Abstract: Provided is a lighting apparatus capable of uniformly and efficiently lighting a spatial light modulator. The lighting apparatus includes: a light source for outputting laser light; a multimode optical fiber in which the laser light outputted from the light source propagates through an internal core whose lateral cross section is a substantially polygonal outer diameter shape; and spatial light modulator for producing an image with illumination light from the multimode optical fiber. In the lighting apparatus, the laser light is outputted from the light source and is propagated to the multimode optical fiber in which an outer diameter shape of the lateral cross section of the core is a substantially polygonal shape, whereby the spatial light modulator can be uniformly and efficiently lighted.

Abstract: An operating lamp includes at least one white light source for illuminating an operating area, a plurality of colored light sources for illuminating the operating area, and a controller adapted for dimming a light intensity and controlling a spectrum of a combined illumination from the white light source and the colored light sources on the operating area.

Abstract: Embodiments of an illumination structure are provided. The illumination structure has a flexible light guide with an improved light coupling to a light source. According to one embodiment, the light source is mounted on a substrate, and the flexible light guide is optically coupled with the light source such that the light guide receives light output by the light source and emits at least a portion of the received light. A housing is also mounted on the substrate at least partially enclosing the light source and mechanically securing the flexible light guide in a desired alignment with the light source.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein comprise a display device comprising a plurality of spatial light modulators and an illumination apparatus. The illumination apparatus comprising a light bar that guides light along a length thereof and turning microstructure disposed on top or bottom of the light bar. The turning microstructure directs the light out a side of the light bar. The illumination apparatus further comprises a light guide panel disposed with respect to the side of the light bar such that the light from the light bar is coupled to the light guide panel. The light guide panel is configured to direct the light coupled therein out of the light guide panel. The plurality of light modulators disposed with respect to the light guide panel to receive the light directed out of the light guide panel.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention can provide an illumination device capable of preventing or reducing a reduction in efficiency of utilization of lights emitted from the light source, and also suitable to display high-quality moving images, and a display device and a projection type display device using this illumination device.

Abstract: A tubular light source having a semiconductor light source and a tube is disclosed. The tube includes a transparent medium, the tube having a side tube surface, a center curve, one end surface, a length, and a maximum cross-sectional dimension. The tube includes scattering centers that cause light traveling in the tube to be reflected at angles such that the reflected light leaves the tube through the side tube surface. The semiconductor light source is positioned to emit light into the tube within a cone of angles such that the light will not leave the side tube surface in the absence of the scattering centers. The scattering centers can be dispersed in the transparent medium or located on the side tube surface. The transparent medium can be rigid or flexible.

Abstract: An illuminating device for imaging apparatus includes: a light source; plural batteries that supply power to the light source; plural detection voltage generating units that are provided with respect to each battery and generate detection voltages from output voltages of the batteries; a voltage monitoring unit that is supplied with the plural detection voltages, respectively, and determines whether the output voltages of the batteries are equal to or less than a predetermined specified value or not with respect to each battery; and a control unit that turns on/off the supply of the power to the light source based on a determination result of the voltage monitoring unit, wherein detection switches that turn on/off the supply of the detection voltages from the respective detection voltage generating units to the voltage monitoring unit based on the control by the control unit are provided with respect to each battery.

Abstract: An illumination optical system for illuminating an object with light from a light source device comprises a plurality of optical surfaces. At least one of the optical surfaces is formed as a roughened surface and is arranged in a position other than closest to the object. Assuming that a total quantity of light emitted to the object by the illumination optical system is L, and a total quantity of light is L0 emitted by a reference optical system in which all the roughened surfaces of the illumination optical system are replaced with polished surfaces, the illumination optical system satisfies the following condition: 0.70?X?0.95, where X=L/L0.

Abstract: A method of configuring one or more illumination states for illuminating at least two user interface devices of a mobile device, the method comprising assigning a first illumination state to first and second user interface devices, when intensity of ambient light is greater than a first threshold; assigning the first illumination state to the first interface device, and a second illumination state to the second interface device, when the intensity of the ambient light is between the first threshold and a second threshold; and assigning the second illumination state to the first and the second user interface devices, when the intensity of the ambient light is less than the second threshold.

