IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0041698
(2011-03-07)
|
등록번호 |
US-8238703
(2012-08-07)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
163 |
초록
In one aspect, an illumination structure includes a substantially non-fiber waveguide, which itself includes a discrete in-coupling region for receiving light, a discrete propagation region for propagating light, and a discrete out-coupling region for emitting light.
대표청구항
▼
1. An illumination structure comprising: a substantially non-fiber waveguide comprising an optical element disposed therewithin, the waveguide comprising: a discrete in-coupling region for receiving light,a discrete propagation region for propagating light, light entering the propagation region from
1. An illumination structure comprising: a substantially non-fiber waveguide comprising an optical element disposed therewithin, the waveguide comprising: a discrete in-coupling region for receiving light,a discrete propagation region for propagating light, light entering the propagation region from the in-coupling region having a predetermined optical profile comprising at least one of (i) substantial uniformity of color profile or (ii) substantial uniformity of intensity, anda discrete out-coupling region for emitting light, the in-coupling, propagation, and out-coupling regions being spatially distinct, light entering the in-coupling region being substantially retained within the waveguide for emission from the out-coupling region. 2. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the propagation region is substantially free of the optical element. 3. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a microlens. 4. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of photoluminescent particles. 5. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the predetermined optical profile comprises substantial uniformity of color profile, the color profile comprising white light. 6. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein an optical mean free path of light in the in-coupling region is different from an optical mean free path of light in the propagation region. 7. The illumination structure of claim 6, wherein the optical mean free path of light in the in-coupling region is less than the optical mean free path of light in the propagation region. 8. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the out-coupling region comprises the optical element. 9. The illumination structure of claim 8, wherein the optical element comprises a plurality of hemispheres. 10. The illumination structure of claim 9, wherein the hemispheres have a concentration that varies across at least one dimension of the out-coupling region. 11. The illumination structure of claim 10, wherein the concentration of the hemispheres increases with distance from the in-coupling region. 12. The illumination structure of claim 9, wherein the hemispheres have a dimension that varies across at least one dimension of the out-coupling region. 13. The illumination structure of claim 9, wherein the out-coupling region comprises a plurality of core structures, at least some of which comprise hemispheres, and wherein at least one of a size, a concentration, or a type of the hemispheres varies among at least two of the core structures. 14. The illumination structure of claim 9, wherein the in-coupling region comprises a microlens. 15. The illumination structure of claim 1, further comprising means for emitting light disposed proximate the in-coupling region. 16. The illumination structure of claim 1, further comprising means for emitting light disposed within the waveguide. 17. The illumination structure of claim 16, wherein the means for emitting light consists essentially of a bare-die light-emitting diode. 18. The illumination structure of claim 1, further comprising a reflector disposed proximate a surface of the in-coupling region. 19. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the waveguide is substantially planar. 20. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein an optical mean free path of light in the propagation region is substantially constant, and an optical mean free path of light in the out-coupling region varies substantially monotonically. 21. The illumination structure of claim 1, wherein the in-coupling region receives light entering in a first direction, the propagation region propagates light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and the out-coupling region emits light in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction. 22. A method of producing light, the method comprising: providing a substantially non-fiber waveguide comprising an optical element disposed therewithin, the waveguide comprising: a discrete in-coupling region for receiving light,a discrete propagation region for propagating light, anda discrete out-coupling region for emitting light; andemitting light proximate the in-coupling region, whereby the light (a) exits the in-coupling region and enters the propagation region having a predetermined optical profile comprising at least one of (i) substantial uniformity of color profile or (ii) substantial uniformity of intensity, and (b) is emitted from the out-coupling region. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the predetermined optical profile comprises substantial uniformity of color profile, the color profile comprising white light. 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the light propagates through the propagation region with substantially no emission therefrom into the out-coupling region. 25. The method of claim 22, wherein the in-coupling region receives light entering in a first direction, the propagation region propagates light in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the out-coupling region emits light in a third direction perpendicular to the second direction.
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