Lighting device
US-9207393-B2 · Dec 8, 2015 · US
Optical element and illumination unit
US9404638B2 · US · B2
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Publication number | US-9404638-B2 |
| Application number | US-201314034600-A |
| Country | US |
| Kind code | B2 |
| Filing date | Sep 24, 2013 |
| Priority date | Mar 25, 2011 |
| Publication date | Aug 2, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 2, 2016 |
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- Title
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Abstract
Official abstract text for this publication.
An optical element according to the present invention includes a light receiving surface which is designed to cover an emitting surface of a planar light source device, a reflecting surface, a light exit surface which is contiguous to the periphery of the reflecting surface. When the center of the emitting surface is designated as a point O and an axis which passes through the point O and is perpendicular to the emitting surface is designated as an optical axis of the optical element, the reflecting surface has a concave portion around the optical axis and an outer edge surrounding the concave portion.
First claim
Opening claim text (preview).
What is claimed is: 1. An optical element comprising a light receiving surface which is designed to cover an emitting surface of a planar light source device, a reflecting surface which is arranged opposed to the light receiving surface, and a light exit surface which is contiguous to the periphery of the reflecting surface, wherein the light receiving surface is separate from the reflecting surface, wherein when the center of the emitting surface is designated as a point O and an axis which passes through the point O and is perpendicular to the emitting surface is designated as an optical axis of the optical element, the reflecting surface has a concave portion around the optical axis and an outer edge surrounding the concave portion and wherein in any cross section of the optical element, which contains the optical axis and is perpendicular to the emitting surface, lights emitted from the point O are refracted when passing through the light receiving surface, reflected on an area of 80% or more of the reflecting surface, and exit from the light exit surface, and when an inclination angle which a normal to the light receiving surface at a point P forms with a first plane which contains the emitting surface is designated as θp, θp being measured counterclockwise with respect to the first plane, the point P being a point of intersection of the light receiving surface with the first plane, an inclination angle which a line connecting the point P and a point of intersection of the reflecting surface with the light exit surface forms with the first plane is designated as ω and refractive index of a material of the optical element is designated as n, inclination of the light receiving surface with respect to the first plane is determined so as to satisfy the following expressions, where the unit of angles is degree 2.0 · ( n sin ω n cos ω - 1 ) > tan θ p > n sin ω n cos ω - 1 ( 3 ) cos ω>1/ n (2). 2. The optical element according to claim 1 , wherein in any cross section of the optical element, which contains the optical axis and is perpendicular to the emitting surface, when a point of intersection of a line which passes through the point O and forms an inclination angle of α with respect to the first plane, with the light receiving surface is designated as a point Q and an inclination angle of a normal to the light receiving surface at the point Q with respect to the first plane is designated as θ, inclination of the light receiving surface with respect to the first plane is determined so as to satisfy the following expression in a range of tan α < 0.2 . tan θ > n sin ω - sin α n cos ω - cos α . ( 4 ) 3. The optical element according to claim 2 , wherein inclination of the light receiving surface with respect to the first plane is determined so as to satisfy the following expression in a range of tan α < 0.2 . 2.0 · ( n sin ω - sin α n cos
Assignees
Inventors
Classifications
- F21V13/04Primary
the elements being reflectors and refractors {(for vehicle rear lights F21S43/40)} · CPC title
the lens having a rotationally symmetrical shape about an axis for transmitting light in a direction mainly perpendicular to this axis, e.g. ring or annular lens with light source disposed inside the ring · CPC title
using total internal reflection · CPC title
Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title
Optical field-shaping means, e.g. lenses · CPC title
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Frequently asked questions
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- What does patent US9404638B2 cover?
- An optical element according to the present invention includes a light receiving surface which is designed to cover an emitting surface of a planar light source device, a reflecting surface, a light exit surface which is contiguous to the periphery of the reflecting surface. When the center of the emitting surface is designated as a point O and an axis which passes through the point O and is pe…
- Who is the assignee on this patent?
- Nalux Co Ltd
- What technology area does this patent fall under?
- Primary CPC classification F21V13/04. Mapped technology areas include Mechanical Engineering.
- When was this patent published?
- Publication date Tue Aug 02 2016 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time) (B2). Legal status and post-grant events are not shown on this page.
- What related patents are in patentsdb?
- We list 8 related publications on this page (citations in our corpus or others sharing the same primary CPC).