can therefore effectively be compensated, without necessarily needing, for example, an active compensation light source. This allows providing compensated daylight illumination in a technically relatively simple way.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed thin-film device (10, 12, 14), to a method of repairing a sealing layer (20) applied to a thin-film device (30) to produce the sealed thin-film device, to a system (200) for repairing the sealing layer applied to the thin-film device to generate the sealed thin-film device and to a computer program product. The sealed thin-film device comprises a thin-film device and a sealing layer applied on the thin-film device for protecting the thin-film device from environmental influence. The sealed thin-film device further comprises locally applied mending material (40; 42, 44) for sealing a local breach (50) in the sealing layer. An effect of this sealed thin-film device is that the operational life-time of the sealed thin-film device is improved. Furthermore, the production yield of the production of sealed thin-film devices is improved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spectral detector for measuring properties of light over portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including cholesteric liquid crystal material and switching means capable of varying the pitch of the helix of the cholesteric liquid crystal material, so that the position of the transmission wavelength band is adjusted in response to the switching means. The spectral detector may further include at least one light direction selecting structure for selecting light incident on the spectral detector having a certain angle of incidence. This invention also relates to a lighting system including the spectral detector of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a daylight illumination apparatus. A daylight collector (3) collects daylight (4), which is guided to an illumination location to be illuminated along an optical path by a light guide (5), wherein the daylight is absorbed by the light guide. A photoluminescent material (6, 8) is arranged within the optical path and emits photoluminescent light that compensates for the absorption of the daylight by the light guide. Absorption losses of the daylight can therefore effectively be compensated, without necessarily needing, for example, an active compensation light source. This allows providing compensated day-light illumination in a technically relatively simple way.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light sensors for measuring light characteristics. In particular, the present invention relates to a light directionality sensor that is capable of measuring light characteristics such as the light direction, light collimation, and light distribution. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a light directionality sensor comprising a photo-sensor (2), comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive elements (3), and a plurality of light-absorbing light selecting structures (1) arranged on the photo-sensor so as to form an array of light-absorbing light selecting structures. In the array of light-absorbing light selecting structures, a succession of at least some of the light-absorbing light selecting structures has varying structural characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a lighting device (100) comprising a light source (10) arranged to generate light source light (11), an optional luminescent material and a thermally variable reflecting element (60). The optional luminescent material (205) is arranged downstream of the light source (10) and is arranged to convert at least part of the light source light (11) into luminescent material light (211). One or more of the light source (10) and the optional luminescent material (205) generate heat when the light source (10) generates light source light (11). The thermally variable reflecting element (60) is arranged downstream of the light source (10) and the optional luminescent material (205). The thermally variable reflecting element (60) has a first state wherein it is substantially reflecting and a second state wherein it is substantially transparent; heat induces a chance from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle light system comprising a laser device for generating a laser beam, further comprising a light output module provided with a phosphor element for emitting a light beam upon incidence of the generated laser beam and provided with an optical element associated with the phosphor element for producing a light output beam. Furthermore, the light system comprises a further light output module provided with a corresponding further phosphor element and a second optical element. The laser device is arranged to switch between a first state, in which the generated laser beam is directed to the phosphor element, and a second state in which the generated laser beam is directed to the further phosphor element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sealed thin-film device (10, 12, 14), to a method of repairing a sealing layer (20) applied to a thin-film device (30) to produce the sealed thin-film device, to a system (200) for repairing the sealing layer applied to the thin-film device to generate the sealed thin-film device and to a computer program product. The sealed thin-film device comprises a thin-film device and a sealing layer applied on the thin-film device for protecting the thin-film device from environmental influence. The sealed thin-film device further comprises locally applied mending material (40; 42, 44) for sealing a local breach (50) in the sealing layer. An effect of this sealed thin-film device is that the operational life-time of the sealed thin-film device is improved. Furthermore, the production yield of the production of sealed thin-film devices is improved.

Abstract: An illumination device for providing a polarized light beam comprising a light source (101) having a light emitting surface arranged to emit light (107) in a plane (X-Y), a first polarizing reflector (103) arranged to enclose a light emitting surface of said light source (101) in said plane, and adapted to receive said light, reflect light (109) of a first elliptical polarization in a target direction (Z) and transmit light (111) of an opposite, second elliptical polarization; and a second reflector (105) arranged to enclose said first polarizing reflector (103) in said plane (X-Y), and adapted to receive transmitted light (111) from the first polarizing reflector (103) and reflect elliptical polarized light (113) in the target direction (Z). By arranging the two reflectors enclosing a side-emitting light source, a higher efficiency can be obtained with a preserved beam shape.

Abstract: The present invention relates to light sensors for measuring light characteristics. In particular, the present invention relates to a light directionality sensor that is capable of measuring light characteristics such as the light direction, light collimation, and light distribution. According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a light directionality sensor comprising a photo-sensor (2), comprising a plurality of photo-sensitive elements (3), and a plurality of light-absorbing light selecting structures (1) arranged on the photo-sensor so as to form an array of light-absorbing light selecting structures. In the array of light-absorbing light selecting structures, a succession of at least some of the light-absorbing light selecting structures has varying structural characteristics.

