Abstract: An optical device for coupling the luminous output of a light-emitting diode (LED) to a predominantly spherical pattern comprises a transfer section that receives the LED's light within it and an ejector atop it that receives light from the transfer section and spreads it spherically. The base of the transfer section is optically coupled to the LED so that the LED's light goes inside the transfer section, which comprises a compound elliptic concentrator operating via total internal reflection. The ejector section can have a variety of shapes, and can have diffusive features on its surface as well. The device is circularly symmetric, with a height preferably only a few times its diameter. An important application is for use at the focus of the parabolic reflectors in flashlights. This version of the invention further comprises a base-can identical in outer shape and electric contacts to those of flashlight bulbs. Within the can is the current-control circuitry the interfaces the LED with battery voltage.

Abstract: The present embodiments provide methods, apparatuses, and assemblies for use in producing a desired output beam that meets a desired intensity prescription. An apparatus can include an input surface, and an optically active output surface that receives a collimated beam, such that the output surface refractively maps an illuminance distribution of the collimated beam into a prescribed intensity pattern. The apparatus can include a collimating lens that collimates an input beam. Additionally, the output surface can be defined according to a cumulative illumination integral for the illuminance distribution and a cumulative illumination integral of the intensity pattern.

Abstract: A light source useful for a wide variety of lighting applications such as signage, architectural or automotive designs, as well as cosmetic and/or functional features for other products can be created by combining a light collector comprising a sheet of material having a fluorescent substance incorporated therein and an optical element juxtaposed adjacent the collector. Light incident on the collector induces fluorescence that is trapped by total internal reflection, concentrated, and radiated from an edge of the collector. The size of collector plate with respect to its thickness is such that it provides an intensified image along its edge that is readily visible during both daytime and nighttime. The optical element modifies the distribution of light output from an edge of the collector. The optical element is preferably configured to decrease divergence of light emitted from the edge. The optical element may also direct the light emitted from the collector above or below the plane of the collector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improvement of a total internal reflection lens whereby a tilted symmetry axis leads to a net deflection of the output beam away from the surface normal of the exit surface. Linear TIR lenses have a net deflection transverse to their focal strip. Circular TIR lens profiles going beyond 90° are tilted to bring the rim level with the source, the deflected rays exiting the lens to form an off-axis beam.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises an elongated waveguide having proximal and distal ends and a central longitudinal axis. The waveguide includes an elongated forward side for outputting light and an elongated rearward side having an elongated reflective surface for reflecting light towards the forward side. A light source such as a solid state light emitter may be situated on the proximal end of the waveguide introduces light into the waveguide in the form of a beam which propagates from the proximal end to the distal end. Light traveling within the waveguide is reflected from the reflective surface along the elongated rearward side towards the forward side for viewing.

Abstract: Pixels for a large video display which employs solid-state emitters, such as colored light emitting diodes, as light source are formed by outfitting each colored solid state emitter within the pixel with an individually tailored miniature intensity-enhancing optical system. Each of these miniature optical systems comprises a set of four wide field-of-view Lambertian reflectors 34, a pair of narrow field-of-view Lambertian reflectors 36, and a beam-shaping lens 38. The miniature intensity-enhancing optical system can be specifically designed to restrict emission in the vertical field-of-view, while providing a Lambertian intensity dependence throughout an unrestricted horizontal view. For example, the field-of-view in the vertical direction may be limited to about ±30° while the field-of-view is about ±90° in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus provides an output with high spatial uniformity of luminance. The illumination apparatus includes a cavity that has reflective surfaces and an output area. At least one light source is disposed in the cavity, with the light source including a point source (such as an LED) and an optical diverter having a flared (e.g., cuspated) reflecting surface. Light from the point source is distributed by the optical diverter towards the reflective surfaces within the cavity. Before exiting the device, light passes through an optical conditioning element that is positioned over the output area of the cavity. The optical conditioning element includes at least a diffuser, such as a translucent film or plastic sheet, and preferably also includes one or more prism sheets such as a brightness-enhancing film.

Abstract: A light source useful for a wide variety of lighting applications such as signage, architectural or automotive designs, as well as cosmetic and/or functional features for other products can be created by combining a light collector comprising a sheet of material having a fluorescent substance incorporated therein and an optical element juxtaposed adjacent the collector. Light incident on the collector induces fluorescence that is trapped by total internal reflection, concentrated, and radiated from an edge of the collector. The size of collector plate with respect to its thickness is such that it provides an intensified image along its edge that is readily visible during both daytime and nighttime. The optical element modifies the distribution of light output from an edge of the collector. The optical element is preferably configured to decrease divergence of light emitted from the edge. The optical element may also direct the light emitted from the collector above or below the plane of the collector.

Abstract: A non-imaging optical coupler that is a figure of revolution combining a light-transmitting body defining a recessed input cavity, a transparent droplet-shaped encapsulant of a light-emitting diode, or array of diodes in the cavity, the body having a curved side wall shaped to totally internally reflect all the light emitted from the LED and encapsulant, traveling toward the side wall, within a predetermined distance from the diode or center of array, the body having a cylindrical transition section extending from a curved side wall and forwardly, and a planar exit face at the forward end of the body, transverse to the central axis of the figure of revolution.

