Abstract: In the present invention, a light guide member is provided that can locally control the amount of planar backlight and that is suitable for a thin illumination device. In the light guide member (11), a tubular portion (12) includes a recess (DH) that tapers inward from a top surface (12U) and a constriction line (LN) that is recessed inward from a side surface (12S) and that is along a tube axis direction. A wall portion (13) that is connected to the light guide member (11) and that extends in a direction intersecting the tube axis direction includes, on a side wall (13S), a rough surface (RS) for changing the light within the wall portion such that an optical path becomes suitable for emission to the outside.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dedicated lighting unit (D) which includes: i) at least one light guide (GL) comprising two opposing ends, at least one of which is coupled with a light source (SL); ii) a reflector (RL) having at least one concave section and intended for being placed opposite a rear portion of the light guide (GL) in order to reflect the guided light from the light source (SL) towards a front portion (PV) of the light guide (GL); and iii) a screen (EC) having at least one transparent central portion (PC) intended for being placed opposite at least one portion of the front portion (PV) of the light guide (GL) in order to be illuminated by the light transferred towards the outside and thus to induce a style effect and/or a three-dimensional effect.

Abstract: A backlight for an appliance knob provides a light pipe that may receive light from a light source fixed behind a console at a variety of different extensions permitting ready adjustment of the light pipe to fit closely behind the appliance knob with different console thicknesses and tolerances.

Abstract: A lateral light emitting device is developed. The lateral light emitting device is free from variations and degradation in beam quality and reduction in reliability caused by adhesive, can be easily produced, and has a small outer diameter in order to be usable for a thin blood vessel and the like. The above described problem is solved by the lateral light emitting device, which includes an optical fiber, a rod lens fused to an end of the optical fiber, and a prism having a polygonal section fused to a distal end surface of the rod lens.

Abstract: A lighting module, comprising a printed circuit board, which on the front side thereof, is populated by at least one light source as well as at least one light sensor; a hollow optical waveguide element, which laterally surrounds the at least one light source circumferentially; and a cover at least for the light sensor, arranged on the printed circuit board externally to the optical waveguide element, it being possible for a window to be located in the optical waveguide element to which window is connected a hollow light channel formed in and/or on the cover which leads to the light sensor.

Abstract: A display apparatus includes: a light modulator having translucent windows; a light emitter having a light source; a light guide having a tubular reflecting surface guiding light source light to the light modulator; and a light separator having a light separation surface separating guided light into transmitted and reflected light. The tubular reflecting surface narrows from the light modulator toward the light emitter to guide the reflected light to the windows. Denoting a lateral cross-sectional area of an inside area of the tubular reflecting surface at a light source end as S1, a lateral cross-sectional area of the tubular reflecting surface at a light separation surface end as S2, and a maximum incident angle at which light from the light source reflected by the tubular reflecting surface is input to the light separation surface as ?, ?×?(S2/S1)?110.

Abstract: A household appliance including an information light device that allows a user of the household appliance to determine when the household device is in operation, and a method thereof. The information light device may include a light guide structured to indicate an operating status of the household appliance. The light guide may be disposed at a lower portion of the household appliance, and embodied as a wave guide where at least part of the light that exits the light guide is guided in a direction that is perpendicular to the light guide and onto a floor where the household appliance is disposed.

Abstract: A thin-profile portable electronic device with a display is described. The display can include a display assembly with an integrally formed light pipe and perimeter chassis. The light pipe can be utilized to provide back-lighting for the display. The light pipe and the perimeter chassis can be integrally formed to improve the stiffness of the light pipe and allow the over-all height of the display to be reduced. In one embodiment, the light pipe and the perimeter chassis can be formed using a co-molding process, such as an injection molding process.

