Optical waveguide and luminaire incorporating same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9389367-B2
Application number	US-201313938877-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2013
Priority date	Jan 30, 2013
Publication date	Jul 12, 2016
Grant date	Jul 12, 2016

Abstract

An optical waveguide includes a body of optically transmissive material having a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof. The body of material has a first side, a second side opposite the first side, and a plurality of interior bores extending between the first and second sides each adapted to receive a light emitting diode. Extraction features are disposed on the second side and the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and at least one extraction feature forms a taper disposed at an outer portion of the body.

First claim

We claim:

1. An optical waveguide, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an interior coupling cavity extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature comprises an extraction feature depth extending from the second side toward the first side that is between about 5% and about 75% of the overall thickness of the body of material and is defined by first and second surfaces that are disposed at different angles relative to the first side;
wherein at least one extraction feature is disposed in a ring extending at least partially around the interior coupling cavity; and
wherein the extraction features comprise a first extraction feature disposed at a first distance from the interior coupling cavity and a second extraction feature disposed at a second distance from the interior coupling cavity, wherein the first extraction feature comprises a first tapered extraction surface and the second extraction feature comprises a second tapered extraction surface, and wherein the first tapered extraction surface and the second tapered extraction surface are disposed at different angles with respect to the first side.

2. An optical waveguide, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an interior coupling cavity extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature comprises an extraction feature depth extending from the second side toward the first side that is between about 5% and about 75% of the overall thickness of the body of material and is defined by first and second surfaces that are disposed at different angles relative to the first side;
wherein at least one extraction feature is disposed in a ring extending at least partially around the interior coupling cavity; and
wherein the extraction features comprise a first extraction feature disposed at a first distance from the interior coupling cavity and a second extraction feature disposed at a second distance from the interior coupling cavity, wherein the first extraction feature comprises a first tapered extraction surface and the second extraction feature comprises a second tapered extraction surface, and wherein the first tapered extraction surface and the second tapered extraction surface terminate at the second side and extend to first and second different distances, respectively, from the first side.

3. An optical waveguide, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an interior coupling cavity extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature comprises an extraction feature depth extending from the second side toward the first side that is between about 5% and about 75% of the overall thickness of the body of material and is defined by first and second surfaces that are disposed at different angles relative to the first side;
wherein at least one extraction feature is disposed in a ring extending at least partially around the interior coupling cavity; and
wherein the extraction features comprise a first extraction feature disposed at a first distance from the interior coupling cavity and a second extraction feature disposed at a second distance from the interior coupling cavity, and wherein the first extraction feature comprises a first pitch and the second extraction feature comprises a second pitch different than the first pitch.

4. An optical waveguide, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an interior coupling cavity extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature comprises an extraction feature depth extending from the second side toward the first side that is between about 5% and about 75% of the overall thickness of the body of material and is defined by first and second surfaces that are disposed at different angles relative to the first side;
wherein at least one extraction feature is disposed in a ring extending at least partially around the interior coupling cavity; and
wherein the extraction features comprise a first extraction feature disposed at a first distance from the interior coupling cavity and a second extraction feature disposed at a second distance from the interior coupling cavity, and wherein the first extraction feature comprises a first width and the second extraction feature comprises a second width different than the first width.

5. An optical waveguide, comprising:
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, an interior coupling cavity extending between the first and second sides and adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature comprises an extraction feature depth extending from the second side toward the first side that is between about 5% and about 75% of the overall thickness of the body of material and is defined by first and second surfaces that are disposed at different angles relative to the first side;
wherein at least one extraction feature is disposed in a ring extending at least partially around the interior coupling cavity; and
wherein a V-shaped groove extends into the waveguide from the first side, at least one rib extends outwardly from the first side, and lenslets are disposed on the first side.

6. An optical waveguide, comprising
a body of optically transmissive material comprising a width substantially greater than an overall thickness thereof and comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a plurality of interior coupling cavities extending between the first and second sides each adapted to receive a light emitting diode, and extraction features on the second side;
wherein the extraction features are adapted to direct light out of at least the first side and wherein at least one extraction feature forms a taper disposed at an outer portion of the body.

7. The optical waveguide of claim 6 , further comprising a reflective conical plug member extending into each interior coupling cavity for diverting light into and generally along the width of the body of material.

8. The optical waveguide of claim 7 , wherein the reflective conical plug member is circular in a dimension transverse to the width and thickness of the body of material.

9. The optical waveguide of claim 8 , in combination with LEDs

Assignees

• Cree Inc

Inventors

• Yuan Zongjie
• Wilcox Kurt S
• Tarsa Eric J
• Rol Fabian Jean-Daniel
• Ibbetson James
• Keller Bernd P
• Medendorp Jr Nicholas W

Classifications

• F21K9/61

  using light guides · CPC title

• G02B6/0035

  provided on the surface of the light guide or in the bulk of it · CPC title

• G02B6/0038

  Linear indentations or grooves, e.g. arc-shaped grooves or meandering grooves, extending over the full length or width of the light guide · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• G02B6/0041

  provided in the bulk of the light guide · CPC title