With Reflector Patents (Class 362/327)
  • Patent number: 7641365
    Abstract: An optical element including a unitary, non-circularly-symmetrical, piece of optically-transmissive material, which has at least first and second surfaces for concentrating light from a light source onto a linear target region, such that at least one of the first and second surfaces is curved, and such that a first portion of the light is concentrated onto the linear target region by reflection from the first surface, while a second portion of the light is concentrated onto the linear target region by refraction at the second surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Orbotech Ltd
    Inventors: Yigal Katzir, Elie Meimoun
  • Publication number: 20090323313
    Abstract: Disclosed is a condensing sheet, a method of manufacturing the condensing sheet, a backlight assembly including the condensing sheet, and a liquid crystal display including the backlight assembly. The condensing sheet includes a light output unit that has a plurality of lenses, and a light input unit that faces the light output unit and includes a light penetration unit and a light reflection unit. The light reflect ion unit has a structure including a recess sinking toward the light output unit and a reflector received in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Hang-Suk Choi, Hoon-Seon Lee, Pyung-Gun Jun, Won-Bong Kwak, Dong-Cheol Choi, Jin-Kyu Kim
  • Publication number: 20090310336
    Abstract: In a light guide plate and a backlight assembly having the same, the light guide plate includes a plurality of light guide cells. Each light guide cell has at least one incident surface that receives light from an outside light source. The incident surfaces of the light guide cells are arranged in non-parallel planes. A light source unit includes at least one light source adjacent to the incident surface of each light guide cell. Thus, brightness of the backlight assembly is improved and thickness of the backlight assembly is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Inventors: Byung-Seo YOON, In-Sun HWANG, Heu-Gon KIM, Moon-Hwan CHANG, Taek-Sun SHIN
  • Publication number: 20090290360
    Abstract: A lens for directing light from a light emitter in a preferential-side off-axial direction with respect to the emitter axis. The lens includes an emitter-adjacent base end forming an opening, an inner surface extending from the base end and forming a void, an output-end surface configured to direct light toward the preferential side, and an outer lateral surface configured for TIR to direct light toward the output-end surface, whereby substantially all light from the emitter exits the output-surface predominantly toward the preferential side. Another aspect of this invention is a recessed lighting fixture utilizing the inventive lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: RUUD LIGHTING, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt S. Wilcox, Mario A. Castillo
  • Publication number: 20090279302
    Abstract: A light pipe and an illuminating device having the light pipe are provided. The light pipe may include an optical film in a rolled shape to have a hollow conduit and a supporter surrounding a surface of the optical film. The supporter may have at least one of a protrusion and an indentation on a surface of the supporter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventor: Hwan Hee Lee
  • Publication number: 20090279297
    Abstract: A door frame mounted reflector system for a fluorescent troffer is depicted. The fluorescent troffer incorporates the utilization of a troffer housing and hingedly affixed to the troffer housing is a door frame which has attached thereto optical reflectors, the optical reflectors including optionally first and second lenses on either side of the centrally aligned basket and first and second upwardly extending downlight reflectors which extend upward from the longitudinal edge of the door frame towards the top wall of the troffer housing but which are not affixed to the top wall of the troffer housing. These downlight reflectors cover irregularities on the interior top wall of the troffer housing while providing smooth illumination characteristics to the lenses and basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS, N.V
    Inventor: Carlton Plunk
  • Patent number: 7614768
    Abstract: A vehicle light has at least one light source and a light guide device into which light emitted by the light source can be directed and which possesses output means for outputting the light or a portion of the light. Diverting means are provided between the light source and the output means in such a way that widening and parallelization of the light takes place inside the light guide device. The diverting means comprise at lest one incision constructed on the light guide device which defines internal reflection surfaces for diverting the light laterally from a main beam direction of the at least one light source, and an end face of the light guide device that has external reflection surfaces that divert light already diverted laterally previously in the main beam direction of the at least one light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ewald Stanitzok, Albrecht Haack
  • Patent number: 7616849