Abstract: A light source device includes a light source, a diaphragm blade for adjusting light quantity of illumination light supplied from the light source, a diaphragm driving part for driving the diaphragm blade to perform opening/closing operation, and a diaphragm control circuit part for setting diaphragm drive instruction voltage to be supplied to the diaphragm driving part and control an opening/closing amount of the diaphragm blade. In the diaphragm control circuit part, a fully-opened voltage and a fully-closed voltage at the time the diaphragm blade is fixed at a fully-opened position and a fully-closed position are read, based on the voltages, adjustment data for adjusting the diaphragm drive instruction voltage and the opening/closing positions of the diaphragm blade is set, and based on the adjustment data, a control range of the diaphragm drive instruction voltage is regulated.

Abstract: A non-uniform light source is combined with a system including an integrating light pipe, a mask placed at the output of the light pipe, and a focusing element placed one focal length beyond the light pipe output at an angle appropriate for directing the light toward the illumination plane of the system. The purpose of the mask is to attenuate areas of the light pipe output that correspond to high irradiance regions at the illumination plane. Accordingly, this combination of optical components produces light with desired irradiance profile, including a substantially uniform irradiance profile, at the illumination plane.

Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illiuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.

Abstract: Two integrating light pipes are optically coupled to a focusing element to produce light with uniform irradiance and intensity profiles. The first ILP stage is used to receive spatially non-uniform light from a single or multi-color source and produce a uniform irradiance distribution while leaving the intensity distribution substantially unaltered. The focusing optical element swaps the irradiance and intensity distributions received from the output of the first ILP and feeds it to a second ILP stage which, in turn, completes the spatial homogenization of the light by transforming the non-uniform irradiance received from the focusing element into an output of uniform irradiance. As a result of this sequence of transformations, a homogeneous multi-color light output, both in intensity and irradiance, is produced.

Abstract: An improved image projection lighting device is disclosed. Commands received by a communications port of the base housing may be acted upon to change zoom and focus values of a zoom and focus lens. A cooling system may be provided which compares an input air temperature of the image projection lighting device to an exiting air temperature to determine if a filter needs service. A video projector may project a first image comprised of first, second, and third separate images and the first separate image can be faded up to project light that is void of an image by a first command received at the communications port.

Abstract: An illuminated tile and a method for producing the same are provided herein.

Abstract: A luminous keyboard includes a circuit board, an elastic layer and a light module. The elastic layer on the circuit board includes a plurality of elastic portions. The light module includes a light guiding element and a light source. The light source is installed on the circuit board. The light guiding element covers the light source and includes an anti-dazzle portion and a light penetrating portion. The anti-dazzle portion blocks some light from the light source. The other light passes through the light penetrating portion illuminating the key.

Abstract: The invention relates to a display device including a luminous element and a light guide which has coupling locations and decoupling locations and transports a light signal that is emitted by the luminous element. The inventive luminous element has a radiation characteristic, the solid angle of which can be controlled.

Abstract: An indicating instrument including a light guiding system having at least a first and second light guides, a sensor disposed at a first end of the first light guide and configured to receive incident ambient light that has traveled through the first light guide, a light-emitting device disposed at a first end of the second light guide and configured to emit light through the second light guide, and a covering body disposed at a second end of the first and second light guides that is opposite to the first ends. Further, the incident ambient light is incident upon the covering body and travels through the first light guide and is received by the sensor, and the light emitted by the light-emitting unit travels through the second light guide and exits the covering body.

Abstract: To provide an electro-optical device, such as a display or a printer head having a self-luminous element, in which a light-emitting state of a light-emitting element is detected. The electro-optical device comprises a plurality of pixel units arranged in a display region on a substrate in a predetermined pattern, each including a light-emitting element; a plate-like member disposed to overlap the display region and formed of a transparent medium for transmitting light emitted from the plurality of pixel units and internally reflecting a portion of the transmitted light; and light detection means for detecting light that is internally reflected and reaches at least one side of the display region through the inside of the plate-like member.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus for providing light to a structure consisting of a plurality of fibers, each said optical fiber having an emitting end and a receiving end, the emitting ends of the optical fibers for mounting in the plurality of apertures in the structure. The receiving ends of the optical fibers span to an enclosure for receiving a control circuit and a plurality of LEDs. The control circuit generates an oscillating sequence of signals for controlling the intensity of illumination of at least one of the LED's between at least two levels of illumination.

