Two way omnidirectional lens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016116138-A1
Application number	US-201414524691-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Oct 27, 2014
Publication date	Apr 28, 2016
Grant date	—

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 apparatus, 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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 apparatus 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 4 , further comprising a photosensor that is positioned proximal to the distal end of said protrusion, and which receives said at least a portion of light rays.

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

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

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

12 . An omnidirectional lens assembly, comprising:
(a) at least one photosensor; (b) at least one light-emitting device; (c) a light-conductive material that passes light beams at predetermined light wavelengths; wherein:
(i) said light-conductive material has first surfaces that receive first light beams from at least one external source at a plurality of angles with respect to a predetermined plane, in which said first surfaces are shaped to re-direct at least a portion of said first light beams to said at least one photosensor that is positioned proximal to said light-conductive material;
(ii) said light-conductive material has second surfaces, said second surfaces that receive second light beams emitted by said at least one light-emitting device that is positioned proximal to said light-conductive material; and
(iii) said light-conductive material has third surfaces, said light-conductive material being shaped to re-direct at least a portion of said second light beams toward said third surfaces, said third surfaces having a textured surface finish to scatter light into a plurality of directions with respect to said predetermined plane.

13 . The omnidirectional lens assembly of claim 12 , wherein: said first light beams comprise laser light, and said second light beams comprise visible light.

14 . The omnidirectional lens assembly of claim 12 , wherein said at least one photosensor comprises a photodiode, and said at least one light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting diode.

15 . The omnidirectional lens assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
(a) said first surfaces include: (i) a truncated conical reflective surface, and (ii) a protrusion that extends toward said at least one photosensor; (b) said truncated conical reflective surface re-directs at least a portion of said first light beams toward said protrusion; and (c) at least a portion of said protrusion has reflective surfaces that tend to channel said first light beams toward said at least one photosensor.

16 . The omnidirectional lens assembly of claim 12 , wherein:
(a) said second surfaces include at least two different sloped surfaces that form a space proximal to said at least one light-emitting device, wherein said second surfaces receive, refract, and re-direct at least a portion of said second light beams toward said third surfaces; and (b) said third surfaces include: (i) an outer perimeter surface that exhibits a textured surface finish, and (ii) at least one reflective surface that scatters said second light beams internally toward said outer perimeter surface, where said second light beams are emitted to an exterior environment.

17 . An omnidirectional lens assembly, comprising:
(a) at least one photosensor; (b) at least one light-emitting device; (c) a substantially light-conductive material that passes light beams at predetermined light wavelengths, said light conducting material having:
(i) a first surface portion for receiving externally-produced first light beams;
(ii) a second surface portion that is positioned proximal to said at least one photosensor;
(iii) a third surface portion that is positioned proximal to said at least one light-emitting device;
(iv) a fourth surface portion for emitting light beams, said fourth surface portion having a textured surface finish; and

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

• G01C15/002

  Active optical surveying means (optical plumbing G01C15/105) · CPC title

• G02B19/008

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

• G02B19/0085

  for use with both a detector and a source (, e.g. in a transceiver, G02B19/009, G02B19/0095 take precedence) · CPC title