    Abstract: An optical device for collecting and distributing light from a quasi point light source which includes a planar light guide having surfaces through which optical axes are periodically spaced. There is at least one quasi point light source, the optical axis of each being coincident with the optical axes of the surfaces. There is also at least one optical element depressed within the edges or adjacent surfaces of the light guide at least partially rotated about the optical axis, and having a focal point at the quasi point light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Inventor: Jerome H. Simon
  • Publication number: 20090268128
    Abstract: An optical sheet for a backlight is provided on a surface light source in the backlight. An optical reflection layer has a plurality of through grooves formed on a transparent substrate and arranged at a prescribed interval. The width of the through hole is narrowed from the upper surface opening to the lower surface opening. Each of the cylindrical lenses is filled within a corresponding through groove, and its surface is a cylindrical surface that covers the upper surface opening of the through groove. Light from the light source comes in only from the lower surface opening, so that the angle of incidence of light when the light reaches the cylindrical surface can be controlled, and an increased amount of light deflected toward the front surface can be emitted. Therefore, the optical sheet for a backlight can collect light from the surface light source in the front surface direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Publication date: October 29, 2009
    Inventor: Yukinori Yamada
  • Patent number: 7597453
    Abstract: A luminaire for providing broad uniform surface illumination and sharp cutoff which has at least one quasi point light source, such as an LED, located on an optical axis. There is at least one collimating ring lens which, at least partially surrounds the quasi point light source. The collimating ring projects a radial collimated beam and there is at least one reflective ring, at least partially surrounding the collimating ring lens. The reflecting ring reflects and redirects the collimated radial beam as a canted radial beam through the optical axis. In another embodiment at least one off axis collimating ring lens at least partially surrounds at least one quasi point light source, and projects a canted radial beam away from the optical axis. There is at least one ring reflector which at least partially surrounds the optical axis and is positioned to reflect the canted radial beam toward and through the optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Inventor: Jerome H. Simon
  • Publication number: 20090244906
    Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a display apparatus, a light reflecting layer is formed on at least one of two substrates facing each other and reflects ultraviolet rays irradiated onto the substrates. The light reflecting layer includes first and second layers that have different refractive indexes from each other and are sequentially stacked. The light reflecting layer may selectively reflect ultraviolet rays having a specific wavelength, and the specific wavelength of ultraviolet rays that are reflected by the light reflecting layer may be controlled by the refractive indexes of the first and second layers and the thicknesses of the first and second layers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Myung-Hwan KIM
  • Patent number: 7591568
    Abstract: A point light source includes a light-emitting element, an optical lens, and at least two reflective members. The light-emitting element emits a point light. The optical lens is disposed over the light-emitting element. The reflective members are disposed in the optical lens. The reflective members confine an optical path of the light emitted from the light-emitting element, thereby substantially preventing the illumination areas of the point light sources from overlapping each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Ki Park, Seok-Hyun Nam, Byung-Choon Yang
  • Patent number: 7588360
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an LED lighting equipment and heat radiating structure, which primarily consists of a lamp holder/bracket and a heat conduction base, wherein, the lamp holder/bracket comprising a light-transferring pole and an LED circuit board, and thereat, an LED lamp is fastened via the LED circuit board, so that the light emitted from light source could be reflected outward by a light reflective film installed inside the light-transferring pole, to generate light for the purpose of illumination; in addition, said heat conduction base is combined with the LED circuit board, and thereat the top of the heat conductor is pushing against a heat-transfer material extending from the back of the LED lamp, in order to absorb the high temperature generated by the LED lamp, afterward, high temperature would be rapidly radiated via an outer edge of the main body of the heat conduction base, and hence, achieving the effects of energy saving and safety with function of temperature reduction t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventors: Yao Hui Huang, Guan Ming Chen
  • Patent number: 7575331
    Abstract: An example light guide assembly for illuminating a display of an instrument cluster includes a light receiving portion, a light propagating portion and a conical surface positioned between the light receiving portion and the light propagating portion. An exterior surface of the light propagating portion includes a plurality of lobes that uniformly illuminate the display as light propagates from the light receiving portion to the conical surface and through the light propagating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Continental Automotive Systems US, Inc.