Abstract: An illumination system comprising a light source that emits light of a first sense and a second sense. The illumination system also comprises a collimator that collimates light from the light source along an optical axis and within a maximum angle with respect to the optical axis. The illumination system further comprises a filter that reflects light of the first sense, the filter positioned at an angle other than normal to the optical axis and other than 45 degrees from the optical axis. Further, the illumination system also includes an optical system positioned along the optical axis to accept light that passes through the filter and transmits the portion of the light within the maximum angle.

Abstract: Beam shapers, imaging heads formed using such beam shapers and methods are provided that are adapted to shape a light beam for use in imaging. In accordance with one method described herein a light beam is received and the light beam is reflectively scrambled to form generally homogenous light having a non-circular shape. The homogenous light is delivered to a circular core multimode light path that shapes the light beam so that light exiting the circular core multimode light path comprises circular shaped homogenous light.

Abstract: A brightness enhancing structure for a reflective display. A plurality of transparent hemi-beads form a film substantially covering and protruding inwardly from the structure's inward surface. A corresponding plurality of microstructured toroidal lenses are provided on the structure's outward side. Each lens is optically coupled to an adjacent one of the hemi-beads to redirect incident light rays toward the adjacent hemi-bead, such that the redirected light is totally internally reflected by the hemi-bead and reflected back in a direction approximately opposite that of the incident rays. This substantially reduces undesirable dark, non-reflective circular regions of each hemi-bead which would otherwise exist in the absence of this invention.

Abstract: An illumination apparatus for illumination of light by emitting light from LED for each of RGB colors capable of optionally setting a color temperature and controlling the brightness after the setting while maintaining the color temperature as it is, in which a light control circuit supplies a light control voltage for variably controlling the light quantity of the illumination light equally to each color setting circuit connected with LED of each color which is lit by a light quantity in proportion with a driving current and a color temperature setter of the color temperature setting circuit adjusts the light control voltage by a predetermined ratio to a control voltage, and a constant current circuit outputs a driving current in accordance with the control voltage to each LED for each of RGB colors.

Abstract: A hot spot filter for a light guide is created by taking an image of the light output pattern of an illuminated light guide. The hot spot filter may be a film, a layer, or an additional liquid crystal display dedicated to attenuating bright spots from the light guide. The hot spot filter may be incorporated into the image display by adjusting the grey scale of individual pixels to provide sufficient compensation.

Abstract: Light is mixed within a mixing cavity. Light is transported from the mixing cavity, through an optical cable, to a color sensor. The transported light is sampled by the color sensor. Light color within the mixing cavity is controlled based on information from the transported light sampled by the color sensor.

Abstract: An improved image projection lighting device is disclosed. Commands received by a communications port of the base housing may be acted upon to change zoom and focus values of a zoom and focus lens. A cooling system may be provided which compares an input air temperature of the image projection lighting device to an exiting air temperature to determine if a filter needs service. A video projector may project a first image comprised of first, second, and third separate images and the first separate image can be faded up to project light that is void of an image by a first command received at the communications port.

Abstract: A light integrating column having an illumination column and windows that allow light to enter and exit the illumination column. The illumination column can be a solid rod or a hollow tube. In an embodiment, the windows are formed at an angle with respect to each other. Light from a light source enters through one of the windows. The light is internally reflected and diffused inside the illumination column. A diffused uniform light is transmitted out through another window. In an embodiment, a reflective coating is applied to a surface of the illumination column.

Abstract: A light beam preparation arrangement includes a light tunnel, a rotatable unit, and a drive unit. In one aspect, a fixation rigidly attaches the light tunnel directly to the drive unit. In another aspect, temperature of the light tunnel in controlled. In another aspect, the rotatable unit is spaced a distance from the light tunnel, and the distance is controlled. In another aspect, alignment between the light tunnel and the rotatable unit is controlled. In another apsect, the light tunnel is hollow and a gas flows though the tunnel.