Abstract: The instant invention teaches a compact collection lens with finite conjugates for use in coupling the collected energy from a broadband source into a multi-mode fiber. The lens is reflective in nature and provides finite conjugate imaging in one piece. The entrance and exit surfaces are made concentric with the object and image so that on-axis imaging is completely free of chromatic aberrations. The primary is nominally elliptical and is the only surface with optical power in the lens. The secondary is planar and serves to fold the progressing rays back in the original direction. In summary, the invention comprises a monolithic lens composed of four optical surfaces (two reflective and two transmissive) such that the primary and secondary mirrors are annular and the entrance and exit surfaces are predominantly spherical with their centers located at the front and back focal points.

Abstract: An interior lining component for a motor vehicle made from an opaque material skin and capable of transmitting a visible light from one side of the component to the other side of the component. The component may include an embroidery pattern performed in the opaque material skin that transmits the visible light coming from at least one light source located behind the component. The embroidery may be formed with a light transmitting member, such as transparent thread applied to the opaque material of the component.

Abstract: A tubular luminaire efficiently utilizes the light of a line of high-brightness unlensed LEDs to reproduce the homogeneous appearance of a neon tube. The transparent tube has an annular cross-section suitable for cost-effective manufacturing by extrusion. The LEDs are mounted in a line on a circuit board that can be positioned either inside or outside the tube. Their light shines into a cylindrical groove, thereby entering within the material of the tube. Above the groove, the wall of the tube has a spiral shape that reflects the light laterally so that it stays within the annular tube for a considerable path length. Volume scattering by a low density of scattering inclusions causes the light to escape as a homogenous glow. Alternatively, mild surface scattering from the inside surface can be used.

Abstract: An illumination optical system comprises plural rod integrators, a combining optical system and a light transmission unit. The rod integrators uniformize light intensity distributions of the light beams. The combining optical system combines the light beams emitted from the rod integrators, so that the light beams are adjacent to each other in cross-sections thereof. The light transmission unit has an entrance plane and an exit plane, divides the light beam combined by the combining optical system into plural light beams on the entrance plane, joins the divided light beams so that a cross-sectional shape of a joined pattern of the light beams on the exit plane is different from a cross-sectional shape of a joined pattern of the light beams on the entrance plane, and transfers each of the light beams from the entrance plane to the exit plane using plural optically coupled light pipes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crystal fiber, a Raman spectrometer using the same and a inspection method thereof. The crystal fiber comprises a sapphire crystal is doped with two transition metals having different concentrations. An excitation light beam at a specific wavelength can propagate along the crystal fiber to generate a narrow-band light beam and a wide-band light beam to project on a specimen. Raman scattered light is emitted from the specimen. The wavelength of the Raman scattered light falls within the wavelength range of the wide-band light beam so that the wide-band light beam is enhanced at some characteristic wavelengths to facilitate Raman spectroscopy.

Abstract: A lighting device comprising a plurality of light emitting elements (1), and a beam shaping optics (7) having an entrance aperture (6). Each light emitting element is optically connected to a set of optical fibers (5) each having a first end optically connected to the light emitting element and a second end optically connected to the entrance aperture (6), so as to guide collimated light from the light emitting element to the beam shaping optics (7). The light emitting elements are distributed over an area larger than the entrance aperture (6).

Abstract: An optical touch panel includes a panel and a light guide module. The light guide module is disposed on the panel, and the light guide module includes a printed circuit board, at least one light emitting element, and a light guide strip. The light emitting element is electrically disposed on the printed circuit board. The light guide strip is disposed on the printed circuit board, and wraps the light emitting element. Additionally, the light emitting element emits light rays, and the light rays penetrate the light guide strip and are emitted to the panel.

Abstract: A weave unit includes a plurality of opaque wires; a plurality of transparent wires alternatively weaved with the opaque wires to form a weave structure, wherein a plurality of interweave points is defined on the crossing portions of the opaque wires and the transparent wires; a lighting module disposed on one side of the transparent wires; wherein the density of the interweave point on each of the transparent wires increases in the direction of being away from the lighting module; thereby, the light of the lighting module transmits inside the transparent wires for generating uniform illumination.