    Inventors: Vyacheslav B. Birman, Werner Eckardt, Francisco Ramirez-Aldana
  • Patent number: 7561336
    Abstract: A micro-optical device includes a plurality of minute optical elements each having a curved surface operable to condense incident light. The minute optical elements are arranged at constant intervals. The curved surface is expressed by two or more F values. Each of the minute optical elements is a transmission lens element having the curved surface including a substantially flat part at a center of the transmission lens element, wherein the curved surface is convex or concave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanobu Osaka, Atsushi Takaura, Kazuhiro Fujita, Kazuya Miyagaki
  • Patent number: 7549775
    Abstract: Directivity of light beams can be adjusted appropriately relative to the normal to the light emission surface of a light source. Thus, the light source apparatus has high brightness without significant unevenness in illumination with its simple structure. The light source apparatus comprises a light source substrate on which plural light sources are arranged, a secondary light source member on which a secondary light source surface is formed when it receives light from the plural light sources, and frame that supports the light source substrate and the secondary light source member from their lateral sides so that they are opposed to each other. At least a pair of side surfaces of the frame has reflection surfaces opposed along the arrangement direction of the plural light sources, and the reflection surfaces that the pair of side surfaces has are inclined to the same direction relative to the light source substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutaka Inoguchi
  • Patent number: 7540635
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a Light Emitting Diode (LED) light source lens for emitting light in a lateral direction. The LED source lens includes an upper part, an upper part and a central part. The upper part includes an upper part reflecting surface bent symmetrically with respect to the central axis of the lens, and an upper part refracting surface extended from the end of the upper part reflecting surface parallel with the central axis. The central part includes a side surface extended from the lower end of the upper part refracting surface and bend inwards, and refracts or reflects light through the side surface. The lower part accommodates the LED light source, and includes an arch-shaped lower part refracting surface extended outwards from the lower end of the side surface of the central part. The light radiated from the LED light source is emitted perpendicular to the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin Jong Kim, Bum Jin Kim, Ho Seop Jeong
  • Publication number: 20090129080
    Abstract: A lighting device with a light source followed by an optical apparatus in an emission direction, and a primary optics element with a light inlet and a light outlet being arranged between the light source and the optical apparatus. The primary optics element is designed such that desired characteristics of the light beam are formed within the primary optics element by deliberate reflections on specially shaped reflective surfaces of the primary optics element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Inventors: Mario Wanninger, Alexander Wilm
  • Patent number: 7530712
    Abstract: A reflective illumination device is disclosed, which is comprised of a light-guiding screen with light reflecting ability and at least a directional light source; wherein the light-guiding screen includes a reflecting surface having a semi-Fresnel lens structure arranged thereon. The semi-Fresnel lens structure, being designed basing on the principle of Fresnel lens, is the equivalent of a parabolic mirror that has spiral cut ridges for focusing light to a focal point, whereas the profile of the ridges can be a planar surface, a curved surface or the combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignees: Industrial Technology Research Institute, Toalux Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Jian-Shian Lin, Jian-Chiuan Wang, Chieh-Lung Lai, Hsiu-Chen Hsu, Yi-Ting Sun
  • Publication number: 20090109687
    Abstract: Improved lighting devices and methods are provided. In many embodiments, the devices and methods provide the capability to change a spot of light projected onto a target surface. In other embodiments, the devices and methods are fixed-focus. In one embodiment a lens can have a lens body with anterior and posterior surfaces. The anterior surface can be adapted to receive light from a light source. The posterior surface can have a central portion and a peripheral portion. Some of the light from the light source can pass through the lens body and exit the central portion of the posterior surface via refraction. Some of the light from the light source can pass through the lens body and exit the peripheral portion of the posterior surface via both refraction and reflection at various surfaces of the lens.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: FRAEN CORPORATION
    Inventors: John R. Householder, Lawrence H. Boxler
  • Patent number: 7524098
    Abstract: The optical lens embodiment of the invention refracts and reflects light emitted from the light emitting diode chips on a unique combination of curved surfaces to obtain the desired coupling to a lateral light guide. The system of curved surfaces redirects rays from multiple LED chips laterally by multiple refraction and/or reflection. The optical lens has an optical axis, and comprises a bottom surface and a curved reflecting surface having a concave side. The concave side is oriented to face said bottom surface at an oblique angle. The reflecting surface surrounds the optical axis. The lens comprises a first curved refracting surface having a concave side facing the concave side of the reflecting surface and a second refracting surface extending as a smooth curve from the bottom surface to the first refracting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Dicon Fiberoptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Perig Vennetier, Jean-Yves Naulin
