Silicone optics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10906259-B2
Application number	US-201916271432-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 8, 2019
Priority date	May 10, 2013
Publication date	Feb 2, 2021
Grant date	Feb 2, 2021

Abstract

Silicone-containing light fixture optics. A method for manufacturing an optical component may include mixing two precursors of silicone, opening a first gate of an optic forming device, moving the silicone mixture from the extrusion machine into the optic forming device, cooling the silicone mixture as it enters the optic forming device, filling a mold within the optic forming device with the silicone mixture, closing the first gate, and heating the silicone mixture in the mold to at least partially cure the silicone. Alternatively, a method for manufacturing an optical component may include depositing a layer of heat cured silicone optical material to an optical structure, arranging one or more at least partially cured silicone optics on the layer of heat cured silicone optical material, and heating the heat cured silicone optical material to permanently adhere the one or more at least partially cured silicone optics to the optical structure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical component configured to direct light emitted from a light source, the optical component comprising:
at least one pre-formed component comprising a first material and having a light-emitting region through which light passes through the at least one pre-formed component, wherein the light-emitting region is of a constant thickness and comprises an outermost surface and an underside that forms an approximately semi-cylindrical recess; and
a customized optic formed of a second material and provided on and in intimate contact with the outermost surface of the light-emitting region such that a portion of the customized optic at least partially covers the outermost surface, wherein:
the customized optic comprises varying thickness;
the approximately semi-cylindrical recess is adjacent to the light source;
the first material is different from the second material and wherein the second material is silicone;
the optical component further comprising at least one mounting bracket attached to an end surface of the at least one pre-formed component, wherein the at least one mounting bracket comprises an exterior surface that is approximately aligned with the outermost surface of the at least one pre-formed component; and
wherein the exterior surface comprises a groove and the second material of the customized optic fills the groove.

2. The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pre-formed component comprises at least one of glass and plastic.

3. The optical component of claim 1 , wherein the at least one pre-formed component comprises:
a first pre-formed component comprising the approximately semi-cylindrical recess and an outer surface; and
a second pre-formed component comprising the outermost surface and an inner surface provided on and in intimate contact with the outer surface.

4. The optical component of claim 1 , wherein:
the customized optic comprises a first thickness aligned with a center of the approximately semi-cylindrical recess;
the customized optic comprises a second thickness offset in a lateral direction from the center of the approximately semi-cylindrical recess; and
the second thickness is greater than the first thickness.

5. The optical component of claim 3 , wherein the first pre-formed component comprises a phosphor lens and the second pre-formed component comprises a diffuser lens.

6. The optical component of claim 4 , wherein the second thickness is at least double the first thickness.

Assignees

• Abl Ip Holding Llc

Inventors

• Marquardt Craig Eugene
• Mccanless Forrest Starnes
• Chen Jie
• Harvey John Bryan
• Wu Yinan
• Weiss Daniel Aaron

Classifications

• G02B27/0966

  Cylindrical lenses (cylindrical lenses per se G02B3/06) · CPC title

• G02B19/0066

  in the form of an LED array · CPC title

• G02B19/0028

  refractive and reflective surfaces, e.g. non-imaging catadioptric systems · CPC title

• G02B3/06

  with cylindrical or toric faces · CPC title

• F21S4/28

  rigid, e.g. LED bars · CPC title