Abstract: The combination that includes an LED, and a light transmitting pyramid mounted with respect to the LED to transmit light therefrom, the pyramid having at least three sides, the sides defining planes extending upwardly toward an apex that is spaced in a longitudinal direction from the LED, the planes angled in excess of 45° relative to a lateral plane normal to longitudinal direction such that essentially all LED light incident on the three sides from within the pyramid is extracted from the sides.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus comprises an elongated waveguide having proximal and distal ends and a central longitudinal axis. The waveguide includes an elongated forward side for outputting light and an elongated rearward side having an elongated reflective surface for reflecting light towards the forward side. A light source such as a solid state light emitter may be situated on the proximal end of the waveguide introduces light into the waveguide in the form of a beam which propagates from the proximal end to the distal end. Light traveling within the waveguide is reflected from the reflective surface along the elongated rearward side towards the forward side for viewing.

Abstract: Pixels for a large video display which employs solid-state emitters, such as colored light emitting diodes, as light source are formed by outfitting each colored solid state emitter within the pixel with an individually tailored miniature intensity-enhancing optical system. Each of these miniature optical systems comprises a set of four wide field-of-view Lambertian reflectors 34, a pair of narrow field-of-view Lambertian reflectors 36, and a beam-shaping lens 38. The miniature intensity-enhancing optical system can be specifically designed to restrict emission in the vertical field-of-view, while providing a Lambertian intensity dependence throughout an unrestricted horizontal view. For example, the field-of-view in the vertical direction may be limited to about ±30° while the field-of-view is about ±90° in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A grid defining illumination cells having areas to pass light from a source for use in generation of a lines, wherein the grid is defined by first lines extending about one axis defined by the source, and second lines emanating from the axis to intersect first lines, each cell having four edges defined by successive of first lines and successive of second lines, the cells having one of the following: i) equal areas ii) areas that increase in direction away from the source.

Abstract: In a device for directing light longitudinally forwardly, the combination comprises a light source; a drum lens having a body extending about the light source, for refracting light from the source; a light reflector extending about the drum lens body for forwardly re-directing refracted light received from the drum lens body, the drum lens and reflector defining a longitudinally forwardly extending optical axis; and including an aspheric lens located longitudinally forwardly of the light source to refract light received from a source to be transmitted in a forward direction.

Abstract: In apparatus to extract light from an LED, the combination includes a cylindrical body consisting of light transmitting material, the body having a cylindrical outer wall; a pyramidal body having at least three sides and consisting of light transmitting material, the pyramidal body located longitudinally endwise of the cylindrical body, to expose the three or more sides, the planar sides defining planes which intersect said cylindrical body outer wall at curved edges, the cylindrical outer wall terminating at said curved edges; and an LED located in a spaced relation to the pyramidal body, and oriented to transmit light in the cylindrical body and toward the pyramidal body.

Abstract: An illumination system with a prescribed output pattern comprising a light source and an optical lens redirecting the light of the source into an output beam, the lens with multiple surfaces at least one of which has a shape that is not a surface of revolution, the shape generated by the following method: on the Gaussian sphere of directions of the output beam exiting the surface of the lens, in accordance with the prescribed output pattern, establish a first grid of equal-flux zones of solid angle; on a portion of the Gaussian sphere of directions of the light emitted from the source into the interior of the lens, establish a second grid with the same number of equal-flux zones of solid angles as the first grid, with a coordinate-system topology congruent with that of the first grid, such that the zones of the second grid are in one-to-one correspondence with the zones of the first grid, with the flux of each zone in proportion to its corresponding zone of the first grid, according to the local transmittance

Abstract: This invention consists of a highly efficient beamforming system of ring-lens elements that may be used in automobile headlights, flashlights, and for other lighting products. The lens captures most of the light from an omnidirectional source, so that light from a solid angular cone of nearly 4 steradians is utilized with little or no reliance on a metallic reflector. The surfaces of the lens elements may be formed integrally with a hot light source, such as an incandescent lamp, so that the filament of the light source is inserted directly into an internal cavity of the lens. The lens may also be formed in optical contact with a cold light source, such as a light emitting diode, to reduce Fresnel losses and increase light utilization efficiency. An integrated system of optical surfaces collects light, including downwardly-directed light, from the source to further increase light utilization to a high efficiency of 75-90%.

Abstract: A radiant energy redirecting system comprising a radiant energy transmitting body structure; the structure comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of the energy into the interior of the perimeter, an exit face to pass the energy to the exterior of the perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of the incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to the entry and exit faces to redirect towards the exit face the radiant energy incident from the entry face; the body structure generally redirecting incident radiant energy towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of the body relative to the side of the incidence; and lens structure associated with at least one of the faces for redirecting radiant energy passing between the entry and exit faces via the Totally Internally Reflecting face.

Abstract: A device for directing light longitudinally forwardly, that comprises a lens body having a front face facing forwardly, rearward body extent, and a curved sidewall extending between the rearward body extent and the front face; a rear cavity in the body, the cavity having a sidewall and a front wall defining a corner; and a light source in the cavity, and characterized in that light rays transmitted by the light source toward the curved sidewall, and toward the corner are collimated forwardly.

Abstract: A radiant energy redirecting system comprising a radiant energy transmitting body structure; the structure comprising multiple elements, each of which acts as a radiant energy redirecting module, having on its cross-sectional perimeter an entry face to receive incidence of the energy into the interior of the perimeter, an exit face to pass the energy to the exterior of the perimeter in a direction towards the reverse side of the body from the side of the incidence, and a Totally Internally Reflecting face angled relative to the entry and exit faces to redirect towards the exit face the radiant energy incident from the entry face; the body structure generally redirecting incident radiant energy towards a predetermined target zone situated apart from and on the reverse side of the body relative to the side of the incidence; and lens structure associated with at least one of the faces for redirecting radiant energy passing between the entry and exit faces via the Totally Internally Reflecting face.