  • Patent number: 7524096
    Abstract: A component assembly includes a first part having a transparent section. The first part defines an outer surface. A second part is fixedly secured to the first part at a portion of the transparent section. The first and second parts create a connecting seam through the portion of the transparent section. An optically covering surface extends between the connecting seam and the outer surface of the first part to cover the connecting seam from view from the outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: odelo GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Teichmann
  • Patent number: 7520650
    Abstract: Illumination configurations employ optical elements configured to organize divergent light from an LED light source into collimated beams having a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the LED. Alternative optical elements organize light from a row of LEDs into planes perpendicular to a plane including the optical axes of the LEDs. Pairs of optical elements are configured to define a cavity for receiving an LED. One optical element may be employed to organize approximately one half of the light generated by the LED, with the remainder being permitted to radiate from the LED in its usual pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Whelen Engineering Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd J. Smith
  • Publication number: 20090097229
    Abstract: A light management film can be provided by an optically transparent substrate and an array of microlenses that is formed in a first side of the optically transparent substrate. An optically reflective layer is provided on a second side of the substrate that is opposite the first side, where the optically reflective layer includes apertures therein that are self-aligned to the microlenses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Robert L. Wood, John Wilson
  • Patent number: 7513642
    Abstract: The invention relates to an LED lighting device, in particular for motor vehicle headlamps, which comprises an LED element (3), a collimator (1) which emits the light emitted by the LED element (3) through a collimator opening (5) in a collimated manner, and a reflector (7) which has a semiparabolic concave reflective surface (8), an irradiated plane (9), a focal point (F) in the irradiated face (9) and an emission plane (10) which emits light in an emission direction of the reflector (7) and encloses an angle with the irradiated face (9). According to the invention, the collimator (1) is designed and/or arranged in such a way that the collimated light coming from the collimator (1), as seen in the emission direction, is irradiated into the irradiated face (9) either completely in front of or completely behind the focal point (F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Joseph Sormani
  • Publication number: 20090086498
    Abstract: A device for creating a predetermined light output distribution having a substantially rectangular shape in angle space is provided having a lens with a revolved inner surface and a complex outer surface. The inner surface has a combination of reflective and refractive surface facets swept about an axis of revolution perpendicular to the optical axis of the device. The outer surface has a non-planar, non-circular, non-spherical shape. This outer surface generates an appropriate intensity distribution in a direction generally parallel to the major axis of the output rectangle and may also distribute energy generally parallelly to the minor axis of the output rectangle as well. The optical efficiency improvement in the design of this improved preferably LED-based product has several direct benefits including; increased reliability, lower operating temperature, reduced electrical requirements, greater product life and significantly reduced cost as compared to existing LED products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Patrick Jeffrey Condon, Mark Bryan Pruss
  • Patent number: 7507003
    Abstract: A light collective optical system includes a single optical member having a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface. In this case, the first reflecting surface partly has a first transmissive-refractive surface and the second reflecting surface partly has a second transmissive-refractive surface. The first transmissive-refractive surface and the second transmissive-refractive surface are nearly coaxially arranged. Whereby, it is possible to provide the light collective optical system which is capable of illuminating an object to be illuminated with high illuminance and is compact and a light source device using the light collective optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Yasushi Namii
  • Patent number: 7503669
    Abstract: A portable luminaire includes an optical module, a power source and a housing. The optical module has at least one light emitting diode (LED) that emits light with a wide divergence, a non-imaging optical element and a transparent window. The non-imaging optical element (NIO) has a refractive member located around a LED optical axis and a total internal reflection member located around the refractive member. The refractive member and the total internal reflection member are integrated in a single transparent element having a mutual focal point. The NIO element collects a significant amount of light emitted by the LED with wide divergence located at the focal point to compress the collected light with high efficiency into a required pattern with a generally different angular distribution in a horizontal plane and a vertical plane, and to direct the compressed light outside of the luminaire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Farlight, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Rizkin, Robert H. Tudhope
  • Publication number: 20090052193