Abstract: A light guide module (10) for use in a flat panel display (21) comprises a light guide pipe (20) having a light emitting surface (21), and a light incident surface (25) orthogonal to the light emitting surface. A light diffusion arrangement (30) is deployed over the light emitting surface and includes organic scattering balls (31) homogenously mixed within a bonding agent (33). At least a light source (60) is arranged adjacent the light incident surface to project light beams into the light guide module.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lighting display system. The system includes at least one non-transparent cable for transmitting light, at least one light emitting diode disposed at a first end of at least a portion of the non-transparent cables, a light emitting controller to control the intensity of light emanating from the light emitting diodes and receiving structure for receiving a second end of at least a portion of the non-transparent cables. At least a portion of the second ends of the non-transparent cables emit light from the light emitting diodes. The receiving structure is incorporated into infrastructure, and the system displays at least one design. In one arrangement, the design can be an advertisement or can simulate a floor covering, and the floor covering to be simulated can be carpeting. The infrastructure can be a travelway that supports at least one of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic.

Abstract: An improved image projection lighting device is disclosed. Commands received by a communications port of the base housing may be acted upon to change zoom and focus values of a zoom and focus lens. A cooling system may be provided which compares an input air temperature of the image projection lighting device to an exiting air temperature to determine if a filter needs service. A video projector may project a first image comprised of first, second, and third separate images and the first separate image can be faded up to project light that is void of an image by a first command received at the communications port.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the invention is directed to an illumination device. The illumination device includes a light emitting diode that emits a radiation pattern, wherein a maximum luminous intensity of the radiation pattern is displaced relative to a center axis of the light emitting diode. The illumination device may also include a number of light guides positioned to be illuminated by the light emitting diode. The invention utilizes the “batwing” radiation pattern of a light emitting diode to effectively illuminate a number of light guides with a single light emitting diode. Each light guide is offset from a center axis of the light emitting diode to capture light that is annularly displaced. This offset positioning of the light guides allows the light guides to effectively capture light from the light emitting diode where light intensity is greatest.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method which capture images by use of an optical detector. The system and method illuminate a scan region utilizing a bulb that emits light of greater intensity near its extremities than at its center to provide image light to an optical detector via an optical reduction component.

Abstract: A finger-mounted light system includes an (LED) mounted in a casing adapted for strapping to one hand and operated by a light output control knob. A housing that includes a power source (e.g., battery) is strapped to the wrist and the LED casing is strapped to a finger, such that light emitted from the LED may be adjusted. A display is included on the housing for displaying the battery level.

Abstract: A decorative dome with controlled light enhancement consisting of a substantially concave structure having opposed front and rear faces and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, for receipt of a plurality of optical fibers, extending between the interior surface of the concave structure, to a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) mounted in a junction box mounted on the outer periphery of the rear face of the concave structure. The junction box also contains a control circuit for varying the duration and intensity of the plurality of LEDs, with the junction box constructed so as to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. The LED's direct light into the receiving end of each said optical fibers such that light from the respective LEDs are directed through the optical fibers and from the emitting ends of the optical fibers at the front face of the concave structure. The plurality of apertures on the front face of the concave structure are arranged in a selected patent discernable by a viewer.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus includes at least two light-emitting elements, the light-emitting elements having at least two light-emitting zones which are disposed in a regular pattern throughout the entire length and allow light to be emitted in different light-emission intensities, each of the light-emitting elements allowing light to be emitted in continuous sequence from the light-emitting zones in one direction, wherein adjacent light-emitting elements are positioned with a predetermined distance deviation.

Abstract: Optical means including an optical source, selection means and optical guiding means, the optical source includes means for producing a plurality of optical regions of different colours, the optical guiding means include a plurality of elongated optical guides for guiding light coupled to the upstream ends of the optical guides to their downstream ends, the selection means includes means for selectively aligning the upstream ends of the optical guides to one or a plurality of the optical regions.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a lighting display system. The system includes at least one non-transparent cable for transmitting light, at least one light emitting diode disposed at a first end of at least a portion of the non-transparent cables, a light emitting controller to control the intensity of light emanating from the light emitting diodes and receiving structure for receiving a second end of at least a portion of the non-transparent cables. At least a portion of the second ends of the non-transparent cables emit light from the light emitting diodes. The receiving structure is incorporated into infrastructure, and the system displays at least one design. In one arrangement, the design can be an advertisement or can simulate a floor covering, and the floor covering to be simulated can be carpeting. The infrastructure can be a travelway that supports at least one of vehicular traffic and pedestrian traffic.