Abstract: Emissive quantum photonic imagers comprised of a spatial array of digitally addressable multicolor pixels. Each pixel is a vertical stack of multiple semiconductor laser diodes, each of which can generate laser light of a different color. Within each multicolor pixel, the light generated from the stack of diodes is emitted perpendicular to the plane of the imager device via a plurality of vertical waveguides that are coupled to the optical confinement regions of each of the multiple laser diodes comprising the imager device. Each of the laser diodes comprising a single pixel is individually addressable, enabling each pixel to simultaneously emit any combination of the colors associated with the laser diodes at any required on/off duty cycle for each color. Each individual multicolor pixel can simultaneously emit the required colors and brightness values by controlling the on/off duty cycles of their respective laser diodes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lighting device (1) comprising an envelope (2), a base (3), a solid-state light source (4) and optical means (5) provided with a light-outcoupling surface, the solid-state light source (4) being optically coupled to said optical means (5). The use of a spirally wound optical fiber as optical means (5) and a transparent envelope (2) shaped as a conventional light bulb provides a lighting device (1) which is a good look -alike of the conventional incandescent lamp, such as, for instance, the carbon filament lamp. The long lifetime and high efficiency of LEDs as a solid-state light source (4) will make this lighting device (1) a very attractive alternative for the conventional incandescent lamp. The lighting device (1) according to the present invention has the further advantage that a large gamut of colors can be chosen and adjusted by using, for instance, red green and blue LEDs in said lighting device (1).

Abstract: A laser readable surveying rod is provided with adjustable lighting elements. More specifically, lighting elements, such as LED lights are provided along a length of a surveying rod such that laser readings may be taken at night or in dark conditions. Lighting elements may be translated along a length of a rod, particularly where it is desirable to illuminate only a portion of a rod and conserve valuable energy.

Abstract: A light guiding structure comprising a light guiding element (2) optically connected to a light source (6) and an optical element (10) coupled thereto, wherein the surface of the optical element (10) remote from the light guiding element (2) has the shape of a section (11) of a rotational ellipsoid, wherein a geometric cutting plane of the section (11) extends approximately at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the rotational ellipsoid.

Abstract: A light source device includes an optical resonator that includes an optical gain medium amplifying light and an optical waveguide having wavelength dispersion of a refractive index, and an optical modulator that modulates an intensity of the light in the optical resonator. An oscillation wavelength of an optical pulse is varied according to a modulation frequency of the optical modulator. The optical modulator can adjust transmittance of the light passing through the optical modulator, and a duty ratio of a transmission time of the light passing through the optical modulator is less than 50%.

Abstract: A ring light illuminator with annularly arranged light sources is disclosed. To each light source there corresponds a light collector, a homogenizing means for light from the light source, and an anamorphic system for imaging an output of the homogenizing means into an area to be illuminated. The anamorphic system compensates deformations of a cross-sectional area of a light beam in a surface to be illuminated due to an oblique angle of incidence of the light beam onto the surface. The homogenizing means in embodiments is a rod, into which light from the light collector is directed. The end of the rod opposite the light collector is imaged by the anamorphic system into the area to be illuminated on the surface. Also disclosed is a method for illumination.

Abstract: A light guide body has a light guide block having a light incident side and an opposite light emitting side, the light guide block includes an inwardly curved surface, two toothed surfaces at opposite sides of the inwardly curved surface, and a light emitting surface located at the light emitting side. The toothed surfaces each has a number of teeth, with widths of bottom sides of the teeth descending in a geometric sequence with a common ratio greater than 0 and less than 1 in a direction away from the inwardly curved surface. The inwardly curved surface and the toothed surfaces are located at the light incident side. A light source assembly using the light guide body is also provided.

Abstract: A vehicle interior assembly includes a light pipe that is concealed by at least one element of the assembly and is configured to illuminate a recess disposed adjacent to a display.

Abstract: A light guide strip structure with neon effect, which is manufactured at lower cost and can be used with the bright-and-dark stripes or diffraction and interference between the light rays minimized. The light guide strip structure includes a transparent main body having a light-scattering surface and a color band disposed in the main body. The color band has a reflective index greater than that of the main body, whereby most of the light is reflected back to the main body and only a minor part of the light enters the color band to create neon effect. The light entering the main body substantially travels along an axis thereof. The light is refracted and reflected between the main body and the color band and scattered from the surface of the main body to enhance brightness and overcome the problem of vagueness.