    Abstract: Optical device and optical component part for the targeted reproduction of light emitted by LED light sources (6). The optical device comprises at least two component parts, a first optical component part (10) in the form of a solid waveguide and another component part for connection to the LED light source (6). In a system of Cartesian co-ordinates, the first optical component part (10) has a length in the y direction shorter than or equal to its length in the z direction and shorter than or equal to its length in the x direction. An envelope of the first optical component part (10) projected in an x-y plane forms essentially a rectangle. Proceeding from an x-y plane, the optical component part (10, 10?) tapers in the z direction to maximum ¼ of the largest width measured along y (By, max), with any design of the y-z flanks of the optical component part (10, 10?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: RADICAL FORM LIGHTING, LTD.C/O
    Inventors: Frederic Zweig, Thomas Buhrer
  • Publication number: 20090040770
    Abstract: A light source reflector includes a conical reflective surface, and a flat reflective surface formed on a rim of the conical reflective surface. The conical reflective surface has a plurality of unit curved surfaces with convex surfaces or concave surfaces. Also, the flat reflective surface is provided with a plurality of refraction protrusions, to improve the optical efficiency and light-mixing effect of the light source reflector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Kang Hua Lo
  • Patent number: 7489453
    Abstract: A near field lens for an automotive light assembly which has a reduced thickness. Generally, the near field lens includes a main body of light transmitting material. A pocket is formed in the main body for receiving light from a light source. The pocket is defined by an inner radially facing surface and an inner axially facing surface. The inner radially facing surface is structured to reduce the thickness of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeyachandrabose Chinniah, Amir P. Fallahi, Jeffrey Allen Erion, Edwin Mitchell Sayers, Thomas Lee Jones
  • Patent number: 7482567
    Abstract: The illumination system has a plurality of light emitters (R, G, B) and a light-collimator (1) for collimating light emitted by the light emitters. Light propagation in the light-collimator is based on total internal reflection (TIR) towards a light-exit window (4) of the light-collimator. At least one light sensor (8) for optical feedback is placed outside the light-collimator and is arranged to receive light emitted by the light emitters exclusively through reflection at the light-exit window of the light-collimator. Preferably, the light sensor is placed substantially coplanar with the light emitters. Preferably, a side wall (35) of the light-collimator is provided with a protruding portion (9) for guiding the light reflected at the light-exit window of the light-collimator towards the light sensor. Preferably, the illumination system is provided with a reflector (12). Preferably, the illumination system comprises a holographic diffuser (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Christoph Gerard August Hoelen, Johannes Petrus Maria Ansems, Edwin Van Lier
  • Patent number: 7473014
    Abstract: An LED lamp has a convex lens 3 which has an upper portion 5 and a lower portion 6. An upper curved surface 5A of the upper portion is different in shape from a lower curved surface 6A of the lower portion 6 so as to refract rays of light from an LED chip 2 more strongly than the lower curved surface 6A does. This avoids reflection of incident outside light toward a front and hence prevents misrecognition. An interface plane S1 between the upper and lower portions 5 and 6 of the convex lens 3 is located on an upper end face 2A to thereby prevent collection of outgoing light upon the interface plane S1 and generation of an irregular emission peak at the front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaaki Katoh, Masatoshi Omoto, Masataka Miyata, Keiji Takasugi, Masahiro Seko
  • Patent number: 7473013
    Abstract: It is sought to provide an indicator lamp, which is excellent not only in short distance visual recognition property but also in long distance one, as well as being further excellent in sight field angle property. An indicator lamp includes a light-emitting element 1 and a light-emitting element lens 2 having a light-emitting element mounting cavity 3 formed at the bottom, in which the light-emitting element disposed in the cavity 3 emits light to be fully reflected by the peripheral surface of the lens 1 and proceeds as emission light flux forwardly of the lens 1. The slope angle of the peripheral surface with respect to the lens axis is reduced progressively from the bottom toward the lens front surface 5 in three stages, thus forming circumferential corners 7 and 8 as boundaries between adjacent ones of the three stages. The circumferential corners scatter light emitted from the light emitting element 2 to provide concentric emission light fluxes as viewed from the side of the lens front.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Okaya Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshio Shimada
  • Patent number: 7470045
    Abstract: A device for shielding outside lights comprising an essentially cylindrical, transparent shield body with a surface which is provided with a zigzag-shaped profile in a vertical direction in order to deflect the radiation from a lighting source incident on the shield body in a desired direction. Triangular projections of the zigzag-shaped profile in a first portion are designed and configured in such a way that the radiation from the lighting source is fully reflected in a desired direction when passing through the first portion of the shield body and triangular projections of the zigzag-shaped profile in a second portion are designed and configured in such a way that the radiation from the lighting source is diffracted in the desired direction when passing through the second portion of the shield body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Semperlux AG
    Inventors: Udo Bansbach, Dieter Albert
