초록 ▼

A method and apparatus are disclosed for redistributing light to shift the apparent position of light generation and provide a more uniform area of light emission from a light assembly incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart light sources. Divergent light from each light source is collimated into

A method and apparatus are disclosed for redistributing light to shift the apparent position of light generation and provide a more uniform area of light emission from a light assembly incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart light sources. Divergent light from each light source is collimated into a beam. Portions of each beam are diverted from the direction of the beam, transmitted laterally and redirected to emerge from the light assembly radially spaced from the position of the light source producing the beam. An internal reflecting lens member molded from optical plastic is disclosed as one apparatus for carrying out the method. The disclosed method and apparatus are particularly applicable to light assemblies incorporating an array of LEDs.

대표청구항 ▼

A method and apparatus are disclosed for redistributing light to shift the apparent position of light generation and provide a more uniform area of light emission from a light assembly incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart light sources. Divergent light from each light source is collimated into

A method and apparatus are disclosed for redistributing light to shift the apparent position of light generation and provide a more uniform area of light emission from a light assembly incorporating a plurality of spaced-apart light sources. Divergent light from each light source is collimated into a beam. Portions of each beam are diverted from the direction of the beam, transmitted laterally and redirected to emerge from the light assembly radially spaced from the position of the light source producing the beam. An internal reflecting lens member molded from optical plastic is disclosed as one apparatus for carrying out the method. The disclosed method and apparatus are particularly applicable to light assemblies incorporating an array of LEDs. zation direction rotation element which is disposed either at a position where light transmitted through the polarization separation film is emitted or at a position where light reflected by the reflective film is emitted, the first color partial luminous flux incident on the polarization separation film being uniformed in a first polarization direction to be emitted, and the second color partial luminous flux incident on the reflective film being uniformed in a second polarization direction different from the first polarization direction to be emitted; a transmission optical element which is disposed either at an incident side or at an emitting side of the polarization change element, that transmits an image formed by the luminous flux division optical element to an illuminated area; and a superposition optical element that superposes the partial luminous fluxes emitted from the polarization change element at the illuminated area. 2. The illumination optical system according to claim 1, the color light separation optical element including a first mirror and a second mirror, the first mirror being a dichroic mirror for color separation, and the second mirror being a reflective mirror. 3. The illumination optical system according to claim 2, the first mirror and the second mirror being not parallel to each other, the first mirror being disposed at an angle of 45° to an optical axis of the light source, and the second mirror being disposed at an angle of (45−α)° to the optical axis of the light source. 4. The illumination optical system according to claim 2, the first mirror and the second mirror being not parallel to each other, the first mirror being disposed at an angle of (45+α)° to the optical axis of the light source, and the second mirror being disposed at an angle of 45° to the optical axis of the light source. 5. The illumination optical system according to claim 2, the first mirror and the second mirror being not parallel to each other, the first mirror being disposed at an angle of (45+ß)° to the optical axis of the light source, and the second mirror being disposed at an angle of (45−ß)° to the optical axis of the light source. 6. The illumination optical system according to claim 2, the first mirror and the second mirror being parallel to each other, and disposed at an angle of 45° to the optical axis of the light source. 7. The illumination optical system according to claim 1, the color light separation optical element including an optical part having a plate translucent member, a dichroic mirror disposed on one of two planes opposed with each other of the translucent member, and a reflective mirror disposed on the other of the planes. 8. The illumination optical system according to claim 7, the one of the planes and the other of the planes being not parallel to each other, the one of the planes being disposed at an angle of 45° to the optical axis of the light source, and the other of the planes being disposed at an angle of (45−α)° to the optical axis of the light source. 9. The illumination optical system according to claim 7, the one of the planes and the other of the planes being not parallel to each other, the one of the planes being disposed at an angle of (45+α)° to the optical axis of the light source, and the other of the planes being disposed at an angle of 45° to the optical axis of the light source. 10. The illumination optical system according to claim 7, the one of the planes and the other of the planes being not parallel to each other, the one of the planes being disposed at an angle of (45+ß)° to the optical axis of the light source, and the other of the planes being disposed at an angle of (45−ß)° to the optical axis of the light source. 11. The illumination optical system according to claim 7, the one of the planes and the other of the planes being parallel to each other, and individually disposed at an angle of 45° to the op