Abstract: A prism member is interposed between an LED board and a light incidence surface of a light guide plate. The prism member includes a prism sheet consisting of minute prisms that are arranged along the LED board and that have a function of refracting light that is emitted from each LED and thereby inputting, to the light incidence surface, refracted light that is scattered to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the light incidence surface. As a result, chrominance or luminance unevenness can be prevented even if the distance between the LED board and the light incidence surface is short.

Abstract: An instrument for providing illumination of intraocular tissue during surgery generally includes a hand held light source which includes a light emitting diode, a power source for driving the diode and a control switch for interconnecting the diode with the power source. At least one fiber optic having a proximal end in light communication with the LED and a distal end size for insertion into an eye for illumination of intraocular tissue is provided.

Abstract: An illuminating apparatus for image processing type measuring machines that is capable of coping with a wide diversity of objects to be measured to enable accurate imaging the object and rarely unable to meet any space restrictions is provided. This illuminating apparatus the light to the object to be measured so as to enable determination of the size and shape of the object on the basis of an image of the same thereby obtained, and includes light sources; a plurality of optical fibers receiving the light sent out from the light sources at one of their ends, outputting the light from their output ends toward the object and divided at their incident ends into at least three groups; and, red, green and blue color filters inserted between the incident ends of the optical fiber groups and the light sources.

Abstract: An environmentally-stable organic electroluminescent (“EL”) fiber comprises at least one layer of an organic EL material formed on a fiber, cable, or wire; associated electrodes for providing a voltage to activate the organic EL material; and a barrier layer formed around the EL and electrode materials for reducing the permeation of oxygen, water vapor, and other reactive materials into the underlying layers. The barrier layer comprises either (1) alternating sublayers of a polymeric material and an inorganic material, or (2) alternating sets of adjacent sublayers of polymeric materials and adjacent sublayers of inorganic materials. Color of light emitted from the fiber may be modified by one or more layers containing inorganic and/or organic phosphor materials.

Abstract: A lighting device includes an optic light guide having a free end that emits directional light. Surrounding the free end is a sleeve having an aperture through which a beam of light emitted by the free end of the light guide passes. The sleeve may be moved in and out relative to the free end to vary the size of the beam of light passing through the aperture.

Abstract: A linear light emitting diode (LED) light including electrical-to-optical converters (EOs) on circuit boards in end housings to couple photons into ends of an acrylic rod. Photons from the electrical-to-optical converters radiate from the acrylic rod to light the space around the linear LED light.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for producing an optical waveguide illuminator are disclosed. By controlling the propagation of light in the core and cladding regions of the waveguide, distributed light emission along a length of an optical fiber or along a planar waveguide surface can be achieved by varying the core/cladding refractive index ratio and introducing light scattering centers in the core.

Abstract: A decorative dome with controlled light enhancement consisting of a substantially concave structure having opposed front and rear faces and a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, for receipt of a plurality of optical fibers, extending between the interior surface of the concave structure, to a plurality of light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) mounted in a junction box mounted on the outer periphery of the rear face of the concave structure. The junction box also contains a control circuit for varying the duration and intensity of the plurality of LEDs, with the junction box constructed so as to dissipate heat generated by the LEDs. The LED's direct light into the receiving end of each said optical fibers such that light from the respective LEDs are directed through the optical fibers and from the emitting ends of the optical fibers at the front face of the concave structure.

Abstract: A finger-mounted light system includes an (LED) mounted in a casing adapted for strapping to one hand and operated by a light output control knob. A housing that includes a power source (e.g., battery) is strapped to the wrist and the LED casing is strapped to a finger, such that light emitted from the LED may be adjusted. A display is included on the housing for displaying the battery level.

Abstract: A photocuring device and a method of photocuring using it. The device includes a housing and a light emitting semiconductor array mounted to the housing, capable of emitting light energy having a light output wavelength suitable for initiating a photoreaction. The device also has a power source for providing power to energize the array to emit light energy and a controller coupled to the power source for varying the power provided by the power source to the array.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing an output of at least one of electromagnetic waves and sound waves comprises a power supply, a support structure, a controller, and a plurality of transmitters arranged in a linear array on the support structure and in electrical contact with the controller. Each transmitter is controllable individually and independently from other transmitters. To provide a colored lighting effect, the apparatus can comprise a first source of light of a first color, a second source of light of a second color, different from the first color and a diffuser for diffusing the light from the first and second sources so that the diffused light from the diffuser is perceived to have a different color, shade or hue.