  • Publication number: 20080297918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a side emitting lens that may reduce optical loss and improve light emitting ratios, and a backlight unit and liquid crystal display including the side emitting lens. The side emitting lens may have a substantially dome-shaped body. The body includes a base part on which external light is incident, a refracting part to refract incident light and emit the light from side surfaces, and a reflecting part. The reflecting part is in the shape of a conical recess at a central portion of the refracting part to fully reflect the incident light toward one of the refracting part and the base part and the reflecting part comprises two or more reflecting surfaces. Each of the two or more reflecting surfaces is a curved surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Se Ki PARK, Gi Cherl KIM, Seock Hwan KANG, Eun Jeong KANG
  • Patent number: 7458707
    Abstract: Headlamp optical module for a motor vehicle comprising, disposed along an optical axis: an elliptical-type reflector with at least one light source placed in the vicinity of a first focal point of the reflector; a converging lens placed in front of the reflector and admitting a focal point located in the vicinity of the second focal point of the reflector; and a light recovery means suitable for collecting a portion of the flux from the source and for sending it forward. An ellipsoid-type reflector is provided at the front, in the upper portion of the module, this reflector focusing a portion of the rays issuing from the source in the vicinity of a second focal point located at the front, lower than the focal point of the lens, and the light recovery means has an input face, in proximity to which is located the second focal point of the ellipsoid-type reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Valeo Vision
    Inventor: Antoine de Lamberterie
  • Patent number: 7452113
    Abstract: The present invention relates to improvements in controlling the direction of light rays and apparatus incorporating the improvements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Newton, John K. Roberts, Timothy A. Bonardi, Jeremy A. Fogg, Timothy J. Thomas, Darin D. Tuttle, Jeremy A. Walser
  • Patent number: 7448783
    Abstract: Provided is a light emitting device having an inner-propagation-medium which caused directivity-to-optical-axis-direction to be relaxed. Light of a LED travels in the inner-propagation-medium, being emitted from an inside area of or outside area in a lens surface directly or via an inclined reflection face. A light emitter provides an output light having an intensity profile with a half-intensity-angular-range not greater than 20°, which expresses directivity of the output light. The outside area in the lens surface performs a traveling-direction-expanding-function which is not only relatively intensive as compared that performed by the inside area in the lens surface, and but also relatively intensive as compared that performed in an imaginary case where the outside area gives a planar surface perpendicular to an optical axis. The half-intensity-angular-range of the intensity profile of the light emitting device is not smaller than 30° with respect to the optical axis and not greater than 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Shingo Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 7438444
    Abstract: A light guide lens includes a lens body having a light incidence surface and a light emission surface, a plurality of refraction structures formed on the light incidence surface, and a plurality of reflection structures formed on the light emission surface. The refraction structures send incoming light rays to the light emission surface by refraction. Each of the refraction structures turns incoming light rays coming in all directions into refracted parallel light rays. The refracted parallel light rays arriving from the refraction structures reflect off the corresponding reflection structures and then laterally exit the lens body. The refracted parallel light rays arriving from each of the refraction structures travel to a corresponding one of the reflection structures, such that eventually the incoming light rays exit laterally. The present invention further provides a light emitting diode package structure having the light guide lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Nan Pao, Po-Hung Yao, Tsung-Hsin Lin
  • Patent number: 7438447
    Abstract: A reflector for a light source, such as an LED, is provided with a shape which efficiently collects and directs energy to an illumined surface whereby almost 100% of the light is collected and distributed into a designer composite beam. The shape in one embodiment is comprised of three zones beginning with a parabolic surface of revolution at the base of the reflector, followed by a transition or straight conic zone and ending with an elliptical zone. In another embodiment the reflector shape is determined according to a transfer function which allows for arbitrary designer control of the reflected rays at each point on the reflector, which when combined with direct radiation from the source, results in a designer controlled composite beam or illumination. The device is more than 90% energy efficient and allows replacement of higher power, less energy efficient light sources with no loss in illumination intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Illumination Management Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald G. Holder, Greg Rhoads
  • Publication number: 20080253132
    Abstract: A display unit which the view angle is limited and the front luminance is improved is provided. The display unit includes a display device, and a light guiding part which is provided to face the display device, has an incident face on the side opposing to the display device, an emitting face on the opposite side of the display device, and a reflective face on the side face, and has a cross section expanding from the incident face to the emitting face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventors: Tetsuo Urabe, Yuichi Iwase, Koichi Tsukihara, Yoichi Tomo, Toshihiro Fukuda
  • Patent number: 7431481