Abstract: A connector adapted for use in an illumination system comprising at least one optical element, such as an optical fibre. is disclosed. The connector comprises a housing dimensioned so that internally it retains at least one end portion of at least one optical element, and externally substantially follows the shape of the end portion(s) of the optical element(s). This forms a join between the ends of the optical element(s). A light source is also contained within the housing and positioned so as to illuminate the end portions of at least one optical element. Electrical connection means adapted to connect the light source to an external power supply are provided. The electrical connection means being moveable relative to the housing. The electrical connection means may be carried by a flexible substrate, or may be formed by slideable contacts within a light guide rail.

Abstract: A vehicle lamp assembly is provided with a housing adapted to be mounted to a vehicle exterior. First and second light pipes are provided in the housing and each has a profile offset from one another. First and second light sources are provided in the housing for illuminating the first and second light pipes respectively. The first and second light pipes also have different depths.

Abstract: An illumination system incorporating an optical element such as an optical fibre is disclosed. The system comprises at least one light source and an optical element configured to emit visible light from a series of emission points located along its length when coupled to the light source. Each end of the optical element and the light source are held within a sleeve such that the optical element forms a continuous light guide. The optical element is further adapted to fit within a housing and to be held in tension within that housing, such that the optical element sits within the housing in a preferred orientation. Preferably, the light source is a light emitting diode.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a design panel 12 made of a resin and a light guide lens 16 that is attached to the design panel 12 so as to guide light from a light source to the outside. An insert hole 20 that is a through hole whose shape is commensurate with the light guide lens 16 is formed in the design panel 12. The light guide lens 16 is inserted into the insert hole 20 by elastically deforming a rim of the insert hole 20 when the light guide lens 16 is pushed into the insert hole 20, to thus be attached to the design panel 12. Auxiliary grooves 22 that promote elastic deformation are formed in a neighborhood of the rim of the insert hole 20.

Abstract: A light guide structure includes a light guide layer, a light condensing structure, and a microstructure region. The light condensing structure is disposed on the light guide layer to gather light from a light source to the light guide layer for allowing the light guide layer to transmit the light. The microstructure region is disposed on the light guide layer to reflect or bend the light transmitted by the light guide layer for allowing the light to be emitted. The light condensing structure and the microstructure region are formed through a co-mold process with the light guide layer together. A keypad structure including the light guide structure and a method of fabricating the light guide structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A lighting device (1) comprises a light source (2) and a lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) positioned in front of the light source (2). The lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) is provided with a light entrance surface on a side facing the light source (2) and a light exit surface (14, 38) on a side remote from the light source (2). The lens (3, 23, 33, 43, 53, 63) comprises a number of strip-shaped interconnected elongated light guiding elements (4, 24, 34, 54, 64), of which first ends (7, 27, 37, 57) and spaced apart second ends (5, 25, 35, 55, 65) comprise the light entrance surface and light exit surface, respectively. Light beams emitted by the light source (2) are transmitted by total internal reflection in the elongated light guiding elements (4, 24, 34, 54, 64) from the first ends (7, 27, 37, 57) to the spaced apart seconds ends (5, 25, 35, 55, 65).

Abstract: A light emitting device includes an excitation light source that emits excitation light, a wavelength conversion member, a light guide, and a light guide distal end member. The wavelength conversion member absorbs the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source, converts its wavelength, and releases light of a predetermined wavelength band. The light guide in which the center part (core) of its cross section has a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the peripheral portion (cladding) guides the excitation light emitted from the excitation light source to the wavelength conversion member. The light guide distal end member supports a distal end of the light guide on the wavelength conversion member side. The light guide distal end member is formed from a material that reflects the excitation light and/or the light that has undergone wavelength conversion.

