Abstract: A lightguide comprised of a transmission medium having a first curved outer surface and a second curved outer surface and in at least one cross-section of the lightguide. The first curved outer surface and the second curved outer surface are substantially concentric around a point. The transmission medium having a gradient index of refraction that decreases as function of increasing distance from the point, the gradient index extending from the first curved surface to the second curved surface. At least one light extraction element disposed to extract light from the transmission medium and direct the light generally toward the point. Both the lightguide and the gradient index profiles may be spherical or cylindrical.

Abstract: A GRIN optic having an optical axis (z-direction) and a GRIN profile varying in the x and y-directions, the profile having one or more discontinuities extending in the x-y direction. The discontinuities may form a non-closed shape or have a non-smooth rectilinear shape. The GRIN optic may have plane-parallel surfaces. A method of designing a GRIN optic which includes mapping discretized elements in the light output specification to array elements of a linear GRIN array elements, identifying for each array element, a base refractive index n0, a gradient magnitude ?, and a gradient direction ?G capable of directing a beamlet from the light source to a corresponding location in the light output specification, and constructing a piecewise-continuous freeform GRIN profile of the GRIN optic by integrating the discrete linear GRIN array elements into a continuous refractive index profile.

Abstract: A GRIN optic having an optical axis (z-direction) and a GRIN profile varying in the x and y-directions, the profile having one or more discontinuities extending in the x-y direction. The discontinuities may form a non-closed shape or have a non-smooth rectilinear shape. The GRIN optic may have plane-parallel surfaces. A method of designing a GRIN optic which includes mapping discretized elements in the light output specification to array elements of a linear GRIN array elements, identifying for each array element, a base refractive index n0, a gradient magnitude ?, and a gradient direction ?G capable of directing a beamlet from the light source to a corresponding location in the light output specification, and constructing a piecewise-continuous freeform GRIN profile of the GRIN optic by integrating the discrete linear GRIN array elements into a continuous refractive index profile.

Abstract: A light guide includes a light guide layer having a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms a primary output aperture (exit) for light traveling in a forward propagation direction out of the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., CPV applications) and, which forms a primary input aperture (entrance) for light traveling in a rearward propagation direction into the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., illuminator applications). A light collection and concentration system includes a light guide apparatus, a light-transmitting medium layer disposed immediately adjacent the single light guide apparatus, and a light concentrator component of multiple optical array layers disposed adjacent the light transmitting medium layer, which is in optical registration with a light injection layer of the light guide apparatus.

Abstract: A light guide includes a light guide layer having a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms a primary output aperture (exit) for light traveling in a forward propagation direction out of the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., CPV applications) and, which forms a primary input aperture (entrance) for light traveling in a rearward propagation direction into the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., illuminator applications). A light collection and concentration system includes a light guide apparatus, a light-transmitting medium layer disposed immediately adjacent the single light guide apparatus, and a light concentrator component of multiple optical array layers disposed adjacent the light transmitting medium layer, which is in optical registration with a light injection layer of the light guide apparatus.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer and an injection layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements may take the form of air prisms. There is an axial index of refraction variation between the light guide layer and the injection layer. The axial index of refraction variation may be discrete or may be an axial gradient index variation.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n1, and further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards the output aperture, where the intended light propagation direction is a z-axis direction of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a plurality of light injection elements disposed in the form of at least one linear strip in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein some of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on one lateral side of the strip and some other of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on an opposing lateral side of the strip at a rotation angle ?z about the y-axis.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements can take the form of injection facets (air prisms), surface diffraction elements, volume diffraction elements, and gradient index profiles. A light collection and concentration system comprises a single light guide apparatus, a light-transmitting medium layer disposed immediately adjacent the single light guide apparatus, and a primary light concentrator component disposed adjacent the light-transmitting medium layer, including a plurality of primary concentrator elements each of which is in optical registration with a respective one of the light injection elements of the single light guide apparatus.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer and an injection layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements may take the form of air prisms. There is an axial index of refraction variation between the light guide layer and the injection layer. The axial index of refraction variation may be discrete or may be an axial gradient index variation.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms an output aperture of the light guide, characterized by an index of refraction, n1, and further characterized by a length dimension in an intended light propagation direction towards the output aperture, where the intended light propagation direction is a z-axis direction of a Cartesian coordinate system; and a plurality of light injection elements disposed in the form of at least one linear strip in at least one of the top and bottom surfaces of the light guide layer, wherein some of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on one lateral side of the strip and some other of the plurality of light injection elements are disposed on an opposing lateral side of the strip at a rotation angle ?z about the y-axis.

Abstract: A light guide apparatus includes a light guide layer further including light injection elements and respective light bypass elements disposed optically upstream of the light injection elements. The light injection elements and/or the bypass elements can take the form of injection facets (air prisms), surface diffraction elements, volume diffraction elements, and gradient index profiles. A light collection and concentration system comprises a single light guide apparatus, a light-transmitting medium layer disposed immediately adjacent the single light guide apparatus, and a primary light concentrator component disposed adjacent the light-transmitting medium layer, including a plurality of primary concentrator elements each of which is in optical registration with a respective one of the light injection elements of the single light guide apparatus.

Abstract: A light guide includes a light guide layer having a transversely oriented side-end surface that forms a primary output aperture (exit) for light traveling in a forward propagation direction out of the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., CPV applications) and, which forms a primary input aperture (entrance) for light traveling in a rearward propagation direction into the end surface of the light guide (for, e.g., illuminator applications), and a first plurality of light injection elements stepped (staggered) in a forward light propagation direction in a first plane along lines parallel to the side-end surface or clocked (tilted) about a y-axis in a z-axis-light propagation direction in a respective first plane, wherein the light injection elements are disposed along parallel lines normal to the side-end surface. The light guide component may further comprise at least a second plurality of light injection elements stepped in at least second plane.