    Abstract: A light guide assembly includes a base and a light source that are removably secured to the base. The light source is oriented to emit light out and away from the base. A light distributor is spaced apart from the light source and distributes the light across the light guide assembly. The light distributor includes a primary reflection surface with a plurality of transmission elements extending out from the primary reflection surface therealong to allow a portion of the light to pass through the transmission elements of the primary reflection surface without being reflected by the primary reflection surface. This facilitates the creation of a uniform beam of light being emitted by the light guide assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Inventor: Emil Stefanov
  • Patent number: 7433134
    Abstract: A lens defines central axis, and includes a light receiving surface, a light reflecting surface, and a light exiting surface. The light reflecting surface is opposite to the light receiving surface along the central axis. The light exiting surface extends between the light receiving surface and the light reflecting surface. When a light source emits a light, a portion of the light emitted by the light source passes through the light receiving surface, and is incident on and is reflected at a plurality of reflections angles by the light reflecting surface to the light exiting surface so as to exit the lens in directions perpendicular to the light exiting surface for all said plurality of reflection angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Young Lighting Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Jen Chou, Shih-Yuan Yu
  • Patent number: 7416315
    Abstract: A faceted reflector includes a plurality of individual reflectors embedded in a carrier, one main area of the carrier being a light entry side, and another main area being a light exit side. The individual reflectors may be cavities in the carrier, which, preferably, have a prismatic form. The radiation to be reflected is subjected to total reflection at a part of the cavity interfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Osram OPTO Semiconductors GmbH
    Inventor: Simon Blümel
  • Publication number: 20080192484
    Abstract: An optical sheet includes a substrate having rear and front surfaces, a micro-lens-array on the front surface of the substrate, the micro-lens-array including a plurality of micro-lenses, a plurality of protrusions spaced apart from each other on the rear surface of the substrate, and an intercepting reflector layer on the protrusions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: Kyung Joon Lee, Seung Man Chio, Jee Hyun Yang, Jin Hyuk Kwon
  • Patent number: 7410274
    Abstract: A light guiding unit is provided which can reflect light from one light source such that a plurality of irradiated lights can be intermittently viewed, while allowing substantially all portions of the plurality of irradiated lights to be substantially uniform. The light guiding unit can include an input portion where light from a light source is input, a first reflecting portion that has reflecting surfaces which divide light from the input portion into a plurality of directions (e.g., six directions), and then radially reflects the light. A second reflecting portion can be provided that has reflecting surfaces which reflect light from each of the reflecting surfaces of the first reflecting portion along the principal optical axis. An irradiation portion can be provided that has irradiation surfaces which irradiate light from each of the reflecting surfaces of the second reflecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Stanley Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Nagabuchi
  • Patent number: 7410283
    Abstract: The present invention is a device that attaches to a light source to transmit and distribute light energy to the surface or internal chamber of a tooth for the purpose of photo-initiation of light curing resins and dental tooth whitening. More particularly, the invention may be used with a single or multiple Light Emitting Diode(s) to more efficiently collect and transmit the light energy emitted by the LED(s) resulting in increased total energy, uniform illumination, and collimation of the light energy delivered to the tooth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Den-Mat Holdings LLC
    Inventors: John West, Scott Ganaja
  • Patent number: 7403691
    Abstract: A light guide plate (10) includes a pair of opposite incidence surfaces (101, 103), an emission surface (108) and a bottom surface (109) opposite to the emission surface. A plurality of dots (11) is distributed on the bottom surface, and each dot is shaped as a rectangle or a square with two cutouts formed at two opposite sides thereof respectively. Thus, a clearance between adjacent dots is relatively small. That is, a distribution of the dots is relatively compact, and this ensures that the light guide plate can provide emission of light beams with good uniformity. Furthermore, adjacent rows of dots are offset, and this can avoid bright lines. Thus, the light guide plate can provide improved display quality. Therefore, the light guide plate can be advantageously applied in back light systems of liquid crystal display devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Yi Liao
  • Publication number: 20080165437
    Abstract: A high efficiency and compact optical device comprising two or more active and resonating optical facet surfaces defined by a three-dimensional representation and configured to provide a three-dimensional device. A focal region, remote from the optical surfaces and non-contiguous therewith, is defined by two or more active optical resonant surfaces, at least one of which is self-resonant. The optical surfaces in general do not have a continuous second derivative and are defined by a piecewise continuous surface function providing radially directed facets. The optical device comprises a transparent dielectric body with its optical surfaces being formed on the surfaces of said transparent dielectric body. A light transducer may be located at a focal region to provide an energy conversion. A light source having a physical extension in space, such as an LED, may be located at the focal region to provide collimation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2008
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventor: Leo David DiDomenico