Abstract: A reflecting structure is provided with a first surface having two side-end portions opposing each other and a plurality of light scatterers, each scattering light, formed on the first surface. In a section perpendicular to an axis located on the first surface between the two side-end portions, the height of each of the light scatterers from the first surface gets smaller from the axis toward the side-end portion.

Abstract: A system and method provide a dual beam chromatic point sensor (CPS) system operable to simultaneously measure two surface regions. In one embodiment, a single beam CPS optical pen may have a dual beam assembly attached. First and second measurement beams of the system may be positioned on respective first and second surface regions, and both reflect light through a confocal aperture of the dual beam CPS. At least one set of measurements is determined, comprising a first and second measurement arising from the first and second measurement beams, respectively. At least the first surface region may be moved to acquire sets of measurements at various positions. Each measurement may be determined with extremely fine resolution (e.g., at least as fine as 10 nm). The system and method satisfy applications that require such resolution and accuracy without the use of an interferometer or other costly and complex elements.

Abstract: An oven has a plurality of walls defining an oven cavity, a light source disposed outside of a wall of the oven cavity, and an optical light pipe in optical communication with the light source. The light pipe has a central body portion disposed within the oven cavity, and an end portion extending from the central body portion, the end portion extending outside of the oven cavity and being in optical communication with the light source. The central body distributes light from the light source within the oven cavity.

Abstract: An electric vehicle charge coupler for both mechanically and electrically coupling and decoupling a charger to a vehicle includes a handle. The handle includes a handle connector configured for manually coupling and decoupling the handle with an inlet connector disposed on the vehicle. The handle connector further defines an aperture. The handle also includes a light source configured for activation to emit light. When the light source is activated, light emits from the light source and passes through the aperture to illuminate an area directionally out from the aperture away from the handle connector.

Abstract: Embodiments are disclosed of an apparatus including a curved reflector having an interior and an open end; a light module positioned around a perimeter of the open end of the reflector, the light module including a first side having one or more interior light sources thereon to direct light toward the interior of the reflector and a second side having one or more exterior light sources thereon to direct light away from the reflector; and a light pipe coupled to the light module and aligned so that light from the one or more exterior light sources is launched into the light pipe. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: Provided is a surface plasmon resonating optical system emitting near-field light (NF-light) with a higher light density. The system comprises: a waveguide through which a light for exciting surface plasmon propagates; a plasmon generator that couples with the light in a surface plasmon mode and emits NF-light from its NF-light generating end surface; and a resonator mirror that reflects the excited surface plasmon, provided on the side of the plasmon generator opposite to the NF-light generating end surface. In the system, the excited surface plasmon can be amplified by using a resonator structure while reducing the length of the plasmon generator to reduce absorption of surface plasmon and prevent overheating of the plasmon generator.

Abstract: An apparatus that improves the usable life and reliability of detachable bow lights for boats. It replaces electrical energy coupling by light energy coupling, thereby eliminating electrical contact corrosion problems.

Abstract: An illuminated dispenser assembly may include a dispenser recess area defined by walls, such as a bottom wall, two side walls, a back wall and a top wall. A dispenser has an outlet extending through one of the walls of the dispenser recess area to dispense a substance from an interior area to the dispenser recess via the outlet. A lighting element is located for illuminating the dispenser recess. The lighting element includes at least one light source and at least one light pipe for transmitting light from the light source to the dispenser recess. The light source may be placed in different states and/or may illuminate with different colors depending on status, user selection, time of day, etc.

Abstract: A device and method for directing light from a non directed light source into a forward direction with a required angular distribution. The device may comprise a tapered light guide, a front refractor and a back reflector. The wedge angle of the light guide is selected such that light incident upon the entrance of the light guide and exits the light guide and is directed either by the front refractor or the back reflector into the desired angular distribution.

