Two way omnidirectional lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10060598-B2
Application number	US-201715706014-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2017
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Aug 28, 2018
Grant date	Aug 28, 2018

Abstract

An omnidirectional lens is disclosed of the type which captures light from virtually all angles of incidence, and also emits light in all directions. Embodiments are specifically disclosed as a two-way lens that receives light beams from all directions of the compass and directs those light beams to a photosensor. The same two-way lens acts in a “beacon mode” to produce light beams from one or more LEDs, and to emit such light beams (again) in all directions of the compass. The emitted light beams can also be used to signal various functions as visible signals to users on a jobsite.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An omnidirectional lens, comprising:
(a) a light-conductive first portion;
(b) a light-conductive second portion, wherein said first portion is mounted adjacent to said second portion;
(c) said first portion being substantially cylindrical in shape, having a first outer perimeter, said first portion having a first surface that faces toward and is proximal to said second portion, and said first portion having a second surface that faces away from and is distal to said second portion; and
(d) said second portion being generally cylindrical in shape at a second outer perimeter that is proximal to said first portion, said second portion having a generally conical third surface that is proximal to said first portion, and said second portion having a fourth surface that faces away from and is distal to said first portion, said fourth surface forming a protrusion extending to a distal end;
(e) wherein: said first outer perimeter exhibits a textured surface finish.

2. The omnidirectional lens of claim 1 , wherein:
(a) said fourth surface includes a sloped portion that extends away from said protrusion; and
(b) said fourth surface exhibits a substantially smooth surface finish.

3. The omnidirectional lens of claim 1 , wherein:
(b) said first surface exhibits a substantially smooth surface finish;
(a) said second surface exhibits a textured surface finish; and
(c) said third surface exhibits a substantially smooth surface finish; and
(d) said fourth surface exhibits a substantially smooth surface finish.

4. The omnidirectional lens of claim 3 , wherein: at least a portion of light rays that are intercepted by said second outer perimeter are refracted by said second outer perimeter, then reflected by said third surface and re-directed toward the distal end of said protrusion.

5. The omnidirectional lens of claim 3 , further comprising a core hole in said second portion proximal to said third surface, wherein:
(a) at least a portion of light rays that are intercepted by said second outer perimeter are refracted by said second outer perimeter, then reflected by said third surface and re-directed toward at least one of: (i) said core hole, and (ii) the distal end of said protrusion; and
(b) at least a portion of light rays that strike said core hole are re-directed toward the distal end of said protrusion.

6. The omnidirectional lens apparatus of claim 3 , wherein:
(a) at least a portion of light rays that are intercepted by said second outer perimeter are refracted by said second outer perimeter, then reflected by said third surface and re-directed toward the distal end of said protrusion;
(b) at least a portion of light rays that are intercepted by said second outer perimeter are refracted by said second outer perimeter, then reflected by said third surface and re-directed toward said core hole; and
(c) at least a portion of light rays that strike said core hole are re-directed toward the distal end of said protrusion.

7. The omnidirectional lens of claim 3 , wherein:
(a) said fourth surface includes a sloped portion that extends away from said protrusion; and
(b) at least a portion of light rays that are intercepted by said fourth surface are refracted by said fourth surface, then directed toward at least one of: (i) said second outer perimeter, (ii) said third surface, and (iii) said first portion, and then emitted to an exterior environment.

8. The omnidirectional lens of claim 7 , wherein:
(a) at least a portion of light rays from said fourth surface that are intercepted by said first portion are reflected and scattered by said second surface;
(b) at least a portion of light rays that are scattered by said second surface are reflected and re-directed by said first surface; and
(c) at least a portion of light rays from any of said first surface, second surface, third surface, and fourth surface, which are received by said first outer perimeter are scattered by said first outer perimeter and emitted to an exterior environment.

9. The omnidirectional lens of claim 7 , further comprising at least one light-emitting light source; wherein: at least a portion of light rays that are emitted by said at least one light-emitting light source are intercepted by said fourth surface.

10. The omnidirectional lens of claim 1 , wherein: said first surface is concave; said second surface is concave; and said third surface is concave.

11. The omnidirectional lens of claim 1 , wherein: said second surface is one of: (a) convex; (b) concave; and (c) substantially planar.

12. An omnidirectional lens, comprising:
(a) a light-conductive first portion; and
(b) a light-conductive second portion, wherein said first portion is mounted adjacent to said second portion;
(c) said first portion being substantially cylindrical in shape, having a first outer perimeter that exhibits a textured surface finish;
(i) said first portion having a first surface that faces toward and is proximal to said second portion, and
(ii) said first portion having a second surface that faces away from and is distal to said second portion; and

(d) said second portion being generally cylindrical in shape at a second outer perimeter that is proximal to said first portion;
(i) said generally cylindrical second outer perimeter comprising a fifth surface that is able to receive externally-produced first light beams from virtually any direction with respect to the points on the compass;
(ii) said second portion having a generally conical third surface that faces toward and is proximal to said first portion; and
(iii) said second portion having a fourth surface that faces away from and is distal to said first portion, said fourth surface forming a protrusion extending to a distal end,
(iv) a combination of said third surface and said fifth surface being able to redirect at least a portion of said first light beams toward said distal end of the protrusion of the fourth surface.

13. The omnidirectional lens of claim 12 , further comprising: at least one photosensor that is positioned proximal to said distal end of the protrusion of the fourth surface.

14. The omnidirectional lens of claim 12 , wherein: said ability to receive light beams from virtually any direction comprises 360 degrees around a perimeter of said light-conductive material.

15. The omnidirectional lens of claim 12 , wherein:
(a) said first surface exhibits a curved shape;
(b) said second surface exhibits a curved shape;
(c) said fourth surface is shaped so as to be able to receive externally-produced second light beams;
(d) a combination of said first surface, said second surface, said third surface, and said fourth surface is able to redirect at least a portion of said second light beams toward said first outer perimeter of the first portion.

16. The omnidirectional lens of claim 15 , further comprising: at least one light source that is positioned proximal to said fourth surface of the second portion.

17. The omnidirectional lens of claim 16 , wherein: said at least one light source comprises a light emitting diode.

18. The omnidirectional lens of claim 15 , wherein: the textured surface finish of said first outer perimeter is able to scatter light into a plurality of directions with respect to a direction of travel of said second light beams.

19. The omnidirectional lens of claim 15 , wherein:
(a) said externally-produced first light beams are able to be received at said fifth surface, and at least a portion thereof are able to travel through said second portion t

Assignees

• Trimble Navigation Ltd

Inventors

• Hayes James N
• Snyder Chris W

Classifications

• F21V7/0091 Primary

  using total internal reflection · CPC title

• G02B19/0061

  the light source comprising a LED · CPC title

• F21W2131/40

  Lighting for industrial, commercial, recreational or military use · CPC title

• G02B19/009

  for use with infrared radiation · CPC title

• G02B19/008

  adapted to collect light from a complete hemisphere or a plane extending 360 degrees around the detector · CPC title