Lightguide design techniques

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9759852-B2
Application number	US-201514715854-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 19, 2015
Priority date	Aug 29, 2012
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for obtaining a desired luminance and/or intensity distribution from any lighting fixture that is illuminated by a lightguide. The techniques can be used, for instance, to design a non-uniform surface texture (e.g., of light extraction features) for a lightguide, wherein the surface texture achieves a desired uniform or an intentionally non-uniform luminance distribution for a given lightguide shape/geometry, dimensions, and/or composition. In some embodiments, an iteration algorithm with illuminance distribution feedback is utilized to design a non-uniform surface texture (e.g., geometry, dimensions, quantity and/or spatial distribution of light extraction features) to achieve the target luminance distribution for a given lighting application.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A lightguide device comprising:
an input surface configured to receive light from a light source; and
at least one surface having a surface texture comprising a plurality of light extraction features configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide device, wherein the surface texture is divided into a plurality of zones including a first and a second zone, the first zone having light extraction features configured differently than light extraction features of the second zone, such that light is extracted from the first zone differently than from the second zone due to the difference in their corresponding light extraction features.

2. The lightguide device of claim 1 , wherein a density of the light extraction features of the first zone is different than a density of the light extraction features of the second zone.

3. The lightguide device of claim 1 , wherein a composition of the light extraction features of the first zone is different from a composition of the light extraction features of the second zone.

4. The lightguide device of claim 1 , wherein the light extraction features of the first zone are of a different size than the light extraction features of the second zone.

5. The lightguide device of claim 1 , wherein the light extraction features of the first zone are of a different shape than the light extraction features of the second zone.

6. The lightguide device of claim 1 further comprising one or more additional zones of light extraction features each of which is configured uniquely with respect to the other zones.

7. The lightguide device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of zones provides a continuously varying light extraction pattern.

8. A lighting device comprising:
one or more light sources configured to emit light; and
a lightguide comprising:
an input surface configured to receive light from the one or more light sources; and
at least one surface having a surface texture comprising a plurality of light extraction features configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide, wherein the surface texture is divided into a plurality of zones including a first and a second zone, the first zone having light extraction features configured differently than light extraction features of the second zone, such that light is extracted from the first zone differently than from the second zone due to the difference in their corresponding light extraction features.

9. The lighting device of claim 8 , wherein the lighting device has an optical efficiency of greater than or equal to about 80%.

10. The lighting device of claim 8 further comprising a back reflector operatively coupled to the lightguide and configured to ensure that substantially all of the light received by the lightguide is directed out of a single output surface of the lightguide.

11. A lighting device comprising:
one or more light sources configured to emit light; and
a lightguide comprising:
an input surface configured to receive light from the one or more light sources; and
at least one surface having a surface texture comprising a plurality of light extraction features configured to direct incident light out of the lightguide, wherein the surface texture is divided into a plurality of zones including a first and a second zone, the first zone having light extraction features configured differently than light extraction features of the second zone, such that light is extracted from the first zone differently than from the second zone due to the difference in their corresponding light extraction features wherein the plurality of zones provides a continuously varying light extraction pattern.

Assignees

• Huang Qiong
• Li Ming
• Yang Yi
• Olsen Joseph A
• Osram Sylvania Inc

Inventors

• Huang Qiong
• Li Ming
• Yang Yi
• Olsen Joseph A

Classifications

• G02B6/0038 Primary

  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

• G02B6/0036 Primary

  2-D arrangement of prisms, protrusions, indentations or roughened surfaces · CPC title

• G02B6/0068

  Arrangements of plural sources, e.g. multi-colour light sources · CPC title