Abstract: An illuminated dispenser assembly for a consumer appliance panel includes a dispenser recess area located in the panel. The dispenser recess area is defined by walls including a bottom wall, a back wall and a top wall. The bottom wall has a top surface. A dispenser is located in the panel. The dispenser has an outlet extending through one of the walls of the dispenser recess area to dispense a substance from an interior of the consumer appliance to the dispenser recess via the outlet. A lighting element includes a light source located below the top surface of the bottom wall for illuminating a target area in the bottom wall of the dispenser recess. The target area is located relative to the dispenser outlet so as to identify a location for placement of a receptacle for receiving the substance from the dispenser. A related refrigeration appliance incorporating such an illuminated dispensing target is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a light emitting device includes separating a plurality of regions in a film with a thickness not greater than 0.5 millimeters to form a plurality of legs continuous with a body of film, folding the plurality of legs such that each leg terminates in a stack of bounding edges, disposing the stack of bounding edges proximate at least one light source such that light from the at least one light source propagates through the legs and the body by total internal reflection, and treating the film to form a plurality of light scattering features therein such that frustrated totally internally reflected light exits the light emitting device at a visible light emitting area and the light emitting area is at most barely visible when not illuminated by the at least one light source.

Abstract: The invention relates to a light projection system (10) for use in conjunction with a display device (40). The light projection system comprises a light source for emitting light being modulated by video and/or audio content of the display device (40), and a light guide (20). The longitudinal light guide guides light emitted by the light source substantially along a longitudinal axis (26) and projects the light propagating through the longitudinal light guide on a projection surface (50). The longitudinal light guide comprises: a light input window, and a plurality of light out-coupling elements. The plurality of light out-coupling elements project the light on the projection surface via light out-coupling elements comprising sub-sets (70a, 70d) of light out-coupling elements. A particular sub-set (70a, 70d) is arranged for substantially illuminating a particular area (50a, 50d) of the projection surface (50).

Abstract: An illuminated latch apparatus is provided. The illuminated latch apparatus can include a latch member 100 with at least one surface 110 having a channel 120 formed therein. A light guide 200 having a first end 210 and a second end 220 can be at least partially disposed within the channel 120. A light source 310 can be disposed proximate the first end 210 of the light guide 200.

Abstract: The invention discloses a projecting system. The projecting system includes two sets of lens. The first set of lens has a first focal length for focusing an incident ray of light to form a first image. The second set of lens has a second focal length for projecting the first image to form a second image. The two sets of lens are separated by a lens-apex distance relative to the light path between the two sets of lens. The second focal length is smaller than or equal to the lens-apex distance. A difference between the second focal length and the lens-apex distance is smaller than or equal to a half of the first focal length.

Abstract: A ring light illuminator with annularly arranged light sources is disclosed. To each light source there corresponds a beam shaper comprising a light collector, a homogenizing means for light from the light source, and an imaging means for imaging an output of the homogenizing means into an area to be illuminated. The homogenizing means in embodiments is a rod, into which light from the light collector is directed. The end of the rod opposite the light collector is imaged by the imaging means into the area to be illuminated.

Abstract: A light pipe assembly includes a lamp assembly and a light pipe. The lamp assembly has a housing that holds a light source configured to emit light. The light pipe is elongated between an attachment end and an opposing distal end. The attachment end is received in the housing of the lamp assembly. The light pipe receives light emitted by the light source. Additionally, the light pipe includes surface elements that are configured to permit the light to emanate from the light pipe between the attachment and distal ends. The surface elements are arranged in a pattern that provides a predetermined distribution of light emanating from the light pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, which comprises a tube member, an optical-fiber module, a positioning member, and a position-limiting member. The back end of the tube member puts around a light-source module or an inspection module. The optical-fiber module is disposed at the front end of the tube member. The positioning member is disposed in the optical-fiber module. The position-limiting member puts around the positioning member and is disposed in the optical-fiber module. Thereby, when a user measures or inspects the optical fiber, the position-limiting member is used for limiting the assembly position of the optical fiber. Besides, the positioning member is used for aligning the optical fiber with the inspection module or the light-source module accurately. Thereby, the alignment of optical fibers can be performed in convenience.

Abstract: A tool system with a mount configured to be removably coupled to a surface.