Abstract: The invention provides a lighting device (100) comprising a light source (10) arranged to generate light source light (11), an optional luminescent material and a thermally variable reflecting element (60). The optional luminescent material (205) is arranged downstream of the light source (10) and is arranged to convert at least part of the light source light (11) into luminescent material light (211). One or more of the light source (10) and the optional luminescent material (205) generate heat when the light source (10) generates light source light (11). The thermally variable reflecting element (60) is arranged downstream of the light source (10) and the optional luminescent material (205). The thermally variable reflecting element (60) has a first state wherein it is substantially reflecting and a second state wherein it is substantially transparent; heat induces a chance from the first state to the second state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spectral detector for measuring properties of light over portions of the electromagnetic spectrum including cholesteric liquid crystal material and switching means capable of varying the pitch of the helix of the cholesteric liquid crystal material, so that the position of the transmission wavelength band is adjusted in response to the switching means. The spectral detector may further include at least one light direction selecting structure for selecting light incident on the spectral detector having a certain angle of incidence. This invention also relates to a lighting system including the spectral detector of the invention.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising at least one laser device (4) for generating an aligned laser beam (5), at least one LED device for generating light emission (3) and at least one optical element (6), which is in the optical path of the laser beam (5) and converts the laser beam (5) into structured laser light (8), wherein the arrangement of the laser device (4), the LED device and the optical element (6) enables a superposition of the light emission (3) and the laser light (8). The invention further relates to a corresponding method of lighting.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle light system comprising a laser device for generating a laser beam, further comprising a light output module provided with a phosphor element for emitting a light beam upon incidence of the generated laser beam and provided with an optical element associated with the phosphor element for producing a light output beam. Furthermore, the light system comprises a further light output module provided with a corresponding further phosphor element and a second optical element. The laser device is arranged to switch between a first state, in which the generated laser beam is directed to the phosphor element, and a second state in which the generated laser beam is directed to the further phosphor element.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical integrator panel is provided. The method comprises the steps of: suspending a plurality of elongate particles in a liquid; applying an electric or magnetic field to the suspension to orientate the particles with parallel longitudinal axes; and solidifying the liquid to fix the orientation of the particles, thereby forming an optical integrator panel having a homogeneous distribution of elongate particles. An optical integrator panel is also provided. The optical integrator panel is adapted to reduce the angular dependence of contrast of a liquid crystal display. Specifically, the optical integrator panel is for placement in the path of reflected or transmitted light emitted by the liquid crystal display. The optical integrator panel comprises: a solid transparent panel; and a plurality of elongate particles homogeneously distributed in the panel, wherein the plurality of elongate particles are orientated with parallel longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A collimator panel comprises: a solid panel having a first face for receiving uncollimated radiation and a second opposite face for providing collimated radiation; and a plurality of elongate particles disposed in the panel and orientated to provide the collimating function. A method of manufacturing a collimator panel comprises the steps of: suspending a plurality of elongate particles in a liquid; applying an electric or magnetic field to the suspension to orientate the particles; and solidifying the liquid to fix the orientation of the particles, thereby forming a collimator panel. A method of manufacturing the elongate particles is also provided.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical integrator panel is provided. The method comprises the steps of: suspending a plurality of elongate particles in a liquid; applying an electric or magnetic field to the suspension to orientate the particles with parallel longitudinal axes; and solidifying the liquid to fix the orientation of the particles, thereby forming an optical integrator panel having a homogeneous distribution of elongate particles. An optical integrator panel is also provided. The optical integrator panel is adapted to reduce the angular dependence of contrast of a liquid crystal display. Specifically, the optical integrator panel is for placement in the path of reflected or transmitted light emitted by the liquid crystal display. The optical integrator panel comprises: a solid transparent panel; and a plurality of elongate particles homogeneously distributed in the panel, wherein the plurality of elongate particles are orientated with parallel longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a compensator layer features forming first and second retardation foils by polymerizing or vitrifying liquid-crystalline material comprising liquid-crystal molecules in manner wherein the liquid-crystal molecules in the polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystalline material of the first and second retardation foils respectively exhibit first and second tilt angles which are respectively parallel to first and second planes that are normal to major surfaces of the foils and that are angled with respect to one another by an angle of 60–120 degrees.

Abstract: A method of forming a liquid-crystal display device having a display cell comprises forming retardation foils on substrates using polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystal material wherein the liquid-crystal molecules of the polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystal material have a tilt angle with respect to a plane parallel to the substrates and so that the retardation foils have substantially complementary indicatrices and so that each one of the retardation foils brings about the compensation of approximately half the display cell in the driven state.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liquid-crystal display device comprising a display cell and a plurality of retardation foils of polymerized or vitrified liquid-crystal material, whose liquid-crystal molecules have a tilt angle with respect to a plane parallel to the substrates, which retardation foils have substantially complementary indicatrices so that each one of the retardation foils brings about the compensation of approximately half the display cell in the driven state.